Surphur Butterflies on Creosole Bush Blossoms In Sabino Canyon (July 27, 2021) — Images by kenne
The recent monsoon rains have greened up the canyon, bringing out a lot of butterflies. Unfortunately, I only had my 18-70 mm lens, so trying to photograph the mostly surphur butterflies became challenging.
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) Blossom in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Very little rain in Sabino Canyon hasn’t stopped the cycles of life from taking place. Most of the year, Ocotillos look like a bunch of gray sticks. But in the spring, are during the summer monsoon season, the sticks leaf out. However, the red flame blossoms only happen in the spring.
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) Leaves — Image by kenne
Fouquieria splendens is a plant indigenous to the Sonoran Desert in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. While semi-succulent and a desert plant, Ocotillo is more closely related to tea and blueberries than cactuses. Source: Wikipedia
On Thursday of this past week, Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists were teaching two first grade classes about predator and prey in a program we call “Now You See It.” My responsibility for the month of April is to coordinate the Thursday schedule with the teachers. Once the children are in the canyon, my job is one of “managing by walking around.”
While in the riparian area near the creek and dam I could hear a nearby cooper’s hawk. Following the sound, I spotted him on a dead limb high above the creek where he had caught a small bird. What a “real time” example of predator and prey for the day’s lesson. What follows are images and a video of the encounter, which I shared with the children.
— kenne
(Click on any of the tiled images for a larger view in a slideshow format.)
Cooper’s Hawk Images and Video by kenne
Predator And Prey — Cooper’s Hawk
The varying modes of flight exhibited by our diurnal birds of prey have always been to me a subject of great interest, especially as by means of them I have found myself enabled to distinguish one species from another, to the farthest extent of my power of vision.
Lower Sabino Canyon from Phoneline Trail with View of Tucson In The Background — Panorama image by kenne
Time’s Body
—in the middle of the beginning they woke you from a long sleep;
you could see the edges of the world being formed, the boundaries space would make in its eagerness to be included,
the problem time would have in its need to be the main thing.
The source of life is not life but rebellion toward meaning.
When you saw the workers were already busy, that the list you’rd been handed was usual and impossible and held it all, and thin or most, your will strong as a paper clip
you needed a location from which to act on your assigned nature
so you chose time: seed of light, seed of torment—
Spending a morning with Girl Scout Brownies in Sabino Canyon — Image by Scout Mom
“We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole.”
— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Bee On a Lyreleaf Jewelflower (March 3, 2016 in Sabino Canyon) — Images by kenne
These vase-shaped buds have pedals giving a tassel effect to the top of each bud,
opening just enough for bees and other pollinators to get inside the bud. This desert
wildflower has a tall slender stem and was photographed near Sabino Creek
in Sabino Canyon.
kenne
“If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.”
This little guy was busy gathering elegant lupine within a two foot radius of her den. She would slink out, nip a lupine and back straight back into her hole in the ground.A sensitive tail helps her feel her way as it runs backwards into her hole. (Click here for more information.)
New SCVN Naturalists and Their Mentors Wrap-up Training(January 11, 2016) — Image by kenne
The temperature was near thirty-two degrees at the Cactus Picnic Area in Sabino Canyon where the final day of training was scheduled. After spending time demonstrating some of their new skills, the new naturalists were treated to a surprise party at Rattlesnake Canyon Picnic Area near Sabino creek.
Graduation will take place this coming Saturday (January 16, 2016).
Lower Sabino Canyon Landscape Photos by kenne (September 4, 2015)
“There was another America out there that remained unsung; a rawer, more primitive America, where the spirit had not been tamed by the restless machine of modern materialism.”