"We take a natural interest in novelties, but it is against nature to take an interest in familiar things." ~ Mark Twain

Arizona and the great Southwest is a land of extremes, contrasts. contradictions, and surprises. A land that I love. Where else can you see the great contrast of Nature, and its disinterest in familiar things. Finding this lovely big-tooth maple tree shedding its end-of-season rusty-gold all over this mature Yucca plant is a wonderful example of that. Photographed in Ramsey Canyon of the Huachuca Mountain range, in Arizona's Coronado National Forest.