Soul and Tears

Soul & Tears
*her self portrait by Laurel Burch
~
"The Soul would have no Rainbow if
the eyes had no tears"
~
I dedicate this post to Judie
who is a passionate
artist, environmentalist, exotic bird lover
and generous friend whom I met through blogging.
Her expression of Nature
particularly parrots using brilliant & vibrant color
always captivates me.
The harsh reality of loss brings acute grief and
an overwhelming pain to Judie
Go here to read more
I ask that you hold Judie and her family
in your prayers.

Greeting Friends

I am greeting old friends after a
long winter separation

Paisley & I enter the still mostly bare garden

a lone dove waiting

Maggie is that you nibbling
~
*clicking on highlighted links you will
see more visiting nature friends

The buds of the Columbine concealing
their faces and Bunny's bow still looking
~ tres chic~
after a severe winter with so much snow

Alvin has returned or is that Chipper!
~
"Good friends are like stars you don't always see
them but you know they are always there."

Spring Begins Here!

Spring warmly welcoming back a choir of
chirping from the Robin!

Spring a time to take gardening tools
out of storage.. also remembering the
time little feet were painted on the floor..

"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the
soil is to forget ourselves"
Mahatma Gandhi
~
The real gardening work begins in Spring..
time to get down on our knees and get dirty
cleaning away debris left over from winter...
time to tidy up and watch as my garden awakes.

time to check for signs of new life..
the first green shoots emerge from the Hostas!

after slumbering through winter
the lily of the valley
are beginning to Spring into action!

A new beginning a new gardening season awaits!

Self Expression

A forgotten onion in the darkness of
a warm bin knows only the urge
to express itself.

A Supreme Symbol

~Saguaro Cactus Blossom~
Arizona state flower
~
From late April to June hundreds of
these heavenly scented flowers
on the *top of the mighty Saguaro cactus
bloom just several at a time.
*important to note: photo taken early evening

The flower opens only at night and closes
during heat of the day as seen in the photo.
Many of the blossoms will become pollinated
and later become a red fruit enjoyed
by many birds!

In last years post seen here,
I was unable to capture images of
the Saguaro blossom
because my camera did not have as powerful a
zoom lens as my new Olympus camera so I am
thrilled to have captured these images
with my 18x optical zoom!

Saguaro Cactus

Known as the supreme symbol of the South West
and as a plant with personality!
I loved this one.. the dancing Saguaro!
*I've posted more facts about the Saguaro here
~
I have so many more photos to share with you
taken while I spent my winter in Arizona!
Periodically I will post these images in between
photos of my personal garden space and my
nature world
as I see it through the lens of my camera.

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit"
Edward Abbey

For Mother with Love

A mother understands what a child
does not say

"The mother's heart is a child's schoolroom"
Henry W. Beecher
~~
To mothers and grandmothers:
May your joys be as bright as the morning..
Happy Mothers Day!
~
*the precious hands are of my grandchildren taken while
I visited them in Arizona recently.

A Welcome Greeting

Trillium
Ontario's provincial flower.. a protected plant.
One must obtain an appropriate collection permit
to pick one.

We crossed the border into Canada and
along the highway the Trilliums adorn the
woodland floor with their splendor..
They grow in shady damp forest floor soils in
early Spring!
Truly a Welcome Home greeting from Mother Nature!

The Grand Canyon

Experiencing the depth of nature in all its grandeur..

*A MUST TO ENLARGE ALL PHOTOS!

The Grand Canyon!

One of the seven natural wonders of the world!

The Grand Canyon is about 6 million yrs. old,

277 miles long, an average of 10 miles wide & 1 mile deep!

Standing next to this spectacular sight that holds a beauty

beyond description I listen to the silence..

and experience a heightened sense of peace and quiet awe.

The Canyon comes alive in a complex pattern of light

and texture!

I'm thinking how small humans are in the grand scheme

of the earths natural wonders!

*X marks the spot above ... see below

Colorado River

offers visitors white water river rafting or boating

*a closer look using my zoom lens..

A closer look down the Grand Canyon..

many have hiked the trails or taken mule rides.

There is also a Ranch below that provides thrilling adventures.

