Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day America!!

Red, White and Blue and Liberty too!

Happy Monday!

 Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"Life is better with a view."

"Always take the scenic route."

Colorado River, Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona 2024,

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Saturday's Critters # 550

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters! Hello and Happy Saturday!

 If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

Another post on our Arizona trip, on April 25th we spent the day on the Mt Lemmon Scenic Drive. We stopped at just about all of the overlooks, did a couple of short walks. Of course I looked for birds, but I did not find many new birds. I saw a few House Finches, Crows and one lifer was the Bell's Vireo. A new to me squirrel sighting for me was the Abert's Squirrel. 

1. The Saguaro blooms were pretty, some were hard to see up high on the tall cactus. 

2. A closer look at the Saguaro blooms.

3. I believe the white flowers are called Desert Chicory. Also below the  Pink Fairy Duster on the top right, on the lower right I am not sure what the purple blooming shrub is called. 

4. Below is the Pink Fairy Duster (Calliandria eriophylla)  it is a low native shrub. It is what interested me on the photo below, the powder puff blooms remind me of the Mimosa blooms. I did not see the Arizona Rosewood blooms.  

5. I did not see many birds, a few House Finches and my lifer the Bell's Vireo, crows or ravens in flight.

6. In the top left photo you can barely make out the road curving around, a sign showing the various hummingbirds seen at Mt Lemmon, various cactus and the Desert Paintbrush flowers.

7. Various scenes from the overlooks on the Mt Lemmon Scenic Hwy. The Cookie Cabin is a popular place, beside their dinner plate sized cookies they make pizza.  We couldn't leave there without buying cookies, yum.

A view from the overlook, not far from the summit. 

New to me, the Abert's Squirrel. It is similar to our Gray Squirrel except for those cute long ears. 

8. This was the view of the ski area, we stopped here to eat lunch at the Iron Door Restaurant. I had a delicious chili with their famous corn bread, hubby just had an appetizer of loaded potato skins. I did see one hummingbird here at the feeder. It was too fast for a photo.

I am linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday  I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your past and present comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves and respects wildlife. Thank you for linking up a critter post.

Here is my linky:

Thank you for sharing your critters and post!

Happy Monday!

 Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"Whatever makes your soul happy, do that."

Mt Lemmon, Arizona

"Do more of what makes you happy."

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Saturday's Critters # 549

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters! Hello and Happy Saturday!

 If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

On the morning of April 24th, we stopped at the nearby Meadow Garden Park in Green Valley.  We were just here the evening before, it was so nice it deserved a second visit before we left the area. 

1. One of my Arizona lifers below is the Costa's Hummingbird, it has a lovely purple gorget, looking like a necklace on it's neck. The flowers are beautiful, such a wonderful variety of blooms and colors. 

2. A larger image of the Costa's Hummingbird.

3. Below the lifers the Abert's Towhee and possibly the  Verdin in the top row. In the bottom row I have the Vermilion Flycatcher and the Gila Woodpecker. 

4. The Vermilion Flycatcher is a beauty, I was seeing this bird often during our Arizona travels.

5. More beautiful flowers seen in the gardens.

6. I like this poem "HOPE" by Eileen Valentino Flaxman, the words speak to me.  The Gambel's Quail perched on the back of the bench, saving you a seat. The Curve-bill Thrasher had a nest nearby, I watched it fly in and out of a bush.

7. Have a seat and enjoy all the flowers and birds in the gardens.

8. Another shot of the Costa's Hummingbird and some more pretty flowers.

A Desert Spiny Lizard

I have a few more days of our Arizona trip to share, I hope you enjoyed this post, the birds, flowers and the lizard.

I am linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday  I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your past and present comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves and respects wildlife. Thank you for linking up a critter post.

Here is my linky:

Thank you for sharing your critters and post!