Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Arizona

Red Torch Cactus Flowers

Red Torch Cactus Flowers

Not sure of the binomial name of this cactus variety, but they sure have nice flowers. These are located in a garden adjacent to a car repair facility on Wickenburg Way, just across the Casandro Wash, about a quarter mile south of our house. We were on the way back from a weekend shopping trip to the grocery store when we stopped the truck and I got out to take some pictures of these nice cactus flowers. The cactus is similar to the golden torch cactus we brought from California which didn’t do well here in the desert. Click on the image to enlarge.

29 May 2016 by Arizona Flowers Photography

Snake Season

uninvited serpent

My first chore when I got home after yesterday’s medical procedure was to roust an uninvited serpent from the garage. Damsel noticed that a curve-billed thrasher had chased a gopher snake into the garage while the door was open. The bird flew off, but the snake hid itself behind the shop-vac along the garage wall.

I fetched a non-lethal corn broom from the back of the garage and proceeded to move the shop vac out of the way and to firmly but gently sweep the snake in the direction of the vacant property to the east. Damsel took this photo while the snake was still hissing at us before retreating over the rocks to the desert habitat on the unimproved land. I shooed it in that direction because I know that the curve billed thrasher that was chasing it has a nest with probable chicks or eggs on the west side of our property.

I seem to be doing a lot of good deeds for the thrasher population recently.

28 May 2016 by Arizona Critters Photography Retirement

WickenBirds


Birds seen in Wickenburg, AZ. This is a slideshow, click images to advance. The list includes:

  1. Turkey Vulture (we call ’em buzzards)
  2. Road Runner
  3. Red-Shafted Flicker
  4. Hummingbird Browsing Rosemary
  5. Cactus Wren
  6. Curve-Billed Thrasher
  7. Goldfinch

All images taken from our patch of land near Casandro Wash, Wickenburg, Arizona.

25 May 2016 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden Photography

Flowers on Our Big Saguaro Cactus

Saguaro Flowers

The medium large saguaro in the front of the garage by the driveway has been producing flowers for over a week now. Only yesterday we were finally able to take the telephoto lens and get a close up of a flower not pointing straight up so we can see the inside of it. The arms of the cactus extend to twelve feet or so above the ground making it difficult to get a straight-on photo of the flowers.

We are noticing a few new buds that are more on the sides of some of the arms that might allow us to get a better image of the flowers when they open. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, click on the image to enlarge.

17 May 2016 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Hot Pink Cactus Flower

Hot Pink Cactus Flower

We purchased this potted cactus recently with the intent to eventually put it in the cactus garden. In the meantime, its spring flowers have been opening, the most recent of which is pictured above. I am not sure of the name of this variety, but it sure has beautiful hot pink flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.

10 May 2016 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Saguaro Flower Season

Saguaro Flower and Buds

This image (click to enlarge) is of the top of a saguaro 400 feet down the road from our little house in the desert. This particular cactus doesn’t have any “arms” like a lot of them do, but it has an abundance of flower buds on its crown and the one lovely open flower. There will be many more, as you can see.

We will be posting lots of flower pictures as the spring/summer flowering season progresses. We love our desert and the seasonal delights it provides.

05 May 2016 by Arizona Environment Flowers Photography

Hoot Owl Cactus

Hoot Owl Cactus

I don’t know the exact type of cactus this is, but I think it is probably in the cereus family. The little guy’s first four flowers opened up today and the configuration of the flowers reminded me of a couple of hoot owls staring.

There is another flower bud that will probably open up after the hoot owl effect goes away. Click on the image to enlarge.

04 May 2016 by Arizona Home & Garden Photography

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