The Desert Blooms

There has been enough rain this winter to ensure a beautiful spring.  Desert flowers are popping out everywhere you look.  

One of the local residents told me I should go to Rockhound State Park to see the poppies.  So...the very next day I drove over there.  It's only 15 miles or so from the park.  See below for eye-popping wildflower photos:

Rockhound State Park Visitor Center

Poppies on the mountainside

Poppies in the desert

And just in case you are tired of the golden/orange blaze of poppies:

I have dozens more photos of flowers of every shape/size/color.  The sheer variety is mind-boggling.  And by now, several days after I was there, the flowers may be all gone.  You have to catch the right day in the spring and it changes, depending on how much moisture we have had during the winter.  I do know that I have seen a lot of cacti sprouting buds so they will be blooming next.

Laurel and Hardy Construction Company At Work

Laurel and Hardy (Darrell and John) have commenced working on my screened porch.  

Day One:

The local lumberyard delivered the materials and, even better, they brought a forklift to move everything to the back of my site.  Were Darrell and John ever relieved!

Some assembly required....

Day Two:

One of my crack contractors (or is that cracked...)

More photos on the another blog page to come.

Massacre Canyon Petroglyphs

Got my opportunity to hike back up to the Massacre Canyon petroglyphs and caves.  It’s a fairly steep hike and the trail is now overgrown.  (Apparently the Cub Scout troop no longer has this as a project.  I am going to take my pruner next time and cut back some of the more aggressive desert flora.  The trail is tough enough (lots of loose rock) without having to fight through the thorns.)

I met a couple at the top who were also photographing the caves and petroglyphs.  They warned me that they had encountered a snake.  I was already being careful but that made me MORE careful.  

You can’t see any of these petroglyphs or the cave entrance from the bottom of the ridge and, as you can see, the sign has been blasted to pieces.  Fortunately it appears the petroglyphs haven’t been subjected to the usual vandalism.  The cave I photographed is at about three-quarters of the height of the ridge.  The climb from here gets quite steep and I couldn't see anything worth the risk.  You can tell from the photo above how far up I am from where the rigs were parked.

The next stop on today’s itinerary was a place called Hamburger Hill.  Another park resident, Steve Taylor, was out and joined us there.  Supposedly it got its name from a lady who liked to bring hamburgers and cook out up here.  The view was spectacular. 

Steve, originally from El Paso, has lived here in the park for years and he was in the group who created the grave marker for the Fort Cummings soldier killed by the Apaches (mentioned in an earlier post).  I asked Steve why people leave coins on the marker.  He said it’s a local custom to show respect for the deceased.  I am surprised no one takes the coins.  He said people in this area are respectful.  No one damages the graves they have restored. 

We got onto the subject of snakes.  Steve said one summer he caught 17 snakes in the park around his rig.  He used to kill them but now he just catches them (he has a snake pole) and then releases them out in the desert.    My understanding about rattlesnakes was that they are not aggressive; they will move out of your way if they have time.  Steve said that’s true to a point but the Mojave rattler will chase you.  He said one chased him all over his site before it disappeared into a shrub.  And, of course, the Mojave has to have the worst venom. 

Prepared for rhinocerous attack

One of the guys who lives here in the park has a 50 caliber rifle.  Cartridges for it must be six inches long.  If a stampeding rhinocerous herd thunders toward the park, everyone will be at Steve's trailer.

Bill with Steve's rhinocerous gun.

Lola wants to drive.

Mike was just sitting there and the dogs attacked.

The Rowdy Crew