April at the Desert Botanical Garden

Denis was finally home from major back surgery, recovery, and rehab, and in no time at all, he was chomping at the bit to go somewhere. Since April is prime time at the Desert Botanical Garden, that is where we chose to go. 

Come along with us!

Orange Mexican honeysuckle going ballistic outside the gift shop.

Texas Olive

Mountain aster with a greedy bee.

Rock hibiscus. These were so gorgeous, bobbing in the breeze. I would've taken a short video, but the Desert Wildflower Loop was heaving with people.

Poppy

Canyon Spotted Whiptail

I love visiting when the palo verdes are in bloom. They create shady golden tunnels to walk through.

Gila woodpecker with a bird's eye view of the garden.

Prickly pear

Catclaw Acacia

Palo verde blossoms

Male Gambel's Quail at the Patio Cafe

Flame skimmer dragonflies

The new Christensen Family Desert Oasis

In the Christensen Family Desert Oasis

In the Christensen Family Desert Oasis

In the Christensen Family Desert Oasis

This cactus looks like a snake coming down out of the tree, doesn't it!

It was a lovely day out even if the garden was crammed with people. I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit!

With Karen at the Desert Botanical Garden

In between visits to Denis at the hospital and rehab, Karen and I did manage to get out and about. We did some shopping as well as visiting a couple of my favorite places. You know that the Desert Botanical Garden had to be one of those places! Come along with us on a very busy day.

Once inside, the first thing that caught my eye (after the hordes of people) was one of my favorite wildflowers, the desert bluebell.

The Desert Wildflower Trail is one of the most popular parts of the garden, and it certainly didn't disappoint this year.

I love owl clover!

Karen and I found this little mourning dove at the side of the trail. It had a run-in with a cholla and had two big pieces stuck to it. The bird picked one piece, and when it flew away, the other chunk fell off. (Just one way the cholla extends its range.)

On the other hand, this curve-billed thrasher didn't have any problems with the cholla it was sitting it. The bird serenaded us for quite some time before we moved on.

I told you Karen was with me! Here she is enjoying one of the many water features in the garden.

We didn't arrive in time to watch this egret catch its lizard lunch, but the bird didn't move on until its lunch had gone all the way down that long throat!

Karen at the Toward 2050 exhibit. From the website: "Explore an engaging exhibit led by textile-based artist Ann Morton, centered on community and environment. TOWARD 2050 invites the public to craft handmade artworks that express their views on the environment. These unique creations will come together in a captivating labyrinth installation at the Garden that encourages visitors to take steps towards addressing climate change."

Toward 2050 exhibit

Karen and I loved this Twisted Cactus.

Red Wing Hopbush

Kalanchoe

Agave blossom

Karen and I had a wonderful time. I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit, too!

A Spring Stroll through the Phoenix Zoo

Denis and I couldn't resist another visit to the Phoenix Zoo. It won't be long before it's too hot to wander around out in the blazing sun. As usual with me, I was just as happy looking at all the blooming plants as I was watching the animals.

 

Are you ready to stroll? Come along with us!

 

 

On the Arizona Trail. Mountain lions (AKA pumas or cougars) are the largest of the big cats that can purr.

Javalinas

I have a feeling that bald eagles know how photogenic they are.

A turkey vulture getting ready for takeoff.

Denis and I both loved the name of this lager.

A stork enjoying a delivery-free day.

This is the first time Denis and I had seen a Madagascar ocotillo in bloom.

This pyramid is Hunt's Tomb, the final resting place of Arizona's first state governor, George W.P. Hunt. Hunt is entombed with his wife Duett and five members of their extended family.

Desert bighorn sheep high up on a hillside

This doesn't look like much from a distance...

... but it is more impressive close up. It's an ironwood tree in bloom.

Lilies always remind me of my grandmother.

This tree was outside the baboon exhibit. Denis and I had never seen it in bloom before.

Very dramatic flowers! When I got home and could look at the photos in detail, I thought the flowers looked like tulips. Guess what? It's an African tulip tree!

The cluster of buds look like a bunch of bananas.

The main reason why we went to the zoo-- a baby flamingo. Our nephew in England called them "flee-moes" when he was little.

Baby flamingo and parents

I kinda like how the fence frames this shot.

Children playing in jets of water, the perfect thing to do on a hot day.

Denis and a sleepy orangutan.

A Jacaranda tree in bloom.

I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit. Just think of what I saved you in sunscreen, hats, and water!