Holiday On the Patio — Organic Photography by kenne
— kenne
Mourning Doves Bathing In Patio Water Fountain (October 16, 2016) — Images by kenne
— kenne
Doves occasionally fly into our patio door window. The setting sun helps outline what remained
on the glass by one misdirected dove — oops!
The dove was all right, maybe a headache, but all right. (October 8, 2016)
— Image by kenne
Echeveria Blossoms (April 5, 2016) — Images by kenne
These beautiful little echeveria blossoms (approximate 1.5cc in size) are potted succulents on our patio.
The images were taken using a micro Nikkor 40mm lens on my ten year old Nikon D200.
“Peace At the End of the Day” — Computer Painting by kenne
— kenne
Patio Fire Pit — Image by kenne
— kenne
Patio Sun Screen — Image by kenne
Our patio is where we can sit and watch the sunset. But when the temperatures start going over 100 degrees, it’s time for the patio sun screen. Through the screen we can watch the sunset with the shadows of the sago palm and olive tree on the screen — beautiful day in the desert!
We almost made it through May without hitting triple digits.
kenne
Oleander Tree On The Patio — Image by kenne
Late Afternoon Sun and Clouds — Image by kenne
— kenne
A two-tailed swallowtail butterfly seemed to be intrigued with my lemon tree long enough for me to get my camera (September 26, 2014)
— In flight images by kenne (f/5.3, S 1/2000, ISO 1100-1600)
CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE LARGER VIEW IN A SLIDESHOW FORMAT.
Cooper’s Hawk — Image by kenne
It is not unusual to see cooper’s hawks here in the Sonoran Desert, even in my neighborhood. The Tucson area has one of the most dense populations to be found anywhere. Usually nesting in riparian areas, they are not always that easy to photograph. Because of their amazing flying ability, I usually see them flying low to the ground, through and between trees. The water fountain under the olive tree on our patio sometimes attracts a Copper’s hawk, not because of the water, but because of the smaller birds attracted to the water — they are a deadly bird-predator. This time I happen to have my camera near the patio door, making this image possible.
kenne
Cooper’s Hawk (with apologies to Wordsworth)
by Michael Konik
Regal, as if touched by royalty, you light upon the wire,
Surveying the buffet of opportunity below, where we
Who cannot soar, cannot glide, forlornly aspire
To shed our earthly shackles and be free.
You cannot be called a kind and caring raptor,
A patient pedant, with heart o’erflowing with generosity.
Your icy mission is starkly clear: to be a heartless captor
That kills and disembowels without pause for ruminant philosophy.
Yet we who walk upon the land, prisoners of gravity
Observe your single-mindedness with grudging admiration.
We see not a murderer swimming in a sea of depravity
But a champion inspiring our solemn approbation.
Schefflera Bonsai Painting — Image by kenne
— kenne
(This bonsai started life in the sub-tropic climate of the gulf coast many years ago. We moved it with us to Tucson where it loss its leaves, but has come back strong. I will be trimming it back and repotting this winter — life goes on in the desert for this indestructible bonsai.)
Our patio is enclosed by a wall with several opening along the ground-line for drainage. To keep the critters out, the openings are covered with a wire mesh. 
Because the patio is enclosed, it’s great for our cat, Kika, especially since she is not a “jumper.” She loves being outside with us, but each time on the patio, she walks the parameter obviously picking up a scent. Sometimes she spends time staring at one of the drainage holes. We knew we were sharing our patio with some kind of critter. Occasionally, I would see something moving quickly out of the side of my eye. Since pack rats are common in the desert, I figured we were being visited by a pack rat.
Then one day I saw the rear of something going into the corner hole and disappearing. Since the wire mesh blocked exit from the hole, I figured it went up inside the concrete block wall. So, I placed bricks in front of the hole and removed the wire mesh so the critter could exit the patio only. The next day I noticed that something had dug under the bricks. I also noticed similar diggings around the sago palm planter.
I continued to think the critter living on the patio was a pack rat, that is until yesterday when we saw something moving under the patio table. Taking a closer look, I could see the animal was a round-tail ground squirrel.
While getting my camera, the squirrel scampered over to one of the wall holes. When I got too close, the squirrel would go up into the wall, so I backed off and waited.
After awhile the squirrel reappear from inside the block wall, surveying the area. I could tell she was trying to get to was a more comfortable place.
She moved under one of the patio planters, looked around and began running to the corner wall hole.
Where was Kika? In the house sleeping. — Images by kenne
Greater Roadrunner On The Patio — Images by kenne
I was sitting on the patio when this guy jumped up on the wall, about eight feet from me and started making talking noise, so I began making a similar noise back. He was looking at the water fountain to his left and the olive tree to his right, which is the home of tree lizards. These attractions seemed to neutralize my present. Even so, he continued to talk — maybe he was fussing!
I think he was telling me to leave, while I was wishing I had my camera. Assuming he would not be there if I went for the camera, I still took a chance and went inside.
To my surprise, he was still there when I returned — even more surprised as I moved in closer than I had been when he first appeared. The conversation continued as I clicked away.
One of the characteristics of these birds is that of having a mind of their own — sometimes their behavior is very unpredictable, making them fun to watch and even more so if they carry-on a conversation.
In a few minutes he ran on without a lizard or getting water.
kenne
Strong Gusty Winds Lifted The Patio Umbrella From Its Stand And Onto The Roof. — Images by kenne
Our patio umbrella offers more than shade, it can fly — it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a patio umbrella!
kenne
