Sunday's Best

Northern Mockingbird had a lot to say today

52F when Dr. K, Willow and I hit the trail this morning; bright sunshine and no breeze kept the conditions comfortable.  We saw a few other outdoor enthusiasts while we were out there--two hikers with dogs bushwhacking to the northwest of us.  Most notable were the beautiful desert flowers, the Northern Mockingbird who was very boisterous all during our outing, and lots of talkative sparrows--mostly Brewer's--who preceded us while we ascended the right branch arroyo before ending our hike.  Took a long drive afterward listening to the Sunday Morning show on 600 ESPN out of El Paso.

This & next:  Claret Cup Cactus

Willow and Dr. K

Wils off lead

Northern Mockingbird

This & next 2:  Feather Dalea

Desert Marigold

 

No Kings Day

1st 2:  Desert Evening-primrose

42F this morning when Dr. K, Willow and I began our hike; the cold front that blew in yesterday brought cooler air to the desert--a reprieve from the unusually hot weather.  We'll be heating up again shortly.  We saw no other outdoor enthusiasts during the trek while we followed the regular route.  We did see, however, lot of blooming plants and chattering birds.  We took a semi-long drive after our outing before heading home.

Prizewinner

She's not really sulking

Feather Dalea

Claret Cups

This & next:  ocotillo buds blooming

Desert Evening-primrose

Claret Cups (phone pic)

 

Antes del Viento

This & next:  Spectaclepod

A tad cooler at the start of the hike this morning:  52F.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route, spotting, as we descended the LDR-A arroyo, Two-White-Dogs-Lady and her human hiking companion.  We saw the Pickup-Truck-Lady's pickup truck, but neither her nor her dog.  The weather conditions are supposed to turn a bit nasty this afternoon as a cold front blows in on gusty winds; it's bringing cooler temps with it.  That's a thumbs-up for me.

This & next:  all but a few Claret Cup buds have bloomed

Flowering yucca west of Tortugas

Wils leading the way

Desert Marigold with Claret Cup Cactus

Claret Cup and Range Ratany (Krameria etecta)

Three sisters

Adonis Blazingstar (not fully opened)

 

Purplemat (Nama demissum)

Hollow prickly pear pad

Eye Candy

Ocotillo buds and Black-throated Sparrow

55F at start of hike this morning.  The air was noticeably clearer today, but we're expecting big wind tomorrow; that ought to smudge up the atmosphere.  We followed our regular route, marveling at all the beautiful plants blooming in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  Saw a few other hikers with dogs:  the Basset People and Pickup-Truck-Lady.  We spotted one other person with a dog bushwhacking far northwest of us; we think we might know who it is, but we can't say for certain.

This & next:  Willow on the crossover trail

This & next:  Northern Mockingbird

Adonis Blazingstar not fully open for business

Claret Cups and prickly pear

Claret Cup (phone pic)

Feather Dalea (phone pic)

 

Midweek Muscle Memory

Sky at start

At first it didn't feel very hot when Dr. K, Willow and I started off on the morning hike; but it quickly warmed up.  We're headed for a high of 94F this afternoon.  In addition to the bounty of blooming plants we encountered during our outing we spotted Two-White-Dogs-Lady plus one, the Basset People and their five hounds, and the Pickup-Truck-Lady and her pooch.  After we got home Dr. K left for her weekly shopping trip to Target.

Desert between here and the  Doña Ana Mountains

Claret Cup adding new blossoms every day

Desert Marigold

Willow and Dr. K in the left branch arroyo

This & next:  same prize-winning Claret Cup Cactus

On break between arroyos

Glad we hiked over to photograph this yucca

White Tackstem