Today, a quick photo study on perspective inspired by my friend Christine's beautiful photos of spring flowers on the Bison Range in Montana posted at Quiet Paths yesterday. Initially, the photos made me homesick for the sites and smells of springtime...and for Montana, where I know the choke cherry tree must be dressed in pink for May and tulips and Iris wave to one another from neighboring gardens.

But then, I remembered something I heard once about blooming...where you're planted...even if it's...in a desert!

There are several Saguaro in bloom right now and one is so close to the sidewalk, you can hear the buzzing of the bees as they work to quickly harvest all they can from this miracle of the Sonoran Desert. This morning, I set off on my walk with my camera in hand as I intended to capture the Saguaro flowers to send to Christine. But then, a little miracle occurred. You see, this is how I think of the desert this time of year, as this is the landscape that surrounds my home...

Life can begin to feel bleak and dirty. It's getting hotter. Soon, the tint of green remaining will fade. And if I chose. That could be the reality of my perspective. Of course, I could go to any number of nearby trails to find beauty in rocks, and even petroglyphs. Or, I could just look up and look around.

I can see brown on brown on brown.


Or, I can shift my perception to see the whimsy that plants its own color in plain view...

Or enjoy beauty in full bloom all around me...


And eventually...I made my way past all the dazzling beauty of my morning walk to Christine's Saguaro...



Goodness grows in the desert...just ask the bees.