Squiggly Organ Pipe Cactus © 2011 Bo Mackison

One of my goals during my time in Arizona was to take an all day trip to a place I’d never been, to a place that was at least 150 miles from home base in Tucson. I knew this would be a challenge when I added that goal to my list. At the time, I wasn’t fond of driving and I worried about getting lost.

In the three weeks I’ve been in Tucson, I’ve gotten much better at driving and I’ve been going to lots of new places. Today’s weather was perfect for a drive, so it seemed a good time to get on the road and visit a place I had on my list–Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona.

Considering I left before sunrise this morning and I returned home just as the sun was setting — well, my brain is too tired to say all the spectacular things I’ll want to say when I am more awake. So I’ll post just one photograph for now — I promise there will be many more. I loved this park.

Isn’t this Organ Pipe Cactus against that cloud-streaked Arizona sky a thing of beauty?

(Though I might call this particular specimen an Octopus Cactus! The ones I’ll post tomorrow are better examples of why they are called Organ Pipes, but this one has a lot of character!)

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is living in Tucson for two months, exhibiting her photography in art shows, taking photographs, and blogging about photography, art fairs, and living life “solo.”  She spent the day driving and is going to bed early. More photographs from Organ Pipe NM tomorrow.