Esperero Trail in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Near-record monsoon rains have turned Sabino Canyon into a desert oasis.
Sabino Creek Dam — HDR Image by kenne
Archive for the ‘Monsoon rains’ Tag
The Greening of Sabino Canyon 2 comments
Panoramic View From The Patio Leave a comment
Panoramic View From The Patio After Monsoon Rains — Photo-Artistry by kenne
clouds hug the mountains
after monsoon rains move on
my heart leaps with joy
— kenne
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Texas Ranger (Purple Sage) Blossoming Leave a comment
Texas Ranger (Purple Sage) Blossoming in Tanuri Ridge after Recent Monsoon Rains — Image by kenne
“Where I was raised a woman’s word was law.
I ain’t quite outgrowed that yet.”
― Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
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Remaining Clouds After Monsoon Rains 1 comment
Remaining Clouds After Two Days of Monsoon Rains — Image by kenne
some clouds hang around
after days of monsoon rains
hang on or let go
— kenne
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Don’t Get A Stupid Driver Fine 4 comments
A Flash Flood From The Past (09/08/14) — Image by kenne
Where we live, flash floods
are common during late summer,
but not this summer of little rain.
We live off of River Road,
a two-lane desert road
with low-water crossings.
Driving in a monsoon storm
requires extra vigilance in a
state with a stupid driver law.
— kenne
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Ten Years Ago When We Had A Monsoon Season 1 comment
In 2010 we experience our first Sonoran Desert monsoon season. There was lots of rain, wind and lightning.
This year’s monsoon season has been a nonsoon! So far we have had only 2 inches of rain.
This weekend’s forecast was for heavy rains and flash flooding — somebody stole our rain!
So, for this monsoon season the best I can do is revisit an August 31, 2010 posting. — kenne
Catalina Foothills, Tucson, Arizona — image by kenne
During this summer’s rainy season, many storms have provided much-needed rain to southern Arizona. However, when it comes to rainfall, not all areas are treated equally. We had received little rain till the other evening, so when the rain began, it was a time to rejoice. So much is special about the desert. I wrote a poem and produced a video. You can read the poem below and/or in the video.
Desert’s Rainy Season
Desert’s rainy season is
A product of summer highs
Mixed with atmosphere lows
Bringing a refreshing brief break
To her blue-skied summer heat
Desert’s wide-open spaces
Provide panoramic views
Showcasing threatening clouds
Only too often breakup
Before reaching your sky
Welcoming rains come
Only at Desert’s well
Playing havoc with forecasters
Never seeming to learn
She does not keep time
Wind shaking the trees,
Olive, palo verde and mesquite
Shadowed by rains wetness
Shining with each lightning flash
While drinking of life’s fountain
Olives falling from twisted branches
Rolled by wind over wet flagstones
Pounding rain leaving behind puddles
As rainwater exits through openings
In old pueblo walls
Wind chimes dance wildly
Ringing out in nervous joy
Desert’s unlocked sounds
Composing a melodic refrain
Proclaiming Desert’s delight
— kenne
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One Hell Of A Wind Storm Late Yesterday 5 comments
Usually, this time of year, when the temperatures are over 100 degrees, we start getting some monsoon rains.
So, yesterday when the dark clouds began moving in we would get some rain, and we did.
But only after some strong winds, reminding us much of a coming hurricane on the gulf coast.
Usually, wind gust in the desert doesn’t blow off the green olives on our patio tree,
but they did yesterday.
As the front moved through, we started to get some rain.
We received about one-quarter inch, the first rain in two months.
Images by kenne
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Sunrise At Sabino Dam Leave a comment
Sunrise at Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Dam — Image by kenne
Typically this time of year, there is no water coming over the dam
till the monsoon rains later this month through August. — kenne
*****
The river- was, but died away,
leaving behind sand and stone,
a dry river bed.
The river that once led the way,
To Rameses throne,
Has no more life- dead.
The river from which reeds grew and swayed,
now dead and gone,
all that’s left-a dry river bed.
The river that was marvelous by day,
and treacherous once the sun was gone,
is now but a dri river bed.
The river- beautiful, no words could say,
left behind – just a dry river bed.
— Esnala Banda
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We Haven’t Seen Clouds Like These For Some Time 3 comments
We Haven’t Seen Clouds Like These For Some Time — Image by kenne
Rain in the mountains
Summer monsoons months away
How will I make it?
— kenne
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Monsoon Lightning Over the Catalinas 2 comments
Monsoon Lightning Over the Catalinas — Image by kenne
The monsoon is here
Waves of precipitation
Greening the desert.
— kenne
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Star Power Leave a comment
“Star Power” Silverpuff Blossom In the Santa Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
Islands in the sky
High above the desert floor
Share the monsoon rains.
— kenne
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Looking for Sonoran Toads in Sabino Canyon 2 comments
The monsoon rains bring new life to the Sonoran Desert. This past week has experienced some very good rain fall, especially in the mountains. The start of the monsoon season brings out the Sonoran toads, but they breed in water, and even with the recent rains we have had several months of no rain and Sabino Creek remains dry. The above photo was taken this morning, but based on sighting a few miles up the creek, there maybe water flowing over the dam by night fall.
Down from the dam, there are few pools of water that Jeanne, Dan and I explored this morning and found some toads. The mating season will last only a few days, so with more rain expected today and tomorrow, and with water coming down the creek, the toads will probably be very active the next couple of days.
— kenne
Images by kenne
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. . . I would stand, 1 comment
Monsoon Rain at Sunset in Tanuri Ridge — Image by kenne
. . . I would stand,
If the night blackened with a coming storm,
Beneath some rock, listening to notes that are
The ghostly language of the ancient earth,
Or make their dim abode in distant winds.
Thence did I drink the visionary power;
And deem not profitless those fleeting moods
Of shadowy exultation: not for this,
That they are kindred to our purer mind
And intellectual life; but that the soul,
Remembering how she felt, but what she felt
Remembering not, retains an obscure sense
Of possible sublimity. . . .
— William Wordsworth
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White-winged Dove After The Rain 2 comments
White-winged Dove after the rain — Images by kenne
Outside, I watched her
moving in a nearby tree
after rains ended.
— kenne
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Sabino Canyon Panorama after Monsoon Rains, #2 Leave a comment
Sabino Canyon Panorama after Monsoon Rains, #2 (August 9, 2016) Image by kenne
They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars – on stars where no human race is.
I have it in me so much nearer home
To scare myself with my own desert places.
— from Desert Places by Robert Frost
Becoming is Superior to Being 