Wednesday Walk: Desert Dreaming

This is in response to a Challenge by @tattoodjay to take photographs of things on a walk. Things you don’t normally see. I really like the challenge and the challenger so here I am again. It's a desert walk and current to yesterday.

As always, Sam is out protecting me from the hordes of ground squirrels that would surely attack if not for the attentions of my boon companion.

This is sort of a 'general' low desert photo. You can see the green which is not particularly normal. The rains probably came too late for a really good flower season, but the brush and grasses will take full advantage.

This is the last Ajo Lilly that was blooming. When they are done they just fall apart and we saw several in that condition yesterday.

Chinese Mustard is a non-native, invasive species. I pull all of these that I see. Every one I pull this year is 100 I don't have to pull next year. I'll never catch up, but I can make a dent.

This is where we enter the desert every day. Since September the State has been trying to keep motorized vehicles out of this part for dust abatement. You can clearly see the difference between a mostly blocked road and one that is used routinely. That vegetation recovery is all from this spring. Just a few years with no vehicles and it would really change the character of the place.

These tracks represent the "will drag my tail for sex" of the local squirrel population but I'd really like you to notice just how fine the soil is. In this part of the desert it is very much like Talcum Powder.

Half mile away from the last photo and the desert has changed it's character. The soil is much more coarse and there are little bitty pebbles mixed in. It is much firmer walking and tends toward less flora.

Most people look out and see the desert, and never even begin to realize all the subtlety and fine differences. Sorta like people that see the forest and never notice the different trees and shrubs.

We are going to leave you this week with a pretty good look at a squirrel colony. They actually look like miniature prairie dogs and are really colonial, too.

Those places just drive Sam wild. He has a sacred mission to chase the squirrels and the smells here make him crazy. For those that might be wondering, we haven't seen a single snake track yet this year. Another real advantage to a coolish spring!

This wraps up the first HIVE #WednesdayWalk. It's just peek at where I walk every day. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have!

All Words and Photographs in this post are mine, for better or worse.

You want some really cool stuff? Check these authors, they will not disappoint.

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@soyrosa Great Photographs and Insights for us All.