We Three

Becca and Dr. K

Dr. K, Becca and I started our Sunday morning trek on the Sunset side of Tortugas Mountain today primarily so we could see the abundance of Soaptree Yuccas flowering there.  We were not disappointed, and, as you can tell from the number of yucca images posted here, I went overboard in photographing them.

This side of the mountain was pretty crowded with outdoor enthusiasts, but we only encountered a few of them, and we bumped into none as we bushwhacked west across a sandy section of desert and then followed an old dirt road to a spot just short of a major arroyo that flows out of the mountain.  The weather was perfect:  slightly chilly, yet sunny.  It even began to feel a bit warm as we headed back to the place where we parked Whitey the CR-V.  We're supposed to reach 86 or 87 Fahrenheit today.

Interesting Soaptree Yucca

Soaptree Yuccas growing in a large arroyo west of the mountain

Sky

Soaptree and Ocotillo

Further west of Tortugas

Soaptree

This and the next 9:  Soaptree Yuccas

The long view of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

West across the desert

Leaning Soaptree

Becca leading us back

Soaptree with two flowers stalks

Prickly Pear flowers imprisoned by Soaptree Yucca stilettos