Still Thinking "National Monument"

Across a sea of Chihuahuan Desert:  the Potrillo Mountains

Spent the whole time hiking today still thinking about our latest national monument, and feeling thrilled that President Obama had the fortitude to designate it as such:  the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.  Love the sound of that.  Thanks, too, to Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich for their untiring efforts to pass legislation to designate the monument.  The bill never passed Congress, but their involvement very much influenced Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and President Obama in the decision to set aside these 496,000 acres of Chihuahuan Desert.

Getting going

First millipede (not like in "Adam," but first of the season)

Potrillo Mountains in sun:  members of the new national monument

Doña Ana Mountains

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

Soaptree Yucca not quite in bloom

Barrel Cactus and Soaptree Yucca

Soaptree Yucca flowers

A break in the "shade"?

To bee or not . . .