The Green In Arizona

by Deanna

When our friends, Rich & Joyce moved to Arizona 25 years ago we couldn't believe they would want to live in a desert environment.  Nothing but rocks and cactus, how boring is that?  And the heat?? Oh I know, it's dry heat, but sometimes (I must admit) it's better than that awful humidity we get in Chicago. Anyhoo I had absolutely no appreciation for the beauty of the desert.  Over the last few visits I now acknowledge and realize that there is quite a bit of green in this dry, arid part of our country and today, my last day here, I want to share the "green" I found during my recent visit.

There are many, many, many different kinds of cactus and many of them bloom profusely during March and April.  There are buds on many, but unfortunately I will not witness the many blooms this year.  This little one has just begun to pop a few blooms, but all that white that looks like grains of salt, will eventually turn into blooms.

 Look at the texture in these large leaves....

And these beauties with the combination of yellows, greens & golds...

Or this one with touches of red...

Sitting out on the patio and watching the hummingbirds enjoying the nectar that Rich provides is pure entertainment.

Notice the green feathers.  And then I was just darn lucky to capture this one in mid air flitting from flower to flower at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Along with visiting my friends, Rich & Joyce, I also have the opportunity to see my photo buddies, Terri Porter (you know her, she's one of our FOL ladies, and Barbara Carroll who I am sure you know from her beautiful photography on flickr.  What fun we have catching up and photographing together.  

One day Terri and I went to the Butterfly Wonderland and then on to the Desert Botanical Garden where I amassed an amazing number of images, but these two below fit right in with my theme of green.

They even have green houses here....

And they decorate their green walls with lovely ornaments...

While at the zoo this Coot (which are very prolific in these parts) wandered up to the shore of the lake and glancing down I saw his legs and feet....eye popping green.

It rained here on Monday, something it rarely does, but it sure provided the opportunity to capture raindrops on rose leaves.  

And this one that is a bud on a lemon tree...

And then the morning after the rain....FOG, another even more rare occurrence here in the desert.

And how about the green bokeh in this one (can't have an entire post on Arizona without at least one flower)

So don't let anyone tell you that there is no green in Arizona (ever!)