Arizona, Photography

Delightful Desert

by Ingrid

This past week I’ve taken full advantage of daughters time off; time before she starts her new job on Monday.  I want her to love the desert as much as I do, or at least embrace the delightful uniqueness of the land.

Ashton admires a Century Plant
Ashton admires a Century Plant

She’s not quite sure how she feels about the cacti.  She thinks some look evil and ready to attack with their thorns.

"I am not standing next to that thing"
“I am not standing next to that thing”

There’s a harsh beauty to this land that I find anything but ordinary.  I never know what I’ll see or discover on my excursions.Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat

There’s something special…. something extra ordinary about the desert that makes me smile.Hot Air Balloon

Daughter hasn’t quite embraced the desert, but she does maintain an open mind.  I’ll keep working on her, and in the process, have fun sharing some of my desert favorites.Pleasant

This post is in response to the WordPress photo challenge – (Extra) Ordinary

Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

68 thoughts on “Delightful Desert”

  1. I’ve never been to the dessert. I think I might be a bit like your daughter…not such if she loves it or not. There is lots of beauty but also very hostile.

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    1. She definitely sees the beauty in the desert but also thinks it feels evil. The desert is a bit of an acquired taste especially for those accustomed to lush landscapes.

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  2. Some people really don’t like deserts. I love them, and realize that I like them more, the more I visit them. Thanks so much, Ingrid, for these awesome photos.

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  3. Beautiful photos! I love taking pictures in the desert — the contrast is always so lovely. Glad you’re getting to enjoy some time there when the weather isn’t too hot! That’s always what drives us back up into the mountains. 🙂

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    1. Thanks. It’s still a little too warm to hike much after 9:00 a.m. but we know that’ll change soon. We would’ve stayed in the mountains for fall colors if not for daughters move. Oh well, next season 😉

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  4. You had a fabulous visit to the Midwest and back. Your wildlife pictures are fabulous. The Buffalo and the mountain goats caught my eye… but I think you were riding a jackrabbit??
    Anyways… it’s good to be back in the blogging world. I have to say just now I am feeling rested after all the summer fun we had.
    I would love to get together… so text me next week sometime if you are able.
    Once again I am glad to see that your daughter is in town. YAHOO for you all!

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  6. For the most part, I share her sentiment but have to admit that there are times the desert is an amazing place of beauty…wait until spring when the flowers bloom.

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    1. The desert is so pretty in the spring when she’s blooming. But I don’t think a blooming desert will sway daughters opinion. I’ll keep showing her all the amazing sights anyway.

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  7. I love the desert too, the colors, he raw beauty…but admittedly just in winter. In summer I have to get away. Looooove your sunset shot!
    Nina

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    1. Jumping cholla’s are always fun when hiking. A few years ago, my half blind old dog had an encounter with one = Acupuncture for dummies. Not an incident I’d care to repeat.

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  9. How special to get this play time with your adult daughter. Great photos as usual – the old livestock loading ramp anf broken wagon do conjure up broken dreams though.

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  11. “There’s a harsh beauty to this land that I find anything but ordinary. I never know what I’ll see or discover on my excursions.” I feel the same way. Living in arid Australian outback areas was anything but ordinary! Fantastic post! Loved the tall cacti next to the balloon pic. What a contrast! 🙂

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    1. Thank you Jane. The past six weeks, our travels have taken us from the lush agricultural land in the Midwest, to the majestic Rocky Mountains, and now to the harsh open desert. Love the diversity 🙂

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    1. Thank you and thanks for stopping by. The desert does offer a unique beauty that I’m sure my daughter will come to embrace, especially in the spring when the desert is in full bloom.

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  13. When the desert flowers, Ashton will understand:) Even our son understood when he came to visit during and saw the beauty in the desert floor. Of course, I think the desert is always beautiful no matter what season. But…I do love my rocks as well:)

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    1. I’m with you and seem to love all the unusual plants, rocks, and sights. I will definitely be taking her to the Desert Botanical Garden especially when blooming. Hiking is also on the agenda 🙂

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  16. Can’t wait to experience the desert and all its beauty. So many of our TX friends said “why do you want to go there, all it is is brown”. Every time we visit the desert and the south west we feel drawn to it, one of our dreams has been to experience the desert waking up after the winter.

    Creeping our way there, see you soon.

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    1. I absolutely love Feb, Mar, Apr in the desert. There’s a steady stream of blooms in all directions and the sunsets are the absolute best. Looking forward to seeing you 🙂

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    2. Actually, they were trying to find a place to land, which they did for their champagne breakfast. I’ve been lucky to be in the right place at the right time to see these balloons take off and land. I never get tired of it.

