View from a trail in Franklin Mountains State Park – Blooming yucca, with a nice view of West El Paso in the background.
After scrolling through my rectangle of doom, I had to get out of the house and the backyard would not do.
I’ve been a city dweller for years now, but I grew up in the country. Concrete, asphalt and technology make me weary. Sometimes I just have to get my nature on.
This one I couldn’t identify and Google Lens was no help. If anyone knows, please share.
Greater Earless Lizard
El Paso is built around Franklin Mountains State Park, a beautiful tract of West Texas desert.
I’ve loved the desert ever since my Boy Scout troop took us to Big Bend National Park in 7th grade.
The trail kicked my out of shape ass, but I found some of my favorite desert plants as well as a few I didn’t recognize. Also lost a race to a lizard. I wasn’t much of a challenge.
Featherplume (aka Dalea Formosa)
Southwestern Barrel Cactus in bloom.
Blackfoot Daisies
Sotol – kinda looks like a yucca, but it’s related to the Agave and they make a delicious spirit out of it.
Creosote Bush – I love these plants. When it rains in the desert, the air fills with their perfume. To me it smells like ozone.
Ocotillo – I saw some in the Franklin Mountains, but they weren’t in bloom.
Late Boomer's Den 