One of the “stargazer” Asian lilies I got yesterday opened. I took this close-up image of the delicate structures and bold colors on the petals. Click on the image to enlarge.
Arizona
Palo Verde In Bloom
Spring brings out blossoms on most of our cacti, shrubs and trees. The Arizona State Tree is the the Palo Verde. This is a photo of a tree in the wash in full bloom. A close-up of some individual blossoms can be seen in the inset. Click on the image to enlarge.
Hassayampa River South
We went to the valley today to do some shopping at Wally World. As we drive southeast on US Hwy 60, the Hassayampa River follows the roadway until we get almost to Morristown, where the river turns south and heads toward the Gila River confluence. Verna took this picture of the Hassayampa with the Vulture mountains in the background. What a beautiful desert we have! Click on the image to enlarge.
Cholla Flower and Buds
The cholla cacti that surround the house are all in bloom. The flowers range from yellow to copper colored. They are all very pretty. Click on the image to enlarge.
Roadrunner
We saw this roadrunner as we were leaving Mom’s retirement ranch. It was scampering through a neighbor’s yard with something in its mouth (a lizard, I think). Click on the image to enlarge.
Wikipedia says this about the roadrunner’s diet and foraging habits:
Food and foraging habits
Roadrunners are omnivores and are opportunistic. Their diet normally consists of insects (such as grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, and beetles), small reptiles (such as lizards and snakes, including rattlesnakes), rodents and small mammals, tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, snails, small birds, eggs, nestlings, and fruits and seeds like prickly pear cactus and sumac. Because of its quickness, the roadrunner is one of the few animals that preys upon rattlesnakes.
Prickly Pear Cactus Flower
I walked up the road toward the neighbor’s house where there are several flowers blooming on one of her prickly pear cacti. This is one of the prettiest on the cactus. Click on the image to enlarge.
