Contributions of the group North American Travel

Kompromat

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:17:31 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Good morning, sir.
I hope it is, Yevgeny. Anything to report on our favorite asset?
It's better than we could have hoped: it's been years but he is still following our instructions to the letter.
Well, he knows what will happen if he doesn't. Nothing like the threat of a few 8 by 10 color glossies to get things done. In fact, if he continues we may have to award him a Hero of the Russian Federation medal.
Ha ha! It's pathetic how he'll do almost anything to get a medal, or any kind of trinket. No matter who gives it to him.
Especially if it's gold, eh, Yevgeny?
No mystery there, sir.

Desert colors

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:21 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123946

Saguaro landscape

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:18 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123961

Crested saguaro

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:13 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

"Some saguaros grow in rare formations called a cristate, or "crested" saguaro. This growth formation is believed to be found in one in roughly 10,000 saguaros, with 2,743 known crested saguaros documented. The crest formation, caused by fasciation, creates a seam of abnormal growth along the top or top of the arm of the saguaro."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro

AP1123964

Crested saguaro head

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:09 +0000

Esther has posted:

Aloe flower with bees

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:03 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123958

Mourning doves

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:37:04 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123904

A pop of red

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:37:01 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123903

American snout butterfly

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:36:58 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123900

Castle Bravo

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:30:15 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Aren't we too close?
Nah. It's only gonna be 6 megatons. No biggie.
I dunno. Lithium-7 can be kind of unpredictable. Could produce a much bigger blast. And then. . .
Then I guess we better not forget to duck, right my man?
You really think they know what they're doing?
It's 1954! The atomic age! What could go wrong?

Blind Chance

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:08:52 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Boss, that posse is closin' in fast. You got a plan?
I surely do, Slim: we keep a-riding through this here arroyo. Come out the other side. We'll be long gone afore they figure out where we went.
Good idea, boss, except for one thing.
What's that?
This here's a blind canyon. Only one way in, and one way out.
You don't say?
That's a fack.
Well sir, I wish you'd a-told me that before we led the horses all the way in, what with that posse breathing down our necks.
I was fixin' to, but figured you knew what you were doin', you know, bein' the boss 'n all.
I guess that's natural. Truth is, though, this is my first bank job.
Is that so? You never mentioned that in the job interview.
Well sir, it is. And from the look of it, it's gonna be my last.
That's just a darn shame. I truly thought this gang had potential.
Looks like it's gonna be the end of a rope for us, Slim.
A cruel fate, and I am truly sorry to hear you say it.
That makes for the two of us, I'm sure.

Majestic Saguaro

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:34:55 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

"Life Span With the right growing conditions, it is estimated that saguaros can live to be as much as 150-200 years old. Size Saguaro are very slow growing cactus. A 10 year old plant might only be 1.5 inches tall. Saguaro can grow to be between 40-60 feet tall (12-18m). When rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated it can weigh between 3200-4800 pounds. Quick Facts • The saguaro is the largest cactus in the United States. • Most of the saguaros roots are only 4-6 inches deep and radiate out as far from the plant as it is tall. There is one deep root, or tap root that extends down into the ground more than 2 feet. • After the saguaro dies its woody ribs can be used to build roofs, fences, and parts of furniture. The holes that birds nested in or "saguaro boots" can be found among the dead saguaros. Native Americans used these as water containers long before the canteen was available. "

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2019/02/Saguaro%20Fun%20Facts.pdf

AP1123896

Not an easy landing

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:34:50 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123894

Checkered White butterfly

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:34:47 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123881

Natural caves

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:34:45 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123872

Free form

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:34:38 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123871

Rhythmic patterns

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:57:44 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

"Cacti are adapted to live in very dry environments, including the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Because of this, cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. For example, almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of true leaves, cacti's enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis.

Cactus spines are produced from specialized structures called areoles, a kind of highly reduced branch. Areoles are an identifying feature of cacti. As well as spines, areoles give rise to flowers, which are usually tubular and multipetaled. Many cacti have short growing seasons and long dormancies and are able to react quickly to any rainfall, helped by an extensive but relatively shallow root system that quickly absorbs any water reaching the ground surface. Cactus stems are often ribbed or fluted with a number of ribs which corresponds to a number in the Fibonacci numbers (2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 etc.). This allows them to expand and contract easily for quick water absorption after rain, followed by retention over long drought periods."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus

Sunday Challenge: "Show an image where rhythm is a clear theme.
Rhythm arises when elements repeat: a row of trees, waves on the water, the veins of a leaf. Sometimes rhythm is strict and measurable, sometimes playful and unpredictable."

AP1123863

Ribs and spines

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:57:41 +0000

Esther has posted:

That's why it's called a prickly pear cactus

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:57:37 +0000

Esther has posted:

Saguaro stalks

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:57:31 +0000

Esther has posted: