Southwestern prickly poppy (Argemone pleiacantha), Sierra Vista, Arizona. These are growing prolifically in disturbed soils on a vacant lot near my home. The flowers are large, up to five inches across (125 cm), and remarkably delicate for such a well-armed spiny plant.
Kingfisher Pond.
Botanicals. In pairs, from top:
Longleaf Mexican- or Mormon tea (Ephedra trifurca)
Desert sumac (Rhus microphylla)
Arizona walnut (Juglans major)
All photos from the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Cochise County, Arizona. Please click any photo in the set for enlarged views.
Untitled.
Bullock’s oriole (Icterus bullockii), feasting on western tent caterpillars, at the
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Cochise County, Arizona.
The tent caterpillars—Malacosoma californicum—have thoroughly stripped this cottonwood of its recent spring growth, leaving only leaf petioles and central veins attached to the twigs. Most trees will recover after the annual caterpillar infestation and begin producing secondary leaves. But if infestations are particularly severe over consecutive years, affected trees can weaken and die.
Can I see my years folding in to yours?
Courting the Squall is Guy Garvey’s 2015 debut solo album. He is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Elbow, which everyone knows is the loveliest word.
Reboot: The San Pedro House western screech owl (Megascops kennicottii). I have decided to call him Wyatt.
Reboot: Desert stink beetle, probably Eleodes carbonaria, at San Pedro House, Cochise County, Arizona.
This time in a ready-aim-fire posture.
Reboot: Silverpuff seedhead (Uropappus lindleyi), Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Salsify. Tragopogon sp., possibly T. dubius.
Etymology note: This plant is also known as goat’s beard, hinted at in the construction of the genus name, derived from the ancient Greek word τράγος or he-goat.
Dithyramb 