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Ocotillo All Over

Last year my person and I took an extra long walk on trails that we hardly ever go on, because my person said that was the only place on my trails where the ocotillo grow.

Well, she lied.

Because we went on a trail that we sometimes go on – but the last time we went on it there was a sign on the part that goes back to our house saying it was closed. The sign said they wanted more cactus to grow on it – or something like that.

And besides that there were two people cuddling with each other this time.

I would have gone right up to those people and got some loves too, but my person said we could take the long way back.

The long way goes parallel (I don’t know what that word is – my person made me use it) to my regular trail, but it’s higher up the hill. My person says she hasn’t been on it in a very long time and I’m not sure if I’ve been on it at all. At least it doesn’t smell familiar.

So we were walking along on this long way trail and there they were.

Bunches of ocotillo just hanging out on the side of the hill.

They were even blooming with their little red flowers on top.

I’m still not sure why my person cares about these things though. I mean, look how tall and skinny they are.

If I was that skinny my person would probably take me to the vet for treats and loves.

I sure hope my person doesn’t try to take some of my treats and bring them up here to these ocotillo plants to fatten them up.

I think I’d better head back home now so I can keep a close eye on my treats.

Oh no, I forgot.

There’s a tame ocotillo across the street at my neighbor dog Toby’s house.

Toby, quick! Hide your treats!

20 Comments

Posted by Bongo on June 18, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: Hiking, ocotillo, Outdoors, Pets, Photography, Recreation, Sedona, Sedona Arizona, Trail, Walking

Trail Danger

13 Jun

I was heading down my trail and I realized they were everywhere. All over my trails.

I don’t want to get near that nasty plant.

I think somebody put that plant there on purpose – so everybody would stay in the center of the trail and not wander off in the bushes.

Because if you wander off in the bushes you might not come back.

That plant has a reputation for catching its victims and holding on to them.

And never letting them go.

I bet if I wandered far enough into the bushes – if I managed to make it, that is – I’d find skeletons being held by that plant.

Skeletons of animals or people that tried to escape, but couldn’t.

Animals or people that died in the clutches of that plant and are stuck forever.

Yikes! This is scary. I sure hope that plant doesn’t get overgrown onto my trails and try to grab me.

I don’t want to go back home yet, but I sure don’t want to be stuck in the clutches of one of those things.

These plants look innocent enough.

That’s how they fool you into getting too close.

But these plants have a horrible name for a horrible reason.

They’re called Catclaw.

And I have firsthand experience with catclaws. The animal kind.

And these thorns look almost the same.

Yikes! I’ll be walking carefully back home now.

If you don’t see a blog post from me tomorrow, could somebody please come check the bushes on my trails?

22 Comments

Posted by Bongo on June 13, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: catclaw, Catclaw Mimosa, Outdoors, Pets, Photography, Plant, Sedona, Sedona Arizona, thorns, Trail

Searching for Century Plants

06 Jun

My person and I went out on an extra long walk. A century plant trek.

We started out on the trail where most of the century plants were last year. We figured we’d find lots of them. Well, my person figured. I was just happy for the walk.

We found some century plants.

The old dead ones from last year.

But there were only a couple new century plants on this whole trail, and they weren’t even in full bloom yet.

So we headed back. The trail is a loop so we kept looking for century plants on the way back.

And then we found it.

Century Plant Hill.

There were lots of century plants on this hill. Last year there were only two.

If you look really close you can even see the bugs flying around the flowers.

Speaking of bugs, they were everywhere. Especially on my person because she doesn’t have lots of hair to protect her like I do. Those little “no see ‘ems” that come out this time of year were all over her arms.

So we headed back home.

But my person still couldn’t stop taking pictures, even though the bugs were worse around the plants.

I thought maybe if I turned the color off…

the bugs would go away. But they didn’t…

so I turned the color back on again.

One last look at Century Plant Hill and we headed home.

Come on, person. I said we were heading home. I don’t care if there’s a bird in that plant. You have to look really close to see it.

Well, if you’re going to stop and take pictures of birds, then you’d better show the picture of me…

and the new friend I made on the way to Century Plant Hill.

