Adaptation

  • January 13, 2020
  • Tucson, Arizona
  • Saguaro National Park

Adaptation keeps plants alive. Creosote trees have minuet wax-like coated leaves. Even with the leaves shed during droughts, photosynthesis can still occur as the green bark is rich in chloroform.

The trunk of a Saguaro tree is pleated. During rain, water is stored in expandable pleats which actually increase the circumference of the trunk.

  1. Creosote tree
  2. Minuet Creosote leaves
  3. Saguaro

Man-in-Black

  • Monday, 13, 2020
  • Tuscan, Arizona
  • Saguaro National Park

For the hike, I paired with another female solo walker. Imagine our surprise when we were passed by an older man, all in black, without water.

  1. View from trail
  2. Man-in-Black
  3. Hiker gaining distance

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So it’s Said?

  • Monday, 13, 2020
  • Tucson, Arizona
  • Saguaro National Park

Saguaro primer…Saguaro (suh-wah-roe) can grow 40 feet tall and often exceed 150 years. Their side arms can appear at 75 to 100-years. Sometimes no side arms form and those Saguaro are called spears. It’s native to the Sonora Desert and the blossom is Arizona’s state wildflower. A familiar image on Arizona licenses 🌵.

  1. Saguaro Cactus
  2. Spear Saguaro
  3. Saguaro Cactus

On Camelback

  • Sunday, 12, 2020
  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • Camelback Mountain

Iconic Camelback Mountain forms Phoenix’s backdrop. It’s quite the hike.

Half-way up the Cholla Trail is a helicopter pad. What might that be for?

  1. Helicopter landing pad
  2. Hiker’s approach to summit
  3. Success!
  4. View worth the climb
  5. Perspective from Phoenix Airport

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