Normally lovely sunset and stormy sky in March 25 and 26.

This is our usual sunset sky

 On March 24th, the blue sky gave way to a few wispy clouds and then we had terrific winds.  Dark clouds blew in over the mountains.  While the wind kept gusting, the sun painted this incredible sky.

Today, March 26, those same winds stirred up around 3pm.  This time the sun backlit the sky to add bright golden shades to the dark clouds.

 This picture is looking west
This east view captures the last sunshine on the mountains.

 All this and not one drop of rain.

   Now it's 9pm.  The wind has died down and the stars are out.  Arizona.... mountains.... desert....sigh....

Flowers in and around Esperanza Estates

This rose bush is on the side patio .  There are 3 other rose bushes to the side, one solid red and one part white and red.  The fragrance is wonderful.

 These blossoms are orange

 Such big blooms for a little scrawny cactus

 Beaver Tail Prickly pears burst into bloom.

  This prickly pear has yellow blooms

A different cactus and deep magenta blooms

 This variety of prickly pear has red blooms

 This house has the MOST extensive cactus garden in the complex.

They also have the only red hot pepper hummingbird feeder we've seen.

Someone without a green thumb must be frustrated.

Last Visit to Madera Canyon this year

We had a picnic lunch at Madera Canyon.  It was another lovely sunny day, cooler at the higher elevation.  We decided to try the Madera Picnic area hike to the Amphitheater Parking Lot, only .48 mile but an increase of 150 feet in elevation. Not sure we will ever try that 2.7 mile hike.

 So far, a nice sandy path.

A bit rockier

 and then we heard running water which is very rare.

We found a bubbly, little stream coming out of that pile of rocks on the right side of the picture.   

 And an energetic tiny stream tumbled downward in amongst all the rocks.

 The water is very clear

 There doesn't seem to be much that is holding these rocks from tilting over into the ravine

 Onward to the Amphitheater

 This is as far upstream as we went.

So, we saw Patagonia Lake yesterday and today a stream with real water in it.  Remember we're in the desert and any water is a very big surprise.

It is a lovely walk.  Sun beams peaking in and out of the trees.  Gentle breezes and an occasional bird song.  We love this place.

We decided to finish our day with the paved Proctor Loop.

The path parallels the dry creek bed.  I don't know where our happy little stream went, not this far down in the canyon.

Most rocks look like this one, fractured and violently broken. 

So where did this one come from?  It is all smooth and sculpted.  These ancient mountain sides and canyons hold many secrets.

This is the rhyolite rock that the picture of the sign above describes.  I could spend alot of time learning about rocks, cacti and flowers in Arizona!!!

It may not look like much of a flower garden, but this is so much more colorful than it was 2 weeks ago.