This part was way more fun than looking for century plants.

28 Comments

Posted by Bongo on June 6, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: Agave americana, century plant, Pets, Photography, Sedona, Sedona Arizona, Trail, Walking

Name that Corner

29 May

This time of year my street has two corners with special names. At least I think they should have special names.

After we got back from my trails I got an extra long walk so we could go to these corners and my person could take pictures. I guess I don’t mind her taking pictures if I get a longer walk because of it.

This first corner is for the birds.

Bird of Paradise, that is. That’s what these yellow flowers are called.

The next corner is Century Plant Corner.

Every year for as long as I can remember, one Century Plant has shot up on this corner.

I’m not sure what’s going on though, because these corners have the wrong street signs on them. They have some really strange names that don’t even look like Bird of Paradise Corner or Century Plant Corner.

This is really bad, because people are going to get lost when they try to find these places.

Maybe I’d better get some new signs and post them on these corners.

Oh yeah, forget the signs. That Century Plant isn’t in full bloom yet and awhile back I promised I’d show some pictures of the ones on my trails when they started blooming. My person made my climb a hill so she could get pictures of this one. The first one to bloom on my trails this year.

Alright, that’s enough. Stop your gawking.

This is a blog about me.

40 Comments

Posted by Bongo on May 29, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: Agave americana, bird of paradise, century plant, Pets, Photography, Sedona, Sedona Arizona, Street sign, Trail

Not Alone

22 May

It was a nice, quiet day on my trails and I was enjoying having them all to myself when my person had to tell me we weren’t really alone out here.

I looked all around and I didn’t see any people or any dogs so I don’t know what she was talking about.

My person told me to look some more.

I think she’s nuts. There’s no one else here.

Hey person, I’m done looking. There’s no one here. I need to get on with my sniffing to find out who was here.

Well, check this out. Look at the little guy in this cactus flower.

And here’s another one. Trying to bury itself.

How do you expect me to notice these guys if they bury themselves inside the flowers?

***

Or this guy?

This guy really is trying to hide. He found his own hidey hole.

At least this one is out in the open. I think he wants to show off. I’ve never seen one like him before.

***

Oh, look now. Even the ants are getting into the act.

What am I supposed to do person? These are my trails. But look how many insects there are. I’m afraid they’re going to take over.

It’s useless trying to get rid of them. They’re everywhere.

This is really depressing.

I might as well be chasing butterflies.

23 Comments

Posted by Bongo on May 22, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: cactus flowers, Hiking, insects, Pets, Photography, Trail

Hidden Hedgehogs

17 May

Last year there were tons of little hedgehog cacti blooming on my trails. This year they are blooming again, but not as many.

Maybe that’s why they seem to be hiding themselves. They must think they need protection, and since there’s no protection in numbers they’re looking for other ways.

Check out this one that I’m trying to get at.

It’s hiding under a catclaw bush. There’s a reason these bushes are called what they’re called.

But if I can brave Scratchy’s claws I can brave anything. This bush ain’t got nothing on me.

Here’s another one trying to use prickly things for protection. I know what those prickly things do. I’m staying out of there.

This one really tucked itself away. If it hadn’t been for its bright color we never would have seen it.

My person will crawl under anything for a good picture. It’s a good thing that bush didn’t have pricklers. I would have had to take the tweezers to her when we got home.

It seems that all the cacti are hiding under bushes.

I think my person was brushing dirt off her knees after taking this picture.

This cactus used a different approach. Instead of blooming under a bush it decided to bloom in a bush.

But this next cactus is very brave indeed.

Standing right out in the open and holding up an offering.

36 Comments

Posted by Bongo on May 17, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: Cactus, cactus flowers, hedgehog cactus, Pets, Photography

West Fork

14 May

Over the weekend I got in the car with my people and we started going somewhere I’ve never been before. My people said it was a place called Oak Creek Canyon. All I know is that the smells there were a lot different than the smells on my trails.

I sure hope this isn’t a new route to the dog hotel.

The car stopped and when I got out I didn’t see a dog hotel anywhere in sight.

Whew! I can relax now.

We walked a little ways and then I found it. It’s a trail sign and it says West Fork.

