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Maui, Hawaii
Maui, Hawaii
f 8, 1/8 sec., 1X, ISO100, 43 Steps at 450 microns per step
f 8, 1/8 sec., 1X, ISO100, 43 Steps at 450 microns per step
Petrified tree in the Arizona Petrified Forest National Park
There are miles of large petrified tree logs. Colors range the spectrum of the rainbow and caused by the mineral most prominent.
Black=carbon
Green/blue=copper, cobalt or chromium
Yellow=manganese oxides
Purple=manganese
Brown and red=iron oxides
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Wild Pansy or Viola tricolor
Island Park, Idaho at my brother's house
Island Park, Idaho at my brother's house
The root and young stems, (5 to 10cm), can be eaten as well as at the base of the lower leaves - raw or cooked. These plants tend to be bitter, and unless young or thin, they can be quite fibrous and strong. A long taproot is produced that is thick and fleshy. It tends to be more palatable in its second year of growth.
A common landscape plant in Southern Arizona. This 'spike' is about 15 feet high and is a haven for several bees species other insects and hummingbirds as they gather nectar and pollen. If you listen closely you can hear in the background the cooing of a Mourning Dove.
Pink Oleander or Nerium oleander
f10 ISO 200 1:2X 1/13sec 6.335mm at 5 steps
Desert Sage or Salvia dorrii
f10 ISO 20-0 1_15 6_33 steps at 6 steps
Mexican Bird of Paradise or Erythrostemon mexicana
f10, .2X, ISO 200, 1/15 sec 6.33 mm for 8 steps
Canon 70D 100 mm f2.8 1/160 sec ISO 640 4 steps
Bottle Brush 'Little John' or
Callistemon citrinus
f16, .20X, .6 sec. two steps
iPhone 14 Pro f/2.2 1/99s ISO160 2.22mm
f/20, 1.3 sec, ISO100
Peridot, AZ San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
f5.6, 1.8X, ISO100, 1/5 sec., 64 steps at 165µ/step
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed or Phacelia crenulata
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Desert Chicory or Rafinesquia neomexicana
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Purple Owl's Clover or
Castilleja exserta
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Saguaro or
Carnegiea gigantea
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed or
Phacelia crenulata
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Redstem Filaree seed or
Erodium cicutarium
Peridot, Arizona
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
1.5X, f5.6, E.A. f14, ISO 100, 191µ, at 26 steps
Peridot, Arizona
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
Landscape includes, Mexican gold poppies on the rocky slopes and hillsides, lupine, owl’s clover, desert chicory and blue dicks. Of course there is the iconic Saguaro cactus. As the weather heats up all the flowers will be gone in a few short weeks.
f20, 0.6 sec., ISO400, 0.75x
f5.6, 1/8 sec, ISO100, .5X, 1.462mm at 21 steps
A very toxic plant that has been used by some for its hallucinogenic properties
f4, 1/3 sec, ISO125, 4X, 0.054mm at 78 steps
Peel back the spike cover and these are the seeds
Hollyhock seed pod or Alcea rosea
f5.6, 2.5x, ISO100, 1_20sec, 135µ at 81 steps
Yellow Lichen on Superstition Mountain Usery Pass Wind Cave in the Sonoran desert is likely a combination of Acarospora radicata and possibly A. chrysops
November 24, 2022 Canon EOS 70D, f/6.3, 1/197s, ISO125, 55mm
There are almost 2,000 desert lichens reported from the Sonoran Region, almost 40% of all lichens known from North America. "The bright neon yellow lichens in the Superstitions Mountains are not one single species. The genus indeed is Acarospora, but there are several closely related species present in the area, often difficult to distinguish. The larger, more exuberant squamulose are mostly Acarospora radicata (previously often called A. socialis, but that is considered a coastal species now). The less exuberant specimens might be A. chrysops, but there are a few others too.
More importantly:Generally speaking, it is not possible to identify lichens reliably just from photos. There are too many important characteristics missing in a photo. The yellow Acarospora species are among the most notoriously difficult ones. That's ironic since they are such a very conspicuous element of the desert. Some people assume that the large and conspicuous macrolichens should be easier to identify than inconspicuous crusts. Wrong again. In the desert for example Xanthoparmelia are large, foliose macrolichens, but they are chemically very diverse and it's often impossible to distinguish them without knowing their secondary chemistry." Frank Bungartz, Ph.D., Collections Manager of Lichens and Digital Data, Natural History Collections, Arizona State University,USA
Nodding Pincushion,
Leucospermum cordifolium
Located on the Island of Maui near the north slopes of the Haleakala volcano.
