Tag: desert

Sonoran Sprouts

A close-up of a saguaro flower bud resembles Brussels sprouts in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 23, 2023. Originals: _ZFC6740.NEF to _ZFC6814.NEF

I was thinking of Brussels sprouts when I took the picture but when this green grows it is the start of one of the desert’s greatest sights that doesn’t involve a lizard. This tip of a saguaro flower bud will bloom into a large white flower, kicking off a feeding frenzy of birds, bats, and insects. Another feeding frenzy follows when the red fruit ripens.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 105mm Macro
🗓️: May 27, 2023

The Embrace of Old Friends

A close-up view of the root of an old saguaro wrapping around the waxy base of an old ocotillo in the Sonoran Desert, taken on the Chuckwagon Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 8, 2023. Originals: _Z729938.NEF to _Z729969.NEF

As long as she stands the Elephant will be my desert favorite but this is my favorite close-up. The woody bit in the lower left is the exposed root of a saguaro, the rest the glory that is the ocotillo. I like to think these two old friends grew up embracing, shading each other from the unrelenting sun but one never overshadowing the other.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: October 8, 2023

Subtle Hints

A great horned owl perches in a palo verde while a massive saguaro towers in the background in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on

I’ve seen a number of owls while walking Bear the past couple of years and have focused on taking environmental portraits to highlight how different their home is here compared to the other places I’ve lived. In this picture I used an extremely subtle hint to suggest this owl lives in the Sonoran Desert.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm + 1.4X
🗓️: May 11, 2024

5.1 Miles

A red-tailed hawk perches atop a large boulder formation on the Jane Rau Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 20, 2024. Original: _Z723444.NEF

Friday afternoon I took Bear into the desert, choosing an initial loop that wouldn’t take him too far in case he got tired. But his energy was high so I expanded the loop and added a short nature trail. At the end we were treated to this red-tailed hawk up on Bobcat Rocks (I saw a bobcat there once), having hiked 5.1 miles in total. I took him on an easy 3 mile jaunt in the neighborhood yesterday, not sure what we’ll do today.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-200mm
🗓️: December 20, 2024