Spring Is In The Air

Broad-billed Hummingbird

When things start warming up, it's hard to ignore the changes around us. When the Broad-billed Hummingbird starts feeding from the stunning Parry's Penstemon, I stop with others and marvel at the incredible beauty that nature provides this time of year. 

Mountain Laurel pollinated by the Carpenter Bee

It's a reminder that everything renews. 
 

The Great Horned Owls nest and have their owlets every spring at my work site. Every year we look forward to their return as we watch them go from egg to large owl in just a matter of weeks!
 

Fairy Duster

 But it's not just the birds.  A Fairy Duster bursts forth like a firecracker in the night sky. A Tucson garden, thanks to African Daisies, brightens up our lives with a little sunshine.  
 

African Daisies

 All it takes is one rain event. 
 

Desert Globemallow

Insects, wildflowers, migrating birds alike.......

Anna's Hummingbird with Turk's Cap

......remind us that life is constant change.  With or without us.

Common Gallinule(Moorhen)

I never once take any of this for granted. 

A protective nesting Cooper's Hawk

 Each year as I grow older, I still marvel at it all like I once did as a kid. 

These epic landscapes are the paintings that will define our lifetime.  And I hope they remain that way for generations to come. 

Created with my cartoon app. Snapped a shot at Sabino creek with my phone and had a little fun.  It was the most perfect day.  

Until next time.....

Don't forget to check out Wild Bird Wednesday.

Wild About Wasson Peak!

Painted Lady on Brittlebush

So I promised wildflowers and today I'm  going to deliver:)  Hiking around 4 hours to the top of Wasson Peak in Saguaro National park was a lot of fun.  Close to the Desert Museum, you'll notice a parking area on the right side.  Just drive past the museum and look to your right for the gravel parking lot.

The Honey Bee on Brittlebush

I love wildflowers but it's tricky to get the shots or make them interesting.  And today there were lots of flowers with all kinds of colors and shapes....but how do you capture the glory and majesty of a large landscape?  It's very tricky.  I can take a picture of the whole landscape but the flowers won't stand out like they do when you're in person.  So today's focus is the "close up".....and when possible, with a little flight:)

The Fairy Duster

The Fairy Duster, popular with hummingbirds, is showing off beautiful airy flowers. This is one of my favorites in the Sonoran landscape.

But of course my all time favorite is the Globemallow with its delicate orange cup.  Bees love this flower and appear in some cases to be laying inside the cup while collecting food.

Globemallow

In fact, on this hike, we faced A LOT of bees!  I know there is an epidemic going on right now with bee disappearance, but from our experience on this day, we encountered lots of them:)

While the wildflower season isn't a bust, it wasn't the massive fields of California Poppies that I was expecting this year.  Some great places for spotting wildflowers are along our Tucson trails at the National Parks, Hwy 77, Picacho Peak, etc.

Desert Chicory

Again be careful around flowers as there is a lot of buzz going on.......

But there was no denying that this trail up to Wasson Peak(especially near the washes) is where we found the most color and variety of wildflowers.

California Poppies

At one point, we tried to shortcut through an area, but the bee population was so active that we returned to a safer path.  If you do hike, just be aware of your surroundings.  It's getting to be that time of year when things get warmer and as it does, the other critters will start to come out of hibernation.....like snakes, etc:)  African Bees kill 1-2 people a year in or around the Tucson area.  Keep your eyes open and be careful where you poke that hiking stick.  Many times a walker with their dog will disturb a nest and the bees will swarm the person stinging them over a hundred times.  It's rare, but just something to be aware about....

From Wasson Peak

What a great view!  You get to the breezy top.  If you're lucky, you'll have the bench all yourself.  Bring a little lunch or snack to continue on......it's a great hike!

I also noticed several of the cacti beginning their bloom cycle.  While it's a bit early for all this to happen, it was nice to see.  Wildflowers come first and then are followed by cacti blooms around the state.  April is really a gorgeous month with vivid color.

A cactus flower

The blooms on some cacti are almost flourescent!  They never look real to me.  I loved this shot because as I was doing the photo shoot, this bee was submerged inside the flower....almost swimming!  Bees are beautiful as is the act of being covered in pollen:)  And that's where I had my best luck today....with the bees and the flowers:)

Bring plenty of water as the afternoon will get warm.

Of course, I'll be continuing my spring photo shoots around Southern Arizona.  Stay tuned for more fun! And more tomorrow....:)