Natureboy and girl

The grand finale post from our 2 month stay in Arizona.

This morning with temperatures in the high 70's we began our road trip

back home to Canada.

Eight hrs. later we have reached Santa Fe New Mexico with

temperatures in the low 40's ...brrr!

All good things must come to and end. It's time to get back to reality

and our Canadian Spring garden waking up from a severe winter.

The time spent visiting our son and his family in the Scottsdale area,

the many adventures we had and the multitude of photo opportunities..

some I shared with you in the last 24 posts; contributed to a feeling of ..

joy, healing, renewal, peace, happiness and love!

Many of you regularly stopped by & made comments and

I am grateful to you all. I feel fortunate to have so many friends

who share a love to be close to nature!

Arizona and Spring in the desert offers a visual treat and I highly recommend

that you visit!

See you in about a week..

hugs Naturegirl

"It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth

and in contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility."

Rachel Carson

San Francisco Peaks

San Francisco Peaks

the highest mountains in Arizona on route to

the Grand Canyon

in the horizon while on our Pink Jeep tour in Sedona..

the San Francisco Peaks

believed to be a Volcanic mountain range.. held sacred by

13 Native American Nations

town of Flagstaff..
less than an hour from the Grand Canyon surrounded by pine trees
with the Peaks providing a scenic backdrop.
I have butterflies in my stomach knowing we are so close to the Canyon!

We finally arrive!
Behind this bench is the magnificent wonder!
~~
"Charting a hopeful course toward our dreams is the surest way
to bring those dreams to pass"

Sedona Memories

Snoopy

The rock formations in Sedona have been given

affectionate names by the residents.

Kissing Rocks

*enlarge to see the blossoming tree!

click here to see *Bell Rock

Sweet Glitter Memories in the corners of my mind

Top left: bag created by Violette. Lisa O & Violette..

Lorraine Kate & Nicci

middle: Mahala, Kate, Gemma & Pam

bottom row: Gemma, and group photo left front to back:

Gemma. Kate. a bit of Katie. Mahala. Cheryl

Lorna.Violette. Pam. Kai. Nicci.

back row: Lisa O & Lorraine

*I thank Lisa O artist & photographer for sharing her

blk. & white photos and the one of Gemma

*Meet these wonderful creative spirits by clicking on

their highlighted names..more photos of our gathering too!

~~

Time spent in Sedona with it's breathtaking enchanting timeless beauty

shall forever be locked into my memory!

Tucked away special memories of meeting and greeting; hugging and

laughing and witnessing..

the Power of the Glitter Sisters!

*artist bloggers who met for a reunion in Sedona

Never having had sisters of my own..I experienced Frister Love first hand..

(friend sisters) as Lisa O. would say!

I was challenged to create my first ever journal page and a crown

representing me!

(I'll show you in a future post)

I witnessed first hand artists at work play laughing partying sharing inspiring

but mostly LoVe and aFFecTioN among a group of

women who I met blogging!

I feel blessed in having the little time I had with you ..

Love and smooches to my Fristers!

~

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. Next week I'll post the Grand Canyon.

It will also be my Last week here in the Arizona desert!

Where has the time gone!

~~

"Art gives wings to your soul"

written by Lorrraine

Sedona Jeep Tour

Beautiful mystical Sedona with an altitude of 4200 ft.

above sea level located just 2 hours south of the Grand Canyon.

A perfect location for an early morning hot air balloon ride!

While out birding I was able to capture at least 7 lifting up

to the sky.

tour guide. myself. hubby

~

After breakfast we went on the adventure of our life..

a Pink Jeep tour with Michael as our tour guide heading up

to an elevation of 7000 ft !

Millions of years ago this entire area was covered by a sea..
seven different times!
When these seas retreated, the extensive erosion helped carve
the unique mesas, buttes, spires and pinnacles seen in these photos.
We are awestruck by this natural beauty which surrounds us!


These layers of deposits were built up over eons.
In seeing the strata of red rocks we are witnessing 180-220
million years of geologic history graphically!

