I camped at the edge of this dam in southern New Mexico over the summer. The water that you see would not be impounded at the surface if it were not for this dam – nor would be the mosquitoes, odd odor, or recreational boaters. This part of the state would instead be a dry…

I found this lovely caterpillar relaxing on the branch of a bush a few weeks ago. The species is Citheronia splendens sinaloensis (splendid royal month). Believe it or not, this beast is almost four inches long! Growing in the desert poses its challenges. The summer monsoon rains are short, so vegetation is only ephemerally green….