Crazy Weather

Strawberry Pitaya Cactus

Becca and I took a long hike west of Tortugas Mountain this morning, and was it ever chilly out there.  I was under dressed because I figured the sun would be out.  It wasn't.  And a persistent light wind made it slightly uncomfortable for me.  Becca was fine in her fur coat.  It warmed up a bit when the sun made an appearance later during our trek.  On our way in we bumped into our buddy Jimmy and chatted with him for a short while before parting company.  He was headed for the mountaintop.

Somebody's up on the road, no?

Strawberry Hedgehog with buds next to Parry's Agave

Picacho "Peak" beyond Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley

Plumed Crinklemat

Closeup of Plumed Crinklemat flowers

Yuccas west of the mountain

A little closer look

Becca on Mars

Long view across the Chihuahuan Desert

Yuccas and the Organ Mountains

What happened to the rest of the stalk?

Pencil Cholla (Opuntia leptocaulis)

Pencil Cholla flowers (photobombed by a bee.  See it?)

Same Pencil Cholla flowers, same bee

Desert west of Tortugas and the Organs

Distinct levels and layers

Much further away from the mountains

Somebody's coming

Happy desert hiker

Martian Rock?

Another Strawberry Pitaya blossom

Imprisoned by thorns

Trail to the clouds