May 30 2021

El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico

El Malpais National Monument, near Grants, New Mexico on 30 May 2021, part of the National Park system of the United States.  Two areas were visited:  La Ventana Arch and the Sandstone Bluffs.  There wasn’t time to go to the volcano flows.

La Ventana

On the path to the arch

La Ventana from viewing area

Under the arch

Skyward

Arch flower

Out the “window”

Another skyward view

Graffiti under the arch

Out of La Ventana

At the Sandstone Bluffs area – El Malpais

Down from the Bluffs

Sandstone Bluffs

Sandstone Bluffs

Sandstone Bluffs

Lizard at the bluffs

The van awaits

One more look at the bluffs

May 30 2021

Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico on 30 May 2021, part of the National Park system of the United States.  Rock carvings made by indigenous peoples and early settlers over 400-700 years ago.

May 29 2021

Richardson’s Geranium

Richardson’s Geranium [Geranium richardsonii] seen at in the Lama community, New Mexico on 29 May 2021. It’s a member of the Geranium (Geraniaceae) family. National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America page 260, states it is found Spring through Fall in woods and moist mountain meadows.

USDA Plants Listing: Geranium richardsonii

Richardson’s Geranium – 29 May 2021

Richardson's Geranium - 29 May 2021

Richardson’s Geranium – 29 May 2021

Richardson's Geranium - 29 May 2021

Richardson’s Geranium – 29 May 2021

May 28 2021

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, New Mexico

Along our travels on U.S. Route 64 on 28 May 2021 in New Mexico:  the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge over the Rio Grande river.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – 28 May 2021

View from Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - 28 May 2021

View from Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – 28 May 2021

View from Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - 28 May 2021

View from Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – 28 May 2021

Rio Grande Runs Below

Rio Grande Runs Below

Martha Taking Photos

Martha Taking Photos

View from the Gorge Bridge

View from the Gorge Bridge

Looking Back U.S. Route 64

Looking Back U.S. Route 64

A Parting Look Before Moving On

A Parting Look Before Moving On

May 28 2021

Earthship Biotecture, New Mexico

Along our route to Taos, New Mexico, we stopped at Earthship Biotecture on 28 May 2021.

Road Sign

Earthship Structure

Walk around Earthship structures

Walk around Earthship structures

Martha Staying Hydrated

Martha Staying Hydrated

Ready for Warmer Climes

Ready for Warmer Climes

GMC Truck with Visitor's Center in Background

GMC Truck with Visitor’s Center in Background

May 27 2021

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, near Mosca, Colorado, on 27 May 2021.  With the melting mountain snow, Medano Creek was flowing at the foot of the dunes, providing families with a “day at the beach.”

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

On the Road to the Park/Preserve

On the Road to the Park/Preserve

Outside the Park/Preserve

Outside the Park/Preserve

Outside the Park/Preserve

Outside the Park/Preserve

Landscape Outside the Park/Preserve

Landscape Outside the Park/Preserve

Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve

Families Enjoying the Dunes

Families Enjoying the Dunes

Martha Walking Out to the Dunes

Martha Walking Out to the Dunes

Dwarfed by the Surroundings

Dwarfed by the Surroundings

Looking Back Toward Parking and Medano Creek

Looking Back Toward Parking and Medano Creek

Medano Creek Still Fed by Melting Snow

Medano Creek Still Fed by Melting Snow

Martha with Water At-Hand

Martha with Water At-Hand

Flowers on the Dunes

Flowers on the Dunes

Parting View from Colorado Route 150

Parting View from Colorado Route 150

Parting View from Colorado Route 150

May 20 2021

Fringed Puccoon or Narrowleaf Stoneseed

Fringed Puccoon or Narrowleaf Stoneseed [Lithospermum incisum] found outside Broken Bow, Nebraska on 20 May 2021. It’s a member of the Borage (Boraginaceae) family. National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America, page 161, states it blooms in spring and summer on roadsides, in open woods, and on prairies. It is different from the from the Hoary Puccoon and Western Puccoon, in that its flowers have jagged edges.

USDA Plants Listing: Lithospermum incisum

Fringed Puccoon – 20 May 2021

Fringed Puccoon – 20 May 2021

May 19 2021

Yellow or Western Salsify

Yellow or Western Salsify [Tragopogon dubius] found in Concordia, Kansas and Grand Island, Nebraska on 18 and 19 May 2021, respectively. It’s a member of the Aster (Asteraceae or Compositae) family. National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America, page 569, states this species was introduced from Europe, blooms in Summer in disturbed places, and is widespread. Its common genus name is goatsbeard and its bracts are longer than a Tragopogon pratensis.

USDA Plants Listing: Tragopogon dubius

Yellow Salsify – Concordia, KS – 18 May 2021

Yellow Salsify – Grand Island, NE – 19 May 2021

May 19 2021

Goat’s-Beard or Yellow Salsify

Goat’s-Beard or Yellow Salsify [Tragopogon dubius] seen at Alma Creamery, Alma, Kansas on 17 May 2021 and Grand Island, Nebraska on 19 May 2021. It’s a member of the Aster (Asteraceae / Compositae) family. National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America page 569, records that it was introduced species and the USDA site has it found in most of the United States and Canada.

USDA Plants Listing: Tragopogon dubius

Goat’s-Beard – Alma, Kansas – 17 May 2021

Goat’s-Beard – Alma, Kansas – 17 May 2021

Goat’s-Beard – Grand Island, Nebraska

 

May 17 2021

A Visit to Salina, Kansas

A visit to Salina, Kansas on 17 May 2021.