Sonora Desert Museum

Yesterday was officially "date day," as we often call days which are not productive.  We spent a few blissful hours at the Desert Museum, among the cacti and desert animals which call the museum their home.

One of my favorite sections of the museum is the hummingbird area!  I'm sure that everyone has seen a photo of a hummingbird in flight.  But have you ever seen a hummingbird sit still?

There are so many different species of cacti in Arizona, and it would be a lofty goal of mine even to hope to be able to identify half of them before we leave here.

One plant that I did recognize, however, was the agave.  Still, I don't think I realized how many different types there were!

Here are a couple of species that we had never seen before.  Beautiful, huh?

The thorns on some of the cacti that we saw were nothing short of frightening. 

Poor Tanya was even attacked by part of a cactus.  (That thing actually got skin!)

The amazing thing is that the "skeleton" of a dead cactus is completely harmless.  Here are some cholla skeletons:

All-in-all, it was beautiful.  I can't wait to go back at different times of the year to see things in bloom! 

 We left just before dusk, when the mountains were at their prettiest shade.  I love living here!!