Now the Bad !

Now the Bad !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Now the Bad,

See this sweet little bush? yes, it will get a trimming this weekend
but all in all a nice green little bush. Well it is not ! This is a
Lizard Disneyland.
Now that it is Spring every lizard who lives within 10 miles comes to
visit. Over the stucco wall they come scampering around the bottom,
laughing ( you ask do lizards laugh ? yes ! I say they do and they also leave popcorn everywhere too ! ) as they run up and down the woody stem. Happy as clams ? I guess it the lizards answer to Disneyland...
Well ...
Let me tell you Lizards are really dumb ! they climb over the screen
( 21/2 feet high to keep out the snakes ) and then forget where and
how to climb out.

As you know I have two Scottie. These dogs live to chase anything that
runs on the earth ! They also want to protect me from any invading
menace . They doubled teamed a coyote already but that is another
story for another day.

So every Spring they live to chase the lizards that are invading their
yard, the Lizards who forget how to return the way they came. Instead
they run back and forth in front of the screen ... can we guess what is
coming ?
Lizard parts everywhere and this where my table is ! Little legs,
tails and various body parts laying in the hot sun.
Do we know who has to go out to clean up the mess ...

I will admit that you have not lived till you see Hamish eyes
shinning, hopping with all four feet together while holding a Lizard
in his mouth with wiggling tail hanging out one side of his mouth.
Small pleasures.

oh no ! ... parsnip
music ... Made To Run, Blue Merle

Winter Snow Runoff #1

Winter Snow Runoff #1, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

A wash near my home with the last of the Winter Snow melt runoff.
Just a lazy stream trickling across the road. I drove through it
twice just to hear the water.

Winter Snow runoff #2

Winter Snow runoff #2, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This wash will be dry now for several month till the Summer
monsoons fill it with quick, fast-moving flash flooding runoff filled
with trees, branches, and rocks large and small and several cars and
trucks. People always think they can drive through the fast moving
water but end up being rescued instead.

Next post will be " The Sad " get out your hankies it is a tear
jerker, at lest for me.

Part Two of The Good The Bad and The Really Really Sad...

Part Two of The Good The Bad and The Really Really Sad..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Today more Good ... blooms among the rocks.

Amazed ... parsnip
music ... Places, Blue Merle

My front yard in bloom...

My front yard in bloom..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Yellow blooms everywhere...

My street in bloom

My street in bloom, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

In the foothill area where I live, we have a carpet of yellow everywhere

Neighborhood street, Ocotillo in bloom

Neighborhood street, Ocotillo in bloom, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

More to come...

The Good, The Bad and the Really Really Sad

The Good, The Bad and the Really Really Sad, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

It is Spring in Tucson. Everything that can is blooming like crazy.
If it has a stem is above ground it has some sort of flower on it.
Amazing !

Today : the good, three Prickly Pear Blooms from my yard. The petals are so
thin, like tissue paper you can almost see through them and soft like
a drop of water.
Enchanting !

overwhelmed, parsnip
music, Pretty Much Amazing, Joanna

#2

#2, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

100_2487.JPG

#3

#3, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

stayed tuned, more to come ...

Happy Birthday, Sweetpea !

Happy Birthday, Sweetpea !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

WOOF !

Watson and Hamish wish Really Nice Tall Person , who they love and
miss very much ...

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

woof woof woof !

p.s. hope you have a great day Darling Daughter !

Prickly Pear #2

Prickly Pear #2, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

A week later and look how much I have grown !
About double in size...

amazed ... parsnip
music ... Cloud Age Symphony, Okino Shuntaro

Happy Birthday Eryl !

Happy Birthday Eryl !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Happy Birthday Eryl !

A Prickly Pear Cactus for your Birthday !

singing . . . parsnip
music ... Sailing, Cafe Carlyle Sessions

I am ready for my close up.

I am ready for my close up., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Close up of new growth on a Prickly Pear Cactus.

Spring comes fast !

Spring comes fast !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Spring comes fast in Tucson .

My plan was to document the new growth on the Prickly Pear, every day
I was going to take a picture of how fast it grows.

Wahahahahahahahah ...

Time flew away and a week later ( goodness ) the small green sprouts
that were big as you thumb nail, some, have already gotten as big as
the palm of your hand.
I rather like the Magenta, Purple, Lavender, Electric Lime and Blue-
green of this cactus.

The Foothills near my home have turned green and every plant is in
bloom, color is everywhere. I think nature knows that the hot Summer
is just around the corner so all the plants and animals don't waste a
second of the Fabulous Arizona Spring.

Sneezing . . . parsnip
music . . . 1 2 3 4 , Feist

Cary Grant lives !

Cary Grant lives !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Isn't he charming, handsome, regal and comes with a melodious voice.
No wonder the beautiful Lady ( post below ) is entranced.

LUV ... is in the air.

singing ... parsnip
music ... In The Midnight Hour , The Commitments

Quail Invasion...

Quail Invasion..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Circle the wagons it is a Quail Invasion...

Quail are everywhere this year and my yard is overrun by them !
Since I really adore the crazy little birds this normally doesn't
bother me but this spring they are so cheeky !
They walk along the top of my fence and walls, walk by the pool, walk
along the very tiny window sill and look in my windows and they walk
up to my doors and knock. They are walking everywhere !

In coveys of up to 20 birds they walk in " straight " lines following
the leader. They split up for spring and summer but will regroup for
winter. Soon there will be little balls of fluff following after Mum
and Dad.

This young female has been visiting me several days now she walks back
and forth balancing on an impossible tiny window ledge. I think she is
in love with her reflection or thinks there is another rather cute
Quail luring her into a leafy bower of luv !
All day long I hear the males calling , sounds like an car engine
trying to start on a winter morning.

The Gamble's Quail has the unique plum on the top of their cute little
heads.

careful ... parsnip
music ... Hit The Ground Running ... Doves

Lemon Tree

Lemon Tree, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

One of the reasons my garden and home smells so lovely this time of
the year.
Tangelo, Valencia Orange, Lemon, White and Pink Grapefruit... my
garden in filled with sweet scents.

The one thing I am missing are the Bees, I have some but not as many
as the last few years. Each year less and less Bees. I am quite
worried.
They like the Rosemary Bushes and all my Cactus plants in the front
yard but they haven't started to bloom yet the so I hope to see more
bees soon.

I plan to do some research on making my land more Bee friendly but if
they are dying in other area how bad is the impact here ? I don't
know how or if my garden is affected and not sure how I can help but
it is worth a try, no ? I love hear the soft murmur of the Bee's even
though I am very allergic to the sting.
Wish I knew more, internet here I come...

overwhelmed. . . parsnip
music . . . If I Could, Blue Merle
I am wearing this CD out. . .