Day #41 - Springtime in the desert

As my rampant allergies can attest, everything is blooming right now. The tree pollen is insane, but the stunningly vivid cactus blooms make it worth the suffering. This one is at a friend's house and is usually good for a few clusters of blossoms every year. They're about as big across as your hand, and the kind of wild red that makes you stop in your tracks and stare. When the desert blooms, it doesn't cut corners.

Day #28 - wildlife

I just walked a few blocks downtown to drop a NetFlix DVD in a mail box and had at least 5 encounters with gorgeous blooming flowers, birds, butterflies, and quite a few examples of human, um...streetlife. Would have been a fabulous time to have my camera with me (alas), but you'll have to settle for this shot from the Botanical Gardens. Can't say as I've ever considered hanging out *on* a cactus before, but this critter seems perfectly content. I miss the "alligators" from my previous house. Not enough open space at the new place to accommodate anything more than the pink geckos that hang out around doorways.