Benefits of Higher Elevation

Haynes Canyon

Dr. K, Becca and I got out onto the Grand View Trail early this morning, and a glorious morning it was--about 60F when we started off from the lower trailhead.  Three weeks ago when we were here nothing was blooming, but the story was a different one today.  Yellow flowers of Fendler's Bladderpod were showing everywhere, and we found Threadleaf Phlox, Cliff Fendlerbush blossoms, cactus flowers and the creamy white blooms of many different yuccas.

One major advantage of being able to leave the lower desert, where many of the early spring bloomers are in decline, and come up to the high country is that some similar species are just getting started here in the higher elevations.  Just yesterday I noted that Torrey Yucca flowers are fading away down below, but Banana Yuccas are just sending up flower stalks here at the 7,000-foot range.  Torrey Yuccas do not grow at this altitude.

We had a nice long trek, got back to our place, and then Dr. K and I did some work around our property--mainly trimming weeds and grass in the immediate vicinity of the "cabin."

Sacramento Mountains

This and the next:  Becca on our road

Threadleaf Phlox (Phlox Mesoleuca)

Some Banana Yuccas are just getting started in the high country

Banana Yucca

Exploring the Grand View Trail

This and the next 4:  high desert yuccas in bloom

White Sands from 7,000 feet

Yucca head

Through the cut

What's that on the cliff cactus?

A single flower on this cliff-dwelling hedgehog

Hedgehog Cactus growing in rock

Two views of the same little Hedgehog Cactus

#2

Sotols along the trail

There's the happy hiker

Putting up a flower stalk

Popweed popping all over the place

Cairns

High country living

This and the next 3:  Cliff Fendlerbush (Fendlera Rupicola)

Cliff Fendlerbush is also know as the False Mockorange (huh?)

False Mockorange

There's a dog in this photo

Dare you to find the bird here (hint:  right below center point)

Popweed

More Threadleaf Phlox

And yet another yucca