I shot 39 vertical images to create this panorama of the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, Arizona. When and if the preservation goal can be reached, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve will cover one third of Scottsdale. Pretty cool!
(click above photo for larger version. When the larger photo opens, you might need to click on it for the full version. Use your bottom scroll bar to see the entire image.)
Ready for a pocket in your wardrobe! The flora photo ID guide is now available through the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy with all profits going to the Conservancy.
Call the Conservancy at 480-998-7971 OR Email: info@mcdowellsonoran.org
Coming soon to the bookstore at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. A small Photo ID guide to flora in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (sized for your backpack). Profits go to the Conservancy. Stay tuned!
Cholla skeletons can be very interesting. I particularly love this chainfruit cholla skeleton because I think it looks like a Shaman and I think of him as standing guard over the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
Last night we joined him in a little sunset celebration.
I could hear the bees buzzing “Pssst….Sunset at the Chainfruit Cholla….bee there!” so I drove out to Rock Knob again last night 🙂
(By the way, note the difference in coloring from yesterday’s image. Yesterday’s was shot in the shade which would make it bluer but not that blue! I did a terrible job of color correcting).
This is one of the lizards we see most often around here. I’m fairly sure it’s a Spotted Whiptail. We usually see this one in among the vegetation.
This lizard is probably the Lesser Earless Lizard and he’s usually sitting on a rock or running with his tail up in the air. Both these lizards have the most amazing feet.
Spotted yesterday on the Sunrise Trail. Another common name is Exserted Indian Paintbrush.