Life in the Desert

We continued our exploration of the Sonoran Desert in Organ Pipes Cactus National Monument.  This is a small park in Arizona that borders Mexico.  It was a neat park with awesome flora.  It also gave us a glimpse into the issues that are happening along the border.

This is an organ pipes cactus.

There are many other cactus species there as well.

As well as creosote bushes.

Apparently, other life can be found in this area,

This is a cristate which is caused by a cell mutation and occurs on both the organ pipes and the saguaro cactus.

The cactus was beginning to bloom.

It is spring in the desert.

The teddy bear cholla.

The sunsets were beautiful.

The campground was really busy.

What is left of a mine.

Both gold and silver were mined in this area.

If you are trying to sneak through the park and get into trouble, you can always ask for help.  These boxes were all over in the park.

Food and water were usually next to the boxes.

The southern edge of the park was a fence!  I wonder how people could possibly get across?

We went on a short hike up this canyon.

It began to get a little steep.

But it had a nice view at the end.

Then we had to go down.

We should have read the sign.

This was the only animal we saw running across the desert.  I don't this it was a smuggler.