A Surprisingly Cold Wind

Westward across the Mesilla Valley

Dr. K went shopping this morning so it was the "O"s and me for the daily trek.  I made the mistake of not bringing my earband nor gloves today, and I paid the price; it was quite cold 38F with a strong wind.

The Basset Hounds had been down LDR-A just ahead of us, and Willow was almost wild smelling their scent.  She calmed down by the time we reached the left branch arroyo, and when we entered the middle branch I felt comfortable enough with her behavior to let both of the Heelers off lead.

Frio and Willow followed me obediently as I bushwhacked over to photograph a flowering yucca, and, later, down the arroyo further west of the middle branch.  They also stuck right behind me when we ascended the right branch, stopping twice for short treat breaks.  They were very good the rest of the way.

Mormon Tea (left) and Yucca elata

This & next:  purplish Prickly Pear

This & next:  tres cabezas son mejor que una

The "O"s

This & next 3:  blossoming yucca

Soaptree with dead tree

Last 3:  Scott's Oriole

 

Blooming in Places

All, except otherwise captioned, are yuccas in bloom

Just as we were getting started on our hike this morning the man and woman with the Basset Hounds were heading down LDR.  To avoid having a close encounter with them we walked northward along the steep hill and then descended into Right Branch Arroyo.

After a short way, though, we bushwhacked back over to LDR-A arroyo and followed our usual route.  We heard a lot of barking from the Bassets, but couldn't determine what set them off.

We didn't see or hear anything else during our trek except the occasional chirping of birds enjoying the spring-like weather.

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

Soaptree Yucca

This & next 2:   Willow and Frio

 

Buddies and Buds

Soaptree Yucca stand

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did our usual hike this morning, and the weather was a bit cold; things warmed up quickly, though, and I was able to remove my earband and gloves midway up the left branch arroyo.

As we were driving to the trailhead we saw the man and woman with their Basset Hounds walking along Tellbrook Road, and we later spotted them descending through the desert near Left Branch Arroyo.

Had we done the east/west cross trail we would have had a fairly close encounter, but we bushwhacked through the desert in an eastward direction short of the cross trail.

The rest of the trek was pretty much uneventful, but fun.

This & next 2:  Ocotillo buds

This & next:  Frio and Willow

Loggerhead Shrike

Yucca baccata (Banana Yucca)

This & next:  Frio and Willow

Mourning Dove

 

Yucca Hunt

1st 7:  yuccas blossoming

We four got started about 8 this morning, doing our regular hike while keeping an eye out for flowering yuccas--at least Dr. K and I were doing the latter.

We didn't see anyone out there today; didn't even hear any dogs barking, but I did find a few yuccas to photograph.  The ones up in the mouth of Right Branch Arroyo were Banana Yuccas; can't wait to see them bloom.

After we got home I took Frio out for a ride in the Jeep; he loves to go driving in the Commander.

Frio and Willow on break

Long view of Tortugas

Willow and Frio

From here you pass Tortugas to reach the Organ Mountains

This & next 2:  Banana Yuccas sending up flower stalks

Hedgehog Cactus buds

Last 2:  Spectaclepod flowers