Today I wanted to share some more pictures of the mountains of New Mexico. Being from Colorado, I was excited to visit mountains again. These were not the conifer and aspen forested granite slopes of the Rockies, but they were beautiful in their own way. The Sangre de Cristo mountain range are covered with scrub and sage and are more earthy than rocky, if that makes sense. When we went for our petroglyph hike, I tried to take some close-ups of the foliage. The dried winter foliage and seed heads were lovely.
We went further up the mountain to visit a group of big horn sheep. That was neat to see them roaming about on the side of the mountain. Then the tour guide took us to an off-grid neighborhood at the top of the mountain called Earthships. The residents construct trendy homes made up recycled rubber, adobe, and glass and raise food crops in greenhouses.
The word that came to mind was “bower-bird”. These are birds which decorate their nests and the area around it with sticks, stones, and brightly colored bits and pieces they find. Up on the mesa there’s not much growing except some grasses, but the view is extraordinary with higher snow-covered peaks in the distance.
One of the ways that these mountains did resemble my beloved Rockies was in the little mountain rivers that dotted the landscape. This river kept us company as we entered and exited the mountain pass leading into Taos.
The Rio de Pueblo, or Red Willow Creek, runs through the Pueblo reservation from its headwaters in a mountain lake. It gets its name from the red willow rushes that grow along the bank. These are harvested and woven into baskets.
The natural landscape of Taos has inspired artists for well over a hundred years. Looking at the mountains, expansive mesas, and bright blue sky – it’s no wonder why it continues to draw seekers of beauty.
Blessings to you,
Sarah
anordinarymiracleday 