If this Pink Jeep looks familiar, you also know where the rocks are red - Sedona, Arizona.
There is a magnetism that emanates from these rocks! Just like the majority of people who first arrive in this town, I had to pull over on the side of the road as soon as these monoliths came into view. They are so unfamiliar! It felt like I entered a new country or a classic western cowboy movie.
It's ideal to be here numerous days so you have a chance to experience the light magnifying the red hues on the rocks as the sun rises and sets.
The most prominent rock formations have names like Snoopy, Bell Rock, Elephant, Cathedral, etc. Naming rocks with familiar shapes is a great idea. I do the same thing for boulders I encounter on our trails. It's fun and gives the trail a unique trait.
The Pink Jeep tours are probably exciting but hiking with a pal looking for wildlife and unique plants is a lot more rewarding in my opinion.
Tlaquepaque, a Mexican style village, in the center of downtown is a great place for finding unique gifts and food, listening to music or just hanging out.
We went for this amazing Flamenco group! They performed under the stars in this special market.
Sedona is a short distance from Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. No wonder people love to visit Sedona. We discovered a fantastic Hopi festival. These dancers are keeping their ancient traditions alive. There were so many talented artists at this festival!
Being so close to the Grand Canyon, we had to visit! What a magnificent place on Earth! One day, I hope to hike down into the canyon. We were like the majority of visitors on our trip this day....admiring the view from the edge.
I end this blog with this Long-horned Beetle that I discovered on the way home from this beautiful state. When I spotted this cool looking insect at one of the rest stops, I dashed back to the car to grab my camera so I could "capture" it. Look at those antennae! Wow!
Mary DeDecker (1909-2000), a pioneer self-taught botanist living in Independence was famous for saying...
"Oh, just let's go around the next corner to see what we can find."
No wonder she found a lot of rare plants! She probably found a lot of other cool stuff along the way.
Hope you are enjoying the outdoors this Summer!
Click on photos to enlarge, click on video to watch some great music!
Photos and content by Robin Roberts
Imagine not having precipitation since early May. Hard to imagine, isn't it? I splurged on a new bird bath and dripper for our feathered visitors. I planted it in the ground today. So far, the birds are eyeing it suspiciously. I'm hoping it will become a "hotspot", an oasis in the moutains...stay tuned!
