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May 31^sthh, 2021
Antelope Horns is a kind of milkweed - bright white sap oozes out of stems or fruit when injured. Added Photo of the Fruit "Horns"
Dec. 10^th, 2020
Finally, I corrected spelling mistakes ten years after this page was published: Wall Spiders.
May 16^th, 2020
Milkweed Vine. The names for this very common plant have been changed multiple times over the past few decades. Will the names remain stable now? Fringed Twine-Vine
May 12^th, 2020
Prickly Poppies have large white flowers with distinct yellow centers with numerous stamens. Bees work to gather pollen: Another Don't Touch Plant
Apr. 26^th, 2019
Desert undertakers with six legs: Hide Beetles.
Aug. 4^th, 2019
Yellow-billed Cuckoo often remain concealed in tall trees such that line riparian habitats. Save Arizona's Riparian Habitat
Apr. 26^th, 2019
Okay, okay, a new page: A very common beetle found in cactus flowers: Cactus Sap Beetle.
Dec. 31^st, 2018
Arizonensis is still alive and well! With over 2000 total pages I decided to revisit and revise over 100 of them, fixing spelling mistakes, broken links, and revised identifications. New pages should follow soon.
Dec. 10^th, 2017
Survival, first and formost, requires that you not be eaten! From the Outside or the Inside.
Nov. 19^th, 2017
These little Red-Coats like to suck on sunflower seeds: Seed Bugs
Oct. 2^nd, 2017
You should be amazed to discover what's inside those mud tubes that appear on your house: Spider Zombies
July 22^th, 2017
Truly the Ocotillo is among the toughest Desert Survivors, but finally it too must be recycled into the shifting sands: Chrysobothris
May 10^th, 2017
Grasshoppers can jump far and fly quick but still they have lots of enemies: Grasshopper Hunter
Feb. 20^th, 2017
Yellow-breasted Chats are songbirds that sing loud and clear: Our Largest Warbler
Jan. 21^st, 2017
Look closely at a Sonoran scrub oak and you'll find a fantastic array of tiny ornaments: Oak Galls
Dec. 22^th, 2016
Mexican Leaf Cutter Ants just barely enter Arizona at Organ Pipe Cactus N. M.: Atta mexicana
Nov. 13^th, 2016
Please admonish your friends who visit the desert to never harm or molest these beautiful animals. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Aug. 23^th, 2016
Unlike many arachnids this one generates ooh's and ahh's! Red Velvet Mite
Aug. 20^th, 2016
When insects are attracted to porch lights they are at extreme risk of being predated by a bird or herp: Snout Moth
Aug. 3^rd, 2016
A few months ago I was an ecotourist in Colombia where Zika Virus is epidemic. Within minutes of leaving the airport the first insect I saw was the known vector: Aedes aegypti
June 26^th, 2016
Explain how and why a water beetle, keenly built to dive and capture prey, arrives in the dry desert: Torpedo Beetle
June 12^st, 2016
Many singing insects inhabit the moist riparian habitats that emanate from the mountains: Canyon Songsters
May 21^st, 2016
The long silky hairs on thistle seeds allow for wind dispersal, but hummingbirds find it perfect for lining their nests: Native Plants as Nesting Material
March 24^th, 2016
People transplanted to the Desert Southwest from the East and Midwest will find many familiar plants among the ponderosas of the Mogollon Rim and Flagstaff.
Jan. 5^th, 2016
These beautiful beetles employ a number of amazing survival tricks: Sunburst Diving Beetle
Sept. 29^th, 2015
This moth might appear to be a very patriotic one with its display of USA colors: Red, White and Blue
Sept 16^th, 2015
The very long tube of the Siphonoglossa flower holds a sugary reward at the very bottom: Like a long-stemmed cocktail glass.
July 25^th, 2015
Hungry birds succeed by seeing the difference between an inedible piece of dirt and an insect: Ground Mantis
July 9^th, 2015
Years after fire sweeps through a ponderosa forest great swaths of fire-red goosefoot can paint the landscape: Fetid Goosefoot
June 16^th, 2015
Here is a bush with what looks like needles, smells of pine resin and even has galls that look like cones: Turpentine Bush is a Composite!
April 18^th, 2015
What's an Ootheca? A tough, ingenious and beautiful egg protector made by a mother Praying Mantis: Ootheca
April 1^st, 2015
Many interesting grass species play major roles in the Sonoran Desert ecosystems: Tobosa
Jan. 20^th, 2015
They live in a little red house on Manzanita: Gall Aphids!
