Last October, the afternoon of my father-in-laws funeral in Truth or Consequences, NM, I went for a long walk. I knew I was leaving New Mexico the next day, returning to a grey and rainy Portland. And the day’s events had me in a mood, understandable I’m sure. I’ve saved these sunny saturated photos, knowing they’d be just the thing to warm my soul on a cold grey day in January. I hope they do the same for you.
This is a vacant lot just a couple of blocks from my in-laws. Andrew and I went exploring there together.
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The land is just feet from Interstate 25 as it passes by Truth or Consequences. The main use seems to be beer drinking and bonfires, closely followed by dirt-bike riding. I've walked through here many times but never seen this...
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A friend's friend identified it as Echinocereus fendleri var. rectispinus, another said possibly Echinocereus triglochidiatus.
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Speaking of spikes...
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While I did bring home a few opuntia pads from that trip none of them were from this plant. Wow…that’s some serious spikes.
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That’s an odd palm tree! (*wink*)
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This little Tephrocactus articulata ssp. papyracantha (I think that’s the proper name) was the smallest thing planted in a well done xeric garden we drove by many times. I wanted to photograph it because even though it’s so small those long white papery spines glowed and it commanded attention.
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Such an odd little wall made even stranger by the top layer of rocks.
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These opuntia were growing thick on a bank next to the road. There was a house back there but you could hardly tell.
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Not all of them looked so healthy and plump however.
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It was fascinating to see the interior structure of the dried up pads.
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I guess they don’t really care if you’ve got the entire phone number for the Rock?
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Nor are those really rocks…
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I wanted to get close to this lush blooming ocotillo but it was in someones yard, and there were dogs.
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So so so beautiful!
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Cylindropuntia leptocaulis or Desert Christmas cactus.
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There are a few of these old street lights in Truth or Consequences, I live the colors.
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Suddenly I felt like I was being watched.
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So spiky, so dead.
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Very much not dead! This may have been the healthiest palm in the whole town.
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And there are even spikes…
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This rock fortress is protecting a tiny little seedling.
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Someday it will hopefully outgrow its container.
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The sun was flooding these plants with the most amazing light, I figured there was no way I'd capture it with my good ol'point-and-shoot but I had to at least try.
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Then I turned back to look at Turtleback Mountain...
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And back again just in time to notice how the sun was lighting the blooms on the grass along with the spikes of the cylindropuntia. The desert sky and the desert sun, there really isn't anything else like it...
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All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
This is a vacant lot just a couple of blocks from my in-laws. Andrew and I went exploring there together.
The land is just feet from Interstate 25 as it passes by Truth or Consequences. The main use seems to be beer drinking and bonfires, closely followed by dirt-bike riding. I've walked through here many times but never seen this...
A friend's friend identified it as Echinocereus fendleri var. rectispinus, another said possibly Echinocereus triglochidiatus.
Speaking of spikes...
While I did bring home a few opuntia pads from that trip none of them were from this plant. Wow…that’s some serious spikes.
That’s an odd palm tree! (*wink*)
This little Tephrocactus articulata ssp. papyracantha (I think that’s the proper name) was the smallest thing planted in a well done xeric garden we drove by many times. I wanted to photograph it because even though it’s so small those long white papery spines glowed and it commanded attention.
Such an odd little wall made even stranger by the top layer of rocks.
These opuntia were growing thick on a bank next to the road. There was a house back there but you could hardly tell.
Not all of them looked so healthy and plump however.
It was fascinating to see the interior structure of the dried up pads.
I guess they don’t really care if you’ve got the entire phone number for the Rock?
Nor are those really rocks…
I wanted to get close to this lush blooming ocotillo but it was in someones yard, and there were dogs.
So so so beautiful!
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis or Desert Christmas cactus.
There are a few of these old street lights in Truth or Consequences, I live the colors.
Suddenly I felt like I was being watched.
So spiky, so dead.
Very much not dead! This may have been the healthiest palm in the whole town.
And there are even spikes…
This rock fortress is protecting a tiny little seedling.
Someday it will hopefully outgrow its container.
The sun was flooding these plants with the most amazing light, I figured there was no way I'd capture it with my good ol'point-and-shoot but I had to at least try.
Then I turned back to look at Turtleback Mountain...
And back again just in time to notice how the sun was lighting the blooms on the grass along with the spikes of the cylindropuntia. The desert sky and the desert sun, there really isn't anything else like it...
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.