When the sun rises over the mountains, the air is still cool, meaning that by the end of the day, when the sun has crossed the main ridge and gives light to the other side the air is hot and dry. This means that trees growing on the northeast face of any given mountains flourish, while the southwest face is generally left barren-
there are, however, always a few brave tufts of foliage who dare to challenge the infernal heat and survive.
Before moving to Tucson in June of 2010, I had never seen an Eastern Collared Lizard. This image was taken on April 9, 2011. The colors are impressive. — kenne
“Every man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds…
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore.
Dream.
Discover.” – Mark Twain (1835-1910)
The days blur as we self-quarantine, to make less work for others. The days blur, the spot on the floor next to my bed, my feet land with a thud and I am IT director, chef, housekeeper, nurse, and tele-worker all before 9am. The days blur, my hand on backs, foreheads, my ears alert for coughing, thermometer at the hip like a gunslinger. The days blur, I touch my husband, so I don’t forget what it feels like. The days blur from rain or crying, the world a watery vision framed by window panes. The days blur until it’s midnight, 1am—I’ve waited out the cacophony of children for a silence smothered in anxiety. Privilege is a house, the hum of a deep freezer, a steady job. The days blur and my waistband expands as my mind frays, needing a hem. The days blur and the wound I am oozes, the scab yet to start. The days blur and racists fight for the right to be served—humanity is a bauble and capitalism has slashed the price. The days blur as COVID types its initials on a new high score and doctors adjust the margins. The days blur and when I finally walk out my door, the world will be less, not more.
Cactus Blossom In The Utah Desert — Image by kenne
I dream of a quiet man who explains nothing and defends nothing, but only knows where the rarest wildflowers are blooming, and who goes, and finds that he is smiling not by his own will.
“Canyonlands has more than 80 natural arches but arch hunters often bypass this park in favor of its neighbor, Arches National Park. Canyonlands’ most famous arch is Mesa Arch in Willow Flat in the Island in the Sky District. It’s a favorite place to watch the sunrise and photograph the night skies.” Source — myutahparks.com
Even though the southwest is experiencing a mega drought, nature finds a way to continue life cycles.
“Drought conditions in the West, particularly the desert Southwest, have intensified over the past 45 years, with less precipitation and longer and more frequent dry spells between storms. The Southwestern deserts that include Tucson were slammed the hardest by far.” Arizona Daily Star
