I’ve probably driven the road through the eastside of Zion National Park well over 2,000 times(Was a park ranger there) and had never seen so many Desert Bighorn Sheep as I did the other day. Must of been 40 of them including 10 Rams. It’s the rutting season and seemingly everyone showed up. This was at 7:00 a.m.
These images had an ethereal look to them because the backdrop is Checkerboard Mesa, one of the most scenic sandstone features at Zion. Video to follow.
Desert Bighorn Sheep Rams are active during the mating season known as the rut.
Checkerboard Mesa backdrop.
Desert Bighorn Sheep are known for their ability to cling to precarious ledges which is their defense from predators.
Recent monsoons have passed through Grand Canyon National Park the last 5 weeks, bringing much-needed rain and angry skies. Click on image for a larger view.
Monsoonal moisture passes through the Grand Canyon as seen from the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.Monsoonal moisture passes through the Grand Canyon as seen from the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
Near Zion National Park, the Prickly Pear Cactus, Cholla Cactus, Claret Cup and the Cliffrose are among the desert plant species showing off their colors and textures. Ninety degree temperatures in March accelerated the growing and flowering of these desert classics.
A prickly Pear Cactus blooms during Spring near Zion National Park, Utah.
The many spines of a Cholla cactus just before bloom during spring near Zion National Park, Utah. Also referred to as the Teddy Bear Cholla but I learned early on not to hug this well-defensed cactus.
The Claret Cup Cactus AKA as the Hedgehog Cactus.
The Daisy-Like Uinta Groundsel.
A Cliffrose bush in full bloom during spring near Zion National Park, Utah. The fragrance is so sweet, I wish I could provide it in this post but even AI can’t do that.
New pine cones appear during spring on a Pinyon Pine tree near Zion National Park, Utah. The cones will produce a white pine nut and are usually harvested during autumn.