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  18. Wow…looking at that buckboard wagon, you have to wonder when it was abandoned there, Ingrid. I imagine things deteriorate really slowly in the desert. I’ll bet it is well over 100 years old!

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    1. She already has an eye for composition, so I’m hoping to get her more involved in photography…. over time. With her, I need to plant the seed and let it cultivate slowly. Eventually, she’ll think it’s her idea 😉 Ah, the wisdom of mommy-hood!

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  20. Sweet post! I fell in love with the desert the first time I saw it many years ago — and though I’ve never chosen to live there, I’ve loved our many visits over the years. The wide open expanses, the birding, the sunsets, the magnificent cacti, the hiking, and the fabulous weather in the winter will always make the desert a favorite for us. Such cute photos of Ashton, and your sunset photo is gorgeous!

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    1. There’s a unique beauty to the desert that I didn’t originally appreciate. Over time I’ve come to discover the little things that are most fascinating. But then again, the expensive vistas, sunrises, sunsets, saguaros, rocks (oh dear, list keeps getting longer) are pretty amazing. Don’t you love being able to enjoy the lushness of the Pacific Northwest followed by the arid vast desert? I embrace such diversity 🙂

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  22. Lucky you are to be able to spend time together exploring! Living on each side of the Atlantic I don’t see my mother more than once or twice per year and I highly appreciate the quality time we get – wish we had more of it! 🙂 Your photos are lovely as always!

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    1. Although we didn’t move a continent away, I too was far from my mother which only allowed a once a year visit- difficult. I’m lucky to have my daughter close by and will take full advantage. Some how I have a feeling the gypsy in her, will keep her on the move. Like mother, like daughter 😆

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  23. Your daughter will see awesome sunsets out there..I love the history of the “old West”, and LOVE rock hunting! The Sonoran desert is amazing, Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge, so much to see. I guess you have to embrace change of scenery, and I know you do that!! Give her time, she will slowly realize what a unique eco-system exists there…

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    1. So far she seems to be embracing her new environment with an open mind, but she is missing Colorado. I’m hoping this new job makes her happy. In the meantime, I’ll keep sharing all the unique sights with her.

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    1. She’s antsy to hit some trails, but it’s just too darn hot still. I drove her through Lost Dutchman SP the other day to show her the trails and the place was a ghost town. Total of 3 campers. I’m so used to seeing it packed.

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  28. Hi Ingrid!!!! Just make sure she knows this… WE ARE PARCHED! I know, I know… it’s a desert! But this time last year we had much more rain. The desert was greener…
    And I agree… The Teddy Bear Cholla is the worst! IT IS EVIL! I will chat with you soon. I am feeling rested for the first time since JUNE! I think I am able to get a coffee with you sometime soon! Miss your smiling (non-virtual) face! 🙂

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    1. I think once the temps cool a bit, we’ll get her out hiking. I can’t wait to take her to the Botanical Garden and show her some really unique cactus. I too have had a whirlwind of a summer and look forward to feeling rested… one day 😉

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    1. I was thinking of you yesterday as Ashton and I were exploring the plants in the desert. It will surely be a different kind of winter for you, but I’m sure your new adventure will only add to your already lovely portfolio.

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  31. Watch Out for the Cholla Cacti – the wind will pick them up and then you will have one stuck to you. My father-in-law carries a metal comb when horseback riding because the horses have had Cholla stuck to them. My mother-in-law had one stuck in her calf – ouchie! Whenever I visit Phoenix I seem to have a magnet for at least one catcus needle trying to stick it to me.

    Beautiful Captures – Happy Weekend – Enjoy 🙂

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    1. Thanks Renee. A few years ago, our old, half blind dog stumbled into a teddy bear cholla. The poor little guy looked like he had acupuncture done. It took me a while to get all the thorns removed. When hiking, I do my best to keep a safe distance from those cholla’s knowing they like to jump out and get ya!

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  32. Ingrid! We love the desert. It is an uncommon beauty that takes a little getting used to. One has to shake those shade trees out of your mind and delve into why everything in the desert is designed to just survive.
    But… if one is still not convinced… then waiting until the Spring to witness the explosion of color should do the trick.
    Gene

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    1. The desert seems to be an acquired taste for some. It’s taken my hubby a while to get used to it and like father, like daughter, I plan on it taking Ashton a bit to embrace the desert. I do look forward to spring when the desert comes alive. It is so fascinating to see the “evil” (daughter’s description) cacti adorned with delicate blooms. Can’t wait to see her expression then 🙂

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