We were stunned to see the vandalism that a couple of morons had done to this beautiful Alligator Juniper Tree just the day before we hiked on the Pine Tree trail! This thoughtless, or incredibly dumb, couple chopped the bark from the tree's trunk and then carved their names in the wood. They would have received a good chewing out by me if I had seen them doing it!
Las Cruces, NM Oct. 6, 2008 I was really surprised to find this Alumroot blooming in the desert in October! It was growing among the rocks in a north-facing protected spot high on the Pine Tree trail.
The Chihuahuan desert didn't have as many cactus as I had expected. But, I noticed this cactus growing along the Pine Tree Trail. It had been sheltered by the rocks and a small tree as it grew. Cacti bloom in the spring, so we didn't see any cactus flowers. Note the fern leaves in the lower half of the photo; cactus and ferns --- that is a combination that you don't expect to see together!
