A Heatwave Waves Back

This again:  a type of sunflower?

Talk about a change of weather!  We've been quite cool of late, but a temporary heatwave has put the squeeze on us making it feel as if summer is just around the corner.  The heat affected Becca noticeably, and she sought out shade at every opportunity.  We're supposed to have another brief cool down upcoming, but it won't be long before hot weather is here to stay.  I'll have to start getting up even earlier than I do now (5:30 am) to make sure that the Beckster and I get in long morning hikes before the desert becomes too toasty later each day.

Plumed Crinklemat (Tequilia greggii)

Ocotillo flower friends

You can see the Milky Way clearly from here

Leafless Ocotillos

Small Mesquite west of the mountain

Shade break in an arroyo

Heading down the arroyo

Backward look at the mountains

How's this for camouflage?  Horned Lizard

A type of Mentzelia

Closing up shop

Still open for business

Marigolds and mountains

Striking back across the desert in need of shade

Scant shadow, but time for a rest

New Mexico Evening Primrose

New Mexico Evening Primrose

Prickly Pear flower opening up

Quite a target for insects

Never came across this marker before.  1995 is etched at the bottom

American Kestrel

Chilly and Warm

Devil's Head

Because of yesterday's rain there was high humidity when Becca and I hit the trails this morning; but the air was cool with a persistent breeze.  Trekking up the steeper sections of the high foothills trail around Tortugas Mountain I had that uncomfortable feeling of being chilly and warm simultaneously.  I never broke out into a sweat, but that sensation of being overheated in cool temperatures is quite unpleasant.  Becca, you'll be glad to hear, doesn't seem to suffer from that malady; at least she's never admitted as much to me.

Ocotillo flower and Cactus Wren

About to reach the level section of the trail

Can a dog look over her shoulder?  Does a dog have shoulders?

Almost ready to bloom

Bicolor Fanmustard

Claret Cup

Look out

Obviously a legume

My first thought was "Big cat!"  On reflection I decided, "Big dog."

The desert after rain

Petals of the Pale Evening Primrose turn pink as they mature

Best buds

Soaptree Yucca flower stalk on the way to blooming

Scott's Oriole on an Ocotillo flower

?

A Winter's Day . . .

Cloudy start

Did we ever have a change of weather overnight.  We awoke to a cloudy, cool morning that got progressively colder.  Becca and I managed to do about three-quarters of a long hike before we got rained on, large sporadic drops that came down hard, but not heavily.  After our trek I made the mistake of going shopping wearing a short-sleeve shirt and summer shorts.  Was I ever in for a rude awakening.  When I emerged from Target the wind was howling and the sky was threatening a downpour.  When I came out of Albertsons about half an hour later it was colder still, with raging winds and rain.  And the temperature had plummeted enough to make it feel as if winter was paying us a return visit.  I've had the furnace running all day to ward off the chill in the house.

Striking for the high foothills

Bishop Cap

The sky holds a threat

Into the Martian desert

Alert for alien life

Hint of blue

Pale Evening Primrose

Long way to go

What we left behind

Potrillo Mountains in the haze

Torrey Yucca (left) and giant Ocotillo

About three-fourths of the way through our trek

Silver-dollar-size raindrops that began falling on us

About half a mile from where our car waits

Doña Ana Mountains beneath heavy cloud cover

Far west of the Tortoise (Tortugas Mountain)

The road to better weather

Organ Mountains

Village of Talavera at the base of the Organ Mountains

Cool Morning Trek

Mormon Tea blossom

It was surprisingly cool this morning when Becca and I hit the trails around Tortugas Mountain.  The breeze kept the temperature chilly for about two-thirds of the hike.  Then it stopped, forcing me to remove my warmup jacket.  When the wind did rise occasionally during the final third of the trek I felt pretty chilly again, but the warm desert sun kept things from getting too nippy.  These are issues that never cross Becca's canine brain, clothed as she is in her fur coat.

Descending the single-track

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Becca in the shade of a large Ocotillo

Wooly Paperflower

Interesting cloud between Bishop Cap (left) and the Franklin Mountains

Tortugas Mountain (left) and the Organ Mountains

Tasajillo

Prickly Pear pad sprout