Friday, April 12, 2013

Karen's Flowers


After spending the winter in brown Arizona, a few days spent in sunny Southern California where everything is green and flowering is amazing.  Most of these pictures were taken in Karen's yard (Sandy's sister) but a few were taken on our morning walks with Bronco (more on him later).

















 This "planting" is extra special.  Karen found it one day after her beautiful dog, Bronco, planted one of his chews in her garden.  Below is a picture of the ever-resourceful Bronco.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Sights at North Ranch, Congress AZ

As usual, we spent a few weeks this spring at the Escapees North Ranch RV Park in Congress AZ.  We go mainly for the Woodcarving Week and the Beading Week and to see our friends, but this year, I spent about an hour walking most mornings.  I wanted to share some of the fun things that kept me interested during my walks.

Keep in mind that Congress is in the AZ desert - lots of brown and not too much green - but many different kinds of cactus bloom in the spring.

 
My favorite - a pink Easter Cactus.  Diane Landers took this picture with her phone.


The more often-seen white Easter cactus.


Claret cup cactus.

 Beautiful spring iris.
 I don't know what this is, but it sure was pretty.
 Prickly pear cactus - Just imagine what this will look like when it is fully in bloom.
 Easter cactus.
Close up of prickly pear blooms - again, thanks to Diane.
 
 Lots of dogs to pet - I loved these sweet Corgis.
 The quail are everywhere but they move so fast I could never get a good picture.  Can you see his little topknot?
Lots of bunnies around too.
 
 
At North Ranch, there are little areas that people "adopt" and turn into parks.  Saguaro park has lots of cactus, including two large, old Saguaro cactus.


 Sheba is estimated to have been here since 1870.  Below is a full picture of Sheba.

This old guy is named Methuselah.  I expect he is much older than Sheba.

Flamingo Park is maintained by my friend, Cathy Benton, and is located next door to their site.  Here are just a few of the fun things in the park.









 Cathy and Ron Benton's motorhome, from the front.
Their motorhome, from the back.

An Easter surprise on someone's lot.