An Inspired Cook

An Inspired Cook
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    • Wildflowers of New Mexico

      Posted at 9:33 am by NativeNM, on October 18, 2024

      It’s been 6 years since Joe and I moved back to New Mexico. It’s been my dream to explore all the natural wonders of our state, creating a diary of our travels through photographs. Many of those places have hidden treasures that can only be found by hiking to them. Along the way we’ve been compiling photos of all the wildflowers. After the monsoon rains in the summer, the wildflowers begin to bloom and we’ve been fortunate to find many of them. We routinely find a variety of flowers at the Valle Caldera, the Sandia Crest trails, El Morro National Monument and even the trails close to home. Truthfully, Joe and I spend hours and get lost in thought while taking pictures of flowers when we go hiking. He keeps track of our miles and how fast we are walking which slows to a snails pace when we reach a valley of flowers. I particularly love cactus flowers. Those colors are my colors, from the sunshine yellows, to the peach colored orange to the vivid pinks. The cactus above is located on the Riverside trail in Rio Rancho. The trail from Riverside heading north is covered in Prickly Pear Cactus and when they begin to bloom there is nothing more beautiful. You can hear the bumblebees buzzing from flower to flower until their legs are heavy with pollen. If you are into wildflowers or any flowers for that matter, you will love the unique wildflowers of New Mexico.

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      Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Cactus Flowers, Flowers, hiking, nature, New Mexico, photography, Pinon Nuts, Pinon Tree, Succulents, Wildflowers, Wildflowers of New Mexico
    • Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

      Posted at 10:46 am by NativeNM, on September 24, 2024

      Red and Yellow Dahlia

      Our day at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens was one I will never forget. We arrived early to find the flowers still dotted with dew. The dew on the plants and flowers made them so vivid and bright, it was like an added texture on top of their natural beauty. The gardens are part of a 47 acre area with 4 miles of trails, with trickling streams running through it along with a path that leads to the ocean. We spent hours walking the trails and taking pictures of the colorful flowers. There were many garden collections but the Dahlia Garden was my favorite with every color of dahlia imaginable. I wish I had a knack for gardening, I would fill my yard with so many colorful flowers. It’s just not in my skillset, Joe will tell you that I kill every plant I touch. But for me, the next best thing is visiting a botanical garden and taking photos so that I can revisit them. After looking through all of them the red and yellow dahlia was the one I kept going back to. There are so many to choose from, take a look and find your favorite!

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      Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments | Tagged @California, Botanical Gardens, california, Dahlias, Flowers, garden, Garden By The Sea, gardening, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, photography
    • Talus Canyon Trail

      Posted at 10:29 am by NativeNM, on July 12, 2024
      See header photo in color as I take in the landscape.

      This post is a bit different from my usual travel posts. I thought these photos would be worthwhile in black and white, but I had no idea the dramatic effect they would have. While traveling and hiking across New Mexico, I try to showcase the colors, textures and landscapes that I find quite beautiful. On this day we attempted to find the elusive Talus Slot Canyon. This was our second attempt and both times we’ve failed, however it was one of the most beautiful days I’ve ever experienced. The summer monsoon had drenched the thirst of our arid landscape turning it from a wheat color to vivid green. The clouds were abundant in every shape and size giving the landscape a moody atmosphere. As we headed out we were aware that it might rain at any moment, so we took caution as the Talus Canyon Trail is an unmarked trail through a dry creek bed and rocky areas. On Hwy 84 just a mile or so past the turnoff to Abiquiu Lake there will be a picnic/parking area on the south side of the highway. Park here, then walk across the highway to find the trailhead. There is a visible footpath but if there has been any recent rainfall, the footprints are likely to be washed away so be aware and use your trail app. Once you head back into the Talus Canyon the view is breathtaking. Whether in color or black and white, the Talus Canyon Trail is one of my most treasured places to hike.

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      Posted in Recipes, Uncategorized | 5 Comments | Tagged Abiguiu, Abiquiu Lake, Abiquiu New Mexico, Ghost Ranch, hiking, New Mexico, photography, Talus Arch, Talus Canyon Trail, Talus Slot Canyon, Travel
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