The Mama and I go for a walk a lot. I like going out and then when we’re done, I get a cookie! Yum! Click on the image to enlarge.
Arizona
Saguaro Flower
This is the third saguaro flower to open on our big cactus out front. The pollinators are anxiously swarming about to collect the nectar and to spread the pollen. I took this with the telephoto lens since the flowers are so high above the ground. Did you know that the Saguaro Flower is the State Flower of Arizona? Click on the image to enlarge.
Scavengers
Verna puts most food scraps in the compost, but when it comes to citrus scraps, these orange peels are too acidic for the compost worms. Not to worry, though, the critters in the wash will take care of the leftovers.
Here, a white-tailed antelope squirrel and a curve billed thrasher try to extract the goodness from the peels. Click on the image to enlarge.
Red Bird Of Paradise Season Is Here
We were in the Northwest Phoenix Metro Valley yesterday. A lot of the Red Bird of Paradise shrubs were in bloom. We stopped at a little landscape plot where there were several of these growing, so I took this photo o my favorite desert shrub flower. Click on the image to enlarge.
The valley gets their flowers about a month before we do in Wickenburg due to the elevation and temperature difference, I guess. My three shrubs in the courtyard have already started their spring comeback with sprouts from six inches to a foot. They grow really fast, so it won’t be long before we have a lot of these beautiful flowers in our courtyard.
Bishop’s Cap Flowers – Again
For the third or fourth time since early spring, my Bishop’s Cap cactus in the courtyard is blooming again. I just love springtime in the desert! Click on the image to enlarge.
Compass Cactus Flower
The first of many yellow flowers is now open on the native compass cactus up on the hill in our back yard. I will post close-ups as the crown of flowers opens up. Click on the image to enlarge.
