Chiggerama

View from the forest behind our property

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did a longish trek into the forest above our property this morning.  Weather was good, views were outstanding, Heelers were well behaved.

After the outing Dr. K and I did yardwork on the part of our property nearest the cabin.  Sometime during the previous two events--despite having insect repellent on--I was bitten by chiggers on my ankles and calves.  Trousers will be donned for tomorrow's yardwork.

Majestic dead tree

Dr. K surveying the territory

Up along Karr Canyon

This & next 2:  elk bones?

Prickly Pear blooming at 7,000 feet

Frio says, "Arrrrrgh, matey."

Willow and Frio in the forest

The long view

Damianita

Damianita and unknown flower

Curious out-of-focus Ash-throated Flycatcher

This & next:  forest in the Sacramentos

Our backyard

Willow, Dr. K, Frio

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Artsy flycatcher

 

High Now

Yucca shadow

Willow, Frio and I did a quick, but usual, hike in the lower desert this morning.  Dr. K stayed at home to take care of her outdoor plants in preparation for our trip to the high country, where we all are now.

Weather is good here, 78F right now rather than 91F in Las Cruces.  Nice.

This & next:  the "O"s

Unusual black bee on Butterfly Bush

About the size of a Carpenter Bee with brown eyes

Unperturbed by my presence

This & next 2:  Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)

This & next:  Sacramento Mountains

Look at the reflection in this insect's left eye

Last 2:  same bee as all above

 

Five Minutes Later

Soaptree Yucca blossoms

Not long after we started off this morning Dr. K and I remarked about how cool it felt; five minutes later our assessment had changed.  Although it wasn't really brutally hot, the conditions had warmed significantly.  Willow and Frio both demanded we take plenty of shade breaks, which we did.

We saw some interesting things out there today, most notably the Hog Potato plant and the Scott's Oriole.  Wish I had been able to get better images of the oriole, but it was quite a distance away from us.

This & next 2:  Hog Potato (Hoffmannseggia glauca)

Matching set of Heelers

Spectaclepod

This & next 2:  Willow and Frio

Find the lizard, find the lizard's eye

Blackfoot Daisies

Little-leaf Sumac berries

White-winged Dove

Last 3:  Scott's Oriole