Male Phainopepla High in a Mesquite Tree — Image by kenne
The phainopepla sits in the mesquite
like a drop of ink that refused to dry.
My naturalist mentor would say
some creatures are born already knowing
how to keep their shine.
When it lifts,
white flashes beneath its wings—
a secret lining
only shown in motion.
— kenne
Ed Rawl Photographing Birdbill Dayflowers (08/29/2014) — Image by kenne
I remember those trails with Ed,
the Santa Catalinas rising around us,
their air thin with pine and sun.
He would stop for what others missed—
a flicker of wings,
a lizard in the shadow of stone,
or, this time,
a birdbill dayflower,
its petals a sudden blue flame
against the dust of the path.
Camera lifted,
he leaned close as if in prayer,
framing the fragile bloom
with patient hands.
I stood back,
watching him catch
what the mountain offered—
a moment small and perfect,
saved in light,
rooted in memory.
(Ed Rawl passed away on April 18, 2020, after experiencing a stroke.)
A Naturalist Teaching Children About Nature — Image by kenne
— kenne
Gray Hairstreak On Desert Marigold — Image by Naturalist Bill Kaufman
— Gore Vidal
Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel — Grunge Art by kenne
— Jane Goodall
Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) have five Nature Education programs for elementary school teachers from which to select, taught by SCVN members. Up too 60 elementary school children are in one of the five programs each day of the week. On March 26th a 4th grade class participated in a geology-based program, “Strike It Rich.” One of the exercises is panning for garnets in Sabino Creek.
kenne
CLICK ON ANY OF THE TILED IMAGES TO A LARGER VIEW IN SLIDESHOW FORMAT.
Panning for Garnets In Sabino Creek (March 26, 2015) — Images by kenne
Sabino Canyon with Fog in the Valley and Snow on Mt. Lemmon (12/12/07) —
This image by naturalist Phil Bentley captures the essence of Walt Whitman’s poem,”Kosmos”.
