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[OM] IMGs: Desert Vistas, Flowers, and Colourful Bugs

Subject: [OM] IMGs: Desert Vistas, Flowers, and Colourful Bugs
From: Chris Trask <christrask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:50:33 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
     Yesterday I ventured down to the Sonoran Desert National Monument for 
hiking and wildflower hunting.  I had thought that the southern entrance was 
restored to the public after seven years of closure, but I was mistaken.  So, I 
looked to see if the rumors of the western entrance being restored after being 
obliterated years ago by the highway and states lands departments, and found it 
to be true.  So, in I went.  Unfortunately, I was a few weeks late for the peak 
of the wildflowers, but I drew upon my knowledge of the area and made my way to 
a narrow wash that afforded a wide variety of soils and shading to see what 
remained.

     I opted to hike up an adjacent drainage to get some scenic views of the 
area.  After ascending to the saddle between the two, I took this panorama 
looking southward:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16823577567/

and after crossing over to my intended drainage took this panorama looking 
westward:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16844775559/

     Shortly after descending into the wash, I took this typical view looking 
upstream:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/17029538542/

     I was not disappointed, and among the flowers remaining I found Rock 
Hibiscus:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/17029691642/

Scorpionweed:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/17029723992/

and a very nice specimen of Counterclockwise Nipple Cactus, which I was most 
hoping to find on this journey:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16823649047/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16843273918/

     I later came across an unusual sight of a shrub with numerous large 
insects on it:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16843584020/

they were very colourful, and not the least bit camera-shy:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/16408697444/

     I have no idea at all what they are, but perhaps one of our bugologists 
can sort that out.


Chris

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro 
     - Hunter S. Thompson
-- 
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