Pinyon Crest

There's a small community of houses up near the pinyon forest of Deep Canyon called Pinyon Crest.  They don't allow horses there, so I hardly ever go there, but I pulled off and took that road last weekend.  They do have a beautiful view of the Coachella Valley below and they occasionally get snow there, but not this year!  HA!  A couple of years ago, at this time, the mountains down at this level had snow, but this year has been so rainless and dry I don't think they'll get any snow at all.  Maybe next year...

A view toward Deep Canyon~Our World Tuesday~020712

A view toward Deep Canyon from Highway 74.  There are so few turnouts up on this road that it is difficult to really get a good view of the canyon.  I actually drove UP another road for this view, which looks down toward the canyon and across the Coachella Valley.  Joshua Tree National Park is up on the mountains all the way across the valley.  I have a 3 day weekend coming up (whoo, whoo!) and I can hardly wait to get out and explore some more!  Our World Tuesday for February 7, 2012.  To view OWT, please go to:  http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Flowers~a bit of color today!

You know, I never post photos of flowers on this blog because, except for the wildflowers along Highway 74, there aren't any in Deep Canyon.  Pinyon trees, yes, but flowers?  No.  However, yesterday I stopped by Desert Ridge villas to take some photos of their waterfalls and I saw a flower bed full of beautiful, colorful flowers, and I just couldn't resist taking some photos of them.  They were wet from the sprinklers and as I left, a hummingbird came by to enjoy them.  I got a few photos of him before he flew off.  I thought you might enjoy some color this morning, so here are the flowers. We seem to be having an early spring this year, so I'm not sure how many wildflowers I'll see this year.

From Deep Canyon to Thousand Palms canyon

This is at the opposite side of the Coachella Valley, in Thousand Palms Canyon.  That would be looking east, toward Indio, CA.  I drove out there yesterday evening just to get a different view of things.  Right off the road, where I stopped to take this photo, the coyotes were yipping.  It's a different world from Deep Canyon, and each one has things to offer and enjoy.  Hubby and I may drive back out this way tonight for another view of this canyon, which lies right along the San Andreas fault.

Pinyon morning~SkyWatch Friday~020312

Another beautiful morning up in the pinyon forest off Deep Canyon.  I so love my weekend mornings up in the mountains.  I never know what I'm going to find!  SkyWatch Friday for February 3, 2012.   To visit SkyWatch Friday, please follow this link:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Lifeless trees? or not~Nature Notes~020212

There are many dead and lifeless trees along Highway 74 and Deep Canyon.  Unfortunately, my favorite ones are all along the road where there are no turnouts, but I found these along another dirt road last weekend.  I could spend HOURS just observing them and what's in and around them, animals like blue jays and hawks.  But, my time is limited, so back home I drove last Sunday.  However, next weekend, with the promise of continued spring-like weather, I'll have more time to explore!  There are a couple of trees I'll have to hike to in order to take photos of them, but I'm ready!!  There is just so much to explore up in these mountains and I can't WAIT for the weekend! I would love to find an owl up in one of these trees, but I haven't so far...Nature Notes for February 2, 2012.  To visit Nature Notes, please go to this link:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Dead tree, Deep Canyon

Another dead tree up near Deep Canyon.  I just love to go exploring up there.