Arizona Strip in bloom

Last week, we went for a drive on the Arizona Strip.  It was really in bloom.  I took photos of the flowers until my camera battery died!  I wanted to share some of my flower pictures with you. 

I wish I knew the names of these flowers. 

B and the kids were good sports about stopping so often so I could photograph yet another flower!

This bush was prettier in person.  Its subtle blooms don't translate as well in a photograph.

I think this is a wild rose.

We had a nice picnic at the Black Rock fire lookout station.

This is a bit "twiggy" but there are still flowers on it!

There were areas like this where there were just "carpets" of flowers!

This is a Sego Lily.

This plant reminded me of lavender.

I think this is globe mallow and I will post more photos of that at another time.  There were big "plots" of globe mallow all over.

It takes some convincing to get our teens into the truck with the folks.  As long as B says we're going, then we're going. 

I think these are penstemon.

Maybe these are globe mallow again.

We are going to try doing these day excursions through out the summer.

There are still a lot of places to see all around us.

During the summers of fourth and fifth grades (or just fourth?), the principal loaded us on a school bus and showed us the ghost towns and historical places in the area.

They were called Summer Science Trips.  I loved them.  

I don't think teachers think that kind of thing is important anymore--to know the area where you live.  I doubt my kids have been to even 10% of the places in the area--well, they've been where I've taken them but I'm talking about visiting places on school field trips.

I think this is globe mallow again but in the higher elevations, it was very lush.

So, that is the plan.  Pack up the kids about once a week and go see things.

We'll see if that works out.  We'll see if we can keep that momentum throughout the summer.  A lot hinges on B being around to go.

There are a lot of places to see.  We're going back to the Arizona Stip tomorrow.  This time we're headed to Mt. Trumball and environs.

This is another wild rose.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.  Happy trails to us and to you, too.