Aster Family Las Cruces, NM Oct. 4, 2008 I found this plant growing along the Pine Tree Trail on the east side of the Organ Mtns.
Dripping Springs was a resort in the late 1800's, a slightly cooler area than the lower-lying Las Cruces and El Paso. Later it was used as a tuberculosis sanitorium until the mid-1900's. These livery ruins and a few other buildings are all that are left to show that this was once a thriving area. The name Dripping Springs comes from a spring that drips over the rocks on the side of the mountain. There wasn't much water the day we were there.
Las Cruces, NM Oct. 7, 2008 I had walked up the hill behind the livery ruins at Dripping Springs. As I was getting ready to change lenses on my camera I heard the sound of something large walking nearby. I tried not to panic because there are bears and mountain lions in that area. Whew, what a relief it was to see three handsome mule deer bucks (only 2 are visible in this photo). They walked up the ridge nearby and stopped to take a look at me before disappearing into the canyon. What a lucky encounter that was! :)
