Tag: saguaro

Crustal Foundering

A macro shot of the damaged end of a saguaro arm where the blackened protective material has cracked, showing the lighter material underneath, taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 12, 2024. Originals: _Z729316.NEF to _Z729361.NEF

When I saw the damaged end of a saguaro arm where the blackened protective material had cracked, showing the lighter material underneath, I was reminded of lava lakes in Hawaii and Iceland. The lava on the surface cools and hardens and can sink into the less dense molten lava via a process called crustal foundering. It took me a while to find the time to bring my macro setup on a day when there was little wind, and even then it took me a few attempts as the breeze was often stronger than predicted.

The National Park Service has a description on their page about Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: May 12, 2024

New Horizons

Our dog Bear stands near saguaros on the Axle Grease Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 16, 2024. Original: _ZFC9192.NEF

During my time off I’ve loved taking Bear to trails I normally avoid as they are crowded on the weekends, stepping aside to let people past is the most common way he steps on something painful. Here we’re taking a water break at the junction of the Axle Grease and Rock Tank trails, it was a Tuesday so we only encountered a few people. I’m not sure he cares but I enjoy seeing him discover new places.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 16, 2024

Terror of the Saguaro

A green lynx spider eats a leaf-footed cactus bug on a saguaro in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 18, 2022. Originals: _ZFC4811.NEF to _ZFC4842.NEF

A green lynx spider sets to devouring the insides of a leaf-footed cactus bug. It never left a small region high in one of our saguaros, it would spin a thread and attach it to a spine, giving it freedom to leap after prey without fear of falling. I watched its reign of terror over the course of several months, it had no qualms about going after insects larger than itself, until one day I found its lifeless body swaying in the breeze, hanging from a large spine.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: March 18, 2022

Air Evacuation

Saguaros dominate a scene where in the distance, a rescue helicopter hovers in the air. Taken on the Granite Mountain Loop Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 14, 2024. Original: _ZFC9134.NEF

As Bear and I hiked to Balanced Rock via the easier wide path (to be kinder to his paws) we were passed by the Scottsdale Fire Department on their way to a trail rescue. On the way back we took the narrower rocky paths to stay out of their way if they needed to evacuate someone, but they must have called for air support as when we were far along this helicopter came past and hovered near the rescue site. Hope they’re OK.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50mm DX
🗓️: January 14, 2024