Frozen in Time

This is my Night-Blooming Cereus (Peniocereus greggii) at about 5:30 Friday morning. I got up early to photograph them because I wasn’t sure how long they would stay open and there is not enough light where they are to get good photographs in the dark. (Plus it was rainy and cold last night. Actually it was rainy and cold this morning, too.) There were 18 blossoms in all.

Because of the overcast rainy day, the blossoms were still open at 10 am, so I got some better shots when I wasn’t shivering so much I couldn’t hold the camera steady!

The night bloomers open up at night and by the next morning, they close up - such a short life span for a beautiful blossom. They also have a lovely fragrance, but when it’s wet, the livestock smell tends to overwhelm everything, so I can’t describe it for you this time. This is actually the first time that these guys have bloomed since we moved them from our old house 5 years ago, so I was pretty excited to see them!

And finally, another rare sight - sweaters and long pants in Phoenix in May. It didn’t get above 65° today and it was cold and rainy all day long. That’s just not something that you see in May very often. In fact, I can’t remember it ever being this cold at this time of the year in my lifetime. We even had to dig some of LG’s long pants out for her to wear today! But, I’m not complaining - we got some gardening/yard work done today and it was really enjoyable to be outside. A far cry from the record high of 110° we experienced on Monday!

Taken May 23, 2008.

The weather was simply gorgeous today, so LG and I went to the Wildlife World Zoo.

For more pictures from the zoo, click here.

Taken May 22, 2008.

This is another of the night bloomers. It bloomed Tuesday night and then closed up by midday Wednesday. I love the delicate pink color.

Taken May 21, 2008.

Love that little eye.

Bonus shot:

This little guy surprised me as I was checking out our night-blooming cereus (which should bloom in the next couple evenings). He is a desert horned lizard, better known as a horny toad. Haven’t seen one of these little guys in a long time - probably since I was a kid.

Taken May 20, 2008.

Links to some of my favorite pictures from other blogs for Week 20:

nothing left but the floor

Afternoon sun

Pride

Early Sunflower

feathery soft

nap

More Pretty

Sun Drunk

I didn’t get a chance to take pictures today. And I didn’t take this one, but it’s of LG so I think it counts. This is a cameraphone pic taken by Rochelle’s mom, who along with her little sister (and various other members of her family), babysat for us tonight while we did a Baccalaureate Mass. (That’s Rochelle’s little sister holding LG, by the way.) The high today was 108° in our part of town, so it was definitely a good day to get in the pool. LG had a great time and fell asleep pretty much as soon as her head hit the pillow. By the way, LG call her goggles, her “gog-gools”. Cracks me up.

Taken May 19, 2008.

I’ve seen some really awesome reflection shots lately, so that inspired this week’s theme. And I’m sure you will think of even more ways to interpret the theme!

I know taking a picture of a computer screen is kind of a copout, but the first triple digits of the year are always a momentous occasion around here, and I didn’t have a thermometer to photograph, so this is what you get.

Triple digits usually signal the beginning of summer.  Oh, if we’re really lucky there may be a day in the high 90s during monsoon season, but for the most part, once it hits 100, it’s here to stay until October.  Last year, we hit 100 at the end of April, so I’m appreciative for the extra few weeks of nice weather.

Strangely enough, though, once this high pressure system (which is promising 108 or so degrees tomorrow) moves out, a low pressure system will take its place and by the end of the week, the temperatures will drop 20 degrees into the high 80s, which we will try to enjoy and take advantage of, since I bet we won’t see that again until October!  Then it will start a steady climb back into the 100s by the end of next week and that will most likely be that.  You never know, of course. Weather in the desert can be fickle. Either way, the first 100 degree day is always just a little sad to me.  

Taken May 18, 2008.

Taken May 17, 2008.

LG, her friend G, and G’s little sister having some fun this morning.

Taken May 16, 2008. Little Girl at 3 years, 5 months.