Verna and Bob's Weblog

Arizona

Saguaro Birdhouse

Saguaro Birdhouse

When we originally had the big saguaro cactus transplanted to our property, there was only one hole in the upper arms. Now, there are four (three visible in this photo). I spotted a woodpecker boring the hole on the right the other day.

Saguaros, common to the Sonoran desert regions of Arizona are a habitat for several types of birds. Cactus Wrens, Dwarf Owls, Woodpeckers, Verdins and a variety of other birds call the saguaro their home for raising their chicks in the springtime. We’re hoping that some of them will make the big cactus their own.

January 31, 2017 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden

Saguaro Sunset

Saguaro Sunset

We seldom (almost never) are out after dark, but earlier this week we became detained in Mesa, east of Phoenix, transacting a deal for a new motorhome. The result of that late start home was 1) encountering rush hour traffic, and 2) driving home after dusk.

It so happens that our route to and from Mesa, takes us through a very scenic part of Maricopa County, abound with saguaro and teddy bear cholla cactus. I took the image above after the sun had set on AZ Hwy 74 between Carefree and Morristown. Click on the image to enlarge.

January 20, 2017 by Arizona Photography

January Outdoor Grilling

January Outdoor GrillingWe managed to escape a few showers that were moving through the area today in order to cook our entrée on the grill behind the patio. There were showers early in the morning and then a reprise until after we finished dinner and put the grill away before some shower activity resumed.

Image: Us posing on the RV Drive in front of the grill as the robot camera took our picture.

Our delicious meal consisted of Grilled Chateaubriand with Carrot/Snow Peas Medley and Mashed Potatoes. The roast was part of a beef tenderloin that we bought a couple of weeks ago. The side dishes were also very good.

January 15, 2017 by Arizona Food and Dining Home & Garden Retirement

Ocotillo Flower Buds

Ocotillo Flower Buds

Last year, our neighbor who does construction work removed several Ocotillo shrubs from a job site where he was building a barn. He offered a couple of them to us to plant in our yard for added landscaping. We did plant them in the rock and cactus garden area west of the house. Oddly, they don’t show much in the way of signs of life except for flower buds growing on the ends of some of the canes (the branches emanating from the base of the ocotillo).

I took this image of one of the flower bud clusters still growing on one of the ocotillos. Click on the image to enlarge.

December 11, 2016 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Arizona Sunsets are Among the Best of Them

Arizona Sunset

During the late fall and winter months, we seem to get a lot of cloud cover which, if in the late afternoon, often produce some beautiful and spectacular sunsets. This one was visible today just after the sun went down. Looking west-southwest from our courtyard. Click on the image to enlarge.

December 1, 2016 by Arizona Climate Photography

Avalon 1998

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