Outing

Recently on a sunny, warm and not windy Spring morning we had an outing to Cerrillos Hills State Park. We learned about the history of this place. And we read on infomative boards about the 1950's drought that plagued this area. Huge Pinon Pine skeltons remain for viewing as remnants of no water. The information related the depth of the roots of the Pinion Pine (Pinus edulis), markedly shallower by a 100' or more than the One Seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma). The two trees used to compose the backbone of the area.  Now however, there are mostly only juniper trees.

The park much like all the surrounding area is a One Seed Juniper-Pinon Pine forest. However in select areas Scrub Live Oak thrive as well. We found that these oaks were just beginning to leaf out as shown in the picture below. 

With all the rains this Winter (the drought has been pretty much eradicated in most of New Mexico now) we were treated to a number of early Spring flowers. Most of these are new to us. Below are some of the pictures for your enjoyment.

Sierra Blance Bladderpod (Lesquerella pinetorum)

Beakpod or Specklepod Milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus)

Foothills Paintbrush (Castilleja integra)

Yellow Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pinnatifida)

Silky or Nuttall's Sophora (Sophora nuttalliana)

Prickly Pear have been one of my favorite plants every since I saw my first one when I moved to El Paso, Texas, in the mid1960's. I planted several at MuRefuge and they grew to be humongous. They outgrew their space and all were removed. Here in the high desert Prickly Pear are much more modest in size but with much longer spines as the picture below illustrates.

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia phaeacantha) with Grama Grass

As we ate our picnic lunch beneath the shade of a small grove of nonnative Siberian Elm trees we enjoyed a