Wikipedia says that Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a species of flowering plant in the pea family It’s also known as “peacock flower,” and it’s the national flower of Barbados. The seeds are edible before maturity, but otherwise poisonous.
Backyard Beauty: Puffballs
These are a couple of the dozen-odd, newly-hatched Gambel’s Quail chicks that are roaming the back yard this morning. According to Wikipedia, Gambel’s quail chicks are precocial: The yearly brood ventures out of the nest within hours of hatching, under close supervision of their parents. The species was first collected, and named for, William Gambel […]
Winterland in Scottsdale
A rare winter storm brought an extended period of rain to the Phoenix area, with snow levels dropping well into the higher elevations of North Scottsdale. A friend sends these images of Pinnacle Peak hiding in the snow clouds.