Jan. 6^th, 2015
Thanks to the Sierra Club and many dedicated individuals this peaceful riparian stretch was spared from a road-widening project: Sunflower and Sycamore Creek.
Oct. 30^th, 2014
DARPA take note: Bulldozer, Helicopter and Fighting Machine wrapped into one: Rhinoceros Beetle!
September 17^th, 2014
Signs that the summer season is coming to an end: Wands of brilliant Goldenrod at the roadsides and Fat Spiders loaded with eggs suspended in their webs.
August 24^th, 2014
One look at this plant and the message should be abundantly clear: Do not touch this plant!
Aug. 8^th, 2014
Arizona's Beauties of the Night: Polyphemus!
July 4^th, 2014
From a golden egg hatches a horned devil which grows and finally turns into a Splendid Royal Moth!
June 22^nd, 2014
Plant pathogens, like powdery mildew, are also part of the ecology that is the Sonoran Desert ecosystem: Fungus on Blue Fiesta Flower
May 11^th, 2014
This could well be among the gaudiest of insects, beset with brilliant emeralds all over: Cuckoo Wasp
April 17^th, 2014
I once reared a nestling Western Kingbird to adulthood; I recall that fondly whenever I see one. Tyrant Flycatcher
April 12^th, 2014
This male beetle is munching some pollen while its feathery antennae are designed to find the scent of a female: Wedge-shaped Beetles Escape by Tumbling
February 27^th, 2014
Manzanita shrubs in the mountains are blooming now. Insects and hummingbirds want the nectar: Robbery is not out of the question!
February 17^th, 2014
Intricate tunnels in the sandy terrain below is where these mammals stay during the heat of the day: Desert Pocket Mouse
Jan. 26^th, 2014
Where there is deep sand along canyon bottoms, look for serpentine trails revealing movement below! Giant Antlion
Nov. 24^th, 2013
Birds are mostly much easier to photograph than mammals, however, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers prefer to hide in dense thickets of branches: Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Dec. 22^nd, 2013
Remembering the blistering hot days of summer when I escaped to cool mountaintops and verdant wildflowers: Pinewoods Spiderwort
October 9^th, 2013
Three kinds of deer are found in Arizona including the White-tail Deer
July 10^th, 2013
The better you tend your cactus garden the more likely you will bring in this visitor: Cactus Longhorn Beetle
July 6^th, 2013
Would you love the Sonoran Desert even more if one of her residents chose to kiss you? Kissing Bug
June 27^th, 2013
A native flowering shrub is much more than a pretty plant: An Intricate Web of Life
June 7^th, 2013
Very hot sunshine is the norm for much of the year in the Sonoran Desert. A spider takes shelter among leaves and silk: Orb Web Spider
May 20^th, 2013
Ferruginous Hawks leave the northern states for sunny Arizona in the winter: Feathered Snowbirds
April 12^th, 2013
This plain brown bug belongs to the family of Leaf-footed Bugs, but hasn't got leaves on its feet: Coreid Bug on Scrambling Wortclub
February 21^th, 2013
A small spider with a mission (survival and reproduction in a harsh environment) lives on a well-adapted desert shrub: Tangled Web Spider
February 11^th, 2013
Not only did the Blind Watch Maker build an eye, it also learned to boil water and not get burned: Bombardier Beetle
January 24^th, 2013
Legumes, i.e., members of the bean family are important components of every vegetation type in Arizona: Scurfy Pea
December 30^th, 2012
Honey bees are normally quite safe when foraging along side a bumblebee ... but this bumblebee look alike isn't a bee at all: Bee Killer
December 20^th, 2012
This little blue is stretching to reach the last sip of nectar at the bottom of the floral tube: Acmon Blue Butterfly & Mojave Aster
November 4^th, 2012
Sunflowers are still blooming where there's water and upon them the observant person will find a wide variety of insects and birds: Annual Sunflower's Menagerie
October 27^th, 2012
This flower's long, long tube is tied to it's pollinator-partner's exceptionally long tongue: Sweet Four O'Clock
October 3^rd, 2012
What's your favorite flower color? Red? Blue? Pink? Yellow? Could it, would it, possibly be Green?! Pale Desert-Thorn
September 18^th, 2012
The newest page describes a dainty fly taking nectar at a flower. If I focused only on dipterans in the Sonoran Desert I could only scratch the surface of what there is to know about them. Overwhelming Diversity
September 7^th, 2012
At the very top of a Saguaro Cactus there's a velvety coating of soft plant hairs: Protection in a Harsh Environment
August 12^th, 2012
