The Desert Speaks

Sometimes the bigger picture is just as amazing as the little one.  Sunset in Saguaro National Park is really wonderful.  If you come to Tucson, make sure you stop here or Gates Pass(or both!) for that wonderful Arizona sky.

It's hard at first to imagine that a desert is full of life because of the overwhelming "brown" color.  Most park visitors from out of state and new to the desert miss the little critters in hiding.  Can you spot the tiny Antelope Ground Squirrel in the pic above?  And for my plant friends, do you remember what those cactus-y twig things are called behind the rocks?  Clue.  Start with an "o" and end with an "o":)  Answer at bottom of the post.

Canyon Towhee

Look closely in and around the vegetation.  There is something always hiding nearby.  But remember not to go digging too much or you may find more than you bargained for:)

Saguaro cactus come in all shapes and sizes.  The above one is dead probably due to a lightning strike during monsoon.  And while they may be dead, they make great perches for hawks and other birds.

And if you listen carefully, you'll hear the desert speak.

Answer: Ocotillo   More tomorrow....

Ancient Souls

       

You know what?  I live in the desert but no one would know it with all the shots I take of everything else.  On a birding venture gone bad, I decided that this post would be based on landscape and sunset.  This also marks the first time that I was able to get out and enjoy the desert and RARE cooler temps again. It was breezy and cool this evening.

It was getting dark outside and so I marked where I was walking, but somehow I almost got lost!  Talk about an anxiety attack!

Tucson is home to the ancient and old Saguaro cactus.  Most of these Saguaros you are looking at are nearly 200 years old!

So I think about what was going on 200 years ago.  It would have been 1812.  There was that wonderful 1812 Overture written by a famous Russian composer known as Tchaikovsky. An earthquake destroys Caracas Venezuela,  Louisiana becomes the 18th state to join the United States, US President James Madison asks Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom, and the US invades Canada at Windsor, Ontario.  Wow.  And that wasn't everything......but can you imagine?  And here these Saguaro stand as a testament of time passing.

The Native people believe that the Saguaro embody the spirits of the ancient ones and were considered sacred.  I think they're right.

Standing Tall

Black Throated Sparrow

 On a cool and breezy walk near Gate's pass, here are some moments that caught my eye.

The Saguaro stand tall and dwarf us tiny humans