Intense Drought In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
The Sonoran Desert
known for its biodiversity
having two rainy seasons
the summer monsoon
and winter rainy season
now experiencing drought.
Normal drought conditions
made worse by La Niña
event reducing rainfall.
Many native plants are dying
vegetation green-up is poor
during this intense drought.
— kenne
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
Desert Chicory Wildflowers and Bee — Image by kenne
— kenne
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
— John James Audubon
American Stout Butterfly — Grunge Art by kenne
— kenne
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—
— Brenda Hillman
In Your Face, Dude (Desert Spiny Lizard) — Computer Art by kenne
— kenne
Spending a morning with Girl Scout Brownies in Sabino Canyon — Image by Scout Mom
— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Carpenter Bee On A Mesquite Tree Blossom (April 1, 2016) — Image by kenne
— from Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho
Saguaro Blossoms In Sabino Canyon — Images by kenne
— kenne
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
― Maurice Maeterlinck, The Life of the Bee
Botta’s Pocket Gopher — Images by kenne
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.)
kenne
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).
kenne
Lower Sabino Canyon Landscape Photos by kenne (September 4, 2015)
— Jack Kerouac
