This time of year if you are going to spend time in Sabino Canyon, it needs to be early in the morning. It doesn’t take long before the temperature can be in the triple digits — yes, this is Tucson, Arizona.
For a lot of us who love spending time outdoors and hiking, this time of year most of our time is spent up on Mt. Lemmon. Couple that with my trying to spend more time with Joy, except for checking the mail and an occasional meeting, I haven’t been in the canyon lately.
So, this morning after a little jog in the neighborhood, I headed over to Sabino Canyon where I went on an hour and a half hike in and effort to relieve my guilt.
We are still early in the desert monsoon season, so signs of the heat and dry air are everywhere. (Barrel cactus)
Sabino creek is dry . . .
. . . and the area above the dam looks like a beach.
Down stream from the dam rocks minis water flowing over and around them have taken on different colors.
Even so, there is still plenty of live in the canyon, here two squirrels are cooling themselves in the shade at the creek dam.
Here a busy ground squirrel checking me out before retreating into his cool den.
A late-blooming Saguaro can occasionally be found.
Desert Marigolds . . .
. . . attracting butterflies.
A gall produced by flies that inhabit creosote bushes.
An ocotillo leafed out from an early July rain.
Another ocotillo surrounded by prickly pear cactus whose fruit is beginning to turn red.
Prickly pear fruit.
Still, often under austere conditions, life goes on. (White–winged Dove)
The harshness of this land causes many to see the Sonoran desert to be a wasteland.
Those who have experienced the beauty of this amazing desert know it is not, but if left unprotected, it can become a man-made wasteland.
— kenne
Among all the geographic areas of the United States, the Southwest in general
and Arizona in particular is blessed with a panoramic beauty that almost defies description.
Only a limited number of poets, painters, and photographers
have been able to do justice to her splendor.
— Marshall Trimble, Arizona: A Panoramic History of a Frontier State, 1977
Fantastic shots! I’ve been to this canyon before, and you are very brave to visit in the summertime. Early, like you mentioned is a must! Beauty all around. I particularly like the picture of the flowering cactus and the shot of the butterfly. All are gorgeous in their own right. Thank you.
Thanks for the comment. We are still waiting for more rain in the canyon. Meanwhile, back to hiking on Mt. Lemmon tomorrow.
Hoping the rain will come for you. Love Mt. Lemmon in the wintertime too! So beautiful there. 🙂
You comment is most appreciated.
Fantastic captures: thanks for sharing. Keeping my fingers crossed for some rain for you.
Thank you.
Your photos are so professional. If you visit my blog, you’ll see many of the same..but not with a fancy camera. Loved your post and yes…gotta go in the AM.
Yes, I enjoy the quality of your site.
Thank you for the peaceful photo essay, kenne. It is hard to be on a Sabino “summer restricted diet.”
Thanks, Debbie.
Thanks for taking me on a beautiful walk in the desert. It brought back so many memories of times spent camping there. Your pictures are outstanding as always.
It is always my pleasure to share this land that means so my to many of us.