Floral Bonanza

Just before the sun rises over Tortugas Mountain

There were so many Claret Cup Hedgehog Cacti blooming west of Tortugas Mountain this morning I decided Becca and I would do some serious bushwhacking southward to see if our favorite Claret Cup had bloomed even more than the last time we saw it.  I hoped it had because I didn't want to put Becca through all the required rugged hiking for nothing.  Our efforts were not in vain, and, as you can see below, the hedgehog was flowering in all its glory.

Of course it wasn't the only plant blooming bountifully; there were plenty of yuccas--both Torrey and Banana--putting on a show.  I have honestly never seen our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert in such a floral display.  We've had decent rainfall in the fairly recent past, but nothing that could predict such a splendid proliferation of desert flora.  All good, though. :)

Yuccas on the west side of the arroyo east of Tortugas Mountain

Mesquite tree leafing out

Triple-header

One of countless Claret Cup Cacti in bloom

Big, old Torrey Yucca

Claret Cup Cactus

Meh

Jackrabbit in hand is better than two in the bush

Long view to the southwest

Closeup on the yucca flowers

Nice to see the denizens of the desert sprucing up the neighborhood

Torrey Yucca west of the mountain

This and the next 7 are all of the same Claret Cup Cactus

Large Mormon Tea bush in bloom

Mormon Tea

Scorpion-weed and Claret Cup

It may look like a pimiento-olive bush, but it's an Ocotillo budding out

Trekking along the trail

Claret Cups

A large Banana Yucca

Claret Cups

Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus

Large stand of blooming yuccas on Tortugas's western slope

Same yuccas

This and the next 4:  more Claret Cups

West side yuccas

Torrey Yucca blossoms

Small mesquite tree leafing out in the Sunset Area