Sunday, December 12, 2010 - Leasburg Dam State Park, Radium Springs NM
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Ocatillo, Leasburg Dam State Park, Radium Springs NM, January 22, 2009
Ocatillo in a sea of creosote
Creosote has taken over vast areas of the desert out here in New Mexico. I understand it emits a chemical from its root system that is inhospitable to other plants. And to itself I guess - the creosote bushes seem to be spaced at regular intervals with generally bare soil between bushes. There is the occasional exception like this nice ocatillo.
That plant with the yellow flower sharing space with the ocatillo is a cholla. Ocatillo have a red flame shaped flower at the tips of the stems in the spring - they are quite striking.
Night camp
Site 9 - Leasburg Dam State Park, Radium Springs NM
- Verizon cell phone service - good signal
- Verizon EVDO service - good signal
- Go to Leasburg Dam State Park website
- Locate Leasburg Dam State Park on my Night Camps map
- Check the weather here
What I've Learned
Such delicate goods as justice, love, honor and courtesy, and indeed all the things we care for, are valid everywhere but they are variously molded and often differently handled and sometimes nearly unrecognizable if you meet them in a foreign land, and the art of learning fundamental common values is perhaps the greatest gain of travel to those who wish to live at ease with their fellows.
The Middle of Everywhere, Freya Stark quoted by Mary Pipher, pg 339