Sunday, September 27, 2009

September Walk

Chris and I went for a walk in the canyon yesterday morning, the first time in weeks. Here's some of what we found.

It still feels like summer at the canyon.
The barrel cacti just have a few blooms left.
Ocotillo stems are covered with green leaves while the red blooms are long gone.
Teddy bear cholla spines glisten in the sunlight.
The orange sign says "Danger! High Mountain Lion Activity - Enter at your own risk." We've never seen a mountain lion but the rangers say new tracks are found each morning.
Most of the saguaros are bare, but one last fruit remains on this one.
Going over the hill...
The cottonwood leaves are still green.
The creek that flows down the hill from the road has receded to just a few small pools of standing water.
The hills look green even without much rain this monsoon season.
Many grasses have turned straw-colored.
This saguaro looks different from the others with so many arm buds on it.
It was a pretty good sized crowd of people at the canyon considering how hot it still is.
Happy Cactus Monday!

For more cactus themed posts, visit Teri's Painted Daisies.

32 comments:

Kay said...

I love the photos and wanted to thank you for taking me along on your walk. Looks like there were a lot of people out there with you.

Kay

Icy BC said...

I'm glad you're still able to enjoy the weather, and have a nice walk together. Beautiful photos of the desert!

Lance said...

Hi Diane,
There does look to be a lot of people walking out there - wow! And I really love that first shot with the canyon view...

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Diane, I am watching the Arizona football game tonight--and they are indoors--but say that it's hotter than hot out there now. It was surprising to see so many people out walking in the canyon. But--maybe since you don't have the humidity, the heat is not so bad.

I can tell by looking at your pictures that FALL is on the way--or there in some cases.

Hope you don't see any Mountain Lions while out there.
Hugs,
Betsy

betchai said...

wow, there are just a lot of people walking there Diane, I love your pictures. yes, the saguaro with so many arm buds look so different, unusual but very beautiful.

Gaelyn said...

Ah, a walk in the desert. Be glad you haven't seen a cougar. Seems they come out at dawn and dusk most frequently. I really like the saguaro with the many budding arms. I'm looking forward to a walk in the desert soon.

Ezhilan said...

I like these beautiful canyon photos.The tree stump like cactus looks interesting over the mountainside.The funnel shaped Ocotillo with leaves on it's stem looks strange to me.It looks like a welcome message board to the canyon.

Julie said...

What a gorgeous place to walk and get exercise and sunshine!!! WOW!!!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful place - thanks for sharing your photos. I love the Teddy bear cholla - so beautiful!

Stephanie said...

Teddy bear cholla, the name is too cute for that spiky guy he he... The place looks good for recreation. I would love to take a walk there too. Happy Monday!

Salitype said...

it is such a dream place for a walk, look at those people enjoying the walk and the view....fantastic!

not everyone has the priviledge to such view. me? i am happy exploring places thru other's lenses...

have a lovely day!

eng

kesslerdee said...

Great pictures- the weather is just perfect for walks!

TR Ryan said...

Beautiful! But running in lion country is never a good idea! Last week I hiked six miles into a waterfall and as just as I was beginning to walk back - there were fresh lion tracks. You know that feeling you are being watched the whole time! I kept my backpack on and my binos and camera around my neck - trying to go for the "looks much bigger" look.

Where is Sabino Canyon exactly? I am headed to southeast Arizona next week and can't wait. The birders say I've missed the best part of the year - but it looks from these photos not at all!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It definitely does look like summer there Diane. Those mountain lions are like our leopards, very secretive and never seen in places.

Diane AZ said...

T.R. - Sabino Canyon is just north of Tucson. At 7:00AM it was very hot and bright. I'm not a birder, but I did notice fewer birds than usual. It seems that since the saguaro fruits are gone so are the white-winged doves.

Warren said...

I particularly like your "going over the hill" photo, very nice!

[Its so hard to plan for the earth's rotation during a hike, isn't it? Good thing we have gravity! *smile*]

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Safety in numbers they say. What an assortment of cacti. I wouldn't want to cuddle with that teddy bear. HCM.

Tes said...

Looks as if you guys really had fun! Love the photos of the desert - lovely! The cactus are so pretty, especially the saguaro with lotsa arms! Nice weather you've got there!

marianne said...

What a nice and hot walk that must have been......
Lovely pictures!

HCM!

Jen said...

I'll be out there next month ~~I hope to try and visit the canyon, if no then we will at Christmas.
I think I heard rain fall was down about 3 inches from last year.
Great pitures, thanks for the walk.

penny said...

I enjoying seeing your beautiful photos, Diane. Its easy to forget how much beauty there is in the western deserts.
It takes me back to my childhood in Tucson.
Thanks for the wonderful journey.
Pam :D

Unseen India Tours said...

Beautiful shot and lovely cactus !! This is so beautiful !!Unseen Rajasthan

deedee said...

Love the picture of the cactus with new budding "arms." Happy Cactus Monday (on Tuesday).

Prospero said...

Very pleasant vicarious walk through the desert for me - The third to last shot is really engaging. What a glorious desert you have!

Martha Z said...

It looks like that is the "in" place to be early on a Saturday morn. I'm surprised that there are any cactus blooming still. Fall weather will soon be here and you will not have to get out so early.

yoon see said...

Sorry to be late Diane.
I love the 1st, 4th and 6th photos a lot. There are a great amount of colour contrast and great details here.
Walking is a good exercise . Pacing and enjoy the scenery is the most relaxed pleasure in life.
How long was the walk?
Ha..ha..You all discover unique stuff along way.
Really worth it.

Diane AZ said...

Since we stopped to take pictures, it took us over two hours to walk only one mile in and back.

Kevin said...

The canyon looks more inviting all the time. I'm going to try and visit this spring when I'm down there.

Teri said...

Wonderful cacti photos. It is so good to see them in person now that I am here.

HBCM

Unknown said...

oh what spectacular cactuses!

TR Ryan said...

You live in the most magnificent place in the world - and I should know!!

yoon see said...

:) Your posts are always so inspiring! Thanks Diane:)