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Insects at the Gravel Pit in Marana
As stated in the previous blog, the vegetation around the Coachline Gravel Pit is heavily disturbed. Large areas are covered exclusively in Cocklebur (Xanthium sp.), others in Dock or Sorrel (Rumex...
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A visitor in the pantry
So tonight I had the rare chance to watch the Antiques Roadshow because Randy, who thinks it's terribly boring, was still working on a paper. Suddenly there was some barking in the kitchen and a...
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34 species of insects on Desert Broom in 30 minutes, not a stellar day ...
Baccharis sarothroides. Common: desert broom. Family: Asteraceae is native to Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts. It is a pioneer of disturbed grounds - so it often grows along road sides where the...
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A potentially deadly trap
Nearly too well camouflaged for his own good: trapped Diamondback At least it could have been. Luckily Randy spotted a rattler this morning and called me to bring my camera. Looking more closely, we...
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Arachnid Poster
I am working on a new poster: Spiders and other Arachnids of Arizona. It won't be ready for Halloween, but it is not meant to become a short lived spooky decoration anyway. Rather it's supposed to show...
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Stormy Weather!
We had a mostly golden October with a Cinch Weed carpet covering the desert floor, and temperatures reaching back up into the nineties over the weekend. So both my art shows, one in Patagonia and one...
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A last Hurrah of the Desert Broom shrubs in Madera Canyon
On the first of November I went back to Madera Canyon and found just a few of the Desert Broom bushes still blooming. The weather was perfect this time: sunny and not particularly windy.Many more...
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The 'Spider Poster' is ready!
The Arizona Arachnid Poster is now ready to be printed. For posters I don't use my own Giclee Printer, because the inks are too expensive for mass production. Instead, I'm ordering from a company that...
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Birds and weather at the Fountain Hills Art Show, November 2015
The Fountain Festival in Fountain Hills, Arizona, takes place along the artificial lake of 'the Tallest Fountain of the Planet'. I'm always looking for winter guests, the customer kind at the show and...
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Through the Grasslands of Santa Cruz County
I love those grey-golden expanses of grass that role and wave under the low standing winter sun, and those mountain ranges with names like Mule and Mustang that cast their deep shadows. So when I had...
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The colors of arthropods
Evolution has produced many outrageously colorful arthopods. The driving factor may have been communication, intraspecific to attract partners or interspecific to warn or deceive predators.Many...
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Winter Solstice 2015
The short, sunny winter day in the desert ends with beautiful warm lights and deep shadows. It's easy for our dogs to make us go for a sunset walk. Above is the view south across our property with...
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Happy New Year - with a True Bug Poster
This is number three of my Arthropods of Arizona Collection - and I have some more ideas based on the photos in my sock drawer. For these posters I use photos that I have taken over the last ten years....
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Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw
This year I had a show in early January and no time yet to see the wintering cranes around Willcox Playa and Whitewater Draw close to Tombstone. So I revived my memories by looking through slides and...
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Falcons, Hawks, Owls and Sheep Dogs
Last week Ned Harris and I made a trip into the Santa Cruz Flats around Picacho Peak to look for Caracaras and other raptors.Ned's photo We found several groups of the big birds that are momentarily...
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Insect photography in canine company
Today I hiked the De Anza Trail. Well, I followed in the footsteps of that Spanish explorer for at least a couple of miles. And I had my own army to organize. Because Randy was working on a paper, I...
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Marbles in Florida Canyon
One day after my birthday we - Randy, the pack and I - hiked up Florida Canyon Trail towards the saddle. A beautiful, if slightly muggy day.From the highest point, we had great views all the way over...
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Birds around the house in early March
The Hooded Oriol was very conspicuous for about three days, chattering and scolding. He discovered a hummingbird feeder on the patio and still likes our Aloes. As usual, he has to share those with the...
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A Western diamondback rattlesnake in the garage, again
Coming back from Cortaro with a trunk full of veggies and library books, we had to park by the side of the garage because my new car now resides inside, together with my art show van. We carried our...
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Mid April in Picture Rocks
Since my last blog I took a great trip to the Californian Desert over Easter and there will be a write-up about that later. Since then I've been through one of the more difficult times I can remember...
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