Nature Journal Seven: Sedona Arizona



Nature Observation Seven: Sedona Trip

            This summer I took a trip to Sedona Arizona. I know it was a couple months ago, but the trip was too wonderful to not be documented. My parents and I woke up at 4am to take the two-hour drive to Sedona. We moved along in our metal box as cactus flew by our window at 80 miles per hour.

            We started our 14-mile hike right as the sunrise was illuminating the crevasse below. The greenbelt of trees flooded the trench between the mountain ranges. Devil’s bridge overlooked our hike through the rocky eye of a cyclops. Towering above the trail as nature’s skyscraper, the bridge was our final destination. Keeping an eye out on for ravenous snakes, we had a guide along with us. He stopped as we were fifteen minutes in to show us a wild Gila monster. What seems as a fusion between a small alligator and a lizard, the Gila monster’s skin was an orange and black pool of paint. Slowly moving through the desert sun, kicking up gravel with every-step. We moved on and continued on the path. As our journey continued, we saw a fallen cactus drooped over the path like a fading rainbow. Small critters were eating the organs of their fallen foe. Sad to see such a beautiful piece of nature succumb to natural causes.

            As our elevation lowered, we came upon a fast-flowing river. Crushing against the rocks and logs that rested on the bank. In a state lacking water, it was rewarding seeing the watering-hole of nature continue to glisten in the triple digit heat. A small hog was taking the opportunity to quench his thirst. As we sat in silence, we saw the children follow up against the mother as she scouted for danger. We decided to let them be in peace and finish up the last couple miles to the top. As we reached the top of Devil’s bridge, we had a 360-degree view of Sedona. The world quickly became small. While I could see for miles, I could see every ecosystem in action. I realized that nature takes many small moving parts and ecosystems to have pure synergy. I was fully embraced in nature and found my love for the outdoors once again.


           

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nature Journal Three (NJ3): The Koi Sadness

Image
Nature Journal Three: The Japanese Garden             I decided to take a walk through the Japanese Garden at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden Center. I was curious how the cultural differences in nature appearance could be assimilated to urban Fort Worth. I thought it would be an especially interesting opportunity after listening to Tomoko Arakawa speak to our class in our urban shoebox.             I walked through a large dojo door to enter into the preserve. It was full of luscious flora as a greenbelt filled my vision. Small stone paths with sand carried my feet through the exhibit. The smell of Jasmine and Thyme tickled my nose as the aroma dripped down from the plants arching the pathway. A bamboo palisade guarded the flora from any outside inhabitants. As I made my way through the jungle, I saw a rock formation sitting in a pit of sand. Absolutely still as if ...
Read more

Nature Observation Two: A Berry Good Time

Image
           Nature Observation Two      Under the canopy of an oak tree sits a berry plant, full of vigor and vitality. The adolescent berries are lucid and extend out against the backdrop of the leaves. The berries are circular, like fish eggs, yet soft as watered down clay. They are still young as a little bit of force causes one to break in a juicy eruption. The berries extend from their nest and begin to build a fortress around the outreaching stem. A squirrel begins to examine the hand of food. Are they safe to eat? Are they poisonous? Is it worth my risk? The squirrel delays its meal for another time. Perhaps these natural paintballs were not ripe for the taking or may be disturbing to the stomach. A question for another day.
Read more

Nature Journal Thirteen (NJ13): A Windy City

Nature Journal Thirteen: A Windy City             Growing up in a suburb of Chicago wind has always been a common natural element of my life. Until this class, I never really thought anything of it. I decided to spend some time outside over Thanksgiving break and reflect on the atmosphere. No one seems to fancy wind; it amplifies cold weather, or it can destroy lives through tornadoes. While wind is always portrayed as a negative element, it can do some beautiful things as well. It can transmit smells and sounds across the earth. I could hear animals whaling in the distance as their cries were miles away yet echoed so clearly. As the wind chilled my soul, I began to notice the leaves falling from the trees. The simple process that many anger at as it requires work to clean was a stepping stone to new life. The falling leaves will soon disappear and make the soil stronger and more nutrias for it's inhabitan...
Read more