![wood](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkcPzEY8RdpkBdUoXxOuC7wxV0n6lPzcA6BfodvIQ4cZcHlcGEv994ZyLwrtoTYbq4rs58GkIrsWK06JgmNV8k4Ype8MQxS6ezFmkXXNYlOIaVCfW8pyLVURkOPrlKhWbCcIB-6EwCFU/s400/hikerain001.jpg)
The last time we went hiking up our hiking hill, it was the day before Father's Day, and one of our heaviest rainstorms of the barely pre-summer season was in progress. The sky poured and drizzled water on us while we hiked. The ground was soft, not quite muddy. As per usual, I took a few photos, even though photography was hampered some by the rain and dripping trees.
![tree](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsvHrF_xcGq3D9lzrunse7W49vElmDbTVLcnaMENtxOSMov2ElK-ZgYMtFiJSb5Q6YvZnE12TxiFQkTSjcfmueefOHE2wTBA6mQFk3UktWUkqxlO7SiRWTKLbSLFAgBO4LBf8e0WoVMo/s640/hikerain002.jpg)
Yes, we have trees in the part of the intermountain west commonly known as the Great Basin, which is also part of the larger Basin and Range. The tree above is a piñon pine tree, an old one. Many of the old ones on the trail up to
Squaw Peak were burned by some long-ago brushfire. Their bark is black, their shapes are twisted, their needles are plentiful.
![raindrop](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1cgtycO1YuUfuEOIpcb1iR3MFlMQ3YBNDPeacnsxJfNomJfRYHfT2kLMMgqsnui8xhJG3ok33SywfmaTdnJbXmZK8jCSsPxa1Hes3e_grHCxEf8wsSb-wIb_LdcuuDrtrFR0mts3xLA/s400/hikerain004.jpg)
The sky was everywhere gray, misty, and obscure. Raindrops glistened and sparkled, suspended from fire-black and rain-darkened branches. Each raindrop contained a small green world.
![flowers](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitagzAqEQL3R1TE-D9_Z1lJGjtuIVVlGj0q4kQGymK5kJ7f9cE0wTDCqyMZGNsODpcrDGvpo0kUM9_3bLBY2lU5DQHlAXvfza0OzyaOGgBMvC6m5MughTRww9YeVqNL2RQcOldtRNiudo/s400/hikerain005.jpg)
The rain intensified colors. The greens of sagebrush, rabbitbrush, piñon, juniper, and bitterbrush became greener. The umbers and ochres of fallen needles became deeper. Flowers almost glowed.
![purple](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGswToswr56IMvjYOyTBfIGNm24ayX6sVC11pqc4JEWDROKD5WlSEzHFKhFEvGKasjES4_yC1aJ88BrSsz5tjJUUoziDD25OEKiY-F5fR-lC_6MnnzM95TJlUtoOKGZVJGOAjCl0HWH8/s400/hikerain006.jpg)
I'm not sure what this flowering plant is, also seen in the previous photo, possibly it's
Mirabilis multiflora. I don't recall seeing it last year, but I might have missed it. It was usually smaller than this particular example, and was often hiding at the base of bushes or beneath trees on south- and west-facing slopes, from about 6760 feet to at least 7320 feet.
![tiny1](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsXBRoF64dVtWkCZLAJYuC6jyVCjdYxyPWfJYS7VxcN48NqnmFFXAdXh6yV3fxFMI5q4vRtkezZc4-j6iBEE_r0Ds09asutXnrCp-IYagQO8wgD3N082jcoXcyZKe8P7fjxGIcl274Mg/s640/hikerain007.jpg)
![tiny2](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJga1erqpK9Q_4qHzQX0Z-vJEh76hgtJMysAs50vg3oGFyK26BHQmsrVpWzWhtx0TCYref8hSB6AwKojG8ZyR3CfBAZ4cdPoNyJBJbuMOm8oi4zfPEF6_h_KxtxuLt0sZmIPHMIIApT8/s400/hikerain008.jpg)
I was lucky to spot these small, delicate tulip-like flowers; I have been unable to identify them. They were growing in a broadly flat area at about 6700 feet. UPDATE: These plants appear to be some variety of
Calochortus, some varieties of which are called mariposa lily.
