Two Adventurous Bloggers: A Human and a Lizard!

collage of book covers related to Sonoran Desert

Tales From Elaine

Give the Gift of a Picture Book!

This is the season for gift giving. Why not give a gift that educates as it entertains, builds language skills, and can be enjoyed over

A green iguana munches on fresh vegetables

Book Stories

Meet Calliope, the Muse of Long Poetry

Most of the iguanas in my life have been green iguanas, Iguana iguana. However, not all green iguanas are green. Through the years I’ve cared

Tales From Elaine

A Squirrel is a Squirrel is a… Chipmunk?

Sometimes, stories are written to craft clarity from confusion. That’s certainly the case with my book Squirrels of the Sonoran Desert. I’ve lived in many

Book Stories

Snakes (and Science) for All!

Buying books online is wonderfully convenient, but for me, selling my STEM-based books in-person is special, especially when the people are children. I’m delighted when

A group of pink flamingoes wading in shallow water.

Adventure!

Morton Salt, Campbells, and Flamingos in the Bahamas.

Recently, while in Chicago I happened to see the iconic Morton Salt sign. It’s so huge you can’t miss it. While it’s called a sign,

A small but full-grown desert tortoise chases a much larger but still growing sulcata tortoise across the grass.

Conservation

Iguanas and Tortoises are… Invasive Species?

Invasive species are a common topic in environmental discussions these days, and rightfully so. Often, these concepts seem to deal with invasive plants or

Tales From Elaine

How Not to Photograph a Bat

I wrote a book about the difficulties in photographing hummingbirds, How Not to Photograph a Hummingbird. It pits one bumbling human against the desert as

Tales From Elaine

Mushrooms in the Desert? I Have Pictures!

Living in the Sonoran Desert, I don’t often see mushrooms. Sometimes, fungus appears on the trunks of dying trees, but that’s not often. This year,

Science Education

Sharing a Fond Memory of Mexican Jumping Beans. What’s Yours?

When I was a child, my parents bought me a package of Mexican beans, frijoles saltarine. I was fascinated to learn why the beans moved.

Button and Me

Mesquite Trees and Horses: Incompatible

When I moved to the Sonoran Desert, I learned about mesquite pods. I knew about the mesquite wood used for barbequing, but not the seed

Birds

Sharing the Morning Routine

As I watched the birds on the beach at sunrise on a recent trip, I noticed their actions reminded me of my own morning routine.

Adventure!

Saved: Dragonflies vs. Gnats–No Contest!

One major difference between the hot, dry weather of a desert (Tucson, AZ) and the hot, humid weather of the Gulf of Mexico (Ft. Myers,

Tales From Elaine

Scientists Love Their Scat! And I Am One!

Scientists have long been using scat as a valuable tool in figuring out what animals have eaten. The indigestible parts pass through and are excreted.

Button and Me

Ergot: A Fungus and a Tissue Protuberance–Geez!

My favorite bread flavor is rye. Given a choice, I will always choose rye. So, growing up, I wondered why rye hadn’t been more popular

Iguanas

Prize-Winning Size Found in My Kitchen!

Have you eaten your leafy green vegetables today? You should! Vegetables are important for a healthy lifestyle. My family members would agree – they are

Elaine A. Powers, Author

MAKING SCIENCE BOOKS FUN!

BLOG: Tales and Tails

Give the Gift of a Picture Book!

Meet Calliope, the Muse of Long Poetry

A Squirrel is a Squirrel is a… Chipmunk?

Snakes (and Science) for All!

Morton Salt, Campbells, and Flamingos in the Bahamas.

Iguanas and Tortoises are… Invasive Species?

How Not to Photograph a Bat

Mushrooms in the Desert? I Have Pictures!

Sharing a Fond Memory of Mexican Jumping Beans. What’s Yours?

Mesquite Trees and Horses: Incompatible

Sharing the Morning Routine

Saved: Dragonflies vs. Gnats–No Contest!

Scientists Love Their Scat! And I Am One!

Ergot: A Fungus and a Tissue Protuberance–Geez!

Prize-Winning Size Found in My Kitchen!

About

Elaine A. Powers, Author

© 2021 ELAINE A. POWERS, TUCSON, ARIZONA