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Monday, May 7, 2018

Bracing for a Heatwave

I think it's a Black-chinned Hummingbird
Becca and I got an early start this morning in anticipation of the furnace-like heat coming our way beginning today.  Although it was only 62F when we hit the trail west of Tortugas Mountain the temperature rose quickly.  As a result I shortened the hike somewhat, making sure we took plenty of shade and water breaks to stay hydrated.  Becca drank a whole bottle of H2O, which she rarely does.  All of our precautions paid off, though, as we completed a successful trek before it became unbearable in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.
That sure looks like a black chin

Sleepy Cactus Wren

West of the mountain

East to Tortugas

Fruit of the Torrey Yucca

Cucumber-like Torrey Yucca fruit

Two new Soaptree Yucca flower stalks and one old

Closer look at the Soaptree Yucca stalks

Back to the mountain

Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) is not a true willow

This and the next four:  Cane Cholla blossoms




Blind Prickly Pear flowers

Bird feather on a Prickly Pear

Blooming prolifically

Red Yucca flowers

1 comment:

Dr. K said...

I know I've said this before, but I'm saying it again: the blossoms on cacti are some of the most vivid in the plant world. There must an evolutionary reason for this.

Low Country and then High

This & next:  Pyrrhuloxia (aka Desert Cardinal) Willow and I did our regular hike this morning, returning afterward to finish packing fo...