Last week after Mike and I had breakfast in Congress we took a walk in the Sonoran desert.
It’s only 10 miles from home but at 2,000 feet lower in elevation a vastly different landscape.
Lots of similar granite rocks.
But also lots more quartz.
And the plant life so different. Like the state tree of Arizona, the green barked paloverde grows here in the desert but not up on the chaparral.
Up in Yarnell I do see some cactus like the prickly pear and cholla.
Less often the barrel cactus…
…with its ribs similar to the never seen saguaro.
I truly do enjoy a change of scene once in a while.
I LOVED your walk! It's still cloudy over here in Scottsdale. Yesterday we drove out to the Superstition Mountains…awesome!
I am surprised it looks like a totally different world but beautiful never the less. Have a great Christmas Diane
The landscape is so different from what we see in the mid-west. Love the quartz!
Wonderful post. I had some teaching colleagues here a while back who were from the Sonora Desert area. And I once had a nasty encounter with a cholla, that 'jumping cactus'. Aptly named… Had to remove the spines with pliers…ow.
wow! love the quartz.
such an amazing landscape-thanks for sharing.
xx
Gaelyn: Have you seen the Crested Saguaros below Rincon Mine? There are seven or nine in that area.
Great to have such a change in scenery. Especially handy to a nice little cafe as hiking tends to stimulate my appetite.
I have missed the lovely Arizona landscape since Kathie moved back to the New England States. Lovely stuff with all the cacti and that light and open state tree.
And who said deserts were boring?! Love the quartz – quite a chunk of it. Great shots.
I've still never been here, but I had my first prickly pear margarita in Florida last week and it was DEE-licious!