I drove out to Indio yesterday afternoon while there was a break in the storm. I stopped and pulled off on the road by the Coachella Valley Preserve's southern boundary, but it was full of water ahead and I didn't wish to drive through it. I was able to get these two photos, and then I turned around and went back on my way. Skywatch Friday for December 24, 2010.
There is a major wash, the Whitewater Channel, which runs throughout our desert. It starts near Palm Springs and the water flows all the way down to the Salton Sea, about 50 miles away. Several golf courses, including this one in Palm Desert, were washed out during our recent winter storms that hit the desert over the past several days. I was talking to one gentleman who was also out viewing all the water washing by and he asked me, "Where does all this water go?" I believe it all does end up in the Salton Sea, which is the lowest point in the Coachella Valley at 200 feet below sea level. I stopped on Monterey Avenue and walked back to an area beside the bridge to take this photo. Nature Notes for December 22, 2010.
I'm GRADUALLY learning how to use the polarizing filter that hubby bought me for my Nikon. He showed me how, if you turn it just right, you can get a nice window reflection, like this one. HA! Now that I know how to do it, LOOK OUT! Sometimes, though, (I must confess...) I still forget to turn the filter. This is something I need to work on in the future! Weekend Reflections for December 11, 2010. For other participants, please visit Weekend Reflections at: http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/?
Hubby and I love aspen and we'll drive an hour out of our way sometimes to view them. These are all northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona. We traveled there during October to view the colors on the aspen, but we were too late for this area. But, they have a certain bare, stark quality about them, don't you think? I love to stand among aspen and close my eyes and just listen to the wind move through them. I think they are beautiful, even when they are bare! "Trees"...ABC Wednesday for December 1, 2010.
When hubby and I drove through Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona, a few weeks ago, the oak trees were in their full fall splendor! I zoomed in on the tree in the bottom photo and caught hubby walking along the road at one point. We enjoyed our short stop there and would like to return next fall. Ruby Tuesday for November 30, 2010. It is another frosty morning here today in our desert!
I took these photos when hubby and I drove through Oak Creek Canyon, during our last trip to Arizona. The leaves on the oaks were turning colors and we hit the canyon at their peak. Aren't the colors gorgeous? We are returning to Arizona during the Christmas break (for a few days) and they will all be gone by then. Scenic Sunday and Straight Out of the Camera Sunday for November 28, 2010. Be sure to visit SOOC: http://www.murrieta365.com/2010/11/straight-out-of-camera-sunday_27.html and Scenic Sunday: http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/ for other participants' photos!