Desert Blooms

The more I explore Arizona, the more I am amazed by how many different varieties of cactus there are.   This spring I visited the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior.  Both places are well worth exploring and provide a safe environment (i.e. cleared paths with no rattlesnakes!) to view cactus and other native plants.  Or I can just take a walk through my neighborhood and see some wonderful cactus blooms this time of year.

Watson Lake, Arizona

I had saved an article from Outdoor Photographer magazine featuring the lakes near Prescott, Arizona, in hopes of checking them out.  On 4/27/16 I was able to make the trip to Prescott.  Of the four lakes in the area, Watson Lake was the most photogenic.  The rock formations surrounding the lake are interesting and provide endless composition possibilities for photos.  I had to hurry to capture as many images as I could before the rain came, adding even more interest to this beautiful area. 

Desert Storm

While traveling to Arizona on 5/17/16, a rainstorm rolled into the area near Kingman.  The first image was taken on a road leading off of Hwy 40 toward Joshua Tree National Forest.  I love the variation in the colors of the mountains and the wind-whipped desert brush in the foreground.  I only had about 15 minutes in this area and plan to return for further exploration, hopefully when another storm comes in.