desertlavender
@desertlavender.bsky.social
Proud resident of Silver City, New Mexico. Organizer of gilahikers.org and author of desertlavender.com. Web designer for local non-profits and small businesses. International folk dancer/singer with a phonographic memory. Patron saint of homeless cats.
Les fleurs du jour. Red four o'clock, sawtooth sage, double claw, and potato beetles having a moment.
July 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Les fleurs du jour. Red four o'clock, sawtooth sage, double claw, and potato beetles having a moment.
We braved the big storm this morning and were rewarded with a hike of astonishing beauty along a lesser known loop at Dragonfly. The creek was flowing(!) and we reveled in the deeply textured sky and the play of light and shadow. #GilaHikers
July 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
We braved the big storm this morning and were rewarded with a hike of astonishing beauty along a lesser known loop at Dragonfly. The creek was flowing(!) and we reveled in the deeply textured sky and the play of light and shadow. #GilaHikers
Réussi! Monsieur LePew spent a half hour storming the fortress, but did not prevail. Oreo observes nonchalantly from his throne, while outside Blaze gets way too close to the action. 🦨
July 30, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Réussi! Monsieur LePew spent a half hour storming the fortress, but did not prevail. Oreo observes nonchalantly from his throne, while outside Blaze gets way too close to the action. 🦨
Spending the morning reinforcing the lower 2' of the catio. The little b@stards slipped right through the 2x4" wire grid! Hoping they can't climb. 😳 #skunked
July 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Spending the morning reinforcing the lower 2' of the catio. The little b@stards slipped right through the 2x4" wire grid! Hoping they can't climb. 😳 #skunked
High drama in the catio! Came by to say goodnight to the cats only to encounter THREE IMPOSTERS! The catcam tells the tale. BTW good to know I can still move that fast!
July 29, 2025 at 3:48 AM
High drama in the catio! Came by to say goodnight to the cats only to encounter THREE IMPOSTERS! The catcam tells the tale. BTW good to know I can still move that fast!
Dedicated to my wonderful friends who went WAY above and beyond this week to help a friend who was struggling.
July 28, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Dedicated to my wonderful friends who went WAY above and beyond this week to help a friend who was struggling.
The white-lined sphinx moths are back! They're so cool!!
July 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The white-lined sphinx moths are back! They're so cool!!
McKnight Canyon. What a feast for the senses!
July 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
McKnight Canyon. What a feast for the senses!
The first cosmos blossom of the year! These are all reseeded from last year's crop.
July 22, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The first cosmos blossom of the year! These are all reseeded from last year's crop.
Fierce friends. They were just yawning, but their expressions crack me up!
July 21, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Fierce friends. They were just yawning, but their expressions crack me up!
Wow! The new coop! It was a LONG time coming, but it feels like a game changer for Silver City!
July 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Wow! The new coop! It was a LONG time coming, but it feels like a game changer for Silver City!
It's time for Operation Orange Menace. Caught him on camera beating up another one of our cats this morning. 🐈
July 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
It's time for Operation Orange Menace. Caught him on camera beating up another one of our cats this morning. 🐈
We were very impressed by the amount of brush that had been cleared away to prevent the fire from jumping Sawmill Wagon Road. In addition to protecting the trail system and Fort Bayard, it also improved the views! Profound gratitude for our brilliant firefighters! #GilaHikers
July 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
We were very impressed by the amount of brush that had been cleared away to prevent the fire from jumping Sawmill Wagon Road. In addition to protecting the trail system and Fort Bayard, it also improved the views! Profound gratitude for our brilliant firefighters! #GilaHikers
The Fort Bayard trail system has reopened so we went out to have a look. A burn scar is visible along a ridge in the Piños Altos range, and some trees along Sawmill Wagon Road were scorched, but otherwise the area looked amazingly healthy. Best news is that Big Tree survived the fire. #GilaHikers
July 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Fort Bayard trail system has reopened so we went out to have a look. A burn scar is visible along a ridge in the Piños Altos range, and some trees along Sawmill Wagon Road were scorched, but otherwise the area looked amazingly healthy. Best news is that Big Tree survived the fire. #GilaHikers
Three Way, Arizona. When a roundabout replaced a problematic intersection, pandemonium ensued. Traffic cones are apparently reshuffled nightly for driver education, but everyone still pulls up to the cones ... and stops. Don't they know Americans can't do three ways OR roundabouts?
July 14, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Three Way, Arizona. When a roundabout replaced a problematic intersection, pandemonium ensued. Traffic cones are apparently reshuffled nightly for driver education, but everyone still pulls up to the cones ... and stops. Don't they know Americans can't do three ways OR roundabouts?
From the Clifton Union Hall Mural - AZ National Guard descending on striking workers during the 1983 strike. Looks a little too much like today's headlines! 😳
July 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
From the Clifton Union Hall Mural - AZ National Guard descending on striking workers during the 1983 strike. Looks a little too much like today's headlines! 😳
Visiting my buddy Jeff at the Union Hall in Clifton, with the famous mural commemorating the Strike of 1983 behind me. Clifton has an amazing history, and Jeff is the one who taught me about it.
www.cliftonarizona.com/sights-to-se...
www.cliftonarizona.com/sights-to-se...
July 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Visiting my buddy Jeff at the Union Hall in Clifton, with the famous mural commemorating the Strike of 1983 behind me. Clifton has an amazing history, and Jeff is the one who taught me about it.
www.cliftonarizona.com/sights-to-se...
www.cliftonarizona.com/sights-to-se...
Smoke is really bad in AZ. Can't see the Piñalenos at all!
July 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Smoke is really bad in AZ. Can't see the Piñalenos at all!
Mule Creek Pass. Not a blade of grass! I've never seen it look this bad, especially mid-monsoon! We should be seeing antelope cavorting in grassy meadows. Instead, a few horses and cows scrounging for stubble in the arroyos. Some of this is drought, but some of it is also severe overgrazing.
July 14, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Mule Creek Pass. Not a blade of grass! I've never seen it look this bad, especially mid-monsoon! We should be seeing antelope cavorting in grassy meadows. Instead, a few horses and cows scrounging for stubble in the arroyos. Some of this is drought, but some of it is also severe overgrazing.