Organ Pipe National Monument

It hit 107 again today in Organ pipe! Wow!! A very different experience.

It is my 7th time here, Jerry's 2nd, and this is the hottest and driest I have every seen it!!
March 21,2026 - hardly a wildflower to be found!
Above are some pics from March 27, 2023 to show the difference! 
No superbloom here this year! Didn't get the rain.
Same road 2023 and 2026. Kind of cool to see how different it can be.
The left is Alamo Canyon Campgroubd in 2023 vs today  2026 on the right. This is the primitive campsite I tented in 1991-1995. A special place in my heart. It was never close to 107 degrees thank heavens! Lol

We did a 2 mile hike to arch canyon. It was way too hot but still beautiful. Definitely tired us out but had a long nights sleep and feeling refreshed as I write this today.
The desert plants adapt so well to a lack of rain. The occatillo (below) for example drops it's leaves in drought to conserve water. Here is the difference between leaves vs no leaves. Still blooming, not dead.
 
We did find one blooming hedgehog! Such a treat, but such a difference from past years. This area just didn't get any rain this winter when it was needed for flowers to bloom
Beautiful white adobe Spanish Colonial Revival architecture built in 1927 in Ajo, Az
I made yummy Verde pork tacos and pickled Mexican veggies. A new favorite after we had pickled carrots with our lunch yesterday. I looked up recipes and made my own version. A new find!

Off to Anza Borrego State Park hoping we have not missed their superbloom!

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