Entrance to (in the distance you can see a freight train rolling across the desert floor)
The morning we were leaving for home, the G-man, Gertie & I went for a little hike at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute located 4 miles south of Fort Davis on the road to Alpine. The morning was glorious, we had just had a scrumptious breakfast at the Wayside Inn (the B & B where we stayed), and were ready to walk off the calories. As (almost) always you can double-click on the photos to get a much larger & more detailed image.
Visitor Center
Parking area
Sit and rest in the shade.Texas Wildscapes: Texas Habitat Demonstration
From this I hope to get some ideas for my yard. Though I don't live in a desert I do have to be concerned about drought tolerant plants & plants that will hold up under high temperatures. For instance today we are expecting to reach 102 degrees F or 38.8888 degree C. I'm ready to get out of town! Let's meet in Taos where the temperature is in the 80s today!
Rocky area with hills in the distance
Lizzy & GertieGertie loved roaming around. She's a good little hiker. I had to keep her on a leash as requested by the CDRI... if you bring your dog it must be on a leash.
G-manThe sky is an incredible blue...
The ViewThe vastness of the landscape can take away your breath.
Magenta flowering cactus
Purple wildflowers
Western Kingbird in the morning sun.
Black-chinned hummingbird getting a sip of nectar in the little man-made oasis.
An oasis in the desert.
Ocotillo ribs make a pretty natural sculpture.
Weaving together of the ocotillo ribs.
Ocotillo plant (very much alive).
Blossoms on the ocotillo plant.
Yucca
Blossoms of yucca.
Yucca garden.
Century plant: Candelabra-like flowering salk rises from a rosette of gray-green leaves.
Blossoms of the Century plant.
A natural seep where grasses are growing.
Prickly pear cactus blossoms.
Gourds in the making.
