Tag: Cactus
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Cactus Blossom Time
As we move along in the spring, the desert has fully dried out. We’ve had to say goodbye to all of the wildflowers and welcome in the cactus blossoms of the Cholla and Prickly Pear cactus.
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Hedgehog Cactus Blossoms “in the Pink”!
Spring comes in phases in the Sonoran desert. The wildflowers (more on those later!) give way to cactus blossoms and then both give way to a lot of dirt and dust. Timing is everything. Over the span of a week or two, the hedgehog cactus flowers come and go (and they’ve been gone a while).…
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Saguaro Sunday
It’s been a while since I just took the time and appreciated the saguaros from my weekend hikes. They become familiar friends that you wander by on the everyday trails as you are watching where you step. I have taken 100s of their photos over the last few years. And today, with purpose, I took…
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Journey to Beaver Falls
The hike from Mooney Falls down to Beaver Falls may be the best part of hiking in Havasupi (including the every famous Havasu Falls). About three miles separate the two falls, but it takes longer than you would expect. The terrain varies from wading across Havasu Creek a three times, weaving your way around a path covered…
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Monsoon Season: Going to Miss it!
As August is winding down, it is starting to look like the peak of the monsoon season is fading with it. Most folks living outside the desert, don’t realize we have one. But the high heat and humidity (yes, it can get a little humid this time of year) bring chances of heavy rain, dust…
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Trails: Cave Creek Regional Park (Go John Trail)
The calendar is about to hit May, and if you think it is starting to warm up in Phoenix, you are correct! That doesn’t stop us from hiking, it only changes the time of day we go (or how far north we want to drive). I will say that we should have started out a…
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Sundays are for Saguaros (and apparently owls)
Let’s start with one of the coolest things I’ve seen hiking in Arizona. I’ve passed by this nest a hundred times and always wondered “what lives there”? Well, I found out. It’s an owl. A great horned owl, to be more precise. And the momma owl was busy nesting, peeking a bit with one eye…
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Is One Sunset Worth a Blog Post?
It’s a Friday night and I wanted to get home early. But God had other plans. He decided to put on a show, that I was happy to attend. And I got home late.
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There’s Something about Balloons and Saguaros!
The cooler seasons in Phoenix means the hot air balloons are in the sky. For us out there hiking, the balloons add to the enjoyment of being in the desert. Of course, it’s the definition of being in the right place at the right time. The winds need to blowing the right direction, and you…
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It’s My Birthday, and I’ll Do What I Want (which is get out early and wander)!
Not much to share, as the pictures speak for themselves. When Phoenix gets a cloudy day, the pre-dawn and sunrises can be amazing. These a combination of Camera (I realize I still want that with me), GoPro, and cell phone. All within about 90 minutes (Lightroom used on some for some “pop”). Happt Trails!
