Ghost Ranch Lawn Chairs

Lawn chairs under a tree at Ghost Ranch.

Embudo Canyon Cottonwoods

In the Sandias' Embudo Canyon, cottonwood leaves begin to change color.

Otero Canyon Wildflowers

Bright wildflowers line the walls of Otero Canyon in the Manzanitas.

Globemallow Blossoms

Globemallow, an orange wildflower with multiple blossoms, up close and personal.

Dusky Penstemon

A cluster of dark purple penstemon blossoms at Sandia Crest, which I know as "dusky penstemon" (Penstemon whippleanus), is probably the last we'll see this year.

The First Day of Fall...

...isn't until tomorrow, but it snowed at Sandia Crest last night! Looking down from the Crest, you can see a ribbon of white, which is La Luz covered with snow.

Donald Duck Rock

A rock formation along La Luz Trail in the Sandia Mountains, popularly called Donald Duck, is silhouetted by bright autumn sunshine.

Fall Is On Its Way!

The leaves are starting to turn, up near Sandia Crest. (Fall is my absolutely most favorite season.)

Self Portrait

Self portrait (sorta) of yours truly, coming down from La Luz one late afternoon.

Sandia Aspens

High in the Sandias, the aspens are already starting to turn (and the air is pretty nippy too).

La Luz Lens Flare

Picnickers on the very rocky La Luz Trail, in the Sandia mountains, are highlighted by lens flare.

Paintbrush and Yucca

Indian paintbrush and a blade of blue grama grass, with a background of yucca leaves.

Fenced Descanso

A descanso with a fence, on Albuquerque's southwest mesa.

San Diego Wildflowers

Fall wildflowers in the red-rock country of the Jemez.

Old Town Gazebo

The gazebo in Old Town Albuquerque's plaza, surrounded by prayer flags.

Frijoles Canyon Wildflowers

Cholla and wildflowers in a meadow leading up to the tuff walls of Frijoles Canyon, at Bandelier National Monument.

Doors and Hollyhocks

Pairs of doors lined up against a stucco building in Taos are framed by hollyhocks.

Abandoned Chair

An abandoned chair within the ruins of an adobe building, as seen through a window.

Pickup With Sunflowers

An old pickup truck in the town of Mora is partially obscured by sunflowers.

Taos Pots

Three large pots overlook one of many courtyards in Taos.

Sacred Datura

The datura (also known as jimsonweed or moonflowers) has been quite spectacular this year.

Datura and Chamisa

White datura blossoms framed by almost-ready-to-bloom chamisa, with the Sandias in the background. This has been the most incredible year for wildflowers.

Mountain Reflection

The mountains of northern New Mexico are reflected in a pond near Questa.

Crest Spur Trail

Near Sandia Crest, wildflowers frame the junction of the Crest Spur and La Luz trails.

Cows at Valle Grande

Cows graze in Valle Grande, which officially became the Valles Caldera National Preserve at the end of 2000. The caldera is an ancient volcanic crater.