Forests.....

Before I moved to Nevada I always pictured the desert as miles of empty dunes, 

with cactus, snakes, lizards, spiders (eeeooowah) and not much else.  

Much to my surprise Las Vegas is surrounded by mountains 

of which my favorite is Mount Charleston. 

There is a wonderful oasis up there 

where the temperatures average about 20 degrees cooler than the city.  

As the elevation increases on the ride up the cactus grow, 

then there are larger bushes, short trees 

and finally full grown ponderosa pines with bright red orange bark.  

The scent of lemon balsam is everywhere 

and I feel at home, at peace and full of wonder. 

Here is a collage with some of the pictures I took Thursday 

on a hike with my daughter Jessie and the two dogs; Durango and Harley.  

The pictures in my header are all taken at the top of the Mary Jane Falls Trail. 

 You have to see my macro shots of the wild delphinium and thistle up close. 

Wild Delphinium- this tiny flower looks like a fairy queen's crown!

Thistle- unfortunately not flowering yet.

I couldn't have conjurred up of a better lead into my work in progress 

for Heather Power's Challenge: at Humblebeads 

"Inspired by Nature": 

this week's theme is "the Forest Floor".

These photos were actually taken on a rock in my backyard, 

in the garden wall above the pool

and in a couple of my potted plants.  

I am addicted to color so flowers and greenery are a must in my yard, 

even if most of them die every year from the heat. 

Every year I try to add more of the plants that do survive

and my gardens are growing. 

I  will be finishing up tonight 

and take more pictures of this bib necklace completed tomorrow morning. 

For now it is off to do some outdoor chores and jump in the pool. 

Someone is waiting for me to play with him-

My little Big Boy- Durango

Come back tomorrow for links to the Challenge and see everyone's Forest Floor Creations!