Blooming all Over the Mountain

A flower bud on a Night Blooming Cereus (a plant that blooms once a year)

Becca seemed better this morning so I took her for a short hike along the west side of Tortugas Mountain and up into the high foothills, where Strawberry Pitaya Cacti were blooming everywhere.  I have absolutely never seen so many Pitaya blossoming in the northern Chihuahuan Desert before.  I can only think that the heavy snow we had in December provided an abundance of much-needed moisture, which translated into a spring season heavily populated with beautiful wildflowers.

Becca is feeling better this morning

This and all other pink flowers:  Strawberry Pitaya Cactus

Whitethorn Acacia, one of the sweetest-smelling flowers in the desert

Prickly Pear Cactus

Plumed Crinklemat

Acacia

In the high foothills