This summer, the Big Horn Fire caused so much damage to the National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains remains closed to the public. Therefore, hiking and photographing wildflowers in the Catalinas will not be in 2020, which provides a good excuse to revisit some wildflower photos over the past ten summers.
Honeybee on Sneezeweed Blossom (07/30/14, Mt. Lemmon) — Image by kenne
WATERMARK
In every desert, travelers have dried up in the sun, with shallow wells of water right below them. perhaps they left too soon, too young, too desperate to run towards something or away from something else.
Perhaps they hadn’t learned the way to read the tiny trails, the watermarks remaining from a people who have gone, whose hieroglyphs translate — in the direction is a spring of sweet water. Look for it. Or is it, listen?
My home was at Cold Mountain from the start,
Rambling among the hills, far from trouble.
Gone, and a million things leave no trace
Loose, and it flows through the galaxies
A fountain of light, into the very mind—
Not a thing, and yet it appears before me:
Now I know the pearl of the Buddha-nature
Know its use: a boundless perfect sphere.
Honey Bee On London Rocket Wildflower — Image by kenne
The London Rocket is a naturalized weed native to Europe. It is most common in riparian areas, fields, drainage ditches, and in vacant lots. Because of the timing of desert winter rains this year, this weed seems to be everywhere. “The common name ‘London rocket’ comes from its abundance after the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was also noticed on bomb sites after the Blitz.”
Hooker’s Evening Primrose (December 12, 2016) — Image by kenne
It has been warmer than average for this time of year.
Except for a few small pools of water, Sabino Creek is dry.
Yet, above the Sabino Dam, a bee and I found this lone
Hooker’s Evening Primrose — a very pleasant surprise.
Honey Bee On Arizona Fleabane — Digital Art by kenne
Silverpuff Blossom and Honey Bee — Image by kenne
Honey Bee On Elegant Lupin — Image by kenne
Bee On Camphorweed — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Honey Bee On London Rocket Wildflower — Image by kenne
Bee On Silverpuff Blossom — Image by kenne
“Can’t Get Enough of You” Honey Bee Hugging One of the Richardson Geranium Stamen — Image by kenne
Ragleaf Bahia Wildflower and Honey Bee — Image by kenne
“. . . again I encounter” — Image by kenne
Fairy Duster Wildflower and Visiting Bee — Images by kenne
Hooker’s Evening Primrose (December 12, 2016) — Image by kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 