Not Quite Winter's Bone

Penstemon, Kelly, NM, Nov. 2010

We awoke to snow up here in the mountains of New Mexico on Thanksgiving morning, and while it's not unheard of, it was still a bit of a surprise. The (relatively) bitter cold kept me mostly inside the past few days, but today was sunny and calm and my whole self yearned for a hike. Ten minutes later, I was up at the Kelly Mine area which, getting full southern exposure, seems to be very hikable on a mild winter day. A bit of snow left in the shadows made for some nice contrast, without which I might not have even noticed this delicate, soon-to-be-dust Penstemon along the trail past Juanita Mine #2. I'm hoping for a mild winter so that I can keep hiking, especially since I have finally found boots that fit properly. And an early spring... well, I can always hope.