A rare March snowfall blanketing the mountains on the north horizon.

High-desert vegetation

We drove up I-17 about 30 miles for this view -- Snow on the prickly pear cactus

A rooftop view of snow-covered mountains.

Claret cup cactus.

This little gem is in our front yard.

Mexican bird of paradise

Our friend, photographer Jim Kolar, took this picture at Sun City's Lakeview Park during a recent visit.

Fish hook cactus

Desert view near Cave Creek, AZ

Notice the spiky ocotillo in the middle, with delicate orange tips.  In the foreground is a prickly pear with its hot pink blossoms.  If you ever get the chance, try a scoop of prickly pear ice cream.  There's a great little general store in Tortilla Flat that serves it.

Giant Argentine cactus

This fabulous specimen is in our front yard.  A few weeks ago the one in our backyard had more than 90 buds on it.  A dozen or so blossoms open at a time and last only one day.  

Black Canyon on the Lower Colorado River

Vic and I took our raft on a  thirteen-mile float trip down-river from Hoover Dam.  This picture was shot just a few feet from the put in.  It's an easy flat water trip that can be done in a day.  We'd heard that it was such an incredible experience, however, that we wanted wring every possible minute out of it.  So we took along our camping gear and spent the night on a sandy beach along the river.  If you go, be sure to stop at the hot springs at Boy Scout Canyon.

For less adventurous souls, there is a guided tour on mammoth rubber rafts.

Temple Bar on Lake Mead in Southern Nevada.

We like to camp there when we really want to get away.  No cell phone.  No radio signal.  And no TV, unless we want to haul out the DirecTV dish.   There is a pay phone down by the convenience store, though.

Superstition Mountains

We took this picture from our campsite just outside of Apache Junction, AZ

Coyote

This is a young coyote we found visiting our backyard in the early morning hours.

Raccoon

Think the desert is all lizards and coyotes?  Think again. 

This guy and his two siblings were hanging out in the African Sumac tree in our backyard. 

Gambels Quail

Here's mom and the kids -- a little over one week old.