Desert Surprise

1st 4:  Soaptree Yuccas in bloom

First lower desert hike in a week for Dr. K, Willow and me.  We were surprised to find so many more yuccas in bloom than we'd seen seven days ago.  It was cooler than we thought, the sun partially obscured by high clouds.  We had a nice outing this morning, followed by a drive to our local Circle K to put three-fourths of a tank of gas in Whitey, the CR-V:  $45!  Took a long ride afterwards.

Willow between arroyos

Willow and Dr. K

Soaptree Yucca southwest of Tortugas Mountain

This & next:  odd color for prickly pear blossoms

Last 2:  more Soaptree Yuccas in flower

 

Mountains to Mountains

Early morning

Hell of a trip to the high country this time:  incredible wind, rain, clouds and fog.  And did I mention the cold?  39F overnight today.  We managed to get all of our hikes in despite a rain delay yesterday.  Today started sunny, but soon became completely cloudy.  After the morning trek Dr. K, Willow and I packed for the trip back to the low country, where we are now.

Willow sees something

Clouds rolling in

This & next:  cloudy/foggy Haynes Canyon

Last 3:  Organ Mountains from Baylor Canyon Road

 

Late Fall's Return

Hayne's Canyon in rain

Rain delay this morning.  Precip started falling at about 4 a.m. before finally letting up at about 10.  Dr. K, Willow and I were fortunate to get in a nearly-long-as-usual hike.  Later, when we went out with Willow just after noon we got sprinkled on.  It's been cloudy, windy and quite cold all day so far; we haven't gotten above 46F, and it's raining again now (1:30 p.m.).  Surprising to find it this cold here on the first of May.

Cloudy Sacramentos

Willow on wet forest earth

Haynes Canyon again

Looking toward Karr Canyon

This & next:  Mexican Barberry

This & next:  near identical cloudy/foggy vistas

Willow deciding on the route back

 

Partly Grey Day

Pale Fritillary?

Dr. K, Willow and I got some sun on our morning hike, but it's been pretty grey, windy and chilly most of the day; we're supposed to get rain this evening into tomorrow morning.  We got in a nice trek before returning to the cabin and leaving a bit later for Alamogordo where we did some shopping at Lowe's Signature Market and got gas before heading back up the mountain.

Butterfly on butterfly bush

This & next:  Ash-throated Flycatcher

Some kind of bladderpod?

New cones

Mock vervain

Mexican Barberry

Our favorite girl

Damianita

 

Beargrass (Nolina microcarpa) budding out

The Willow stare

There it is again

Butterfly bush

Grey Day

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Grey morning in the mountains today; nonetheless, Dr. K, Willow and I had a good time on our daily outing.  Saw some interesting things, including a very small plant that has bulbs and tiny yellow flowers; I did a cursory search to ID it, but didn't feel inclined to spend too much time doing so.  We're supposed to get rain tomorrow, and Friday's high is only going to be 49F.  Brrrr.

Hummer and flycatcher

Small plant with bulbs and yellow flowers

This & next:  cute Willow

Spinystar

Different kind of morning

Willow leads the way back

First Swainson's Hawk we've seen up here

Chihuahuan Flax