Joseph Ladd (Ascenderedendrom columbianus)

Here I am in the Sonoran Desert of southeast Arizona. Although it’s a far cry from my water saturated, moss dripping forests of the Pacific Northwest, I couldn’t be more excited to be here! I am absolutely enthralled with the alien landscape of cacti and other heavily armored desert dwelling vegetation. This season is going to fulfill my desire to experience some of the many ecological fancies of the Sonoran Desert, from the water starved desert lowlands to the cool and lofty coniferous forests of the many mountain ranges. I’m absolutely pumped to destroy some invasive plants, restore some historic battlefields and bask in the glory of a hundred spectacular sunsets. And cowboy hats…lots of cowboy hats.