A Floral Fest

This and the next 5:  Tree Cholla blooming at our place

We got a good rain in the early evening yesterday, and this morning it seemed as if we probably received more precipitation overnight; everything was pretty wet.  And even though it still felt humid out there the chance of rain was nil.  That will probably change later in the day as the sun continues shining brightly, percolating things up.

Becca and I got an early start on our trek, but not as early as Tracey, her dog, George, and their friend Marie who were already finishing up when we were on the outbound leg.  We three humans chatted about encounters with desert insects (notably scorpions and centipedes) while the dogs pretty much ignored each other.  After we all parted ways Becca and I continued up the trail until reaching a spot where we regularly begin a short bushwhack west to a sandy section of desert that we really like.  There were plenty of worthy subjects for photographing there, including a young Loggerhead Shrike who was flying around and acting as if it were a grown up; the constant crying for its mother, though, gave away its true age.

On the final leg of our trek we encountered our good friend Jimmy who Becca spotted well in advance of our meeting, and she trotted ahead to greet him.  He and I palavered for a good twenty minutes or so before parting company, both of us somewhat dejected by the state of our government, but determined to accomplish something positive for humankind. :)

Trail back to the Sunset Area ramada

Prickly Mickey

This is the desert?

Black-throated Sparrow (Dry Brush filter)

Becca leading the way

Time for a break

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Soaptree Yuccas

One of Becca's favorite spots

Looking south toward the Franklin Mountains

Soaptree Yucca flower stalk

Prickly Pear blossoms

This and the next:  Soaptree Yuccas

This view of the Organs

This and the next:  same Prickly Pear

This is the first fledgling Loggerhead Shrike I've ever seen

Rabbit Ears on an American Desert Hare

Prickly Pear flowers

Flower on a pad of Cow Tongue Prickly Pear

Where's she getting off to?

Huge Soaptree Yucca

Soaptree Yucca

Soaptree Yuccas

I'm going with "Variegated Fritillary"

This and the next:  same Soaptree Yuccas