This evening in rolling pinyon parkland above the little town of Gardner. Quiet and silvery. I was roving at sunset, trying to familiarize myself with the birds. Shy pinyon jays keeping their distance and a lanky common nighthawk whirring overhead. Otherwise no one. The beauty radiating through me, stopped near a hill crest and looked around. “Is this what you want?” the question came unbidden. The answer on its heels took me by surprise: “No.”
Below: Common shrubs from the next morning. Winterfat has a nice soft, fuzzy texture to go with its pleasant name. Mountain mahogany was a new plant for me, a sign that I was starting to gain elevation after 3 weeks on the plains.
