Monsoon Sunset — Image by kenne
With just a few days left in July, Tucson has already received 5.71 inches of rain, making this the fourth-wettest July.
I have recorded 7 inches on our patio in the Catalina Foothills. This amount of rain will help Southern Arizona recover
from the ongoing drought, improving from a D4-exceptional drought to a D3-extreme drought (National Weather Service).
There are indications that monsoon activity will start uo again toward the end of the week.
White-lined Sphinx Moth — Image by kenne
Interesting creature —
is it a bird, a plane or
a white-lined sphinx moth?
— kenne
Spread Your Wings (Two-tailed Swallowtail) — image by kenne
resting on a leaf
she spreads her beautiful wings
getting attention
— kenne
‘Weed’ On the Patio — Photo-Artistry by kenne
I have subscribed to The New Yorker for years and find it helpful to see things from different perspectives; some I like, some I don’t. Many great writers, some of which I agree with, some I don’t. It’s all a matter of perspective, which is what this poem is all about — It’s only boogie-woogie.
BOOGIE-WOOGIE
You shout from the other room
You ask me how to spell boogie-woogie
And instantly I think what luck
no war has been declared
no fire has consumed
our city’s monuments
our bodies our dwellings
The fiver didn’t flood
no friends
have been arrested
It’s only boogie-woogie
I sign relieved
and say it’s spelled just as it sounds
boogie-woogie
— Adam Zagajewski (The New Yorker, July 5, 2021)
Bottlebrush Flower — Image by kenne
— kenne
Little Potted Cactus On The Patio — Image by kenne
“Its object of desire being infinite, art’s movement will
never cease to be carried perpetually forward, for it
will never discover a limit to what it seeks.”
— Saint Gregory of Nyassa
Succulent Graveyard (Normally drought resistant plants having trouble surviving.) — Images by kenne
When we moved to Tucson eleven years ago, a small patch of succulents (a type of aloe) grew on the rocky slope next to the house. I have not watered them, but the past year we have had very little rain; many have died, and those not dead the tips have dried up in an attempt to save the plant. There were no flowers this spring.
So, I decided to pull up each plant. For several days I spent early mornings pulling up each aloe plant. Now I have to bag what remains.
— kenne
Oleander Blossoms — Tiled Gallery by kenne
— Leontyne Price
Sunday Morning Quail Walk (Gambel’s quail – Callipepla gambelii)– Photo-Essay by kenne
(Click On Any Image For A Larger View In A Slideshow Format)
As quail families go, this is a small family — two chicks and two adults
(the male is not pictured because of his scout position).
This family was probably much larger at one time since the female may lay six to nine eggs.
Snakes and other predators may eat the eggs before they hatch,
and survival doesn’t get much better as little chicks.
— kenne
Bougainvillea Blossom — Photo-Artistry by kenne
— kenne
Cactus Blossom — Photo-Artistry by kenne
— kenne
The Yellow Rose of Arizona (Prickly Pear Blossom) — Image by kenne
May brings on a bounty of cactus blossoms, and among them is the yellow prickly pear blossom,
our “yellow rose of Arizona.”
— Kenne
Tanque Verde Wash Tail — Photo Essay by kenne
(Click On Any Image To See In A Slideshow Format
I have been walking the trails along the Tanque Verde Wash for over ten years,
taking many photos of the art and still have no idea who is the artist(s) —
for me, it’s a mystery.
— kenne
Palo Verde Blossoms — Image by kenne
Interesting Facts About the Palo Verde Tree:
— The Arizona state tree
— The name in Spanish means “green stick”
— Can live to be over 100 years old
— Can grow up to 30 feet
— Cause few or no allergy symptoms
— The flowers and seeds are edible
— The primary nursing plant for baby saguaros
Cowpen Daisy — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Last Thursday (May 5, 2021), I posted a photo of the lone wildflower (Cowpen Daisy) on a trail along the Tanque
Verde Wash between Sabino Canyon Road and Craycroft Road. Our community, Tanuri Ridge, is located north of the
wash, where I sometimes walk over four miles up and back along the wash. This is an art piece from the photo.
A good friend commented on the May 5th posting; “These solo gifts, especially, should be celebrated!” With this art posting, I celebrate it again.
— kenne
