01 Sonoran desert Congress AZ (1024x768)
Last week after Mike and I had breakfast in Congress we took a walk in the Sonoran desert.
02 Cactus Sonoran desert Congress AZ (1024x768)
It’s only 10 miles from home but at 2,000 feet lower in elevation a vastly different landscape.
03 Saguaro & puppy rock Congress AZ (1024x768)
Lots of similar granite rocks.
04 Quartz Congress AZ (1024x767)
But also lots more quartz.
05 Paloverde Congress AZ (1024x768)
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. 
06 Cholla cactus & shadow Congress AZ (1024x768)
Up in Yarnell I do see some cactus like the prickly pear and cholla.
07 Barrel cactus Congress AZ (768x1024)
Less often the barrel cactus…
08 Barrel cactus ribs & spines Congress AZ (1024x768)
…with its ribs similar to the never seen saguaro.
09 Mesquite Congress AZ (1024x768)
I truly do enjoy a change of scene once in a while.