Laughing Hills – Page 2 – "…and the little hills rejoice on every side."

May 30

El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico

Filed under Places

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

Lizard at the bluffs

The van awaits

One more look at the bluffs

El Malpais National Monument, Grants, La Ventana, National Park Service, New Mexico, NPS, Sandstone Bluffs

May 30

Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico

Filed under Places

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.

Albuquerque, indigenous peoples, National Park Service, New Mexico, NPS, Petroglyph National Moument

May 29

Richardson’s Geranium

Filed under Things

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

New Mexico, Richardson's Geranium, wildflowers

May 28

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, New Mexico

Filed under Places, Things

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

Rio Grande Runs Below

Martha Taking Photos

View from the Gorge Bridge

Looking Back U.S. Route 64

A Parting Look Before Moving On

Gorge Bridge, New Mexico, Rio Grande, U.S. Route 64

May 28

Earthship Biotecture, New Mexico

Filed under Places

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

Road Sign

Earthship Structure

Walk around Earthship structures

Martha Staying Hydrated

Ready for Warmer Climes

GMC Truck with Visitor’s Center in Background

Earthship Biotecture, Martha Vining, New Mexico

May 27

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

Filed under Places

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

On the Road to the Park/Preserve

Outside the Park/Preserve

Landscape Outside the Park/Preserve

Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve

Families Enjoying the Dunes

Martha Walking Out to the Dunes

Dwarfed by the Surroundings

Looking Back Toward Parking and Medano Creek

Medano Creek Still Fed by Melting Snow

Martha with Water At-Hand

Flowers on the Dunes

Parting View from Colorado Route 150

Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Medano Creek, Mosca, National Park Service, NPS, Sangre de Cristo Mountains

May 20

Fringed Puccoon or Narrowleaf Stoneseed

Filed under Places, Things

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

Broken Bow, Fringed Puccoon, Narrowleaf Stoneseed, Nebraska, wildflowers

May 19

Goat’s-Beard or Yellow Salsify

Filed under Places, Things

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