Lost Dutchman State Park

The rocks behind Lost Dutchman State Park

We're now in Apache Junction, Arizona, staying at Lost Dutchman State Park.  Their rates are expensive ($30/night with electric and access to flush toilets and hot showers), so are all the other Arizona state and local parks.

But it's beautiful here, and many of the flora and fauna are different from those we were seeing in southern New Mexico, so I'm enjoying our stay.   I've seen hummingbirds, cactus wrens, cottontail rabbits, what seems like billions and billions of quail, lizards, and mourning doves.  There's Mesquite, Creosote Bush, Chainfruit Cholla, Jojoba, Ocotillo, Palo Verde, Brittlebrush (some of which have small yellow flowers right now), a few Prickly Pear, Jumping Cholla, and Fishhook Barrel Cactus.  Many of these plants are new to me so I'm excited to be learning their names and characteristics.

Jojoba

Chainfruit Cholla in the twilight

Jumping Cholla

Here's a close up shot of the Saguara that's in our campsite:

Saguaro

The blue and green together make me feel kind of giddy. 

Here's a good site that I'm currently reading to learn more about the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert:  http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/sonoran_desert.htm.