Almost Hot

Sky at start

Dr. K was comfortable on our hike this morning, but I was on the border of feeling too warm; Willow never revealed how she felt.  Did our regular route without seeing a soul; we did hear a dog barking once, but didn't spot it.  The morning outing was pleasant enough, but I'm not looking forward to the high temperatures that will be steaming in.  Afternoon high today is supposed to be 95F.

Dr. K and Willow heading down LDR-A

Soaptree Yuccas

Desert Cardinal and hummingbird

This & next 4:  same Desert Cardinal

Curve-billed Thrasher

 

Straight-billed heeler

Allthorn (Koeberlinia spinosa)

Sliding Towards Summer

1st 2:  fallen Soaptree Yucca flower on leaves

Even though it was in the low 70s when Dr. K, Willow and I started our morning hike it felt hotter.  We followed our regular route stopping many times for shade breaks.  After the hike we headed home and I took off for my weekly shopping stint at Albertsons.

This & next:  Soaptree Yucca flower stalk

One of many breaks for Willow

Ocotillo leafing out

 

Brisa Fresca

Panorama

About 60F when Dr. K, Willow and I started our daily trek, but a strong breeze kept conditions quite cool out there.  Dr. K thought it felt cold.  Willow was perfectly comfortable, so much so that she lay down in the shade approximately ten times during the hike.

Willow on lead

Soaptree Yuccas at the side of the trail

Pause for thought

Soaptree Yucca

This & next:  pencil cholla buds

Twin-leaf Senna flower and buds

 

Sunday Love

Willow in ocotillo shadow

A lot hotter this morning as Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular hike.  We followed the usual route happy that a persistent strong breeze kept the temperature down.  We took an extra-long drive after our outing, appreciating the desert from the comfort of Whitey the CR-V (aka the "dogmobile").

Dr. K and Willow in the middle branch arroyo

This & next 2:  prickly pear flowers

Surprised to find a claret cup cactus flowering

Swainson's Hawk

Odd-shaped Soaptree Yucca flower stalk

Prickly pear color experiment

Same prickly pear as above (phone pic)

 

Saturday with Wils

The long, unwinding road

Just Willow and me on this morning's hike, which was noticeably hotter than yesterday's trek.  We're head for 93F this afternoon.  Just as we started off on the trailhead we had to alter our track because the Basset People and their hounds we're right in front of us.  Therefore we hiked westward on the upper flatland road until we reached LDR (long dirt road in pic #1); then we turned around and followed our regular route.

Upper flatland road

Soaptree Yucca flowers closeup

Soaptree Yuccas along a narrow trail

This & next:  Wils relaxing in the left branch arroyo

This & next 2:  Checkered White on spectacle pod

Yucca pasta

Black-throated Sparrow

 

The Regular

Expanse of desert

Definitely warmer this morning when Dr. K, Willow and I hit the trail.  We're supposed to reach a high of 88F this afternoon.  It was hot enough for Willow to take about ten shade breaks; she doesn't need much encouragement to plop down in the sand.  We saw the Basset People and their hounds today; Pickup-Truck-Lady's pickup was parked in the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot, but we never spotted her nor her dog.

Looking westward across the Mesilla Valley

House Finch

Yuccas with a pinch of moon

More Soaptree Yuccas

Stinging Serpent (Cevallia sinuata)

Young cactus wren in Faxon Yucca nest

On break, but alert

Odd-shaped Soaptree Yucca with new flowers & buds

Black-chinned Hummingbird