Saguaro Cactus

• The saguaro is a slow-growing plant. 
• It takes the cactus roughly 14 years to grow three feet tall and between 60 and 75 years to sprout its first arm.
• The saguaro cactus produces its first flower when it is about 50 years old. 
• The white blossoms open only at night, last less than 24 hours.
• The saguaro cactus is home to two kinds of birds, both the Gila Woodpecker and Glided Flicker bore holes in the saguaro and use them as a nest.
•  Native American people made flour, cakes and jam from the saguaro's fruit, pulp and seeds.

Muddy Creek Falls

Muddy Creek Falls is the highlight of Swallow Falls State Park being one of the highest waterfalls in Maryland, standing at 53 feet high. The park offers some of Maryland's breathtaking scenery such as; white water rapids, numerous trails to hike, and deep pools for swimming. 

Nature up Close

Nature is always an interesting subject matter; not knowing what you might come across can result in some interesting, unexpected photos . The vibrant green leaf caught my attention as a walked along a side street in Santa Barbara. The sun struck the leaf just right, which made it appear to glow and allowed the veins in the leaf to stand out. The bee was also captured when I was on a walk; this bee was flying around this colorful flower stopping and gathering pollen from each. I was able to catch the bee just as it landed and for a split second sat still.