What I Saw

We hit 108 degrees today in the desert, which seemed the perfect time to reminisce, pictorially, about the incredible spring we experienced … and to finally put some long overdue springtime photos on my blog.

As you’ll see, the desert was hopping and bopping with wildlife (click each photo to enlarge for greater detail. Really, you should):

Lone quail amid spring wildflowers.

An elaborate spider web hovers above barrel cacti much like a feathery dome.

Female phainopepla with her stunning red eyes!

Nesting great-horned owl back behind the train trestle.

Behind our home.

Have I mentioned how much I love our railroad ravens?

Yes, that is a teensy-weensie hummingbird head!

Look how quickly we’re growing.

And we can’t forget about our fledging Say’s Phoebe babies.

Mama Black-chinned hummer tending to her growing babies.

The problem with not posting in months? I have many more photos I want to share (including our successfully fledged hummer babies), which I hope to do next week. I just can’t seem to catch my breath this year, but am also hoping to soon share a post that I think you will find buzz-worthy – in the most literal sense of the word “BUZZZZ.”

Here we are, not quite mid-April, and the desert’s wildflowers are already fading (we are literally two months ahead of schedule with blooms — they started in early February, and plants normally blooming in June are in full swing right now). That doesn’t mean I can’t share the stockpile of images with you that I’ve taken since February (See Desert Bouquet 1 and Desert Bouquet 2). Remember: the photos are better when you click to enlarge each one!

Look who’s hanging out on this desert hyacinth.

The common name of the desert hyacinth is the bluedick — even though it’s purple! See the moisture inside the cup.

Field of bluedicks.

Paleface delphinium.

Rambling milkweed.

Pink fairy duster in background. And mariposa lily (because I just couldn’t resist sharing another). 

I’ve never seen light pink hedgehogs, but there were plenty on our property this year (usually blooming late May to early June – now, just about done).

This is the typical fuchsia color of hedgehog flowers!

Feather dalea.

Over the past five years, I have yet to identify this one!

While our bright season is winding down, I hope your bright seasons are just beginning!