Yesterday morning on my early walk, I ran across some beautiful flower bushes, dried and flowerless after the spring flowers had faded away. I remembered taking photos of those huge bushes when the flowers were blooming, full of green bushy foliage. I looked back into my March photos and found them, it doesn’t appear I had posted them at that time.
The flowers are most beautiful. But I also think the heat singed flower stalks have a beauty all their own and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share them. I thought the “Surprise” photo challenge was perfect.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the flower photos for a couple of additional morning surprises along my walking path yesterday. 😊
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I have seen many roadrunners over the years I have lived here. Never have I seen the bit of red that runs through the back side of their head. Yesterday I had three roadrunners who were friendly and patient with me while I snapped a few photos. I noticed the red on two of them. I also saw when I looked at the photos more closely that they have blue coloring around the back side of their eyes. I looked this up and verified it is normal. At first, I thought he may have had a head injury. This is a greater roadrunner, a part of the cuckoo family. This roadrunner is also known as the chaparral cock, ground cuckoo and snake killer. We also know for a fact that he is a lizard killer 😊
A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise. Because that is how life is – full of surprises. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer
Finally, I also happened upon this beautiful lizard. Again, he was in no hurry, allowing me to take several photos! This is the desert spiny lizard. I have no interesting facts about him, except that he is simply beautiful!
When I headed out on my walk yesterday morning at 6:00 am, temperature already hitting 80 degrees, I had no idea I would discover so many exciting surprises!
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Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party.
~Jimmy Buffett
peace of life today 
Roadrunner, that coyote’s after you. Roadrunner, if he catches you you’re through…
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Yes indeed, we have many coyotes in the area! Fortunately for the roadrunner, we also have lots and lots of bunnies that can also be the coyote’s dinner! 😁
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I like seeing details in your photos that I’d never noticed before. What a great photo of the lizard with the blue chin. 🙂
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Thank you! I love the lizard! 😊
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nature is full of surprises! stunning photos, Lisa! 🙂
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Thank you Lola! Yes it is!
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Love this surprise series, especially the bird and lizard.
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Thank you Amy! Isn’t that Lizard beautiful? I really do love animals of all kinds 😊
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Loved your photos of “heat singed” flowers. I love seeing the beauty in nature at every stage! (Especially flowers and shells!) And I’m so glad the animals were so generous with you, so the rest of us could appreciate them too!Thanks for sharing!!
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Awwwww, how sweet of you! It seemed that the animals were most appreciated, thank you for seeing the beauty in the flowers 😊
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A scavenger hunt indeed Lisa!! Loved your post-bloom flower images. Lots of fun surprises in this one!
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Thank you Tina! When I headed out I didn’t expect too much, but it seems there is always something great in nature to discover! 😁
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I love the sepia flowers!!
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Thank you! I just thought they were so pretty 😊
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Thank you for taking us along on your walk. I’ve never looked closely at that weed. Your macros are intriguing. I might have to check ours out soon, we have a bunch on the sides of the roads here. Just look at all those seeds to spread more of them! 😉 You have fun creatures on your walk. I smiled at the last one, I bet the lizard would blush to know you think he’s/she’s beautiful. The colors are fascinating!
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Thank you Shelley! Sometimes I don’t think I’ll see anything exciting, but it seems if I look hard enough I’ll find something worth a photo. It’s my weekly scavenger hunt 😊 I really did love that lizard!
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You’re welcome. That’s how I feel too, often times the trip that I think I’ll not see anything turns out to be one of the best finds ever! I think if I would’ve come across that lizard, I’d be happy too!
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