The stately saguaro cactus seems to define the Sonoran Desert. Similarly the Baobab defines the African Savanna: Baobab Tree
July 17^th, 2012
The wonder of Nature Study is that no matter how close or how long or how deep you study, more details appear: Desert Honeysuckle Seed Dispersal
July 1^st, 2012
One can imagine that nature is singing a song just for you as you hike your favorite canyon. Canyon Wren
June 16^th, 2012
Mess with this insect or its livestock and you could end up with a mist of acid in your face! Wood Ant
June 4^th, 2012
Poorly drained spots with high evaporation rates often lead to saline or alkaline soils: Alkali Sacaton
May 25^th, 2012
Quite a number of desert plants have highly reflective, silvery leaves and stems to help deflect intense sunshine: Indigo Bush
April 14^th, 2012
If you find lots of holes chewed out of lettuce or cabbage in the garden this is a likely culprit: Cabbage Looper
March 26^th, 2012
This fly is wearing a disguise and doesn't know it: Thick-headed Fly
March 12^th, 2012
When you find yourself quite excited to find this small, cryptic and not-so-showy flower you have become a naturalist too! Spearleaf
February 25^th, 2012
Cotton socks have been a boon to the spread and proliferation of plants with burs! Flat-spine Stick-seed
Jan. 21^th, 2012
Plants with a names like 'Cooba', are clearly out of place in the Sonoran Desert: Willow Acacia
December 20^th, 2011
A small, drab-gray moth sitting quietly on a flower head is also a player in the magnificent Sonoran Desert ecosystem: Microlepidoptera
December 1^st, 2011
Apparently, Prairie Falcons find Mourning Doves very pleasant to eat: Falcons Like High Places
November 16^th, 2011
Male birds can look very different than females. Also, juvenile plumage can be very distinct from the adult's. Juvenile Night-Heron
November 12^th, 2011
Long before we spotted the owl, the owl spotted us as a birding group hiked Reach 11
October 15^th, 2011
They're sometimes called pill-bugs, but they're not bugs at all. Woodlouse
September 20^th, 2011
Photos and descriptions of 42 bird species from Kenya, Africa: On Safari!
August 26^th, 2011
Ann McDermott shares and alternate view of life and mystery of survival in the Sonoran Desert: Roadrunner Bill Clacking
August 17^th, 2011
Hot weather in the low desert might drive nature hikers into the mountains: Cliff Rose and Horsetail Milkweed
July 21^st, 2011
New photos and a map added to Arizona Desert Urban Habitat page for: Phoenix, Granada Park
June 2^nd, 2011
Clearly, areas with abundant fish to support pelicans, are few in the Sonoran Desert: American White Pelican
May 25^nd, 2011
Thanks to a generous photo submission by a visitor to this website we now have a good photo of a Gilded Flicker
May 16^th, 2011
One must appreciate the important roll that filter-feeding mosquitoes play in aquatic systems and the amazing engineering of their phlebotomist's gear. Yellow Fever Mosquito
May 2^nd, 2010
Hungry birds hunting for insects usually avoid ants altogether and thus avoid this bug also because it Looks Like an Ant
Mar. 10^th, 2011
Plants with strong flavors have been frequent immigrants to the Sonoran Desert: Henbit Deadnettle
Feb. 14^th, 2011
Brittlebush is a very common and there's a lot of activity in and on these plants: Brittle Bush, Page 2
January 22^nd, 2011
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers learn to open a lunchbox (of sorts): Hackberry Gall Psyllids
December 8^th, 2010
Sometimes even a devotee of the Sonoran Desert finds that a trip to Arizona's high country brings relief and comfort: Plants Among the Pines
October 31^st, 2010
This close relative of the garden tomato and a closer relative of the tomatillo used in Mexican cooking grows commonly at mid elevations in Arizona: Ivy-leaf Groundcherry
October 20^th, 2010
Western Tent Caterpillars can sometimes completely defoliate riparian trees: Willows, Cottonwoods or Choke-cherry
July 20^th, 2010
A new guide on Arizona Naturalists describes 34 species of plants found in Sycamore Canyons. Riparian Woodland Gallery Flora
June 18^th, 2010
When it gets too sunny and hot for dragonflies they obelisk to reduce sun exposure. Mexican Amberwing
June 10^th, 2010
The Tucson Mountains ring the western rim of the Tucson valley and give residents convenient access to the wondrous Sonoran Desert: Tucson Mountains
May 14^th, 2010
This new stink bug might not be a good thing: Painted Stink Bug
Apr. 26^th, 2010
Xeriscape gardeners are enamored with the brilliant hot pink to magenta flowers of Parry's Penstemon: Uses Less Water too!
Apr. 8^th, 2010
Even less common plants have grown and are blooming this El Niño year: Three New Blazing Stars
Mar. 31^st, 2010
Urbanites shouldn't feel satisfaction knowing that the sounds from the bug-zapper represent the destruction a beneficial insect: Green Lacewing
Mar. 24^th, 2010
Progress is being made to have a page for every Sonoran Desert plant species: Arizona Lupine
Mar. 10^th, 2010
Bracket Fungi work to recycle the tough wood and lignin in a dead cottonwood: Ganoderma Shelf Fungus
Mar. 2^th, 2010
Tallus snails hide for months on end within their shells waiting and waiting for the desert to be wet again: Hill Top Snails
February 17^th, 2010
Winter season is the most comfortable time to explore the hot, dry ranges in far southwestern Arizona: Muggins Mountains Wilderness Area
Feb. 10^th, 2010
Pygmy-Cedar looks for all the World like a conifer of some kind ... But It Is Not!
Feb. 4^th, 2010
A delicate butterfly thrives in one of the most inhospitable places in the Sonoran Desert. Scrub Mallow Hairstreak
Jan. 14^th, 2010
A new project on Arizonensis! Sycamore woodlands are like ribbons of green through the desert: Sycamore Creeks and Canyons
Jan. 4^th, 2010
An ant-eater in Arizona: Red-shafted Flicker
Dec. 9^th, 2009
A Lark Sparrow hides in the grass while in plain sight: Above All, Avoid Predation
Nov. 12^th, 2009
Cattle Egrets like to follow in the tracks of cows, sheep or tractors: To Catch a Hopper
Nov. 2^nd, 2009
Juncos are rare one winter and common the next in the Sonoran Desert: Dark-eyed Junco
Oct. 8^th, 2009
The Sonoran Desert has become home to many plants from around the World: Castorbean
Sep 29^th, 2009
What made these perfectly smooth holes in a cottonwood leaf? Cottonwood Leaf Miner
Sept. 15^th, 2009
Common, but very aware and ready to run ... fast! Zebra-tailed Lizard
Sept. 3^rd, 2009
These birds must dry their feathers after diving for fish: Neotropic Cormorant
Aug. 24^th, 2009
Page # 1000 just added! A water bird in the Sonoran Desert: Great Egret
Aug 17^th, 2009
At night after a monsoon deluge these very large toads emerge to feast and reproduce: Sonoran Desert Toad
Aug 11^th, 2009
Did you spot that humongous wasp?: Tarantula Hawk
Aug 3^rd, 2009
Studying ecology is often about finding connections. Seep Monkey flower supports a butterfly: Common Buckeye
July 16^th, 2009
While bicycling through Phoenix streets I saw city birds, landscape plants, weeds and aggregations of Homo sapiens. Bike Rider Naturalist
June 9^th, 2009
Walk among grand Arizona Sycamores and you just might receive the attention of this large bird: Common Black Hawk
June 8^th, 2009
In transition from Sonoran Desert to Chaparral a springtime favorite wildflower: Purple or Chaparral Nightshade
June 1^st, 2009
Century Plants bloom only once before they die, so they go all out! Golden-flowered Agave
May 26^th, 2009
Red could mean blood. Or else red could symbolize passion. But for hummingbirds it's an advert for a sugar reward: Wavy-leaf Indian Paintbrush
May 19^th, 2009
These little flies that don't even bite are amazingly annoying! Eye Gnats
May 5^th, 2009
Another butterfly flits onto the pages of the Sonoran Desert Naturalist: Empress Leilia
April 28^st, 2009
A Moth in a Bumblebee disguise. Snowberry Clearwing
Apr. 20^th, 2009
Watch a video by Arizona Botanist Wendy Hodgson on the: Agaves Page
Apr. 15^th, 2009
After a long winter this lizard looks pretty thin and hungry: Sonoran Collared Lizard
Apr. 9^th, 2009
The glory of these wildflowers fades by mid morning: Tufted Evening Primrose
Apr. 6^th, 2009
Pink Penstemons are Showy: Desert Beard-tongue
March 24^th, 2009
Temperatures like Paradise in winter and Hell in summer! Quartzite, Arizona
March 12^th, 2009
Sora and other rails would rather not be seen: Sora is a Marsh Bird
Mar. 5^th, 2009
With so many scenic routes in Arizona it is hard to choose favorites: The Apache Trail
Mar. 3^rd, 2009
Wildflowers in the western Arizona Deserts do not last long: Yellow Sun Cup
Feb 26^th, 2009:
Pima Canyon is a Tucson standard for mountain hiking and a quick escape into the wilderness. Rugged Canyonlands near Tucson
February 19^th, 2009
Thumb images and links to common desert birds: Thrashers, Hawks, Doves, etc.
