Very Humid Morn

Starting in the shadow of the mountain

It rained late last night, the result of which was an extremely humid morning.  Even in the shadow of Tortugas Mountain the high moisture content caused me to perspire while Becca and I hiked the upper foothills trail.  Of course it felt even worse when we descended into the lower desert where the sun was shining fiercely.  Nevertheless, we had a good long trek before returning home.  Once there, Dr. K and I did more yard work, part of an ongoing project to spruce up our 1.23 acres of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  Can't wait for cooler days when the work is not quite so thirst-producing.

Anyone in there?

Hike to the sky

Prickly Pear Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus and Ocotillos

Level ground

A rocky slope indeed

Organ Mountains

Walk softly and carry a big leaf

Sky to the northwest

Sky to the west

We're in the sandy area west of Tortugas

View across to the Organs and Bishop Cap

Chugging along a dirt road

Ocotillo and Tortugas Mountain

Small Horned Lizard

A mug only a mother could love

Slender perch for a hummer

View from an arroyo west of the mountain

Scott's Oriole quite a distance away

Heading back up the mountain

Velvety Nerisyrenia

Velvety Nerisyrenia

Sacred Datura

Sacred Datura is also knows as Jimsonweed

Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) is a potentially lethal hallucinogen