This is where I told my people to go. My friend Lola and her person Shary said it’s the best trail ever, and my people have never taken me here before. That’s okay, because now I can take them here.

Hey, check this out! It’s a bridge – and there’s water down there.

Now I’ve got to figure out how to get to that water.

This trail is nice, but I’ve seen lots of little trails that lead to the water. How come we’re not taking one of them?

Finally! The water!

Hey, this is like a Slip N Slide.

Here I go!

You want to do what?

I just got here and I’m not coming out.

***

My people finally convinced me that there were more trails and more water to swim in and they were right.

My person even found flowers to take pictures of.

I think my person is a flower magnet.

***

Finally! I got to go swimming again.

I’m just getting out for a minute.

You want to go where?

I don’t think so. I’m not done swimming yet.

***

I was forced to leave the water and head back to the car, but I’ve got a plan.

See if my people can get me to leave this place now.

45 Comments

Posted by Bongo on May 14, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: Hiking, Oak Creek Canyon, Outdoors, Pets, Photography, Recreation, Sedona Arizona, swimming, Trail, Westfork

Useless Yellow Flowers

08 May

I don’t know what’s so special about these flowers. They don’t even smell good. No one’s left any messages here.

Check this out.

See these weeds here? These dried up weeds? They’re much more appetizing that any old yellow flowers.

Why don’t you take some pictures of these, person? I could hang them on the wall near my bed and look at them when I’m not on my trails.

I can’t believe it! There she goes right back to those flowers. No matter how much I tell her what’s important, she still doesn’t get it.

I think I’m about to give up on people. They like all the strangest things, and they don’t seem to care about any of the good things in life.

Person, if you can’t take pictures of any of the right stuff just put your camera away.

See, she did it anyway. Total disrespect. She just won’t listen to me.

Now put your camera away, person.

You found a what?

Wait a minute. What? What?

Someone’s trying to take over my yellow flowers?

How dare that butterfly hang around here?

You did send that butterfly away, didn’t you person?

Those yellow flowers are mine.

37 Comments

Posted by Bongo on May 8, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: butterfly, Flower, Pets, Photography, weeds, yellow flowers

Road Trip

06 May

My younger person is home from school this week and today he and my person told me to get in the car with them. I like jumping in the car but I always get a little nervous about where I might be jumping back out.

We headed down the street and we made a turn. Well, this isn’t the way to the vet. I like the vet. They give me loves and treats there.

And then I got really worried. This is the way to the dog hotel! I don’t like going to the dog hotel. Maybe we should turn around and go back home.

But we kept going. Hey, wait a minute! We don’t ride this far in the car when we go to the dog hotel. Where are we going?

We rode and rode, and finally my person stopped the car. And there was no vet and there was no dog hotel. We were in a big parking lot.

And then we crossed the street.

A brand new trail! I hope my people brought lots of water because there are an awful lot of bushes that I need to leave messages on.

After my people assured me we had lots of water with us we headed up the trail.

We walked for a ways through lots of trees and then we climbed some rocks – and look what I saw!

My younger person went exploring some more, so I thought I might too.

But before I could get very far my younger person came back.

I could sit here forever.

What? It’s time to go back.

I sure hope there’s some treats at the end of this trip.

Click here to find more mischievous pets.

53 Comments

Posted by Bongo on May 6, 2013 in Bongo, dogs, humor

Tags: Fay Canyon, Hiking, Outdoors, Pets, Photography, Recreation, Sedona, Sedona Arizona, Trail

Mystery Bush

27 Apr

You see this bush behind me? Well, I told my person she wasn’t allowed to post any pictures of it unless she found out what it was.

I figured I was safe. I knew she didn’t know the name of this bush and I figured she’d never find out. Unless she went out of her way to find a plant specialist to tell her, that is.

But I was wrong. That’s a really hard thing to be. After all, I’m Bongo – and Bongo is never wrong.

Except for this time.

My person got on the internet and looked at all kinds of plant pictures until she found it. The Sugar Sumac. That’s what it’s called. And now I have to let her post all her pictures.

We’ve been watching these bushes for a long time.

Way last winter they got these little pink buds all over them.