Tree Cholla in the Snow

A snow storm hit the Sandia Mountains outside of Albuquerque New Mexico and Teig and I went out to explore Elena Gallegos Open Space. The Tree Cholla Cacti were so striking in the snow especially with their bright yellow fruit. It was surreal to see this landscape and the cacti in deep snow.

Mill Creek Afternoon

Enjoying the beautiful Rocky Mountain afternoon sitting next to this little waterfall on Mill Creek above Bill Moore Lake. The sounds of the cascading waterfall and the colors of flowers enticed me to sit and just meditate before sauntering further on the trail.

Three Island Creek Waterfall

Waterfalls don't have to be massive to be beautiful. Finding smaller falls on a creek can be just as rewarding and even better to sit next to and daydream. This was a very nice one on Three Island Creek outside of Steamboat Colorado.

Red Indian Paintbrush in Colorado Meadow

Beautiful red paintbrush in an alpine meadow near Silver Dollar Lake in the Colorado Rockies.

Joshua Trees on Mojave Desert Floor

Cool Joshua Trees covering Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. Yucca brevifolia is a plant species belonging to the genus Yucca. It is tree-like in habit, which is reflected in its common names: Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree yucca. The name "Joshua tree" is commonly said to have been given by a group of Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century: The tree's role in guiding them through the desert combined with its unique shape reminded them of a biblical story in which Joshua keeps his hands reached out for an extended period of time to guide the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan.

Joshua Tree and Tabeau Peak

A beautiful Joshua Tree with Tabeau Peak in the background at Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark in south western Utah.

Desert Flora on Tabeau Peak Ridge

Teig and I were hiking up Tabeau Peak above Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark in  southwest Utah and we came upon this beautiful view on a ridge off the trail. The flora here was so quaint with the views of the valley far below and the mountains in the distance that I was compelled to take a photograph.

A Forest of Joshua Trees

This beautiful place is the only spot where you'll find Joshua trees in Utah, and it's also the farthest north point in the U.S. to find tree yuccas. The Joshua Tree Natural Area covers 1,052 acres of federally-protected land. It was designated in 1966. The scenery is downright stunning with the desert foliage right in front of you, and the vast land stretching toward the mountains in the distance, you'll feel like you've found your own remote piece of heaven.

Desert Mountains and Joshua Trees

The desert southwest is a beautiful location to saunter and explore in the winter. It very rarely snows and it is mostly t-shirt and shorts weather this time of year. This landscape photo was created in Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark in Utah and the contrast of the Joshua Trees and barren mountains helps with composing desert landscape compositions. It is hard to get a bad landscape photo here in the winter.

Joshua Tree beneath Rugged Mountain Range

The beauty of a Joshua Tree on the desert floor underneath the rugged Mountains in Southwestern Utah.

Mountain Range in the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area

A panoramic view of the desert mountains from the Woodbury Desert Study Area in southwestern Utah. The study area lies within both the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area and Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. The range is high in elevation above the Mojave desert below.

Joshua Trees in the American Desert

In the southwestern corner of Utah is a not very well known forest of Joshua Trees. The Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark is the location of this forest and stretches out for miles. Sauntering in this valley you can see how special this area is with the plethora of trees that cover the basin between the desert mountains. Each of these trees is a work of art and this photographer found a multitude of compositions worthy of documentation through photography.

Joshua Tree in Utah Basin

Numerous interesting Joshua trees can be found while exploring the desert basin in Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. This unique location in southwestern Utah is a gem for photographers and adventures wanting to capture some of the American desert experience. It is awesome to be here in the winter months when the normal high temperatures hover around 70 degrees fahrenheit.

Lone Joshua Tree in Utah Desert

Late morning view in south-western Utah's Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. Joshua trees range from here to the Mojave desert in southern California. It is fun to be able to saunter around this beautiful area in late December.

Lone Winter Leaf

There was still some color on leaves when winter came to the High Line Canal Trail in Englewood Colorado a suburb of Denver. It is fun to find little gems like this lone leaf while sauntering a heavily used urban trail. Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the light.

Ferns in Rock Wall

Teig and I found this beautiful granite rock wall in heavy shadow sauntering up Three Mile Creek in the Mount Evans Wilderness. Ferns were growing out of the cracks and it looked uber cool to me.

Colorado Autumn Colors

September in Colorado's Rocky Mountains is a vibrant display of autumn's colors. The sides of mountains can be a gorgeous palette of warm reds, bright golds and subdued greens against a deep blue sky. We are definitely blessed to witness this wonderful explosion of nature best colors.

Flowers on the Yucca

The flowers on these Yucca Plant outside of golden colorado are so awesome. Many people don't like Yuccas but I don't understand why that is. I love when they bloom and are uber colorful.