Rattler Vax Day

This & next:  morning sky

The weather was good for our morning hike, but the atmosphere was pretty much filled with dust from yesterday's windstorm.  We did our usual route, spotting as we descended the Basset people and their hounds in the Tellbrook Arroyo north of us.  They were the only other outdoor enthusiasts we saw today.  At 11:00 we took Willow to the vet to get her six-month rattlesnake vaccination.

This & next 3:  Claret Cups Hedgehog Cacti

Tres cabezas piensan mejor que dos

Contemplative Willow

This & next 3:  more Claret Cups

This & next:  morning sky (phone pics)

Claret Cups (phone pic)

 

Seeing Red

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Dr. K, Willow and I got in our regular hike before the wind started this morning; the weather was actually pretty pleasant.  We saw a lot of red while trekking today owing to the increased number of Claret Cups blooming in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  After our outing I headed over to Albertsons to do my share of the weekly grocery shopping.

All red flowers are Claret Cup Hedgehog Cacti

This & next:  Faxon Yucca with Cactus Wren nest

 

Our favorite yucca (phone pic)

All Claret Cups below are phone pics

Blooming yuccas

Last 2:  our favorite yucca

More Claret Cups

Mormon Tea buds

Dr. K, Willow and I had a good hike this morning; weather conditions were just right:  sunny, warm, no wind.  While we descended LDR-A we saw Two-White-Dogs-Lady in the desert far north of us; a moment later she and her pups were bushwhacking westward.  They were the only nature enthusiasts we spotted out there today.  The wind is supposed to get brutal tomorrow so we hope we can get in an early morning hike to avoid the blowing dust and sand.

Desert Cardinal

Batgirl

This & next 3:  more Claret Cups

Faxon Yucca

White Tackstem

Faxon Yucca with Cactus Wren nest

This & next 2:  even more Claret Cups

Faxon Yucca