Desert Beauty

Sunrise in the desert behind my house

If you plan to visit the desert, the best month is April when all the wildflowers and cactus are blooming.  The temperature will also be great, but this situation won’t last long.  By the end of May, it’s already too hot to stay outside for extended periods.  You certainly wouldn’t want to be hiking at that time of year, or through the summer months, unless you have plenty of water on hand and can stand 115° temperatures.

 The western sky at sunset

The cliffs behind my house at sunset

 

The desert is a drastic place of extremes.  Carved rocky cliffs are here year round and have their own beauty caused by the wind and rain that have carved them into giant sentinels over the centuries.  They stand guard over the desert floor where wild sage and other drought tolerant plants grow in abundance.

 April flowers

April flowers in the desert behind my house

 

I’m always surprised at the beauty that displays itself every year.  Nothing beats the wildflowers that add a splash of dazzling color to the bleak landscape of sand, shrubs and rocks.  An assortment of bright pinks, purples, blues, yellows and whites, in varying shades, makes the desert softer and not so desolate.

More April flowers

Enjoy pictures from my backyard and areas nearby.

April flowers

October flowers are like a carpet among the lava rock

Something of Interest to Hikers out There



Zion National Park - Subway

 

And you don’t necessarily have to be a hiker to enjoy these beautiful nature pictures.  Sometimes the displays of Mother Nature blow me away with their beauty.



                                             Zion National Park - Subway

 

I have a neighbor who is an avid hiker.  She rock climbs, rappels down cliffs, and rides rapids among other adventures.  One of her favorite places to go is to Zion National Park.  The Subway is a favored spot for hikers, but I must warn you this is not for the novice hiker.  This beautiful spot requires strength and endurance.  Not only is repelling down several cliffs involved, but it also requires swimming through two 40-degree pools.  (Year round, it is this temperature.)

Zion National Park - Subway

 There is such a waiting list to hike this canyon.  They only give out permits for 80 hikers a day and it is always booked up, despite it being somewhat dangerous.

Zion National Park - Subway

 So if you’re a hiker and are ever in southern Utah, you may want to try this adventure.  Most of us will never attempt his trip, so I wanted to post pictures of the beauty in this slot canyon.  Enjoy!

 

Zion National Park - Subway

 

 

 

Zion National Park - Subway