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Friday, October 3, 2008

Back in the Desert


Research Associate Becca and I were back on the Tortugas Mountain trail, sunset side of the mountain. As usual, there were some interesting sights. For instance, at the top of this Soaptree Yucca is a bird nest.
I'm not an ornithologist, but I'd guess that the nest belongs to a cactus wren.
This yucca looks like a rodeo clown lying on its back, its left arm raised to signal for help.
I believe that these vibrant yellow blossoms are Wooly Paper-Flower, which blooms as late as October here in the Chihuahuan Desert.
The red fruits you see here are not cherries, nor cherry tomatoes, but belong to a desert plant. I believe it is Slimlobe Globeberry because of the shape of the leaves and because it's growing within a large Prickly Pear Cactus, a "foster" plant that allows the vines to grow.

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