Spring in the Desert

Spring here in the desert has some unusual aspects:

This sign was posted on the laundry room door when we returned to Deming.  Jeannie, who works at the front desk, said someone hunted her up one day to tell her there was a rattlesnake in the library.  Jeannie hustled over and sure enough, the snake was stretched out along the bottom row of magazines.  Time for a snake pole, a five gallon bucket with lid, and good nerves. As I write this, the sign is still up, although it's five weeks later.  I am beginning to think the park management will keep it up.  The rule is kill snakes if you must inside the park but out in the desert, leave them alone.

Almost as disturbing are the spring winds.  It has been blowing since we got back.  One day we had 65 mph gusts.  With how dry it's been, the dust clouds are almost impenetrable.  

It is still fairly cool (at least the winds are cool) which is surprising.  We are slowly creeping up into the 80's but it is not consistent.  By the end of the month, we usually are hitting the 100's.  

One bonus for spring is the beautiful flowers.  Most of the year the plants are scrubby, dull, and appear lifeless.  But for a few weeks in the spring and a few weeks in the fall, the desert is in technicolor.

I know I have posted photos in the past but indulge me...

 This variety of desert willow grows wild out here along the banks of the washes.  

This is another variety of desert willow which the garden centers sell.  Lots of them in the park as well.  They remind me of the little orchids used as decoration in Hawaiian drinks.

 This plant is native as you see them all over out in the desert.  The locals call it Spanish Spear. The blooms appear on long stalks before the plant leafs out.  Supposedly the red/orange tips are blood.

Close up of Spanish Spear.  Real name is ocotillo.  Spanish Spear

I have no idea what this beautiful shrub is but it grows only the the park.  Obviously, it is not native to NM.  It bears a vague resemblance to mimosa.





There hasn't been much of anything newsworthy since we returned to the park.  In another few weeks, it will start to be unbearably hot.  The Burro Mountains are just northwest of us at 2,000 feet higher altitude.  We will be there for six weeks and then go north to Reserve, adjacent to the Gila National Forest, for another six weeks.  It will still be too hot to return to Deming so we need somewhere for another two or three weeks.