Ocotillo




Grandma investigates an old ocotillo in the median near downtown Las Cruces.






I would guess that this plant has been here a few years!

Native Plants

Thursday we went in search of the illusive ocotillo. Our drive took us up the old highway north right along the Rio Grande. We passed miles of irrigated fields of cotton and chili peppers and corn. Also we saw hundred of acres of pecan trees. Some of the orchards had about 2 inches of water standing under the trees and the Rio Grande was running swiftly with irrigation water released from Elephant Butte reservoir.

We drove north to Hatch, home of the annual New Mexico Chili Festival on Labor Day week-end then we crossed the river back to the East Mesa and I25 south. This was again desert land. We scanned the roadside for ocotillo as we drove back to Las Cruces. Finally I spotted a specimen on our side of the highway. I harvested 4 cuttings that I plan to try rooting. The man at the nursery here said they would root easily with the help of rooting hormone.

There was a small ocotillo plant on the roadside also but the soil around the roots was hard as a rock so I couldn't dig it up.



Here are the cuttings and a pot of Sotol that I purchased on sale just down the street from our motel.











Our Bedroom









Office









Living area










Kitchen/Bar









Dressing area









The TV is on top of the dresser.





Our room is near the back door parking lot so each day the VBS workers leave all their supplies in our room rather than toting the heavy items farther down the hall or up the stairs. The elevator was far down the hall by the front entrance.

Gramda & Grandpa in the Desert


Grandma was up early this morning! I drove her and 2 others out to East Mesa by 7 am where they made curtains and pillows until lunch time.

Grandpa Visits The Chihuahuan Desert

After lunch I drove about 7 miles into the desert to see the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.
















The road out was rough and dusty with a hot sun and temperature hovering around 100 degrees.








All the desert wildlife must have been asleep I didn't even see a rabbit but the creosote bushes were in full bloom (at least I think that is what they are).



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Mission Trip

Most of our news this week will be posted at The Mission Trip Page.