Sunday Services

Sun through clouds

Dr. K, Willow and I did a pleasant hike this morning following our regular route.  We saw no one else during our outing.

After the trek we drove over to our local Circle K to gas up the CR-V.  Then we took a long ride while listening to Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf on their Sunday Morning show.

Good outing today.

To the southwest

Across the desert to the Organs

 

North to Tortugas Mountain

Yellowing ocotillo in the middle branch arroyo

Picacho and environs

Willow resting in the right branch arroyo

First Rattler

Upper flatland road

Just as Willow and I started up the left branch arroyo this morning I spotted a young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake stretched across a narrow section of the trail we hike along every day.  Willow was on lead, and the snake was about 15' in front of her; she never saw the serpent.

This being the first rattler we've encountered this season I took quite a few photos of it from both sides.  The rattler never was bothered by our presence.  We had heard a rattler about a month or so ago, but never saw it.  That's always disconcerting.

We spotted other interesting sights during our outing including what I believe to be a Speckled Earless Lizard, but I'm not sure of the ID.

Find the observatory

Clouds to the southwest

 

This & next 6:  Western Diamondback rattlesnake

Near LDR-A arroyo

Long way to Tortugas and the Organs

Parched Soaptree Yucca

Curve-billed Thrasher

Willow seeing something

Blooming late

This & next:  Speckled Earless Lizard?

Looking northward down the left branch arroyo

Too Hot Still

Leaves of a small Soaptree Yucca

Pleasant enough hike this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me.  Not too hot, even though we're headed for a high of 95F.

Followed our regular route seeing nobody along the way.  We're still dry as a popcorn fart, though Doppler Dave Speelman (KVIA, El Paso) said we'd caught up a bit on precip.  Average rain for this time of year:  5.33".  We're currently at 2.16".  Pretty paltry amount 7/8 of the way through monsoon season.

Dr. K, Willow and I need to do a rain dance.

Willow headed down LDR-A

Spent yucca seed pod

 

This & next:  ocotillo leaves

Yucca seed pod

Variegated Fritillary

Skinny Fishhook Barrel Cactus

This & next:  skinny barrel w/bud holding out for flowerhood

Huge ocotillo in the right branch with yellowing leaves

Thursday Threesome

Another Variegated Meadowhawk

Dr. K, Willow and I enjoyed a pleasant hike this morning; it was 68F, although it felt pretty cool.  We're headed for 96F today.

Followed our usual route, seeing no one during the outing--with all due respect, that is, to the critters we spotted, including many dragonflies.

When we got home I pounded nails back into the pickets of the fence between ours and our neighbor Lalo's properties.  Took a shower afterwards and waited for Daryl, the Bug Guy, to show up to spray for ants.

Ocotillo leaves yellowing

This & next 3:  the many faces of Willow

 

3 Wise Men yucca has nearly had it

Wednesday's Trek with Wils

Yucca leaves

Dr. K had to shop early at Target this morning so it was Wils and me on the morning hike.  We did the regular.

It was pretty cool when we were out there (63F), but we're heading for a high of 95F.  I'm more than ready for the hot days to disappear.

This has been one of the driest monsoon seasons we've ever experienced; we're at least 4" below average in precipitation.  When will we get more I wonder.

View from LDR-A arroyo

Looking northward from LDR-A

 

Bowl of desert south of the left branch arroyo

This & next:  Wils near the ancient Soaptree Yucca

Prickly Pear pads

Southwest flank of Tortugas Mountain