Eructation
Noun: A formal way of saying belch or burp.
Example: “An eructation from Napoleon would have been referred to as a burp in a regular soldier.”
Photo is of Peter B. illustrating a Third Order Saguaro.
Quirky thoughts from an old man.
Eructation
Noun: A formal way of saying belch or burp.
Example: “An eructation from Napoleon would have been referred to as a burp in a regular soldier.”
Photo is of Peter B. illustrating a Third Order Saguaro.
Prevaricate
Verb: Speak or act in an evasive way
Example: “he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions”
Autumn colors on Cave Creek
Ignoble
Adjective: Not honorable in intent or action
Example: “It is an ignoble act to willfully harm a desert plant.”
Cochineal
Noun: An insect that lives on Prickly Pear Cacti. It can be spotted because it covers itself with a white goo. The insect when processed is used to create a natural crimson dye. Cochineal was one of the first exports from the America’s because crimson dye was much in demand.
Example: “After scraping a teaspoon of cochineal off the cactus he had enough material to dye his tee shirt crimson.”
“Life is like a cactus, full of pricks but also very beautiful.“
Variously Attributed
“He’d always had a quickening of the heart when he crossed into Arizona and beheld the cactus country.”
Dorothy B. Hughes, in The Expendable Man
Photo is of a postcard sunset taken long enough ago that there is no chance of recovering credit.
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.“
Cactus Forests exist. In Arizona the most obvious are the Saguaro Forests. For the next few Wednesdays we will celebrate them. I have photos.
Most of what people call “desert” is not desert it is dry land forests. Some are Saguaro Forest, some are Joshua Tree Forests, some are Mesquite Forests and there are many other varieties and of course lots of Mixed Cactus Forests. Once you start to see Arizona as a forest it can change the way you see our terrain. “Look there’s a grove of Teddy Bear Cactus.” or “See how the Ocotillo stand is growing on the north side of the wash.”