Bloomin’ Wonderful
It’s been so bloomin’ wonderful here by the Rio Grande Gorge that we’ve extended our stay. Since Monday of this week it’s been only us and the host, and the great, big wide all-of-it-ours wilderness. We love that kind of peace and isolation, but recently we’ve had some new visitors and it’s all thanks to a few drops of water.
The whole thing started a few days before our arrival. As you may know Texas and New Mexico have had a drier-than usual spring and that’s affected much of the usual cycle of crops and desert blooms.
Over the past two months we’ve passed through hundreds of miles of parched earth and it’s easy to think it’s all dead. The drought is having severe impacts on the area not least of which have been the wildfires, but underneath it all there lies the secret of a thriving life simply waiting for the right moment to rise.
Here in the great Southwest everything is uniquely adapted to the harsh and extreme environment of the dry and moody desert. Animals evolve ingenious methods of preserving and extracting moisture, while plants exchange leaves for thorns and wait for the perfect moment to propagate. It’s this latter process which produces one of the most spectacular displays in the Southwest, the spring cactus blooms.
This year because of the drought blooms have been poor, but right here in the deep loneliness of the Rio Grande Gorge we’ve been blessed with a private show. Just a few days before we arrived the area received a few drops of rain and a chill. That meager drink of water was all it took. Within a week cacti that had been holding back all year burst forth in colorful display, and it just so happens we’re here to see it.
We’ve been watching the show for the past four days in total awe of the color that’s exploding over the landscape. What was merely a beautiful but dry valley only a few days ago is now dotted with pinks, yellows and brilliant reds. This is the show that everyone was waiting for and it’s finally arrived. Oh yeah it’s right-out-to-the-limit, bloomin’ wonderful and we’re very, very lucky to be here!
Are you going to get up to Angel Fire to do the loop and see the DAV Memorial?
YUP! We’re doing the loop over the next 2 weeks or so.
Think we found a forest/lake site we can stay at on the other side.
Nina
There are beautiful places to camp up there. There’s a State Park Camgound Cima-darn I can’t remember the name. Saw a bear…lots of wildlife, and you’ll get some relief from the heat. There’s a couple of neat little places to eat in the valley. Have fun…oh, how I wish I were there.
We looked at Cimarron, but unfortunately only one area fit our
size and it was completely booked out. Looks lovely though!
We’ll probably end up either in Eagle’s Nest or Coyote Creek.
Nina
Love the pictures. I would love to be there during the blooming season. Thanks for sharing!
We’ve missed the wildflowers this year with all the dryness so
this is SUCH a treat!
Nina
Great pics … we’ve never been there in spring/summer, so I imagine it must really be gorgeous. I think it’s time for a road trip… =)
Come on over…! We’ve got a full cellar and lots of time to chat 🙂
Nina
Are you guys catching any forest fire action? Cage Free Family says they’re pretty close, in the Carson NF.
Roxanne
We’ve had some pretty darn close calls these past 2 months…evacuated by fire in Davis Mountains, TX
(the fire actually crested the hill)…just missed the fires in Gila…and asked to leave Manzano
Mountains (for fire-risk…although we did party a bit). I’ll check out Cage Tree Family
and make sure we’re not hitting that area.
Nina
If you like to fish, there’s Coyote Creek State Park/campground-great place . We saw a bear and the weather was just grand. Oh, how I wish I were there! Your pictures are beautiful. Funny, from a couple of posts back, I have a picture of the same bus, and of course the gorge is just fascinating.
Cheers for the tip! We were looking at either that one or Eagle Nest Lake (just north) so it’s good timing.
We’ll see as we drive around the loop.
Nina
Great pix! More stuff for the bucket list.
Cheers! Yup, add it on! Nina
We were blessed last year to be in the desert after they had all that rain in January and February. The colors were incredible. Like your pictures. Glad you’re able to see how beautiful the desert can be.
I do LOVE the spring desert. As long as you’re not here in summer this can
be a gorgeous spot!
Nina
After spending the last two summers in southeast Arizona desert, we know what we are missing this year by being away. It’s such a shame that so many of the regulars at our park are always gone in spring and summer, so they miss the wonderful cactus blooms! Thanks for showing us some we’ve never seen before!
I agree…Spring bloom in the desert is something so very special.
We were lucky enough to see the blooms in Borrego Springs last year (CA),
and I’m so happy we were able to catch some again this year in NM.
Nina
Nice photos! Like the square format. Did you ever shoot with a <a ref="http://www.photographybay.com/2011/05/30/Hasselblad-h4d-200ms/?awt_l=A34pB&awt_m=J.yDjhYgcv62xu" ?
Only #43,396!
You know, at such a deal it’s a travesty that I haven’t brought one yet!
I have to admit I’d love to photograph w/ a Hasselblad just once…just
to see what makes a $43K plus camera so special. It would be
interesting to try it!
Nina
Your pictures are FABULOUS Nina! You could easily fill a great coffee table book … I know I’ve said that before, but REALLY, I know it would sell. Or maybe a self-produced calendar ?
If you ever get over to Arizona, the Arizona Highways magazine has some fabulous prints – all done by photogs out on hikes. I buy their calendar every year-just for the photographs.
Thanks so much for the lovely compliment {{blush}}!!
And cheers for the Arizona magazine idea!
Nina