Beauty Abounds

This and the next 2:  White Tackstem

Becca and I set off this morning with the intention of doing a little bushwacking in order to check up on a large Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus that is usually quite stunning in the early spring; when we found the specimen it didn't disappoint, though only a bit of its flowery display is on show now.  If its buds and blossoms can survive without being eaten we're in for an amazing aesthetic treat.  The other flowers we encountered--as well as those of the blossoming yuccas--were spectacular, and I was able to get a few interesting shots of these beauties.  While the skies were slightly overcast during our trek the temperature was, nonetheless, pretty high.  We're slated to reach 83F today--unusually warm for this time in March.  We ran into Stacey and George on the outbound leg and Raymond on our way back in.  I talked to Raymond for 15 or 20 minutes while Becca lay in the dirt on the road leading to the mountaintop.

Count how many Torrey Yuccas are blooming

Odd way to put up a flower stalk

Ocotillo

What the weather was like most of the morning

Becca leading the way

A den large enough for coyotes or foxes

3 different looks at a blossoming Torrey Yucca

#2

#3

Imagine this when all the buds bloom

This and the following 8 are the same Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus

Let's watch Becca's progress on the new trail

Blooming Torrey Yucca

Artsy yellow flowers

Artsy Torrey Yucca bloom

This and the next 2:  same Torrey Yucca

A flowering Torrey Yucca in an arroyo west of Tortugas Mountain

Same yucca with Becca

This and the next:  closer look at the flowers