This I put all the Christmas decorations away last week - everything but the Christmas tree. The tree takes up quite a bit of space in the living room - so I scooted it out to an adjoining area. Now it is out of the way, but still clearly visible when I sit in my … Continue reading This and That – 2021, Trees and a Virus
Tag: place Arizona
Attitude Adjustment Time – Not Weeds – Wildflowers!
In Arizona, we live in a community that encourages low water use desert plantings. This means gravel yards instead of grass. Landscaping is done with cactus, succulents and plants that don't use much water. Residents are also expected to keep weeds under control. This past spring, the vacant house and lot next door to us … Continue reading Attitude Adjustment Time – Not Weeds – Wildflowers!
Run Over by a Truck – Goodbye Cactus
Incident Report: Date: March 2, 2020 Location: Our property on an Arizona Street (a cul-de-sac) Nature of Incident: Hit and Run Details: Truck pulling a trailer misjudged their turning radius. Golden Barrel Cactus was unable to get out of the way. Medical Analysis: Bifurcation of cactus with distal crushing on road side Patient Prognosis: Certain … Continue reading Run Over by a Truck – Goodbye Cactus
Canadian Snowbird Stories
I've edited the following popular Snowbird joke that circulates in emails. I made it an Alberta/Arizona joke instead of Minneapolis/Florida (though it is rather far fetched to think someone would choose to honeymoon in Arizona...) An Alberta couple decided to go to Arizona to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay … Continue reading Canadian Snowbird Stories
Eurasian Collared-Dove
The Feather Files Name: Eurasian Collared-Dove Species: Streptopelia decaocto Native to and Migration: In North America - most of the United States; SW Canada, Mexico; non-migratory. Date Seen: May 2017; March 2016 Location: North of Calgary, Alberta; north of Fountain Hills, Arizona Notes: These birds are now native to Europe and Asia, though they were … Continue reading Eurasian Collared-Dove
Greater Roadrunner
The Feather Files Name: Greater Roadrunner Species: Geococcyx californianus Native to and Migration: Year round resident of the desert and semi-open, scrubby habitat of South West United States and Mexico Date Seen: March 2018; April 2015 Location: North of Fountain Hills, Arizona Notes: These raven sized birds eat mostly animals - almost anything they can … Continue reading Greater Roadrunner
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
The Feather Files Name: Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Species: Aphelocoma woodhouseii Native to and Migration: Year round resident of the dry lowlands from Nevada, United States into Mexico Date Seen: April 2016 Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona Notes: Unlike some other species of Jay, this one does not have a crested head.
Desert Spiny Lizard
At first glance, this was just another lizard. I wasn't close enough to it to see the colors, or the beautiful scales. I just took some pictures, zoomed in to see it closer - but still didn't appreciate what it looked like until I saw it on my computer screen! The Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus … Continue reading Desert Spiny Lizard
Phainopepla
The Feather Files Name: Phainopepla Species: Phainopepla nitens Native to and Migration: Deserts and arid woodlands of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Breeds twice each year in two different habitats. Some spend winters in the southern part of its breeding range. Date Seen: March 2017 Location: North of Fountain Hills, Arizona Notes: Individual birds … Continue reading Phainopepla
Bald Eagle in Arizona
The Feather Files Name: Bald Eagle Species: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Native to and Migration: Resident to long-distance migrant throughout Canada and the United States. Northern adults begin fall migration when lakes and rivers freeze - migrating coastward or to open water. They return to breeding grounds when weather and food permit, usually January–March. Date Seen: April … Continue reading Bald Eagle in Arizona