Taken with iPhone SE (2nd generation)
f/1.8, 1/208s, ISO20, 3.99mm
Nodding Pincushion,
Leucospermum cordifolium
Located on the Island of Maui near the north slopes of the Haleakala volcano.
Taken with iPhone SE (2nd generation)
f/1.8, 1/208s, ISO20, 3.99mm
f5.6, 1/6 sec., 100 ISO, 2.5X, 157 shots at 136 µm
Summer Bunch Rot (Sour Rot) or
Rhizopus arrhizus
On a Thompson seedless grape
f/8, 1 sec, ISO 100, 5X, 66 steps at 84 microns
Common mold on many root crops usually in storage
f5.6, 1/80 sec, 100 ISO,1X, 42 shots at 503µ step
Common mold on many root crops usually in storage
f5.6, 1/80 sec, 100 ISO,1X, 42 shots at 503µm step
The name of this prickly pear is not to be taken lightly and should be approached cautiously. When taking this photo I brushed up against the cactus. I noticed red glochids all over my camera. Without thinking I quickly blew off the spines which caused them to fly into my right eye. It took two trips to an Ophthalmologists with a painfully swollen, infected eye to have the spines removed one at a time under a microscope with surgical tweezers. It is a red beauty that carries a powerful punch in the face.
Euphorbia tirucalli or
Fire Sticks
Blue grama is the state grass of Colorado and New Mexico. When it dries out the seed head curls around and grabs other plants . Looking at it from straight above , it just looks like a black thin rectangle. It was when I stopped and took a closer from the side in the sun that I saw the red and green colors.
Dead Rose, f5.6, ISO 100, 1/30 sec, 1X, 29 Shots, 487µm
Dead rose stamen, anther and filament. f4, 100 ISO, 1/30 sec, 4.5X, 47 µm step 103 shots
Pursh or
Phlox Speciosa
I only got poked once, taking this photo. Nothing in the eye.
This is not a palm or a cactus
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa or
Silver Cholla
Blue Ghost
This cactus turns from green to a pale blue towards the top of the plant
Hiding a white spider
Large bright fruit. To eat, select firm fruits that have just barely begun to split open and aren't bruised. Peel away the red outer skin or cut the fruit in half and scoop out the soft white flesh that has small black seeds like a kiwi. They usually are eaten raw. Dice the flesh and add to salads, smoothies, fruit salads or desserts.
Mammillaria parkinsonii or
Qwl's Eyes
This is considered an endangered species
Mammillaria parkinsonii or
Qwl's Eyes
This is considered an endangered species
Tephrocactus articulates formerly known as Opunta diademata or Pinecone Cactus
Hibiscus bud
When it rains in the desert this give off a unique, fresh, pleasant smell that is a combination of several volatile oils, mostly terpene (a compound found in pines), limonene (citrus), camphor (pines and rosemary), methanol (wood alcohol), and 2-undecanone (spices).
When it rains in the desert creosote gives off a unique, fresh, smell that is a result of several compounds but mostly terpene (a compound found in pines), limonene (citrus), camphor (pines and rosemary), methanol (wood alcohol), and 2-undecanone (spices).
The pink object is a seed pod
Trichocereus spachianus
Golden Torch Cactus
Corrvocactus erectus or
Red Hot Chili Poker
Alluadia procera or African ocotillo
Barrel cactus that bloom in the spring develop small fruits resembling pineapples. The flesh is tart with a lemon flavor.
Also called fish hook cactus
Cereus forbesii 'Spiralis'
Yellow pollen blew all over my camera and hand taking this pic.
Showing ants and aphids
Note ants grooming aphids
This is a critically endangered plant species
Fouquieria columnaris or Boojum Tree is native to Baja Peninsula and Northern Mexico
Native Nambia to South Africa
Stenocereus pruinosus or Pitayo
Odd shaped leaf
Found in the Grand Canyon, Arizona
Not the assassin bug hiding in the shadows on the lower right joint
Note the lacewing on the right side
Fresh roots or dried roots boiled are used medicinally.
http://naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/anemopsis-californica=yerba-mansa.php
Note the three aphids
Camping at Pine Groves north of Mormon Lake
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Pursh or Phlox Speciosa
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Pursh or
Phlox Speciosa
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Polemoniaceae, Phlox Speciosa, plants, showy phlox, wildflowers, pink flowers
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Polemoniaceae, Phlox Speciosa, plants, showy phlox, wildflowers, pink flowers
Pursh or
Phlox Speciosa
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Polemoniaceae, Phlox Speciosa, plants, showy phlox, wildflowers, pink flowers
The number 2 shape is from the stigma and has not been altered. Looks like it was typed on the flower
The number 7 shape is from the stigma and has not been altered. Looks like it was typed on the flower
Canyon Point Campground
Canyon Point Campground
Canyon Point campground, Arizona
This is a native perennial and is a true lily, a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). It is found in Southwestern coniferous forests, and it blooms from late summer to early fall.
