Grand and diminutive,
vast and intimate – these are
my alternating currents.
Five days in the Sonoran desert
allowed me to exercise
my predilection
for absorption in the
distant and near.
Sunrise, Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona :
Weed seeds by the San Pedro River:
Desert grass in winter:
Desert grasses, distant mountains; Cochise, Arizona:
Dried flower heads in the desert:
Going to seed in the desert:
The Dragoon Mountains:
An unidentified flower at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix:
Roadside grasses and the Chiricahuas:
Soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) and power plant, Cochise, Arizona:
Sulphur Springs Valley from the Chiricahua Mountains:
Mesquite with granite outcrops at the Amerind Museum in Dragoon, Arizona:
Desert plants:
Evening at Whitewater Draw, Arizona:
The southeastern corner of Arizona is a fascinating mix of varied desert habitats, subtle colors, wide open spaces and amazing mountains. For our trip, we flew down to Phoenix, where we picked up a rental car and drove to Tucson. At the lively Union Public House, we enjoyed a wonderful evening with old friends from back east who just happened to be in Tucson that week. The next morning we drove southeast along Route 10 to the Sulphur Springs Valley, where gravel and dirt roads led us the final miles to our little hand-built adobe cottage in Cochise, hard by the Dragoon Mountains. Each day we explored the valley and the mountains on either side of it. I will post more photos soon!
bluebrightly 
Such a fantastic series of photos ~ a far cry from the glory of the Cascades and Olympics of the PNW, but also a bit like the eastern parts of Washington and Oregon. Beautiful lighting in all ~ the going to seed in the desert shots were inspiring.
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Yes, it was just about the opposite of Seattle in winter, except that it rained in Phoenix the day we left! 🙂 Glad you like the photos – I had fun with the close-ups.
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A fine collection of images capturing the communion between you and the landscape, both near and far.
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Thank you Louis!
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Wonderful photos!!! Thank you for sharing. I’m impressed. Greetings from germany! 😉
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Thank you – great to hear from you – it’s a very cool corner of the USA down there.
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😉 The winter in northern germany cannot decide, if it wants to be cold or warm ….
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We’re quite warm here – if you’re cold, I hope at least you have pretty snow!
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Hamburg likes snow only 40 minutes a day 😉
But if there’s actually a little bit snow, every time, I jump in front of the door and try to take a picture …
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I especially love the vistas of the Dragoon Mountains and the Sulphur Springs Valley…your trip was productive! Looking forward to seeing more…
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Some lovely desert atmosphere here. Quite a change from the PNW. We’ll be heading down south shortly, too! Pity our paths aren’t likely to cross.
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Mmm, it was lovely – those colors are so subtle – I love them! Our paths will cross one of these days. Meanwhile, I’m so glad you’re getting away too!
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These are stunning images Lynn! Your words as every compliment your photographs beautifully!
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You are kind as always – I’m eager to see what you’re up to but work has piled up, so…eventually!
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Perfect collection of Impressions. My personal favorites are your pictures of filigree stems. They make me breath less. I don’t want to destroy the beauty while watching…
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Thanks! You’re kind to say that! I’ll have a few black and white shots coming up – one of these days, when I get the time! : )
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I’m looking forward to see them!
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What beautiful images! Your macro shots are filled with such lovely soft light and tones. Love that roadside image with the glowing grasses. Wonderful post, thanks for sharing!
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The greasses DID really glow, and they grow right up to the asphalt, which was so pretty. The macro ones were mostly done early on an overcast morning, right by the little place where we stayed. Thanks!
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Another beautiful series of photos…Love that last shot of Whitewater Draw! And I can’t get the images and thoughts associated with “going to seed in the desert”. Nicely done, Blue!
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Thank you! At Whitewater Draw we watched several thousand Sandhill cranes fly in to roost for the night – it was extraordinary!
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I’ve never been to Whitewater Draw or the Chiricahuas, I’m embarrassed to say, but I know the birding is awesome down there with species not seen up here in the Phoenix area, so I really need to go. Great photos!
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Yes – but for birding you should go later, as I’m sure you know. The Mexican species weren’t around when we were there ( a few weeks ago) but since I’ve never been to the southwest at all, I was happy with what I saw – the plants, the views, the colors, the open space, and the birds! But the Sandhill cranes – that’s reason to go in the winter, really. What an experience. And I have to add – the Chiricahuas are just the best! I’d love to get to the other side – by Portal – and see the research station – but like I said, I was happy with what I saw!!
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Yes, I belong to a Facebook Arizona birding group and a lot of them have gone recently to see the Sandhill Cranes there. Looks like an awesome experience.
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I love herons, cranes, egrets – always have – living on the east coast, I never saw Sandhill cranes until a few years ago when I took a trip to Florida. I was driving around back roads and there was a pair in someone’s yard – a very large yard, with a pond – it was so exciting because unexpected. But even with the expectation of Whitewater Draw, there is still much power in the experience, since there are big numbers, a lot of activity, few people, and noise, noise noise! They’re really vocal!)
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Beautiful detail Lyn, both near and far!
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