My "Ugly" Desert - Easter Morning - PICS

After church this morning, I took a walk through the wash behind my house. Spring has definitely sprung here in the low desert. Many folks think of the southwest as brown and ugly, but that's just because they didn't look close enough......











Easter Bunny making his rounds....









A mockingbird keeps a close eye on me as I take pictures of her eggs....












This guy was nice enough to pose for me, I started to think he was dead because he just sat and looked at me as I got closer and closer. finally he had enough and took off under the protection of a Cholla cactus.

















A Cactus Wren takes a look around for a little food....as do my Koi fish.





The saguaro cactus is just starting to flower, these are beautiful white and yellow flowers when they finally come out.



A wren pair has been nesting every year for the past few right on our patio, here is their latest little ones...


Hank doesn't know (or care) what all the fuss is about.




Thanks for letting me indulge in my hobby, hope you liked it!


DD

Real nice pics. I love the cacti in full bloom.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Your photos (and your environs) are awesomely beautiful. Thanks for posting them.

Sandy

quote:

Originally posted by desertdog


Thanks for letting me indulge in my hobby, hope you liked it!

I liked it a LOT! Thanks!

Great Pictures. I'm jealous. This is the driveway on Friday from my northwoods vacation rental home in Vilas County Wisconsin. Wisconsin has four different seasons: before winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.
[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/311656829_65ab945bb8.jpg?v=0[/img]

Deserdog:

A perfect example of why the american southwest desert is "God's Country", no matter what those people in Montana and Wyoming say.

Good Job

After a soggy, snowy Easter, those pictures were particularly refreshing. Thanks for sharing.

Spring has not sprung here. Early daylight savings time backfired. We now have an extra hour in the dark every morning causing it to cool down just a bit more before the sun comes up.

Great pics desertdog

Very nice DD, I could do without the snake though. We do not get along.

John

D'dog. Thanks for the beautiful Spring desert pics. We're about due east of you in the NM desert. However we live at a bit more than 5400 feet elevation. We enjoy our spring beauty in May. Thanks to you, I get to enjoy twice this year.

Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing them.

The pictures really made my day. Here in Ohio we're looking at yet another day of 30-degree temps and snow flurries. My koi are hiding at the bottom of the pond, shivering. The robins are sitting around looking disgusted. I just got my winter coat out again. But since I saw your pix I feel just a little warmer. Thank you!

There are times when I miss the High Desert a lot. While Spring here in the Ohio River Valley is a beautiful time of year, the fields of wildflowers and cacti-blossoms that we enjoyed on the Mojave were absolutely top of the line color and beauty, also. The magenta of the Pickly Pear is visible for miles along some of the desert roads. The California Golden Poppy also is an amazing 'color' addition in the area not far from Edwards A F B in So Cal.

Hopefully last night was the last of the 'freeze warnings' It is sunny and mid-40's now (near noon) and warmer weather is forecast for the rest of the week. I must get out and inspect the fruit trees to see what survived 4 freezing nights...and what didn't.

quote:

Originally posted by John A

Very nice DD, I could do without the snake though. We do not get along.

John

Look a little closer, John. It's actually a Desert Spiny Lizard, quite common around here. Totally harmless unless you happen to be a cricket!

As warm hot as it's been here the last couple weeks, it's hard to imagine that it might be snowing in another part of the country....I saw on ESPN the highlights of the game in Cleveland. Bet those guys wish they were still back in Spring Training!

Very nice pic of the fresh fallen snow, ChiDog. Thanks for the compliments, everyone.

There are lot of phenomena that occurs in the desert. I was at the Desert just west of Tucson several years ago during the heat of the summer when a sudden and violent thunderstorm with intense rain happened. It did not take long with the desert visible from the museum and just to the south turned into a giant lake. Incredible how much water came down in about a hour.

While I was there, I saw a wild rattle snake inter one of the cages where there were birds of some type. I forget which species and the birds sensed it immediately and went nuts. I guess fortunately for the birds, the snake went on its way.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

wonderful pictures, desertdog - thank you very much for sharing!

quote:

Originally posted by desertdog

quote:

Originally posted by John A

Very nice DD, I could do without the snake though. We do not get along.

John

Look a little closer, John. It's actually a Desert Spiny Lizard, quite common around here. Totally harmless unless you happen to be a cricket!

As warm hot as it's been here the last couple weeks, it's hard to imagine that it might be snowing in another part of the country....I saw on ESPN the highlights of the game in Cleveland. Bet those guys wish they were still back in Spring Training!

Very nice pic of the fresh fallen snow, ChiDog. Thanks for the compliments, everyone.

LOL, guess that shows how much snakes and I disagree. To me, if it resembles one it is one.

John

Great PICS! ty 4 sharing

AWESOME photos, and Hank is adorable

LL

Hank just fits that dog.

He just looks like a Hank.

DD, nice pics but you can keep the desert, I had enough of it.

MikeS.

Great pictures...but isn't the Easter Bunny a jackalope over there?

Thanks for sharing! I think I need to go see what's blooming in Borrego...

quote:

Originally posted by Salustra

Thanks for sharing! I think I need to go see what's blooming in Borrego...

My partner was there 2 weeks ago and said the only thing blooming was near the Ranger's station however while they were leaving the park a pretty heavy rainstorm blew up.

What beautiful photos! Driving home from a postponed game at Fenway last night, it was snow, sleet and rain.*sigh*
I remember warmth and sun.

This morning....a Gila Woodpecker digging around in a blooming Saguaro Flower, in the background a Palo Verde tree is in full bloom.