Greenery

Early light

The weather was quite pleasant this morning for our daily trek; Dr. K, Willow and I enjoyed it immensely.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert; no vehicles, either.  We did our usual route stopping as many times as Willow wanted, which were a lot.  Not too many ants around, which is always good news.

Clouds to the southwest

Long view of Tortugas and the Organs

House finch

Far up into the left branch arroyo

 

Tortugas and the Organs

Desert is very green

This & next:  Willow on the cross trail

Pebbles and rocks

Pleasant Extension

Soaptree Yucca in a very green desert

Dr. K, Willow and I decided to extend the hike this morning, crossing the Tellbrook Arroyo in a northerly direction and exploring many of the side arroyos we've explored in the past.  The temperature felt just right for such an outing:  mid- to high-50s and plenty of sunshine.  Dr. K and I both wore our Marmot PreCip jackets to stay warm.  Willow wore her regular coat.  By the time we were ascending the right branch arroyo we started to warm up a bit too much; but by then we were almost finished with the trek.

This & next 2:  White-crowned Sparrows

Artsy Loggherhead Shrike

Golden Crownbeard

Lengthwise Willow

Desert garden in side arroyo

Bushwhacking toward Tortugas and the Organs

Nipple Beehive Cactus

 

After Polo

East to the Organs

Dr. K, Willow and I had a good hike this morning.  We got quite a bit of rain yesterday from the remnants of Hurricane Polo, but it wasn't as bad as some had predicted it would be.  The arroyos weren't cut nearly as severely as they might have been had the runoff been greater.  We saw a few other nature enthusiasts out there today.  What we didn't see were the coyotes that were yipping and yelping very close to us while we ascended the left branch arroyo.  I was disappointed not to have gotten a glimpse of them.

Headed down LDR-A

Tortugas and the Organs

Waning gibbous 82-87% illumination

Backlit barrel

Ocotillos and the Organs

Willow on the cross trail

Southwest of Tortugas

 

Rain Switch Up

1st 3:  clouds over the Organs

During a break in the rain early this morning I took Willow into the arroyo beside our house to do her business.  Since the rain started again shortly after that Dr. K and I decided to postpone the daily hike until I got back from my shopping stint at Albertsons.  Fortunately there was a good rainless streak that allowed us to get in half a trek before returning home.

Artsy flowers

Wils

 

Chinchweed and Trailing Four O'Clocks

View from right branch arroyo

Dayflower and four o'clocks

Dr. K and Willow

Chinchweed bouquet

Chinchweed and Trailing Four O'Clocks

Blackfoot Daisies and Desert Marigolds

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

Ahead of Polo

Waning gibbous (95-97% illuminated)

Cooler, but humid at the start of the hike for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning.  Sun broke out later to heat things up.  Then the advance clouds from the remnants of Hurricane Polo began to slide in.  Now, in the early afternoon, we've already had a few sprinkles from the coming storms.  There are flood watches and warnings for much of the state including the southern area in which we live.

Desert Marigolds and Dayflowers

Tortugas and the Organs

Desert Marigold bouquet

This & next:  Sacred Datura

Two arroyos converge in a desert wood

One of Willow's favorite spots

This & next:  Desert zinnia

 

Exploring a garden in a side arroyo

Sacred Datura again

Remnants of Hurricane Polo are coming

Barrel cactus with new fruit

This & next:  Curve-billed Thrasher

Organ Mountains