Tag: saguaro

Copy, Desert Joy

The saguaro I call The Green Elephant has fruit at the ends of her arms as the sun rises on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 25, 2023. Original: _Z726574.NEF
The saguaro I call The Green Elephant has fruit at the ends of her arms as the sun rises on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 25, 2023. Original: _Z726574.NEF

My favorite time to be in the desert is sunrise but I haven’t managed it much the past handful of years. A few years ago I was up early and made a beeline to my favorite saguaro, catching her with arms full of fruit, before hoofing it back to the car so I could get Bear for a hike before the heat rose up.

I’m off for the week and was hoping for some early hikes with Bear but my sleep has been dreadful so I haven’t managed it yet. With retirement looming this summer, looking forward to more opportunities for hikes as a night owl in an early bird’s world.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: June 25, 2023

Hallelujah Jordan

A scenic view of a broken old saguaro with two of its arms lifted high, taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. Taken on December 30, 2023. Original: _A673198.ARW

The 118th Street Trail is a service road out to the electrical towers that also links two of my favorite trails into a loop. It has charms all its own, Bear & I have seen four of his favorite creatures on this short stretch: mule deer, coyotes, cottontails, and even a Gila monster. Kestrels are here too though the pup doesn’t care about those.

We also get Hallelujah Jordan, arms raised in permanent praise to the glory that is the Sonoran Desert. I’ve thought about renaming him as one of his arms has fallen off and he reminds me more of the Statue of Liberty these days. I decided against it as though he has changed, his joy is everlasting. Both pictures taken on dog walks.

1st Photo:
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: December 30, 2023

2nd Photo:
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: December 14, 2025

scenic view of a broken old saguaro with one of its arms lifted high, taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. Taken on December 14, 2025. Original: _A671177.ARW

This is New

An array of flower buds springs from the top of our backyard saguaro in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 11, 2025. Original: _Z724047.NEF

Our backyard saguaro while likely a bit older than me is still pretty young and has never flowered. Every spring I check for signs, we live in hope, and this year my faith was rewarded. Not a full mop top like our saguaro out front but I saw woodpeckers feeding on it when the flowers opened and there is fruit ripening there now.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: May 11, 2025

Looking for the Easter Bunny

A Harris' hawk perches on a saguaro on a cloudy spring afternoon on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 13, 2025. Original: _A678444.ARW

A week ago the temperature late in the day was predicted to be right on the border of where I won’t take Bear hiking, so I took him for a long neighborhood walk in the morning and went out by myself in the afternoon. I do enjoy being able to go slowly and soak in all the details of the desert but it makes me sad to hike without my buddy, so this was only the second time this year I went alone.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: April 13, 2025