I'm a desert dweller. Have been for 3 years. And my project on desert textures continues to unearth a growing respect for the arid environment. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum explains, "Ironwood ranks among the most ecologically and economically important plant species in the region. Ironwood functions as a “nurse plant” and a “habitat-modifying keystone species” of benefit to many other species of flora and fauna."

At the risk of sounding nerdy and/or religious, I've been thinking about the parallel between agriculture and personal growth. One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is John 15. "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." What if we were to recognize that we too were a most ecologically and economically important specie? What if we were to be a "nurse plant"; a "habitat-modifying keystone specie of benefit to many other species..."

What if we sought out community as if our root systems were tethered; connected and dependent on each other to grow and flourish. What if we cared enough about the people around us to feed each other; meet each other where they were. What if we, ourselves, readily accepted pruning where we needed help (growth) and rest in the confidence that it meant we were alive; capable of flourishing...

....I might have stretched into a super existential place that you didn't bargain for when you clicked on a pretty picture of pink blossoms. So take it as you may. Think deeply. Appreciate beauty. See things differently...about your home, your land, your life. Or not, and you can simply check out interesting desert textures that caught my eye this past shooting season.

These texture shots were captured at Bryce & Caroline's wedding up in Scottsdale at El Chorro. I'll be posting their incredibly detail-oriented, organically-delightful, creative, classy wedding super duper soon...

Sonoran Ironwood | Scottsdale, CA | Texture Tuesday | www.laurakmoore.com

Ironwood. Creosote. Cool leaves that i didn't identify. | Scottsdale, AZ | Sonoran Desert Textures | laurakmoore.com

(for more textures search under "texture tuesday")

p.s. thank you to a handful of friends who helped identify this Ironwood via a facebook request for help. That was pretty cool.