The First Green

When we arrived in mid-March at Big Bend NP, TX, there still were no leaves on the trees and shrubs. Spring was coming, though the nights were cold with temperatures in the 30's.

The first green plants that I found; yucca, lechuguilla, sotol, century plant, cactus, along with the ubiquitous creosote and ocotillo, stay green year round. Still, I found some green!

Chisos Mountains from Dugout Wells with yucca, creosote, cactus, ocotillo.

Mountain side from Lost Mine Trail in Chisos Basin with century plant,
sotol, creosote.

There are several species of yuccas in Big Bend and
all are members of the lily family.
Torrey Yucca is the most common yucca in the park.

Soaptree Yucca
Inside the trunk and roots is a slippery fluid
that was used by early Americans as soap.
This is the tallest yucca and may be 250 years old.

Thompson Yucca

Lechuguilla is an agave species which blooms once and then it dies.
The leaves are long, tough, and very sharp
which can penetrate clothing and even leather.
It is also called Shin-daggers.

Lechuguilla (lay-che-gee'-ya)
The fibers are still used today to make rope in Mexico.

Dried seed pods

After blooming, the plant dies

Stay tunned for more green stuff.

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars