The amazing saguaro cactus is found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert. This second largest desert in North America extends from southern Arizona to the bottom of California, and into western Mexico covering 120,000 square miles. Temperatures can reach more than 120° in the summer and annual rainfall is often less than 3 inches. The holes […]
We have several trees on our property as do our neighbors. Each spring our yards come alive with birdsong and constant fliting and flying and singing within all the trees. There are always nests, but usually fairly high in the top branches. Last week, my daughter was sitting on our back porch and pointed out […]
Last summer we had some dead trees removed from around the edge of the pond. After the men left, we noticed that one branch had fallen into the pond and was partially submerged, but still close to shore being anchored in the reeds. We were planning to remove it when our neighbor suggested that we […]
In a few short weeks, osprey will begin to add to their nest: a sure sign of spring. When a pair initially builds their nest, it is relatively small, less than 3 feet in diameter and about 6 inches deep. Because they add on to it every spring, their nest can eventually be more than […]
The lighthouse at Battery Point in Crescent City, California has been there since December of 1856. During the 1964 tsunami, caused by the 9.2 earthquake in Alaska, the lightkeepers were stranded inside as 4 massive waves wreaked havoc on the city causing widespread destruction and loss of life. I can’t imagine what that must have […]
One of the first things this juvenile hamadryas baboon learned was the value of touch. He was born with a strong ability to grip in order to hang onto mom while she foraged for food throughout the day. This soon grew into an awareness of grooming, which in the primate world is a valuable commodity. […]
In the hot afternoon of summer heat, it’s not unusual to find wildlife resting in the shade of trees and in the dark cool undergrowth of bushes. I have learned that if I attempt to photograph them during this time of day, I will struggle with the play of shadows and low light. This was […]
I love the new life that comes with spring. There are ducklings and goslings on the pond and the air is full of birdsong. I have two daughters with chickens, one of which had multiple broods free ranging around her property. This particular little family was fun to watch as the chicks were barely a […]
Every once in a while, I notice that a specific flower or plant doesn’t seem to thrive in the place that I have planted it. I try to find the reason and, if possible, fix the problem. I like happy plants. For several years I tried to get tulips to grow in a planter beside […]
I love walking through the redwood forests on the Pacific Coast. I breathe deeper, walk slower, and try to notice everything. These forests are full of life and clean air, and when I’m there, I want to soak it all in. When walking these magnificent paths, I often don’t know what I’ll see around the […]