Saguaro Blossoms

I finally found a saguaro with an arm bent low enough to actually see the flowers... 

Saguaro in Eagle Pose

Cactus doing yoga - who knew? 

Cars and the Cadillac Ranch

After seeing Cars last night, I was inspired to dig out this shot of the Cadillac Ranch, taken on a trip in March. The Ranch is on the south side of I-40 (the old Route 66) just west of Amarillo, Texas (between mile markers 60 and 62).

I absolutely loved the way the movie picked up this detail.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/TXAMAcadillac.html for more information. 

Saguaro flowers

Alien flowers on an alien plant... 

Cactus blooming

These are from a neighbor's yard. We were heading off to work a couple mornings ago and they were so bright that I just had to stop and take the picture. 

Moro Rock and a snowy crest behind

There was still snow in the higher parts of the park where we were and snow melt was running off everywhere. It even broke through the roadway in one place, coming up as a spring through the asphalt and running off into a canyon that was filled with the roar of a whitewater stream.

A long way from the desert where we live.

Moro Rock

 

Clouds, Sierras, Yucca

The yucca is in bloom and its white blossoms are visible all the way down. I read that there are 130-some curves and 10 or 13 hairpins in this stretch of road. I think that they may have missed a few... 

Clouds on the Sierras

Heading south out of Sequoia National Park. 

Squeezing in

The road actually passes between Sequoias - one lane between these two and the other between another set.

General Sherman

The General Sherman is the largest tree by volume on the planet. 

The base of the branch

This branch is about 6' in diameter. 

The top of the General Sherman

See the raw place where the branch broke off? 

Stellar Jay

Calmly checking out the area. 

General Grant

Third largest tree, nation's Christmas tree, 29' in diameter and 267' tall. Big-ass sumbitch! There are a couple people at the bottom of the picture, for scale.