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Spring time in the desert brings out the cactus blooms along the Colorado River near Moab, Utah.
Getting ready for 2018 by processing photos i took in 2017.
Beautiful Beavertail Cactus in bloom, Valley of Fire Nevada State Park last spring.
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This afternoon, I decided, on the spur of the moment, to add the last nine photos from Day 9 of our 13-day birding trip to South Texas. Then, next time, I can finally start on Day 10.
Sunday, 2 February 2020: our temperature is a slightly chilly -9C (windchill -11C). Sunrise is at 8:11 am, and sunset is at 5:29 pm. The sun is shining this morning, after maybe two or three inches of freshly fallen snow last night.
The 8 photos I have posted today were taken on Day 9 of our 13-day birding trip to South Texas, in March 2019. Not a very inspiring set of images, but I want to be able to include them in my South Texas albums. I still have a few more uninspiring images to upload, but then I will get to bird photos on Day 10. I won't be going on holiday anywhere this year, but really want to finish off this trip as soon as I can. The first few photos from Day 9 were added months ago. Please bear with me while I add all these poor quality images.
On Day 9, we had an early start from Mission, so caught the beautiful sunrise. Unfortunately, my photos had to be taken from back in the vehicle, and through the windshield. Poor quality, but I posted them for the record a few months ago..
The approximate distance between Mission and Brownsville, where we were heading, is 106 km (65.8 miles) and travel time 1 hr 04 mins, travelling along US 83 and US 77. We stopped when we reached the western edge of Brownsville to visit the Resaca de la Palma State Park. The photos from this location were posted a few months ago.
"Resaca de la Palma State Park is one of three state parks belonging to the World Birding Center and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. At 1,200 acres, Resaca de la Palma State Park is the largest of the World Birding Center sites and is located in Brownsville. The property was acquired by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1977 and was opened to the public in December 2008. A resaca is a type of oxbow lake that can be found in Texas, and is a former channel of the Rio Grande. It is naturally cut off from the river, having no inlet or outlet.
The World Birding Center is the official title given to a combined nine parks and nature preserves in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas managed by a partnership of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the local communities in which the parks reside." From Wikipedia.
The six images posted this morning were all taken at the Visitor's Centre at Laguna Atascosa, our next stop of the day. This National Wildlife Refuge opened in 1946.
"The Laguna Atascosis National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The 98,000-acre (400 km2) refuge is located almost entirely in Cameron County, Texas (near Harlingen), although a very small part of its northernmost point extends into southern Willacy County.
The Peregrine Fund began reintroducing captive-bred northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) to the refuge in 1985, which had been nearly extirpated from the Southwestern United States; today, it is home to 26 pairs. Nine other endangered or threatened species inhabit the refuge, such as the Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens) and Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi cacomitli), rare wild cats.[3] Programs at the refuge include vegetation and wetland restoration." From Wikipedia.
We started our visit at the Visitor Centre, where there are a number of displays, including mounted Screech Owls, a Greater Roadrunner, and an Aplomado Falcon. The Refuge is on the coast, across the Laguna Madre from South Padre Island. We checked out the view from the edge of the Laguna Atascosa, but saw very little. I seem to remember there was a tiny speck out on the water - a Pied-billed Grebe, I think. Also a distant flock of White Ibis on the ground. We ate our lunch while enjoying the view, stopping just to take a few photos of a large, black beetle. At the Centre, we had been told about a pair of Screech Owls that were nesting in a cavity in a fence post. Despite quietly taking photos of the round cavity, we still aren't sure if what we were seeing was the top of an owl head and ears, or just the texture of the wood inside the cavity.
The last place we visited on this day, on our drive north, was the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park.
"Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park near Brownsville, Texas is a National Park Service unit which preserves the grounds of the May 8, 1846, Battle of Palo Alto. It was the first major conflict in a border dispute that soon precipitated the MexicanāAmerican War. The United States Army victory here made the invasion of Mexico possible. The historic site portrays the battle and the war, and its causes and consequences, from the perspectives of both the United States and Mexico." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palo_Alto_Battlefield_National_Hist...
We spotted this plains prickly pear cactus in bloom at Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota.
Photo by Kimberly Emerson/USFWS.
Does everyone who visits Sonoma know about the giant cactus hedge near Friedman's Hardware? Well, it's in bloom now.
