Verna and Bob's Weblog

Arizona

The Curve Billed Thrasher Nest

Nest Caretaker

We peeked in the Curve Billed Thrasher nest in the cholla cactus in front of our courtyard a few days ago and were delighted to see several chicks had hatched. I took this photo of one of the parents tending the nest as it was getting ready to depart to forage for more food for the hatchlings.

There has been a nest in this cactus and little thrashers have hatched every year since we have been here. This year, the nest is almost inaccessible to our camera as it is buried deep within the spiked arms of the cholla.

May 12, 2015 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden Photography

Wickenburg’s Welcome Wagon

Welcome Wagon

The alliteration in the title refers to the Conestoga seen in the image above. The wagon, along with an Arizona State Historical Marker sit on the southwest corner of the intersection of US 60 and Vulture Mine Road. Click on the image to enlarge.

The marker is dedicated to Vulture Mine which is about 13 miles south of it along Vulture Mine Road. The wagon is used to welcome visitors to town and is often decked out with a banner advertizing this or that event.

Last summer, the wagon was blown over and the cover ripped to shreds by a violent microburst thunderstorm. We are happy that the town and the ‘powers that be’ have restored the wagon to even better than it was before the storm.

May 6, 2015 by Arizona Culture Photography

The New Flagpole

The New Flagpole

After the new flagpole was installed, we had to wait a few days for the silver paint to dry and cure. When the pole was ready, we put up the American Flag with the Arizona Banner under that.

I took this photo of the flags as seen from the courtyard a couple of days ago when the wind was just right. They look great!

Click on the image to enlarge.

May 5, 2015 by Arizona Home & Garden

Red Bird of Paradise Spring Revival

Red Birds Growth

Every November, our Red Bird of Paradise shrubs go dormant and we cut them down to just a few inches above the soil. Each April or May, they start their comeback. We have three of the Red Bird shrubs in the courtyard that have been there for four years now.

Two of the three started their revival a couple of weeks ago. At the lower left, is the west side of the courtyard shrub, at the right is the center and the top is the eastern shrub. You can see that the two on the bottom have a good start on revival, but the top one has only one tiny bipinnate leaf pair, which we hope is revival and not a weed.

In a few weeks, we should have our first bright Red Bird of Paradise flowers. We should be getting them all summer long. Click on the image to enlarge.

May 4, 2015 by Arizona Home & Garden Photography

Lizard Hunter

Lizard Hunter

I already blogged about Cabela’s lizard obsession the other day. Well, today, she was out in the courtyard again and spent considerable time burying herself up to her haunches in the Cleveland sage looking for the little critter.

Once the lizard got flushed from one of the sage bushes, it would then hide under another until Cabela would again dig under the bush and chase the lizard out. This went on for quite a while.

I thought I was capturing the action on video, but I later found out I was using the HD video function incorrectly and merely got some stills of the action. Maybe tomorrow, when Cabela is in a hunting mood, I can re-stage the scenario and get it on video. Click on the image to enlarge.

May 2, 2015 by Arizona Critters Family Photography

Avalon 1998

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