Atmospheric Respite

Mother yucca and two kids

The air was noticeably better when Becca and I hit the trail west of Tortugas Mountain this morning.  I think the respite from dust and blowing sand will be brief, though, as spring winds are supposed to pick up this afternoon and persist for a few days; this is one of the real drawbacks about living in the northern Chihuahuan Desert at this time of year.  The Beckster and I did a moderately long hike today, and we ran into only one other hiker, a pleasant woman out on Geothermal Road.  Nobody blaring music in the desert, thank god.

Marking out a new trail?

That put a kink in my neck

West of Tortugas

Closeup of the emerging flower stalk

More yuccas in bloom

What can I say?

Ocotillo flower buds

Further west of Tortugas

Closeup of those flowers (and an observatory)

I've photographed this balancing act before

Claret Cup flowers

Closer look

Different Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus with more flowers

Almost back to the trailhead

Yucca blooming just off the trail

This will get pretty in the coming days

Blackfoot Daisies making an appearance

Feather Dalea (Dalea formosa)

Feather Dalea

Littleleaf Sumac (Rhus microphylia)