While many wildflowers have begun to fade, there is still time to enjoy the last spring season blooms at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Since Red Spring had so much to offer the prior week, we decided to return in hopes of seeing more wildflowers. As we traveled along State Route 159, we spotted the deep purple flowers of the Indigo Bush. These were in full bloom, while at Red Spring this same plant was just catching up.
Once we arrived at Red Spring, we noticed the Joshua Tree flowers had disappeared. Even though these giant white blooms of the Joshua Tree have passed, they have left an abundance of fruit behind. In the same area, the Creosote also displayed cotton-like fruit, as well as tiny yellow flowers. As we continued along the trail, we saw nearby in an outcrop of Shinarump conglomerate (highly resistant course-grained sandstone and pebble mix) with numerous Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus in bloom, as well as tiny purple-colored flowers of the Range Ratany. We also visited Red Spring once more to see the Pretty Shooting Stars fading, but in their absence St. George Blue-eyed Grass was thriving. Saving the best for last, we came upon a disturbed hillside to find the delicate white flowers of the Desert Bearpoppy. This wildflower is a definite rare treat with it being listed as a species of conservation concern. Worried that the harsh winds may have broken the delicate fuzzy stems, we were happy to see that the new blooms had withstood the haphazard weather. Other blooms in the area include Amsonia, Scarlet Guara, Paperflower and a purple Globemallow.
As the temperatures begin to rise, the chance to see these unique flowers will be coming to an end, so be sure to get out and enjoy them while you can!
Photo by by Leah Daniel/BLM/2013
While many wildflowers have begun to fade, there is still time to enjoy the last spring season blooms at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Since Red Spring had so much to offer the prior week, we decided to return in hopes of seeing more wildflowers. As we traveled along State Route 159, we spotted the deep purple flowers of the Indigo Bush. These were in full bloom, while at Red Spring this same plant was just catching up.
Once we arrived at Red Spring, we noticed the Joshua Tree flowers had disappeared. Even though these giant white blooms of the Joshua Tree have passed, they have left an abundance of fruit behind. In the same area, the Creosote also displayed cotton-like fruit, as well as tiny yellow flowers. As we continued along the trail, we saw nearby in an outcrop of Shinarump conglomerate (highly resistant course-grained sandstone and pebble mix) with numerous Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus in bloom, as well as tiny purple-colored flowers of the Range Ratany. We also visited Red Spring once more to see the Pretty Shooting Stars fading, but in their absence St. George Blue-eyed Grass was thriving. Saving the best for last, we came upon a disturbed hillside to find the delicate white flowers of the Desert Bearpoppy. This wildflower is a definite rare treat with it being listed as a species of conservation concern. Worried that the harsh winds may have broken the delicate fuzzy stems, we were happy to see that the new blooms had withstood the haphazard weather. Other blooms in the area include Amsonia, Scarlet Guara, Paperflower and a purple Globemallow.
As the temperatures begin to rise, the chance to see these unique flowers will be coming to an end, so be sure to get out and enjoy them while you can!
Photo by Chelise Simmons/BLM/2013
Shot with a Canon Canonet QL17 G3
Canon 40mm f/1.7 lens
Derev Pan 400 film
Shot at EI 200
Developed in the Ego Lab using XTOL (1:1, 10:27 min at 76F, agitating first and each minute)
Scanned on a Coolscan 9000ED
Beavertail Cactus in dry wash along CA HWY 190 in Death Valley National Park, California, USA
21 Mar 2016
Walking Stick or Cane Cholla ( Source: www.nps.gov/band/historyculture/native-plant-use.htm )
People often mistake the yellowish-green fruit of this plant with the plant's flower bud. However, if you ever saw the cactus in bloom with its bright pink flowers the difference would be obvious. Historically cholla was considered a famine food, eaten only when food was especially scarce. However, during prehistoric times it is likely cholla was a food staple. The fruit could be eaten raw or dried for use during the winter. The stalks could be eaten once the thorns were removed. Cholla buds are rich in calcium. Amazingly, a two tablespoon serving contains only a few calories but as much calcium as a glass of milk. Milk was not available to Ancestral Pueblo people beyond infancy.
A barrel cactus with four blooms at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum State Park just west of Superior, AZ. The shadow on the right is that of an agave.