![cactus](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gadHhtPvVLoVNb8_HpUf4YkW3gE_kuUOyfEHvi2A757XjHZPEI8itSzbnWBqPhyphenhyphenh0rfkKOsuLYga27mVtY5gWUGQStNEU_eOelcSxNc68zODmAGIstv0MXgU1-E2kxediQ9t9YGArVM/s640/hikerain009.jpg)
![cactusflower](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDjTOML1eSxafVuDL20MpAA84JhDAOeTLIaoTK-s63cRke10-N58UrmORYmF65_jGBe_z2zrb48KIRjxyIlxHPf2T2VxOm2e7xeZV__A358MCVU_9hSOiQupTjimSUh3cQ79vhGzdqyQ/s400/hikerain010.jpg)
Prickly pear,
Opuntia, was wonderfully in bloom at the lower elevations of 6700 to 6900 feet. The flowers were pale orange to yellow with rose-like petals. Red or magenta prickly pear had already bloomed earlier in the year and higher on the mountain.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsE57I7-aYjr2euoj7HzW-8FFwXINugaUHIpF2J90T4lboj3dBIh2gjnhhZT5V4xwgm1v_fc_Eedw4sVtd3tIWM9WPeHDEB5TLgySF6OcRIS4N6tCtbhAf17eut2cZFyM2PLhNqvszlnY/s640/hikerain012.jpg)
Sagebrush, sea-green with wet, dark-brown woody branches, grows in clumps around a larger plant that has already bloomed and is going to seed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9ZWmO77jQL4FQiTVILI6hV9hsMjdOYrDbPlwMrFlyRzm1nO_AfcBGucKQttkw7Sp6kZZjH__hCzGP0qEwrb3W0RFpaHg7iDo0Nwi74LeIBK66LBCRc-9dumtXhPdiQ1gdliuh0RW8oE/s400/hikerain013.jpg)
The tall seedy plant is probably
Atriplex canescens, commonly known as fourwing saltbush. I was surprised to it growing at such a high elevation, at the low end of the piñon-juniper zone (6700 feet). There were only a few
Atriplex bushes. They were two to four feet in height, and had few leaves. I first suspected
Grayia (hopsage), which is usually a low-elevation plant, also, but the leaves weren't right.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hDHGYzd6hY4Lyvr3Fs1YzXrzDNrMbpDoYQmL5XN1Ef-_BWQ5wIiI_46htCmEHMrhElzxxUWiGxjWAyEIa_0o5lblhBl2oqztK009tCD8ZgznVAdYx2xwdh6yIH14-WPINQF5tXgP_a0/s640/hikerain014.jpg)
Another unknown: this stalk is more than three feet tall, most were one to two feet in height.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jndzhtqewUUz6pD2lH40JV1nmoCstjFiU7dXNxstfD4wZn4-PabyaL7yvufTtk6Hlae5ImYoQsqP2HS076KjzeMwm8lJpWeTn069hO8jcWGpd75SSxzNj48s0yk9S-XYDxeY6Y4SWT4/s400/hikerain022.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1T9b37IEkIVZzYcnFR7uaQwU-euSRjLsiHO1ZngGW9x2aEv-KlLYUn2ASxffRP-PCnTgO9lQrqqz7pQYrSVTdSIUmwei_7D-2EcOllO-ykFE9iNV6W6TPWUwmTG5hWXLsEqKpSngqfs/s640/hikerain016.jpg)
Beautiful small white to pink flowers were growing in clumps at about 6600 feet.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7rmk6eKmvGgnBlfmXQYWDhEWaa_DrQktVGNF7wqyeLlNKX5uas3Q0Q51cwtTzq9OoMEExwt8yHYwqY6xDon3DxAUGBruGZaMEjLMFN6ve98S0OxGNOU6qUtDGM3x28dZqUYWpQ0wtng/s640/hikerain020.jpg)
We got wet, even with rain-protective clothing. We got cold coming back down from 7400 feet, even though we were fairly well bundled. It was a beautiful day.
This post is a submission to the
Carnival of the Arid #5, which is hosted at
Coyote Crossing by Chris Clarke.