Here we go -- some travel adventures from Oregon, California, Utah, and Idaho.
As lifelong residents of the state of Washington the southwest cactus and red rock mountains were beautiful and fascinating to us. We are used to the mold and moss and while we love the green trees and our snow covered mountains the deserts of Arizona and Utah certainly have their own special beauty.
The magnificent Saguaro Cactus, the state flower of Arizona, is composed of a tall, thick, fluted, columnar stem, 18 to 24 inches in diameter, often with several large branches (arms) curving upward in the most distinctive conformation of all Southwestern cacti.
The Saguaro grows very slowly -- perhaps an inch a year -- but to a great height, 15 to 50 feet. The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old.
Prickly pear cactus represent about a dozen species of the Opuntia genus (Family Cactaceae) in the North American deserts. All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves.
The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name "tuna." Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They, too, are sold in stores under the name "Nopalito."
The Ocotillo is a bajada resident that can be relied on to bloom annually, even without leafing in particularly dry springs. It is an inverted, funnel-shaped desert plant with several woody, spiny, whip-like, straight branches angling outward from the base and rising as high as 20 feet.
Red flowers are 1/2 to 1 inch in length, with five short lobes curled back into 10-inch clusters. They appear at the ends of branches March through June or later, depending on rainfall.
More cactus beauty:
And mountain beauty......
StoneRidge Golf Club, Prescott AZ <---------------------------------------> The Red Rocks of Sedona AZ
Kolob Zion National Park - Utah <----------------------------------------> Snow Covered Mountain in Provo UT
Wildlife
One of the great things about golf along with the beauty of the courses is the wildlife you encounter. This road runner at The San Iganois Golf Course in the Tucson Arizona area actually posed for us. Most of the time our pictures of wildlife tend to be of their behinds -- as they run away. Not this little fellow. He posed for us for more than five minutes prancing and turning so we could take his picture. Apparently, Wiley Coyote was at some other golf course!!!
As lifelong residents of the state of Washington the southwest cactus and red rock mountains were beautiful and fascinating to us. We are used to the mold and moss and while we love the green trees and our snow covered mountains the deserts of Arizona and Utah certainly have their own special beauty.
The magnificent Saguaro Cactus, the state flower of Arizona, is composed of a tall, thick, fluted, columnar stem, 18 to 24 inches in diameter, often with several large branches (arms) curving upward in the most distinctive conformation of all Southwestern cacti.
The Saguaro grows very slowly -- perhaps an inch a year -- but to a great height, 15 to 50 feet. The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old.
Prickly pear cactus represent about a dozen species of the Opuntia genus (Family Cactaceae) in the North American deserts. All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves.
The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name "tuna." Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They, too, are sold in stores under the name "Nopalito."
The Ocotillo is a bajada resident that can be relied on to bloom annually, even without leafing in particularly dry springs. It is an inverted, funnel-shaped desert plant with several woody, spiny, whip-like, straight branches angling outward from the base and rising as high as 20 feet.
Red flowers are 1/2 to 1 inch in length, with five short lobes curled back into 10-inch clusters. They appear at the ends of branches March through June or later, depending on rainfall.
More cactus beauty:
And mountain beauty......
StoneRidge Golf Club, Prescott AZ <---------------------------------------> The Red Rocks of Sedona AZ
Kolob Zion National Park - Utah <----------------------------------------> Snow Covered Mountain in Provo UT
Wildlife
One of the great things about golf along with the beauty of the courses is the wildlife you encounter. This road runner at The San Iganois Golf Course in the Tucson Arizona area actually posed for us. Most of the time our pictures of wildlife tend to be of their behinds -- as they run away. Not this little fellow. He posed for us for more than five minutes prancing and turning so we could take his picture. Apparently, Wiley Coyote was at some other golf course!!!
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