Photos and comments from Arizona and around the world
Royal Purple http://t.co/iW6BxmCUOo James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) April 11, 2013 There is nothing quite as luxurious as a cactus blossom. Roses are attractive and can be stunning, but cactus flowers are so saturated with color that they make other flowers...
Fallen Rocks http://t.co/jcMAChcEL0 James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) April 07, 2013 The Vermillion Cliffs are made up of hard and soft layers of rock. When the softer layers erode, they leave the harder rocks to fall down the cliff.
Looking In http://t.co/iJ3QXD7N7W James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) April 07, 2013 One of my favorite photo shots is looking out of a window and nothing in particular. I am fascinated by the views people choose for themselves out the windows of their homes,...
Hopi Sun http://t.co/RMYX3zOF54 James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) April 03, 2013 This is a classic painting of the ancient Hopi or Pueble sun symbol. Since this is used by the State of New Mexico as its state symbol, it is easily the most recognizable of...
Agathla Peak http://t.co/rZKfwHgQRJ James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) April 03, 2013 Agathla Peak is a landmark in Northern Arizona. This eroded volcanic core is visible for many miles in all directions. It is located right off Highway 191 about seven miles...
Desert Sentinals http://t.co/DVeqojWqYU James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) April 03, 2013 We got to the area late in the day and found it hard to find good shots of the rock formations without houses, roads, and buildings in the shots. It is Monument Valley,...
Ancient Walls http://t.co/JwWGHhilsC James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 24, 2013 Indian ruins hold a fascination for me. I like to see how and why the people lived where they did. The walls only give a suggestion of what was there originally. Some ruins...
Grounded http://t.co/5IfObfhCg4 James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 29, 2013 I guess I can't resist the unusual. We often think of butterflies as brightly colored. But in the desert, they can blend right into their surroundings just like many other animals...
Projectile Points http://t.co/ILuVSDEzN2 James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 23, 2013 Commonly called arrowheads, this type of point could have been used on a variety of projectiles. When I was young, I was always looking to find an arrowhead. But today,...
Canyon Clouds http://t.co/VUUAnYXfEU James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 17, 2013 We all seem to think that pleasant, sunny days are preferable over the stormy ones. It is that way in life also; we think that the placid times are preferable to the turbulent...
A Fortress http://t.co/egqxGShyHR James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 06, 2013 We might think that we were the first to make castles in the air and surround them with protective moats or walls. Well, it looks like to me that this is a pretty well protected...
Inside http://t.co/TRfZfIZey9 James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 18, 2013 There are around 550 different species of the genus Aloe. The varieties of each species can be endless. Even though they have stickers, these aren't cactus. The jagged hooks are...
Random Blossoms http://t.co/1hBQvdaZqn James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 16, 2013 I think it is interesting how the blooms are sort-of randomly scattered around the cactus plant. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason for where the flower stalks...
Pruned http://t.co/VEqPDX39bg James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 19, 2013 This tree has been pruned many times and yet it still refuses to conform to the preconceived pattern of the pruners. Do we really believe that our concept of how this tree should...
Desert Varnish http://t.co/xWzohK8CXy James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 17, 2013 With the rain coming down in sheets, it was interesting to see the patterns of the rain water on the cliffs. It dramatically illustrated why the desert varnish (mostly minerals...
All Cracked Up http://t.co/1zACm9F0BB James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 06, 2013 I have been fascinated with the way mud dries and cracks. Some times the dried mud can be spectacular. The white sheen on this dried mud is salt.
Really Ancient Rock Art http://t.co/1y1GBCUDSg James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 04, 2013 This is some of most ancient rock art (as opposed to petroglyphs) that I have encountered. The paintings are supposed to date back thousands of years.
Mesquite http://t.co/IOThD9oi9o James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 20, 2013 Mesquite is a desert tree that is classified as a legume, just like lentils and beans. These abundant flowers turn into long edible pods and beans.
Desert Lichen http://t.co/Z24OvtXHGr James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 01, 2013 Who would believe that this is a growing plant. Lichen is composed of a fungus and photosynthetic partner, either a green ala or cyanobacterium. These plants that grow on...
Picket Post http://t.co/87XGTk84IZ James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 01, 2013 This is one of the mountains in the category of "always meant to climb that some day." I have passed it hundreds of times and there is even a trail to the top. It was reportedly...
Curving Aloe http://t.co/FUoetXg0Dh James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 18, 2013 These aloe plants are not cactus but are considered to be a succulent. They grow very well in the dry desert and will survive with very little water. But if you want them...
Agave Stalks http://t.co/2gKIVpkRP8 James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 17, 2013 These agave stalks were seen all over the desert valleys all blooming at about the same time. Once these plants bloom, the main plant dies. So there are likely a lot of landscape...
What's Inside http://t.co/FHkXA0WI6y James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 16, 2013 Column cactus have a very specific structure that makes them very stable. It is extremely rare that an established cactus, such as this one, would fall over or be blown over...
Barely Blooming http://t.co/tQ8rCQNc4Z James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 15, 2013 These lovely cactus flowers are just barely blooming. They will open completely in another day and then be gone. So much beauty, so little time.
Golden Rain http://t.co/t68WoyxWII James Tanner (@Genealogysstar) May 14, 2013 This Golden Barrel Cactus really is golden. It is underneath the spreading branches of a Palo Verde tree in bloom. The blossoms fall to the ground and cover the top of this...
