Desert Green

As promised in my last post, here are some photos from Memorial Day weekend.

I took this picture in Washington State along Hwy 97 in late May. I've never seen the sagebrush so green this late in May. Even the grass was green although it looks rather brown here.

Along Hwy 97 is a stand of now-dead trees that grew along a meandering creek.

In the high-desert you don't find wild trees this large without a nearby water source.

These trees survived for many years before being ravaged by fire several years ago. Every year since the fire, the trees bleach whiter and whiter, but you can still see the charred tops and trucks.

I wonder if the fire was a result of a careless smoker or a result of a lightning strike.

Even in death, the trees are full of life. Insects are now boring into the tree trucks and branches to feed. And birds are attracted to the trees to feed - the birds will dig holes into the trucks in their quest for succulent insects. Other birds will eventually nest in the holes left by others. And in time, the tree will become one with the earth and will provide much needed soil nutrients for new seedlings struggling to thrive in the harsh desert conditions.

Mother Nature always renews herself when left alone to do so.