Secret rock
An outcrop in a high treeless field, slightly moister than the flat ground around it, sheltered ferns and flowers: golden columbine, and clusters of wild iris. The columbine was just starting, but the iris was spent, each stalk bearing a papery brown remainder of spring. All but this late blossom, which was still blue against the lichen spotted boulder. I’m glad we stopped — it would have been easy to just keep going. (photo A.Shock)
I am glad you stopped too. It is a lovely photo. Very un-deserty.
Roberta, you’re right: it’s not the desert! We were in the White Mountains of eastern AZ, above 8500 feet. I’m going to post in more detail later; this was a hasty photo-post from my cell phone.