February 15^th, 2009
Wetland and riparian birds in the Sonoran Desert: Ducks, Shorebirds, Blackbirds, etc.
February 5^th, 2009
Jim Blaugh contributes a photo of a horned lizard: Desert Horned Lizard
January 28^th, 2009
Arizonensis now has 800 pages of Arizona Natural History! Stripe-tailed Scorpion
January 21^st, 2009
Butterflies of many kinds brighten the Sonoran Desert. Butterflies and Moths
January 12^th, 2009
The Sonoran Desert is home to plenty of multi-legged creatures. Spiders et al.
December 30^th, 2008
Bugs, aphids and plant hoppers in the Sonoran Desert. True Bugs.
December 23^rd, 2008
Wasps and Bee thumbnails all on one page: Including Ants.
December 11^th, 2008
Beetle thumbnails all on one page: Amazing Beetles.
Dec 1^st, 2008:
Much of the Sonoran Desert is Basin & Range with recent volcanic activity. Lava in the Desert at Painted Rock.
November 18^th, 2008
Desert squirrels deal with extended drought, searing hot temperatures, starvation, and on top of that, Bot Flies.
Nov 10^th, 2008
John Gunn, resource manager at Spur Cross Conservation Area contributed a great photo of a Desert Tortoise.
October 31^st, 2008
Queen Butterflies with their languid, seemingly carefree flight, belie the intense struggle to survive they must endure. Example: Tachinid Parasites.
October 22^nd, 2008
This snazzy outfit is actually good for hiding out in. Elegant Katydid.
October 10^th, 2008
J. B. S. Haldane reportedly stated that The Creator has in ‘inordinate fondness for beetles.’ Large Metallic Wood-boring Beetle .
Oct. 2^nd, 2008
With so many yellow composites, some naturalists are happy with 'Yellow Composite!': Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
September 24^th, 2008
This grasshopper of the Sonoran Desert Summer displays every color of the rainbow! Poecilotettix sanguineus.
Sep. 17^th, 2008
This giant member of the grass family is becoming a giant problem. Giant Reed.
Sep. 11^th, 2008
Many citrus family members have a pleasant aroma. Few, however, find this one to their liking: Turpentine Broom.
September 4^th, 2008
Wooly Bursage is a plant cattle seem to hate, but these beetles love it. Ambrosia Leaf Beetles.
August 27^th, 2008
The Sonoran Desert Naturalist has been growing steadily for 15 years. Recently the 700^th page was added! Ash-throated Flycatcher.
August 19^th, 2008
Late at night in the Sonoran Desert National Monument I observed this wonderful stick insect: Creosote Bush Walking Stick.
Aug. 13^th, 2008
Native plants are the foundation of a vibrant Sonoran Desert community: Desert Broom Ecology.
Aug. 7^th, 2008
These small black bugs are common on Desert Tobacco: Negro Bugs.
Aug. 4^th, 2008
This shrub with three shiny leaves is not poison ivy: Hop Tree.
July 21^th, 2008
A surprising, troubling and economically useful insect: Cochineal Scale.
June 11^th, 2008
Native plants are the foundation of a vibrant Sonoran Desert community: Goodding's Willow Ecology.
June 9^th, 2008
A clear favorite tree for many people in Arizona: Net-leaf Hackberry.
June 5^st, 2008
Many plant species must be examined with a good magnifying glass for accurate identification: Wingnut Cryptantha nutlets.
