A Respite Already

"Red Head" rising in a Torrey Yucca

Becca and I got a fairly early start out at the mountain this morning, and we did a longer hike--bushwhacking into one of our favorite arroyos west of Tortugas.  There weren't many people out and about this morning, but we did bump into an acquaintance named Heather, who spends part of the year in this section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  She's from the north of England, but works in Canada.  She said she hopes to see more of the desert in bloom before heading north in late April.  Not long after talking with her I discovered that the mound of Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus I've been monitoring for a few days has blossomed with a few flowers.

Sending up its flower stalk

Torrey Yucca near the Crosscut Trail

The Beckster enjoying her hike

Guess who got up on the wrong side of the nest

Barrel Cactus, Torrey Yucca and the Organ Mountains

Yucca and mountains

Barrel Cactus fruit left over from last season

What is this?

Starting to look like pimiento-stuffed olives

Ocotillo flowers

Some Ocotillos are beginning to leaf out

Been keeping an eye on this

Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus flowers

Closeup of one blossom

Closeup of another

Mormon Tea

Cactus Wren

Same Cactus Wren

Torrey Yucca in flower

Closer look at those flowers

Chance Meeting

Got milk?

Becca and I hit the trail west of Tortugas Mountains somewhat early this morning because today is shopping day at Target and Albertsons for me.  There were so many interesting things to photograph out in the desert, however, I extended the hike (time wise) quite a bit more than I'd planned.  Additionally we ran into Don and his 14-month old dog Clover, and he and I stood talking for a bit while the dogs played.  Clover was a tad rambunctious at first, but she settled down after a spell.  Both she and Becca get along well, which is a really nice thing.

Desert Cottontail

Curious about Becca and me

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) in bad light

Same bird, aka cocky "Desert Cardinal)

Doña Ana Mountains

Easter Bunny?

No--Desert Hare

Pincushion Cactus (about the size of a baseball)

Anyone coming up behind us?

That looks like a Torrey Yucca in bloom

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

Same White-winged Dove

Ocotillos, two different types of Hedgehog Cactus and Prickly Pear Cactus

Torrey Yucca buds are colloquially referred to as "red heads"

The tallest head on this Torrey Yucca has a bud

Closer look at the "red head"

This Torrey Yucca is also starting to bloom

We ran into Don and his pup Clover, Becca's doggelgänger

Clover was a bit more interested in playing than Becca was

Ocotillo flower buds

These two Torrey Yucca heads will both have flower stalks

Going up

This Torrey Yucca already has blossoms

Closer look

Even closer still

Closeup

Different angle on the same Torrey Yucca

Slightly different perspective