Green New Day

Hill just east of LDR-A

A cool, consistent breeze made the morning quite bearable for Dr. K, Willow and me as we hiked our regular route today.  We took a lot of shade breaks, nonetheless, and drank water at one of them--in the shadow of the ancient Soaptree Yucca.  It's hard to describe how the brilliant green of the recently leafed-out ocotillos make such a difference in the perception of how dry our drought-plagued desert really is.

Ocotillos between here and the mountains

Ocotillo and the western flank of Tortugas Mountain

Looking through one

Ocotillos in the upper middle branch arroyo

Willow in full ocotillo shadow

This & next:  upper middle branch

Between here and Tortuga

Dr. K and Willow in the lower right branch arroyo