Monday, May 30, 2011

Divine Little Moments

Feel like taking a hike through the Utah Desert? The plentiful rains that have made my own spring a misery, have given new life to these harsh surroundings.
Loco Weed
 Ages ago ~ long before we took the plunge and re-located to Utah ~ I visited the crazy friends who'd moved here first. Certain they'd lost their marbles. Fully prepared to talk some sense into them!

Primrose
We skied for 2 days and then set out to explore the southern half of their unusual state, a few hours and a world away from the snowy scenes of the northern half, in the midst of a high mountain winter.

At our desert campsite, I peeled off my heavy winter coat and spotted a curious little cutie waving in the breeze:

Globe Mallow
My first encounter with the desert wildflower, Globe Mallow. Isn't she a beauty? (If I had a better camera I could show you an entire field of them.)

'Twas those same dear friends who dragged me down there this weekend. And, I went, though I was in no shape to go. I'd had a freak horse accident, a few days before. Which just added to the unhappiness of this cold, damp, no-gardening-for-you-dear-Kate, sorry excuse for a springtime.

Which has the greater affect on your mood? 
a)  People? 
b) Weather? 

For me, it is most definitely the weather. I battled depression the entire time I lived in the Midwest ~ never realized until I moved to sunny Utah that it was a malady bright blue skies could easily cure.

Wandering through the soft sand of the San Rafael Swell is an ideal time for reflection. On what brought me here in the first place and why it's a fine place to be. Once again, all is right with the world ~ thanks to a stellar combination of great friends, a delicious bonfire and glorious desert wildflowers.

PS: Happy Memorial Day. Here's hoping the sun was shining wherever you pitched your tent.

* Find the San Rafael Swell about an hour west of Moab along I-70, in southern Utah. These pics were taken in Little Wild Horse Canyon.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, my. We're behind (the areas I'm thinking of are at 9000+ feet), but your lovely photos suggest that we might have a treat ahead this year :)

Janie said...

Sun is a wondrous cure for the soul.
I love your collection of desert wildflowers.
Hope your riding injury heals quickly.

KC said...

Hey, a horse injury? What's up? Hope you are feeling better. I am really sorry we missed this trip last year, it looks fabulous.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Patricia!
Yes, I think the mountain wildflowers will be quite spectacular this year!

Thx, Janie;
Always therapeutic to take a trip to the desert.

It wasn't my horse, KC.
MY horse is perfect in every way. I didn't realize you were planning a trip down there last year. You should definitely go in the coming month. The flowers are amazing!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I can see how these wildflowers would lure you to this beautiful place. I hope you are feeling better now from your accident. People can send me over the deep end. Weather doesn't usually bring me down.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Lisa!
I wish I could have tele-ported you here! Plentiful pretty birds. You'd have love it! ;)

The Hag said...

Oh, how I do love globe mallow!

Alison said...

Thanks for taking me along for this wonderful glimpse of the Utah desert. It is so very different from what I'm used to, both when I lived back East and here in Washington state. I don't mind the clouds and rain here, but people do bring my mood down.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Soul sistahs, Katherine! :)


Hey, Alison;
Would be fun to show you our dry, dry world some time. Quite different from Seattle.

ProfessorRoush said...

Kate, the plants are beautiful but the ground they grow from gives me nightmares

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Prof;
In the beginning, I was astounded by this parched world, just like you. But, we Midwesterners can adapt. You might come back from this desert with a whole, new attitude as to how we care for flowers. I know I did! :D

Susan in the Pink Hat said...

Hold on Kate, Sunny days and dryness will come our way.

Carolyn ♥ said...

Sounds like you had a perfect weekend! I love the desert in Spring. As for mountain flowers, do you think all that snow up there will melt before August? Questionable. Hope you're feeling better soon!

Wally said...

I hope you feel better soon.
I'm sensitive to gloom and getting worse. In recent years I've become very aware that my mood will quite noticeably lift and then I realise that the sun has come out and that's what made the difference.

Unknown said...

Oh my Kate! Heal quickly. I know the sunshine is my best friend - even if it is 100. Loved the tour of wildflowers.