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For Our Snowbirds: October in Tucson, AZ Has All the Colors of Fall

By
Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

Fall colors in Dove Mountain near Tucson, AZThanksgiving is in the air across North America as Fall colors the landscape. 

Imperceptibly at first, and then with increasing beauty and intensity, the northern latitudes of Canada and the United States are painted each fall with the colors of changing leaves.

Full moonNight temperatures fall below freezing, pulling down the daytime temperatures with them as they go.

As the month of October comes to an end up north, fall's vibrant colors give way to blankets of white, painted with long purple shadows as night approaches.  It's an omen.

For our snowbirds, it's time to fly southwest and become reacquainted with those fall colors. 

They haven't disappeared, you see; they've migrated to Tucson. 

The purple shadows of Minnesota's snowbanks reappear in Tucson to delight us as purple banks of flowers anticipating the winter rains. 

The mossy greens of Colorado's forest floor paint our agaves and cacti.

Sunrise behind "la Cabeza" on Tucson's southwest side

As New England's spectacular foliage fades to brown, the flamboyant shades of red, orange and yellow that only recently painted her forests fly off on the wind, and reappear in Tucson's breathtaking sky at daybreak.

In the Arizona-Sonoran desert, green is a fall color.  You can't appreciate the number of different shades of green that we have until you've lived here in the desert awhile.  As the searing heat of summer fades from memory, the light changes, and what once appeared barren and dull takes on vibrancy and life!

Thirty shades of green on the flanks of Pusch Ridge, Tucson, AZ

Hey!  You're still here!  That's good, because there's one more thing I want you to remember about Fall colors in Tucson, Arizona.  They last until spring.  It's true.  They last all winter long. 

The colors of Fall last all winter in Tucson, Arizona

And that leads me to one last thing you'll want to think about when you're thinking those snowbird thoughts...  There's a particular shade of green that stands out above all the other fall colors in Tucson:

My favorite fall shade of green in Tucson, Arizona

 

If you found this post by accident, click on the profile link below and give me a call.

I don't believe in coincidence.  Do you?

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Think of me as your Tucson mortgage expert. 
(520) 349-9090

Subscribe to my blog!

Comments(20)

C Tann-Starr
Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Very nicely done, Mike. Love the eye candy! :-)

Nov 15, 2008 03:09 PM
Karen Cooper
Karen Cooper | Sr Mortgage Loan Originator ! NMLS # 223305 | First Federal Bank of Florida, Ocala, FL - The Villages, FL
Helping Homeowners w/Home Loans in 27 US States

Beautiful verbiage and photos, Mike.  I can see why those Tucson Arizona snowbirds fly your way.

Nov 15, 2008 03:37 PM
Susie Blackmon
Ocala, FL
Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

We are reduced to brown, and maybe a little white today, so thanks for adding some color to my life!

Nov 15, 2008 07:16 PM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Sir, I do believe that you have done a wonderful job of describing, not only in words but pictures too, what you are seeing this time of year.  Thank you my friend for sharing.

Nov 15, 2008 09:28 PM
Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind
KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ
Broker/Owner

WOW!  Great photos!  I need some photo lessons from you and a better camera!  These really show the beauty of Tucson.  Is that Thimble peak/hill?  It looks like what I saw last week driving down Mt. Lemmon - on one side Thimble Peak as the sun was setting and on the left - the full moon - it was a Kodak moment!  Like you said in your post about the "fake policeman" - it's why you carry a camera - and why I wish I had a better one!  Nicely portrayed! -- Gabrielle

Nov 15, 2008 11:15 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Don,

You're welcome, and I'd like to say THANKS for the encouragement!  (Carolyn Tann-Starr presented me with a challenge in the form of a contest, and this is my entry.)

Susie,

That birthday card you created for me with your photo of the Fall colors in North Carolina graces my desk.  Spring's coming.  In the meantime, I'll keep the blog color coming.  (Oh, and there's a little bit of white in that last photo, too!  Look closely at the bottom of the photo.)

Karen,

Thanks!  Check out some of the contest entries.

Carolyn,

I'm glad I found the contest in time; thanks for the group email!

Mike in Tucson

 

Nov 15, 2008 11:25 PM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Mike - great post and photos as always. The colors are spectacular.

Nov 16, 2008 01:11 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

WOW! I never thought the desert areas could be so beautiful! Great pictures and I need to learn how to better display and use pictures in my posts! Thanks!

Nov 16, 2008 05:01 AM
Kurt Duffeck
ANEW Real Estate Crew at Keller Williams Realty - Austin, TX
Anew Real Estate Crew - Start Right. Start ANEW.

Mike,

These photos are breathtaking... makes me feel proud to live in Tucson.

Nov 16, 2008 10:22 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Kurt,

Are we playing golf this week?

Russell,

The main benefit of striking images (IMHO) is to capture the attention of reader who found the blog by accident.  They entered a search term that brought them to me, and I want them to stay for just a moment (the image) and be intrigued enough to read the article.

Sharon,

You're so nice!  Thanks for the encouragement.

Mike in Tucson

Nov 16, 2008 01:03 PM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

That purple is just outstanding!  We continue to have color through the winter, but not like that - beautiful pics, Mike.

Nov 16, 2008 02:01 PM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon

I am ready - ready to pack my bags and head on down - wow - what beauty

Nov 16, 2008 02:01 PM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Mike,
Your photos are stunning as always.  Thanks.

Nov 16, 2008 09:51 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Cynthia,

Thanks for the encouragement!  I appreciate you.

Thesa,

Cooommmme oooon down!

Lisa,

You're welcome.  Thanks, as always, for taking the time to read and comment.

Mike in Tucson

Nov 16, 2008 10:03 PM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Mike - Nice golf course. Your pictures are outstanding. Your really appreciate the beauty of your surroundings.

Nov 16, 2008 11:13 PM
Donna Paul
Keller Williams Realty Gold Coast - Dix Hills, NY
Long Island Home Specialist,All About Real Estate

Great pictures Mike.... your camera gives you great shots.. It looks like you are there in the pictures....

Nov 17, 2008 12:21 AM
Linda Scanlan
A Consumer's View - Burleson, TX

Mike - what an awesome job you do showcasing your beautiful part of the world. I love the desert! Now...is that your hammock??  I think I would probably be in that thing 24/7!

Nov 19, 2008 09:17 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Linda,

It's a friend's hammock, but we have one too.  Thanks for commenting.

Donna,

That's the idea.  Come on down; it's warm here.

Larry,

God created the setting, Palmer designed the course, and I get the credit for taking nice photos.  What a life!

Mike in Tucson

Nov 19, 2008 10:10 PM
Doreen McPherson
Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

Wow, Mike, this is an awesome post.  Beautiful photos and great writing.  I love the first photo!

Nov 28, 2008 10:39 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Thanks, Doreen!

It's good to see you back in the Rain.

Mike in tucson

Nov 28, 2008 12:45 PM