river vignette 9 - Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande

In the city this week fabricating the small job we have and taking care of some other business.

Our first cool front of the year has finally made it here and given us a break from the heat and humidity. Fall is some of our best weather; warm days, cool nights, low humidity and a clear blue sky.

Makes me want to be on the river.

The desert and canyons are very green, remarkably so. Ocotilla and lechugia are blooming. Also several types of yellow and purple flowers. All signs of recent rains. There are dragonflies, damselflies, and butterflies of all sizes and types everywhere. Swallowtails, monarchs, fritillaries, checkerspots, sulfurs, whites, and brushfoots. The yellow and orange sulphurs cluster together and rest on the ground or in the low growing plants, rising like a cloud when disturbed. Swallowtails, monarchs, and fritillaries fly around unconcerned with our presence, sometimes even landing on us. After we make camp a huge beautiful black, white and gray butterfly (moth?) comes to rest on my arm while I am eating and stays for about 15 minutes.