Hiking on Hump Day

Here we go once again

Becca and I did a long Wednesday morning hike west of Tortugas Mountain this morning, and the weather was beautiful.  Unlike yesterday morning, though, when I wore my warmup jacket during the entire trek, I had to remove it about a quarter way in because of toasty conditions.  Nevertheless, it was perfect for hiking in shorts and a short-sleeve shirt.  We made a detour on the way home to PetsMart so I could buy provisions for the hike-happy canine; saw a gorgeous yucca there, which I had to photograph.

This is what early blooms on a Strawberry Pitaya Cactus look like

Closer view

Closeup

Down in the valley

Top of a Soaptree Yucca flower stalk

One view of a Prickly Pear Cactus pad beginning to blossom

View two

Different Prickly Pear

Baboon face in a Soaptree Yucca

Small Mesquite Tree leafing out

Break in an arroyo

Ocotillo flowers

Yet another Prickly Pear in bloom

Black-throated Hummingbird

Green on green

Dove on a Buggy Whip

Getting ready to open (as is its shadow)

Prickly Pear flowers come in several different colors

Guess I like Ocotillo blossoms

Beautiful Yucca blooming near the parking lot at PetsMart

Red Yucca flower buds