Saguaro National Park This meant feeling the heat of the sun throughout the day This photo was taken while on a hike in the east side of Saguaro National Park. The east side of the park has a trail called the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. It spans 11 miles and proceeds slowly uphill from west […]
Big Bend National Park The Milky Way was so readily visible to the naked eye It’s been five years since I took this photo of the silhouette of an ocotillo against the starry night sky in Big Bend National Park. I have to say that despite taking astrophotography in several other parts of the country, […]
Northern Lights Forecast The sky went from a shade of green to a burst of red I’ve chased the Northern Lights for my entire adult life. Whenever I’ve heard a forecast that the Northern Lights might be visible near to where I am, I have attempted to see them. There was one night when I […]
Plume Thistles – iNaturalist In a home garden many people would consider thistles to be a weed I took this photo during a hike on the east side of Eagle Creek Park. This is the side of the park that does not get as much traffic. I think this is because you do not have […]
Desert Christmas Cactus – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The fruits will stay on the stem until winter This photo of a desert Christmas cactus was taken while on a trip to Big Bend National Park in southwestern Texas. This was a plant that I had never seen before, but I was immediately taken aback […]
Mason Wasps – BugGuide The abdomen is noted by three thin stripes The wasp pictured here is a pitted mason wasp. This is a solitary wasp that is found across the United States and southern Canada. It’s most common east of the Great Plains. Within the Euodynerus genus, it is the most common species. The […]
Lower Antelope Canyon Flash flooding can occur even when there isn’t any rainfall locally Lion’s Head is one of the most iconic photo subjects in Lower Antelope Canyon. I was fortunate enough to take this photo while on a guided tour through the canyon, which is the only way that you can visit this slot […]
Havasupai Tribe The Havasupai Tribe refers to themselves as the “People of the Blue Green Water” The trail down to Havasu Falls begins at Hualapai Hilltop which overlooks Hualapai Canyon. The canyon rim sits 5,200 feet, nearly one mile, above the canyon floor. After 8 miles of hiking, you are rewarded with one of the […]
Havasupai Tribe Website This means that it comes from a time span of 47 million years The hike into Hualapai Canyon is one that is full of beauty. The rock strata of Hualapai Canyon are diverse and cover many millennia. The top layer is Kaibab Formation. Below this is Toroweap Formation. Then comes Coconino Sandstone. […]
Swift Feather-Legged Fly – Bug Guide Look in grasslands, hedge rows, and crops, which they are likely to inhabit This photo of a swift feather-legged fly was taken in my backyard. The fly was staying around as I was cutting zucchini off the vine. There were a few in the garden, but this one was […]