*a special thank you to my tour guide for all these *interesting facts

*images are a must to enlarge


Sedona..
A place of timeless beauty, surrounded by magnificent
natural red rock sculptures and pristine Natural Forests.

If you've never been to Sedona it is a must to experience!
Sedona is a major cultural center for the arts in the West &
is home for over 40 galleries and dozens of internationally
acclaimed artists and writers!
~
I did meet up with a group of artists who are known as
"Glitter Power Sisters"
ladies I have met through blogging..
and what a time had!
Pinch me did I really meet this fun loving group of artists!
More photos next post.. The Grand Canyon too!

~
*Forgive me everyone if I have not been

visiting your individual blogs.

Travelling about .. at the end of the day I have little energy

left to sit at the PC but I promise I will stop by soon !

Feathered Friends

Capturing photos of birds while in Arizona has been a challenge

for me because of extreme heat and the glare of the day sun.

I am motivated to rise early morning and go birding.

I'm truly alive to the world around me!

I capture an intimate quiet portrait of a sparrow !

Closing a distance gap without scaring off this sparrow

I am granted the privilege of

taking a photo I've been waiting weeks for!

Gamble's Quail (male)
The Gamble's Quail is always a reluctant subject and most
of the time busy moving away quickly.. my photo
opportunities often come and go in seconds.
This male with his bright russet cap and black face and bib
sets my heart pounding as I get ready to press the shutter !
After a month of attempts I finally capture his portrait!

Love Birds.. Naturegirl and Natureboy
A view of Sedona from our lodge.

We had a full weekend touring the Grand Canyon, Sedona and
partying with a group of BLOGGER artists..The Glitter Sisters!
I took numerous breathtaking photos of the Canyon and the enchanting Red Rocks
while on a Jeep Tour in Sedona driving up to an elevation of 7000 ft!
I still have the task of downloading and editing hundreds of photos!
I promise that this week I will begin my postings and share them with you.
*the bird images were taken Fri. morning in Sedona
~~
"In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks!"
John Muir

Sedona and More

Bell Rock

Stunning red rock of Sedona.. 2 hours north of Phoenix

Stunning mystical scenic and impressive..these rocks

are filled with enchantment!

We visited Sedona a few weeks ago and will
return tomorrow on route to the Grand Canyon!
We plan to tour the Canyon for the afternoon then
return to Sedona where we will stay for a few nights.
Sedona has many hiking trails through sacred
Native Indian land.
We have planned a Jeep tour on the back roads
of this beautiful Red Rock Country!

A breathtaking view from our lodging
overlooking Sedona..

I will have the pleasure of meeting in person a group of
11 artists who call themselves"The Glitter Sisters!"
They are bloggers who've met by exchanging art, ideas,
inspiration and love and became a group of glitter friends!
I am over the top with excitement as they are meeting
for a reunion in Sedona.. I have met several by visiting their
blogs and to actually meet them in person... what a thrill!
Shortly after arriving in Arizona I did meet with Gemma

the hostess of ..
what will be a memorable event for us all!
There will certainly be many sparkly hugs among all the Glitter!
~~
"A hug is a great gift.. one fits all, and it's easy to exchange!"

Beauty & the Beast

Prickly Pear

Beauty from the many cacti blossoming in the desert..

petals above are like paper

Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard
I was ecstatic when this beauty of a different sort ran in front
of me .. with my zoom lens I was able to capture this photo!
Apparently it is mating season so lizards are on the move.
*enlarge the photo to see his yellow spots

" There's always something beautiful to be experienced
where ever you are.
Look around you and select beauty as your focus."

Quiet Moments

"Nothing is worth more than this day."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

~ 4 weeks old now ~

I first introduced you to this Colt here..

at the time he was 5 days old;

he touched many of your hearts as well mine .. I was anxious

to return to see how he's grown!

*enlarge the images and experience sheer sweetness!

Quiet moments that touch my soul

Peace and tranquility
a Foal basks in the sunshine

Giving the Mares time to accept my presence, they
determine that I pose no threat & I am able to capture
these images.. quiet tranquil moments.

Keep growing keep dreaming..

Mare and her 5 day old foal!

~~

"One today is worth two tomorrows."

Benjamin Franklin