tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2502974736186506749.post6779861213654815802..comments2008-04-20T12:14:39.166-07:00John Corneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16481936079111022943noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2502974736186506749.post-82239505315549571982008-04-20T12:14:00.000-07:002008-04-20T12:14:00.000-07:00Hi Larry,<BR/><BR/>I actually did entertain the thought that it was dormant as can be seen in the text I posted with the image in the galleries, for example here: <A HTTP://WWW.PHOTOGRAPHYBYJOHNCORNEY.COM/GALLERIES/DIALUP/PLANTS/CONTENT/DEAD_SHRUB_ANZA_BORREGO_9502_LARGE.HTML TITLE="Shrub in Anza-Borrego">Shrub in Anza-Borrego</A>. But your point is well-taken and I will update the title to "Dormant Shrub". Thanks for your interest in my photos.John Corneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16481936079111022943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2502974736186506749.post-24989561722943389862008-04-18T09:26:00.000-07:002008-04-18T09:26:00.000-07:00Hi John<BR/><BR/>Nice photo, but that's not a dead shrub. It seems to be just emerging from dormancy. Later this spring or early summer it should have some nice blossoms on it. (I should know what it is, but can't call the name to mind right now.)<BR/><BR/>This may seem like a quibble, but much damage is done to living desert plants that people think are dead. These plants' ability to make it through the heat and aridity of summer and fall by dropping their leaves (thus appearing to be dead) is one of their most remarkable features. <BR/><BR/>The ocotillo is a good example. In summer it looks like a bunch of dead sticks stuck in the ground. But a few days after the first rains, the branches open out, it sprouts a bunch of green leaves, and shortly thereafter it sprouts bright red blossoms.<BR/><BR/>That said, a lot of shrubs in anza-Borrego died off during last year's drought, so there are some dead ones out there. But this isn't one. I hope you'll change your description to "dormant."<BR/><BR/>Thanks! Your other photos are great too!Larry Hoguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596168202991567228noreply@blogger.com