Well Laughing Bear, if you saw me in them thar Granite Hills yesterday ( 4-1 ), then you DO have good eyes, because I was there :-) I had hiked to a favorite spot, and was getting a good dose of vitamin D, and a tan too :-) At my home on the western edge of these mountains it had been cool and quite breezy when I left my digs in the morning, but back in the canyons of the Granites it was warm and pleasant. Still lots of flowers in bloom, and the cactus are plump and full of water too. There are tall prickly thistles which will be blooming soon, with bright purple buds on top. In some areas there are groups of a type of desert succulent plant that are currently sending up stalks, which will eventually bloom with bueatiful red flowers. I think this will be a great year for the wonderful white Yucca stalks! There are also several varieties of small ferns that can be found in damp places on the north side of large rocks, not a type of plant you expect to see in the desert. In the same dark cool areas it is also common to see a bright green plant, with round ( up to two inches in diameter ) leaves, and there is a tiny white flower in the center of these fragile green petals. They are full of water and very delicate in texture, and my dogs make a snack of them on a regular basis. Overlooking Lost Valley is Pyramid Mountain, with the Crystal Oasis nearby, names I've given to a pristine place in the desert, where I enjoy, my thoughts, Mother Nature, and Father Sun, in a quiet, scenic, and inspiring landscape, and when I'm there, my essence feels great peace :-)
