Remember that consumer culture slogan, "browse, shop, eat, repeat" - we prefer the "mountain, valley, explore, repeat" version!! Last weekend Steve, being a very lucky feller, got to attend a grass identification workshop with New Mexico State U. Professor, Kelly
Allred. This guy is a living legend in the world of grasses but more on that in a later post. For now, here's the "mountain, valley, explore, repeat" route from the trip:
South from Carlsbad, NM across the Delaware Basin...
...into Texas and around the Guadalupe Mountains...
...west across another basin and salt flats...
...up and over the Davis Mountains at El
Paso, TX...
...into the Rio
Grande Valley and heading back north...
...back into The Land of Enchantment (whew!) at Las
Cruces, NM and the Organ Mountains...
...up and over the Organ Mountains and heading E-NM across the
Tularosa Basin...
...with more salt flats...
...some of which are managed for migratory birds such as this
Avocet...
...into the foothills of the Sacramento Mountains where...
...it's hard to make a living...
...up and into mixed conifer forest in the
Sacramentos...
...where
Ponderosa Pine...
...mix with and grade into forest of fir and aspen...
...where alpine grass meadows provide refuge for...
...flowers...
...butterflies...
...and caterpillars...
...cloud-capped forest was intense as we crossed the mountain pass...
...and headed back into yet another weather system on the high plains east of the
Sacramentos...
What a topographical and
floristic roller coaster ride!!!
Remember the butterflies from this post? Jennifer HAD to go see them too. :)
See why we LOVE milkweed?
Near Rattlesnake Spring there is a public access to the Black River. Check out that water...so clear & cool. The scene was complete with a soaring Marsh Hawk (Northern Harrier) overhead. 
After exploring in 100+ temps we needed a refresh. Yep - we jumped in and it felt as good as it looks. :)
Unexpected Cycnia**...
Saltmarsh Caterpillar**...
Saltmarsh from the front...
Carolina Sphinx**...
Carolina Sphinx feet...check those out!
* = caterpillar becomes a butterfly
Yeast-Free Pizza Crust
...back into The Land of Enchantment (whew!) at Las Cruces, NM and the Organ Mountains...
...up and over the Organ Mountains and heading E-NM across the Tularosa Basin...
...with more salt flats...
...some of which are managed for migratory birds such as this Avocet...
...into the foothills of the Sacramento Mountains where...
...it's hard to make a living...
...up and into mixed conifer forest in the Sacramentos...
...where Ponderosa Pine...
...mix with and grade into forest of fir and aspen...
...where alpine grass meadows provide refuge for...
...butterflies...
...and headed back into yet another weather system on the high plains east of the Sacramentos...
I'm not sure yet what type of plant bug this is, but wanted to share anyways. S/he appears to be nectaring on Apache Plume. I put a request into bugguide.net for an ID so I will let you all know when I do. :)
On the far right side of the following picture you get a glimpse of what our side yard looked like prior to our planting efforts. A few seeds, a little water and some love sure make a difference. 