Autumn

Autumn in Tucson can be quite frustrating. The cool evenings and light breeze provide a welcome respite from the heat, and all around the city life springs up again. The mornings are crisp and clear, the perfect weather for sweaters and boots*. However, with afternoon highs still hitting the nineties, it's the season of on-again-off-again layers, the time of teasing weather, of "just-wait-a-little-longer-fall-is-almost-here-for-real-this-time." These photos from Prescott remind that it is indeed autumn somewhere, at least. And perhaps autumn will be here soon as well.

*anything under 75 degrees is sweater-and-boot weather here in Tucson

all photos belong to Kara Haberstock, all rights reserved

Dusk in the Desert

A little while back, Nate and I hiked up around Gate's Pass after work. It was that time of day when the sun has just fallen beneath the horizon and everything is still. The moon was just beginning to shine over the mountains above us, and all around the desert was slowly coming to life. Small creatures began to rustle around in the bushes as a cool evening breeze swept over the mountainside. Lacking flashlights, we headed back to the car before the light faded altogether, quiet in the hush that came with the end of day. I took a few shots, mostly in black-and-white since the light was so low- a few glimpses of the desert at summer's dusk.

All photos belong to Kara Haberstock, all rights reserved

Milagrosa Canyon

For those of you who aren't in on the secret, Milagrosa is a fantastic hidden-away hiking spot in Tucson that has some lovely pools and cliff-jumping spots during the rainy seasons and spring run-off. Word to the wise: Don't go without someone who's done the hike before (the trail can be a bit hard to follow in a few places, making it easy to get lost). But it's most definitely worth it. 

Deserts are beautiful too

View from the top of one of the shelves (near the best jumping point)

Looking back across towards Tucson

The always lovable, but prickly, barrel cactus

Headed home

I'm suddenly very antsy for the start of fall and the chance to get outdoors without the searing temperatures.

All photos by Kara Haberstock, all rights reserved

Photos for Wednesday: Spring Succulents

I have a few more pictures from Tucson Botanical Gardens for you to enjoy. My boyfriend was patient enough to wait around for me to take dozens of photos of the wonderful succulent garden. I couldn't help it- they're so cool! I hope you enjoy these lovely little plants as much as I do:

PS: Did you know that cacti are a type of succulent? Apparently, all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. (Fun fact for the day!)

All photos taken by Kara Haberstock, March 2012, all rights reserved