Senita – A Hairy Cactus

Whiskery Cactus?

Whiskery Cactus? © 2011 Bo Mackison

This is the Senita cactus, one of the three largest cactus species found in a few areas of the United States. The Organ Pipe Cactus and the Saguaro Cactus (third photo in linked post) are the other two specimens that are found in the southern Sonora Desert in the US. They are more abundant in Mexico.

Senita

Senita © 2011 Bo Mackison

Senita usually grow about 10 to 12 feet tall and it looks very similar to the Organ Pipe Cactus, except for the long and bristly gray spines which densely cover the top third or so of each mature cactus arm.

The word senita is derived from a Spanish root meaning “old” and could roughly be translated “little old woman,” which I suppose seems appropriately named.

One of the things I found most interesting when I was doing a little research on the senita — the senita is very long-lived. According to A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert, published by the Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum, “when sites in Baja California photographed in 1905 were revisited in the 1990s, nearly every senita was still present.” The book didn’t say, but I’d love to know how much these cacti grew in that nearly 100 year period.

Hairy Senita

Hairy Senita © 2011 Bo Mackison

I am more than careful when it comes to touching the plants in the desert. This is extremely hard for me to stop, because I learn best through the techniques of visual and tactile (or kinesthetic) learning.

I want to get as close as I can to see the tiniest visual detail AND I want to touch all the parts of the cactus, too. Not so wise, but I did touch the gray spines of the senita — very carefully, I assure you — and they were very bristly and sharp.

Not unlike Sherpa’s two-day growth of beard when he is roughing it and forgoing shaving. (Ouch!)

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. Bringing you photographs and natural history notes from the Sonoran Desert, at least for a few more days.

Garden Gate

Garden Gate

Garden Gate © 2011 Bo Mackison

My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.  ~ Diane Arbus

Travel and blogging – a difficult pair. I always have much I could write about when I am traveling. But I never have much free time. And when I have free time, I am at the end of my day and my motivation to ready a photo and write are struggling with my needs to relax a bit or go to sleep in order to be ready for the next day.

I’m not in my more accustomed Tucson mode. This is trip one of two trips to Tucson in the next few months. Sherpa and I decided November was a safer time to drive the art trailer to Arizona. Less weather drama. And after last February’s travels through rain, sleet, ice and snow, we decided “no more winter travels, not if we can avoid them.”

Sherpa hooked his remaining vacation days to the long Thanksgiving holiday and so, on this first trip to Tucson, we are officially on vacation. We’ll return to Wisconsin for most of December, and then I’ll return to Tucson in January and be here for a few months to do a few winter art shows in Arizona.

Today I am going to do one of my favorite things – go where I have never been. (Diane and I must have a lot in common!)

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Bo Mackison is a photographer, owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.

An Evening Out

El Charro

El Charro © 2011 Bo Mackison

Sherpa and I took the evening off and went out to dinner at a nearby restaurant. After three days of nearly non-stop driving,  a great Thanksgiving, and then a whirlwind weekend setting up for winter housekeeping in the condo, we appreciated an evening to sit down and relax, and have dinner served to us with a smile and no kitchen duty.

Since I am staying put for the next week, I will take my Canon out of the camera bag and return to my “slow” photography. I enjoyed my week with my iPhone camera, shooting with the Hipstamatic app. I never quite knew what would show up and that was part of the fun. And I’ll readily admit it did make traveling less stressful both for me and for Sherpa.

But I miss my big camera and I miss macro-photography. I’m ready to break out the gear for my first visit on this trip to the Sonoran Desert.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer, owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is on a ten-day explore in Tucson with Sherpa. Bo has experimented with iPhonography enough for one week, so tomorrow it’s the Canon’s turn.

 

 

Tucson, Here We Come

Driving To Tucson

Driving to Tucson © 2011 Bo Mackison

After a couple of days reprieve from driving, we stopped in Phoenix for a visit which included good times, good conversation and a great Thanksgiving feast. Friday morning, bright and early, we got back on the interstate and headed southeast towards Tucson.

The Desert is Green

The Desert is Green © 2011 Bo Mackison

This part of the Southwest has had rain. And this part of the Sonoran Desert is green. All last year, I hardly saw green, unless it was in the form of a cactus. Oh, how I love even a few hours of green when seen in the desert.

On the 19

On the 19 © 2011 Bo Mackison

The clouds were quite amazing. White fluffy clouds floating across the desert and the interstate. When the clouds reached the Santa Rita Mountains to the west, they hung in the creases and valleys. There were no mountain tops to see when we were driving through Tucson and heading a bit further south to our home.

Pecan Orchards

Pecan Orchards © 2011 Bo Mackison

More clouds and more green. These pecan orchards looked like rows upon rows of dead trees last year. Today they are covered with leaves, the leaves are turning a yellowish brown. I love the pecan trees with their leafy cover. But I suspect that when I return here in another month the trees will again stand bare – and remind me of the trees in Wisconsin.

We have arrived. Now to stock up on groceries, paper products, and begin the dusting, vacuuming, window washing routine. Tucson has it all – great scenery, great people, great weather, and dust storms which tend to keep home interiors slightly dusty, no matter how often one cleans.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer, owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is on a ten-day explore in Tucson with Sherpa. While they are sight-seeing, Bo will continue using the Hipstamatic — fast photography approach. Once she is on her own, she will again practice her slow photography. (Hope the Canon doesn’t get too lonely.)

Turkey and Cranberries and Giving Thanks

The Star of the Show

The Star of the Show © 2011 Bo Mackison

The turkey is suitably browned and ready for the master carver to do his job.

Three Watched Pots

Three Watched Pots © 2011 Bo Mackison

The assistant to the chef is watching over the stove top. Whoever said three watched pots never boil wasn’t watching these pots.

Simmering Cranberries for Thanksgiving

Simmering Cranberries for Thanksgiving © 2011 Bo Mackison

The cranberries are simmering, soon to be a cranberry dish for the Thanksgiving table. We have stopped out travels long enough for a Thanksgiving Day visit with some special people we know.

Thanksgiving Day — perhaps the best holiday of the year. A holiday that is filled with meaning. Yes, there is the wonderful food as each cook puts his or her love into the offering of food. There are family celebrations for some, celebrations with friends for others, but the most important celebration is the one you can do alone, by yourself, no one else required.

I take time out of this holiday — filled with parades, football, a Thanksgiving feast, friends and family — take time and list that for which I am grateful. There is so much goodness in my life, and I am grateful. My life, my health. My spouse, my children, my family. My home and garden. I can go on and on. And I will — in silent thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio. She knows that the cranberries in the photo strongly resemble baked beans, but she is thankful for any kind of photography.