The yellow-orange flowers appear to have 6 petals, but if you look closely it only has 3 broad petals and 3 narrower sepals the same color as the petals.
f9, 1X, 1/6 sec, 100 ISO, 57um, at 282 steps
Pine Grove Campground near Flagstaff, Az
Has two beetles on it too!
covered with beetles
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Carmel by the Sea
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Lewis and Clark Fort Clatsop
Lewis and Clark Fort Clatsop
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Crested or Faciation
Every once in a while the normal growth pattern of a plant goes awry, producing an interesting “mistake” that can be attractive and ornamental, or ugly, bizarre, or humorous. This physiological disorder, called fasciation, can occur in almost any plant part, but is most noticeable in the stems or inflorescences. In a normal plant, growth in the apical meristem occurs at a single point, producing essentially cylindrical growth. Fasciation causes an elongation of the apical meristem so that fl attened, ribbon-like growth is produced instead. This abnormal activity in the growing tip often produces very flattened stems with a fan-like enlargement on the end, leading to another descriptive term for this condition of “crested.” It may appear like several stems have been fused so that the stem looks like a wide, ribbed ribbon (fasciation comes from the Latin word fascia which means “a band” and refers to anything which resembles a wide band in shape); stems may be bent or coiled in abnormal directions; numerous growing points may develop to produce a witches’-broom effect; flowers and leaves may appear at odd angles to the stems and the leaves growing from distorted stems are usually smaller and more numerous than normal; or flower heads may be elongated, deformed, or misshapen with more fl owers than normal. There is also a much rarer type, ring fasciation, with a ring-shaped growing point, which produces a hollow shoot.
A Horticulture Information article from the Wisconsin Master Gardener website, posted 17 March 2011
Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens
Fasciation, also called cresting (see image of Saguaro cactus), is a unusual condition of abnormal growth around a single point and develops elongated flattened, ribbon-like, crested, or elaborately shaped tissue. Some think this is a genetic mutation.
For a very good description of plant fasciation go to this link HERE
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
The plant is a hemiparasite, which means it carries out photosynthesis in its green stems while obtaining additional nutrients and water from the host plant upon which it grows which commonly are mesquite, palo verde, and ironwood .
It is a slow tree killer. Death to a host tree usually occurs only when multiple clusters of mistletoe overtake the host tree, or when the host is weakened by other diseases or by a lack of water. It robs the tree of water, nutrients and weakens its immune system.
Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Note the trees growing from the top or the root ball
This very famous Fairy Bridge in the Hall of Mosses Trail of the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park.
Cat's Tail Moss (Pseudisothecium stoloniferum)
Stairstep Moss (Hylocomium splendens)
Oregon Spike-Moss (Selaginella oregana)
Fan Moss (Rhizomnium glabrescens)
Lanky Moss (Rhytidiadelphus loreus)
Broom Moss (Dicranum scoparium)
Dendroalsia Moss (Dendroalsia abetina)
Menzie's Tree Moss (Leucolepis acanthoneura)
Oregon Beaked Moss (Kindbergia oregana)
Hypnum circinale
Waved Silk-Moss (Plagiothecium undulatum)
Neat Feather-Moss (Pseudoscleropodium purum)
Shingle Moss (Neckera pennata)
Common Feather-Moss (Kindbergia praelonga)
Rough Goose Neck Moss (Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus)
Isothecium spp.
Mouse-tail Moss (Pseudisothecium myosuroides)
Haircut Mosses (Polytrichum spp.)
Dusky Fork-Moss (Dicranum fuscescens)
Pendulous Wing-Moss (Antitrichia curtipendula)
Lyell's Bristle-Moss (Pulvigera lyellii)
Leggett, CA. Hole 6 feet wide and 6.75 feet tall was cut in 1937 to compete with a similar tree in Yosemite National Park. There are several drive through trees in the area from a bygone era .
