Palo Verde and Rhyolite Tuff

The rhyolite Tuff in the background is from the same event as the stripe on Pass Mountain, I'm told. Rhyolite like this stuff forms when an explosive eruption hurls lava high into the atmosphere. If it's still hot enough when it falls, it welds together and forms "tuff" (which is fairly soft rock).

The Palo Verde blooms bright yellow if there's enough water around. 

Salt River Canyon

The narrow canyon cut by the Salt River through the Goldfield Mountains made for a long skinny lake. In the narrower parts the rock goes into the water straight down 80 or 90 feet. 

Four Peaks from Saguaro Lake

Saguaro Lake is the westernmost in a string of four reservoirs along the Salt River east of Phoenix. The other three, west to east, are Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt.

Roosevelt Lake was once the largest man-made lake in the world, and had the tallest masonry dam. To travel from Canyon to Roosevelt, you must drive the Apache Trail, which is a one-lane dirt road much of the way.

The string of lakes provides both power and water for the Phoenix area. 

Sentimental Journey

Commemorative Air Force B-17, Falcon Field, Mesa. 

A rose from Don's yard

Beauty in the morning light. 

Palo Verde and Saguaro

The tree in full bloom is a Palo Verde. They are interesting trees in that they have green bark. If there's a lack of water, they drop all their leaves and do photosynthiesis through their bark. 

Cactus Gone Wonky

I think this is a "cristate" form, like the crested saguaro I posted a while back. This one is in the Park of the Canals in Mesa. 

Papago Park Pool

Taken from the Hole in the Rock. Tempe is the town in the background. 

Canyon Rapids

 

Vulture Over the Canyon

 

Tree on the rim

The wind on the rim makes for twisty trees. 

Bright Angel switchbacks

It's a long way from the bottom to the rim. 

Bright Angel Trail

Mules climbing the trail to the Grand Canyon's rim.