May 21^st, 2008
When flowers put on a red dress it means they will likely gain attention from a hummingbird! Cardinal Monkeyflower.
May 2^nd, 2008:
Outdoor enthusiasts find that freedom from noise and freedom from restrictions collide at Hassayampa Box Canyon.
April 30^th, 2008
Appearing as dollops of orange sherbet these spring flowers don't last long once the summer heat returns - like this Coulter's Globe Mallow.
April 24^th, 2008
So many shades of yellow in the Sonoran Desert - like this Desert Evening Primrose.
Apr. 21^st, 2008
This arachnid really likes eating termites. But people still have trouble accepting this enemy of their enemy as a friend: Arizona Bark Scorpion
April 3^rd, 2008
Snow in the Sonoran Desert does not last long in the heat of the day. Evening Snow
March 31^st, 2008
Most flower's pollen is yellow, but this one has blue pollen. Why? Lesser Yellowthroat Gilia
March 20^th, 2008
If your busy friends could slow down just a bit and take a look they wouldn't ask why you're lying flat in the desert. White Easterbonnets
March 11^th, 2008
Psyllium helps keep humans regular and desert soils in place! Indianwheat
February 20^st, 2008
Serpent-like cactus tempts passing birds with sweet red fruit: It's how Night-blooming Cereus disperses its seeds.
February 14^st, 2008
This spring do yourself a treat and go out and smell a Brownfoot
February 1^st, 2008
Nodding spike of white flowers touched with red: Booth's Suncup
January 30^th, 2008
A quintessential desert plant: Wand Holdback
January 16^th, 2008:
Will the Solitude be Broken at Buckeye Hills?
Jan. 11^th, 2008
Sonoran Desert Plant Guide ordered by Family: Sonoran Desert Flora
Dec. 20^th, 2007
Water Strider on Ice: Gerrids
Nov 30^th, 2007
Expanding the Plant Family pages for the Sonoran Desert Field Guide: Sonoran Desert Sumacs
Oct 31^st, 2007
Expanding the Plant Family pages for the Sonoran Desert Field Guide: Sonoran Desert Borages
Oct 18^th, 2007
Ancient, cone-bearing shrub: Long-leaf Joint-Fir
Oct 10^th, 2007
Plant families, like human families, also have more in common than just a name: Sonoran Desert Nyctaginaceae
Oct 3^rd, 2007
Looking for Velvet in the Desert: Yellow Feltplant
Sept. 26^th, 2007
Is this the World's worst weed?: Purple Nutsedge
Aug. 27^th, 2007
This weed is listed as "edible". What does it taste like? Desert Horse-purslane
Aug. 27^th, 2007
Here's another very delicate and attractive grass native to the Sonoran Desert: Needle Grass
Aug. 23^rd, 2007
These bright red berries are rather tasty and certainly not poisonous: Wolfberries
Aug. 20^th, 2007
Finding Silver in the Sonoran Desert: Narrow-leaf Silverbush
July 17^th, 2007
What would a desert be without thorny plants? This is the one of the Sonoran Desert's most common species: Graythorn
July 15^th, 2007
These small spiders are common on the walls of homes in the Sonoran Desert: Wall Spider
June 18^th, 2007
Oleander Shrubs in Arizona could be wiped out: Smoketree Sharpshooter
June 12^th, 2007
Native Fire Ant photo by Dale Ward Sting Hard!
May 30^th, 2007
Beautiful, tropical duck: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
May 8^th, 2007
Black smudges on Bermuda Grass are Smut Teleospores
April 25^th, 2007
Butterflies Sipping Sap: Arizona Sisters
April 6^th, 2007
Adding more pages to the field guide: Cane Cholla, Emory Oak, Narrowleaf Goldenbush, and Owl's Clover.
