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.

Spring Wildflowers - Mariposa County

The spring wildflowers in Mariposa County this year are more beautiful than I've seen since the drought began in California several years ago.   These photos of lupine, poppies and other local wildflowers were taken during March and April along Hornitos Road and on Hwy 49 between Mariposa and Coulterville.