Saturday, March 20, 2010

Spring is here

Look who has emerged from his den:

 

warm sun shines
on tortoise with grass stained lips    
fullness of spring

In this corner of the Sonoran desert, besides tortoises, ground squirrels are awake from their long winter naps.  Even though abundant mistletoe berries remain, Cedar Waxwings and Western Bluebirds seem to have left this area.  Robins can still be heard chattering while White-winged doves are arriving from Mexico.  For weeks, Cactus wrens and Cooper’s hawks have been building nests.  Trees, shrubs, cacti and grasses are spring green and some wildflowers are blooming.

23 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Happy Spring to you also, Diane.... that tortoise looks like he's enjoying the sunshine!!!! Me TOO...

Hugs,
Betsy

betchai said...

you are so lucky, i've been wanting to photograph a desert tortoise but never was lucky. great shot.

Louise | Italy said...

What a charmer! Glad spring has arrived in your part of the world! Greetings from Italy!

Anonymous said...

How beautiful! The only tortoise I get to take picture is from the pet shop. Great shot, Diane!

rainfield61 said...

It does not learn but know how to use lipstick. A green one is certainly very cool.

Unknown said...

Great close-up.

Martha Z said...

Love the shots and you sure do have a knack with the haiku.

The tortise, though, this is a bit strange. Jules and I saw a tortise while on our walk a couple of days ago and I have never seen a tortise here. Frogs, turtles, sure but never a tortise.
Cedar waxwings came through on the way to wherever they go and the bluebirds and swallows are in a nesting mood.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shot. I have never seen desert tortoise before.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

They are one of the animals I use to tell me summer is arriving. :) I do love seeing them.

Jeannette StG said...

Creation is coming alive! We are mostly the ones who are dragging our feet:)

Reanaclaire said...

wow..what a closeup of our fren, ninja here :)
greetings from www.reanaclaire.com

Unknown said...

Its true.. Spring is expanding everywhere..
Beautifully done..
Costas

Piyush Garyali said...

Enjoy your weekend, the spring is here!

Self Sagacity said...

Fun to see! Nice shot of it. He looks ancient. But aren't they usually?

DoanLegacy said...

I like Mr. Turtle. He is so calm and peaceful looking.

Joanne Olivieri said...

I like Rainfeild's comment :) He is on a mission to come out and enjoy the season. He's got that Spring fever look in his eyes.

Small Reflections said...

Wonderful ... your photo reminds me of the desert tortoise who shared my life for a couple of decades before I had to donate him to a local tortoise refuge.
Hugs and blessings,

Brenda's Arizona said...

What an excellent shot!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Does the tortoise hibernate?

Stephanie said...

Wonderful! I hope that tortoise like what he has eaten he he...

Johnny Nutcase said...

Desert tortoises! I LOVE THEM! (any turtle or tortoise, really, but i realllly like these guys). that second picture is so so cute!

Anya said...

Never seen in real those turtle 's
only in the petshop :(

Happy Spring
I hope we all receive many SUN !!!!
We need it ...... :-)

Luzia said...

Oh wow, she looks like an old Dino;-)) Greetings from Luzia.