March 3^rd, 2007
Brightly colored aphids are probably poisonous to birds
January 12^th, 2007
Where the Sonoran Desert meets Inland Chaparral: Mountain Mahogany
December 28^th, 2006
You know you're a plant lover when you get excited upon finding a new shrub species that is Plain and Inconspicuous
December 4^th, 2006
Smooth, Succulent, Sage-Green Stems. Desert Milkweed
November 29^th, 2006
A Touch of the Mojave. The Joshua Tree
November 14^th, 2006
The Pygmy Blue may be the smallest of all butterflies
November 6^th, 2006
Sometimes even good insurance doesn't work: Lynx Takes Queen
September 27^th, 2006
The Sonoran Desert is Home to a surprising number of beautiful butterflies: California Checkerspot
September 20^th, 2006
A spiny cucumber with big black seeds: Big Root
September 12^th, 2006
The Sonoran Desert ecosystem has many players: Hop Bush
September 8^th, 2006
Only Bumblebee common in the Sonoran Desert: Sonoran Bumblebee
September 7^th, 2006
Details under magnification - like a schizocarp. Sida
August 30^th, 2006
Not really dangerous, but it can squirt you! Leaf-footed Bug
July 21^st, 2006
Inspirational art work by Frances Plagens
July 1^st, 2006
Check out this Beautiful Boy Bee: Green Halictid Bee
May 17^th, 2006
Digital photos are just too easy. Let's try some more watercolors instead: Snapdragon Bush and Paper Flower
April 16^th, 2006
A bit out of place in the Sonoran Desert: Cliff Chipmunk
Feb. 1^st, 2006
Quite common, but might go unnoticed: Brickel Bush
Jan 15^th, 2006:
Chaparral in the Sonoran: Shrub Live Oak -do you like this pen & ink?
Oct, 8^th, 2005:
Dragonflies: Filigree Skimmer, Red Rock Skimmer, Variegated Meadowhawk and Gray Sand Dragon
Sept. 15^th, 2005:
Lowland Leopard Frog: Uncommon Frog.
June 30^th, 2005:
Metallic Woodboring Beetle Armor-plated, aeronautical gems
June 19^th, 2005:
Gambel's Quail Life can be dangerous for these lovely, tasty birds
June 12^th, 2005:
Puncture Vines Don't Step on Me!
June 11^th, 2005:
Miniature Agaves? Rock Echeveria
May 22^nd, 2005:
Saguaro in bloom. Added photos of saguaro cactus flowers
May 18^th, 2005:
Round-tail Ground Squirrel Not a gopher! Not a prairie dog either.
January 30^th, 2005:
Mojave Desert Star Beautiful Dwarf Wildflower
January 24^th, 2005:
KOFA Mountains & Palm Canyon Spring Spectacular
December 22^nd, 2004:
Canyon Tree Frog Camouflaged and hard to see.
November 7^th, 2004:
Giant Crab Spider Scary, but not dangerous.
June 14^th, 2004:
Giant Hairy Scorpion Scary, but not dangerous.
May 23^rd, 2004:
Roadrunner. Beep! Beep!
May 19^th, 2004:
Largest Flowering Plant in the USA: Fremont Cottonwood
Mar. 12^th, 2004:
Don't weigh yourself with this waxy scale!
Feb. 26^th, 2004:
Dainty Sulphur A Lovely Tiny Butterfly!
Oct. 25^th, 2003:
Mediterranean Gecko Go!
Oct. 11^th, 2003:
Mojave Aster Go! and Centaury Go! - new wildflowers in fieldguide section.
Aug. 24^th, 2003:
Colorful Tiger Rattlesnake at Piestewa Peak. Go!
June 22^nd, 2003:
Enigma - Mystery and Wonder in the Desert Southwest.Go!
June 9^th, 2003:
Globe Mallow's hue is a springtime favorite. Go!
April 23^rd, 2003:
Hillside, Arizona: A rattlesnake (mojave?) is encouraged to remove itself from the roadway. Go!
March 16^th, 2003:
Tonopah, Arizona: Saddle Mountain and Palo Verde Hills Go!
January 11^th, 2003:
Arizona Registry of Big Trees. Arizona is home to 72 species that are largest of their kind in the United States. Go!
November 9^th, 2002:
Almanac of News articles arranged on Yearly Calendar. Go!
October 13^th, 2002:
Fall Wildflowers at Vulture Peak Go!
September 15^th, 2002:
Desert Warfare! Army Ants on the warpath! Go!
September 12^th, 2002:
The Field Guide has been expanded with more pictures of animals such as insects and birds. Go!
August 11^th, 2002:
New page about the Goldfield Mountains near Apache Junction, AZ Go!
August 6^th, 2002:
Chain Fruit Cholla in Field Guide: Picture and description. Go!
June 9^th, 2002:
New photos in Field Guide: A stately Saguaro Cactus poised above the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Go!
May 1^st, 2002:
Papago Park, a convenient desert preserve and home to the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens. Go!