A Bit Summerish

Cane Cholla

It was feeling very much like the advent of summer in the northern Chihuahuan Desert when Becca and I got a rude reminder that we're still in springtime:  the leading edge of strong winds that will plague us the rest of the day.  We weren't exactly battered by high gusts, but certainly we were pummeled at times.  The wind is supposed to get bad starting around 5 p.m. and lasting through much of the night.  I always hate when the wind howls at night because it makes sound sleep a difficult prospect.  Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

Different-colored flowers on the same Prickly Pear Cactus

Orange or tangerine in color?

Bee-for-all in a Prickly Pear flower

Tangerine

I'm not sure what this clear legume is

Hierba del cenizo (Plumed Crinklemat)

Wooly Paperflowers

New Mexico Evening Primrose

Sandy break

Soaptree Yucca (Bishop Cap on the horizon)

Prickly Pear blossoms

What a target

An Oriole (perhaps Scott's) partaking of an Ocotillo flower

Becoming one with the flower

Tarantula Hawk (largest American wasp)

Not a leaf, but a butterfly

Desert Blister Beetle

Nearly heart-shaped pad

Chihuahuan Flax

Prickly Pear and Pitaya

Strawberry Pitaya Cactus

Vibrant color of the Strawberry Pitaya

Lenticular cloud:  sign of high winds aloft