Photography

Queen of the Night Flower Stalk

Queen of the Night Flower Stalk

This is one of three flower stalks currently growing on the native “Queen of the Night” (Peniocereus greggii) cactus up on the hill behind our house. The location of the cactus is unfortunate for us since it is a steep climb to get to the level where it is growing. Moreover, since these bloom exclusively at night, we won’t be able to see them open because 1) steep night time climb where no lighting exists, and 2) nocturnal critters like crotalus (rattlesnake), coyote, javelina and mountain lion can be present in our rural patch of desert.

I am going to try and keep an eye on this cactus in order to possibly catch a morning after photo or two before the flowers eventually fade. Wish me luck.

Visiting Our Grandson

Baby G Four Teeth

We are in California this evening relaxing after the drive here from our Arizona home. We had a good crossing with cooler than seasonal weather and no significant wind issues. There were a lot of Big Rigs on the road, but we fought that off and got to the campground without incident.

The baby is cuter than ever and sporting four upper and four lower teeth. We just love him.

SR71 and Verna

SR71 and Verna

I took this photo of Verna posing with an SR71 at the Pima Air Museum near Tucson, AZ. I scanned in some images for throwback Thursday which made it onto the FecesBook® but missed this one on here a day late. The photo had to have been taken in the early 2000’s before we went digital. Click on the image to enlarge.

In The Tub at the Dog Park

In The Tub

The Mama and Daddy took Cabela and me to the dog park today because it will soon be to hot to go here in the summer. The Mama brought my tub into the park and filled it with water so I could splash around and get cool in the water.

After the swim in the tub, I ran and ran around the park without my leash until it was time to go home. We like the dog park. Click on me in the tub to make me big.

Star Cactus Flower

Star Cactus Flower

I took this photo of the flower that bloomed on my Astrophytum “Star Cactus” yesterday. Although related to my Bishop’s Cap Cactus, it doesn’t have flowers as often, at least not yet. This flower measured about four inches in diameter and is, as you can see, beautiful. Click on the image to enlarge.

Verna and the Big Saguaro

Verna and the Big SaguaroSome of the lower flower buds are opening on the big saguaro cactus out in front of the garage by the driveway. The big cactus sits by the point adjacent to the where the courtyard walkway meets the main driveway slab.

When I took this photo of her, she was preparing to photograph one of the saguaro flowers on the arm closest to my camera. She did get a pretty good shot of that lowest open flower posted at this link.

We have a lot of flower buds still to open and most of them will be pointing skyward. I was thinking about getting the extension ladder to climb up on the garage roof to photograph them from a high vantage point with the 75 to 300 mm lens for close-ups.

Click on the image to enlarge.