Monday, August 25, 2008

The Living Desert, July 1960

The desert. Scorching heat, endless miles of rocks and sand, and no water for your pony Eduardo. But even in this inhospitable environment, life exists. As you can see, the saguaro cactii are in bloom, perhaps indicating a recent flash flood (these rare and lovely blossoms are the state flower of Arizona). I think I spy an ocotillo (see that spidery looking plant to the left?), some yucca plants, and a (dead) manzanita.


The Devil's Paint Pots are definitely a real mystery of the desert! Bubbling pots of mud in all the colors of the rainbow. Bloop. Bloop. Bloop! Meanwhile, geysers are pretty mysterious too, if you ask me. Watch out! She's a-gonna blow!

7 comments:

TokyoMagic! said...

I just can't get enough of Nature's Wonderland! Once again, great photos, Major. Hope you had a good weekend!

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Super Photo's, great descriptions, are you a botanist or are you just making it up, either way, thanks!

Anonymous said...

I'll wait until Chiyana weighs in before I form an opinion on these photos

Anonymous said...

Aww poor Eduardo. His hide's drier than my chaps and they really chaff my hide. It's ok! We'll have to wait up a spell by a spinning butte and hitch our ride on one of them mine trains that so often venture out into the wilds here. They just painted 'em yeller, the color of yeller, yeller gold! recently, all the easier to spot with our parched eyebones. Knowing Eduardo he'll insist on riding in the cab too, leaving the rest of the passengers with no better air than if they'd taken the pack mules.

What's with the "cactus" hand in the lower right? This is still early on you can tell 'cause the cacti aren't tired of holding up their arms yet.

Those are lovely pics Major. They bring the living desert to ah life. I can see the lovely blossoms, the parched (for Anaheim) desert ground and hear the Bloop Bloop Bla-doop! (oh that's the commentary). Them geysers are very, very mysterious, blowing off every what, half hour, when that old unfaithful does at all, but there's a lot in the nature of man that reflects nature. Ah where were we...

Yes, boy I see this and miss not having it there now. If they could only do something like it now, I think they'd surprise us with a beautiful and enjoyable attraction. If it isn't in yellow, baby blue and pink painted trains ran by Woody and his girl (of course I mean Toy Story!) hehe

thanks dr. zaius *bows* but sometimes I check in nights so don't wait for me, be brave, be bold, be opinionated too. ;)

TokyoMagic! said...

I was wondering the same thing as Chiana....what is that cactus "hand" in the lower right? I don't remember that. I think I do remember a cactus octopus....someone correct me if I'm wrong....and wasn't there a cactus with seven little "dwarf" cacti? While taking a second look at this photo...., I just noticed the bobcat on top of one of the cacti (almost direct center of photo) and at least two of the wild boars that "chased" him up there! Major, this is one of THOSE pics that I can just keep looking at over and over. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

TokyoMagic! I'd missed seeing Bob in the pic! You're right it's a neat pic hm, looks like time to slap it on me desktop.

Anonymous said...

Certainly a VERY missed attraction. Unfortunately the times changed. Too much land dedicated to a low volume ride. I was one of the lucky ones to operate those trains through Nature's Wonderland. Man what I wound't give to work a shift one more time. Evenings were especially nice.