homeour storymy baglink loveContact me

✍ All sorts of new and exciting things coming up for the cast of L to the Third so stay tuned!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Pretty poppies


Each year the arrival of spring in El Paso is heralded by the blooming of hundreds of thousands of bright yellow poppies on the eastern side of the Franklin Mountains. These vibrant flowers that cover the desert floor like a lush, yellow carpet are the result of a beautification project (and tourism draw) that was initiated in 1931 by the El Paso Poppy Club; donations collected by the club allowed for the purchase of some 112 pounds of poppy seeds, which were then planted on approximately 56 acres of mountainside and mesa land by volunteers.


The irony of this tourist draw is that the bulk of the poppy fields lie within the Castner Range, an area that was formerly used by Fort Bliss as a firing range; access is restricted to this day due to unexploded ordnance, or ammunition, that remains in the desert.  Fortunately, the El Paso Museum of Archaelogy maintains clearly-marked walking trails that safely allow one to witness the beauty of the poppies up close.


So of course I couldn't help but experience a mild panic attack each and every time Sammy attempted to go rogue and head off of the marked path that meandered through the desert scenery (all of the signs warning of the dangers of "unexploded projectiles" every hundred feet or so didn't help much either).



Hopefully we'll get some rain that will prolong the poppies' stay--I can't help but smile whenever I see all of that cheerful yellow spread out across the once barren desert landscape.



and
 then, she {snapped}

7 comments:

Maeve's Momma said...

That sunglasses pic of Sammy... he looks so much like CH!!!

Michelle said...

Absolutely beautiful!!!

Mrs. F said...

BEAUTIFUL photos! I can't wait for spring to arrive in the Pacific Northwest. I need some warm sunshine!

Gina Kleinworth said...

I was thinking about you this weekend when I saw what the temps would be like where you are. These poppies are so pretty. Being a CA native- they are one of my favs. I always wanted to pick them as a kid- but being that they are the CA state flower- it's illegal.

Karin said...

Wow, so beautiful!

Carmen and Rachelle said...

Oh...my...goodness! That has got to be so amazing to see in person. That just got put on my bucket list! :) Beautiful photos! -Rachelle

melifaif said...

So gorgeous, indeed. Yet quite dangerous. I guess this is almost oxymoron-ish????? lol

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...