Breeze to Wind

Yuccas on a hill south of Tortugas Mountain

Willow, Frio and I started our morning hike in a breeze, but ended the trek in a wind.  Things are supposed to get nasty this afternoon with gusts up to 50 mph.

We followed our normal route, and while we were headed up the left branch arroyo we spotted the man and woman with Basset Hounds hiking north along the ridge west of the Organs.

I let the "O"s off lead for a bit longer today, and they didn't disappoint; both were well behaved, following close behind me the entire time.

Willow and Frio

This & next: blooming yuccas

Loggerhead Shrike

I think it's a Verdin atop the right flower stalk

There's a Loggerhead Shrike atop the dead yucca at right

This & next:  Willow and Frio

This & next:  two versions of the same scene

Distant yucca in bloom

This & next:  Frio and Willow

This & next 4:  flowering yuccas

Claret Cup Cactus