Blooming Desert

Yum.  Prickly Pear Cactus pad for a snack

Although it was 55F when Becca and I started off this morning the temperature didn't rise too quickly due to a heavy, persistent cloud cover.  The sun really didn't appear until we were nearly done with our trek.  The first image would seem to belie this fact, but I took that photo in the late afternoon yesterday here at home.  Now, in the early afternoon, the sun is shining, but the spring wind has picked up big time.  I believe we have some wind advisories for the next few days.  Not looking forward to the blowing dust and sand.

Mesquite leafing out

On the high foothills trail

Peace

Headed for the higher ground

Yuccas blooming on the steep slope of Tortugas Mountain

B&W in the upper foothills

Graceful Ocotillo flowers

Ocotillo tiki torches

Closeup of an Ocotillo blossom

Overcast desert

Overcast desert in B&W

Desert in color

Desert in black-and-white

Who's that on the Torrey Yucca?

Why it's a graceful Cactus Wren

These babies are flowering all over

As I said

Never did see what Becca was staring at

Yucca flowers like cavatelli

Guess what I can't stop photographing

Even more yuccas in flower

Someoone at the center of that yucca interests me

It's a Scott's Oriole consuming flowers

They do like those delicacies

Burying his head in breakfast

Up for some air

We got too close and Mr. Scott's Oriole took off

Guess I can't get enough images of these majestic Torrey Yuccas

Four flowering heads

Went around the far side for the next three images

That's kind of a magical sky

A little distance for more perspective

Claret Cup Hedgehog

The university's KRWG TV Suburban heading up the mountain road

Making that first precipitous bend

Torrey Yucca flowers

Mesquite greening out west of Tortugas Mountain

Claret Cup up close

Found this survey marker west of the mountain

Apache Plum (Fallugia paradoxa)