Hedgehogs and Yuccas

This & next:  morning clouds

Semi-cloudy morning for our daily hike today; Dr. K, Willow and I enjoyed it nonetheless.  Both when we stepped out of the CR-V, and later when we returned to it after our trek, we saw two guys hiking along the upper flatland road.  Claret Cups still blooming out there as are the Faxon Yuccas.

Soaptree Yuccas and the Organ Mountains

Willow leads the way

This & next:  cactus wren yucca

Washboard sky

 

This & next 3:  Claret Cups

This & next:  cactus wren yucca

This & next:  blooming yucca in the right branch arroyo

Claret Cup

Last 2:  cactus wren yucca

Rattler Vax Day

This & next:  morning sky

The weather was good for our morning hike, but the atmosphere was pretty much filled with dust from yesterday's windstorm.  We did our usual route, spotting as we descended the Basset people and their hounds in the Tellbrook Arroyo north of us.  They were the only other outdoor enthusiasts we saw today.  At 11:00 we took Willow to the vet to get her six-month rattlesnake vaccination.

This & next 3:  Claret Cups Hedgehog Cacti

Tres cabezas piensan mejor que dos

Contemplative Willow

This & next 3:  more Claret Cups

This & next:  morning sky (phone pics)

Claret Cups (phone pic)

 

Seeing Red

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Dr. K, Willow and I got in our regular hike before the wind started this morning; the weather was actually pretty pleasant.  We saw a lot of red while trekking today owing to the increased number of Claret Cups blooming in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  After our outing I headed over to Albertsons to do my share of the weekly grocery shopping.

All red flowers are Claret Cup Hedgehog Cacti

This & next:  Faxon Yucca with Cactus Wren nest

 

Our favorite yucca (phone pic)

All Claret Cups below are phone pics

Blooming yuccas

Last 2:  our favorite yucca