Access all cactus photos at Cactaceae album @
Shot with a VoigtlƤnder Perkeo II
80mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar lens
Ilford HP5+ film
Shot at EI 400
Developed in Rodinal (1:25, 3:39 min, agitated first and each minute at 79F)
Scanned on a Coolscan 9000
Cactus in Bloom -- Sony a99II & Minolta Maxxum AF 50 2.8 macro, and a h/t to LrC -- Tucson, Arizona USA
1. Speak no evil See no evil Hear no evil., 2. For Perle., 3. LL day 2 030, 4. Sleepy Baby., 5. Crocus., 6. Mammoth Cave Deer., 7. Kentucky Sunrise., 8. GREAT BRITAIN 1843., 9. Ducks on the pond., 10. Snowy White Egret., 11. American Bald Eagle., 12. Yesterday's Gone., 13. Bridge Reflection., 14. Doe at Park HFF!, 15. A Place To Sit., 16. Duck On The Water...., 17. Red Spotted Purple Butterfly..., 18. Early Morning On Green River., 19. The Watcher., 20. Red Headed Woodpecker., 21. GASTONIA, 22. Day Lily., 23. Abandoned House., 24. Abandoned House., 25. Kentucky Sunrise., 26. Friendships can light up the world., 27. Redwing Black Bird., 28. Female Common Whitetail Dragonfly., 29. Fuel Run., 30. Morning Cloak., 31. German Mary Kay Car?, 32. Bumble Bee., 33. Eastern Blue Bird., 34. Box Turtle., 35. Wonder Of Nature., 36. North American Robin., 37. Old Fire Truck., 38. Red Hardy Waterlily., 39. My Solar Eclips Attempt., 40. Bug Talk., 41. Let There Be Light., 42. Mourning Dove On The Nest., 43. First Lillies., 44. 65 Impala Convertible., 45. Chain Rock at Pine Mountain Kentucky., 46. Prickly Pear Cactus in Bloom., 47. A Rose For Momma., 48. Above the Fog., 49. Nice Old Ford., 50. Roadside Diner., 51. Red Wolf., 52. Bee on Wisteria., 53. Black-crowned Night Heron., 54. Rusty Ford., 55. Blue Skimmer., 56. Mysterious Growth., 57. Frog Reflection., 58. Red Rose., 59. Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly., 60. Cat Bird., 61. Mallard., 62. Yesterday's Sunrise., 63. Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly., 64. Shot From Above., 65. Is The Grass Always Greener.HFF, 66. Ever wonder where turtle doves come from?, 67. Old Incinerator., 68. Natural Bridge., 69. Balanced Rock., 70. Anyone Want To Fly North With Me?, 71. Nature's Abstract., 72. Mowing Machine.
Parodia chrysacanthion, native from South America is a very beautiful globular cactus. Yellows flowers appear in late winter.
While many wildflowers have begun to fade, there is still time to enjoy the last spring season blooms at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Since Red Spring had so much to offer the prior week, we decided to return in hopes of seeing more wildflowers. As we traveled along State Route 159, we spotted the deep purple flowers of the Indigo Bush. These were in full bloom, while at Red Spring this same plant was just catching up.
Once we arrived at Red Spring, we noticed the Joshua Tree flowers had disappeared. Even though these giant white blooms of the Joshua Tree have passed, they have left an abundance of fruit behind. In the same area, the Creosote also displayed cotton-like fruit, as well as tiny yellow flowers. As we continued along the trail, we saw nearby in an outcrop of Shinarump conglomerate (highly resistant course-grained sandstone and pebble mix) with numerous Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus in bloom, as well as tiny purple-colored flowers of the Range Ratany. We also visited Red Spring once more to see the Pretty Shooting Stars fading, but in their absence St. George Blue-eyed Grass was thriving. Saving the best for last, we came upon a disturbed hillside to find the delicate white flowers of the Desert Bearpoppy. This wildflower is a definite rare treat with it being listed as a species of conservation concern. Worried that the harsh winds may have broken the delicate fuzzy stems, we were happy to see that the new blooms had withstood the haphazard weather. Other blooms in the area include Amsonia, Scarlet Guara, Paperflower and a purple Globemallow.
As the temperatures begin to rise, the chance to see these unique flowers will be coming to an end, so be sure to get out and enjoy them while you can!
Photo by Chelise Simmons/BLM/2013