As mentioned already, the first is Mamm tetrancistra and the 2nd is a form of Opuntia basilaris. The 3rd seems to be an Echinomastus johnsonii -now erroneously lumped into Sclerocactus. Jordi

Sherry, The Mojave is considered a "high and dry" desert. The high because it is between 2,000'-5,000' in elevation. The dry because on average it only gets a little over 2" of rainfall per year. The low precipitation is because of the rain shadow effect of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where falling moisture normally evaporates before it hits the ground. Hard to believe when the early or late monsoons are in and a thunderstorm floods the valley in mere minutes. It doesn't rain cats and dogs because they too head for cover when the sky opens up and literally dumps. It's common that 30 minutes later the water has soaked in and the surface is bone dry again. The Mojave is the most unique and diversified of our four deserts because it is nestled between a high plateau (cold) and a low (hot) desert. So it has habitats within it that run from one extreme to the other north to south and east to west. That is why it is anything but bleak, hosts more species of flora and fauna than any of the other deserts, and on the edges can be effected by non desert habitats. The canyon above starts low in the desert on the very edge of the true Mojave and the upper couple of miles of it runs into the lower foothills of the nearby high mountains that do get a snow base. Enough of a snow base to have a small year-round stream feed by those mountains. So along the stream it is very riparian habitat, and 20' away very desert habitat going up into high plateau desert habitat on the rim rock cliffs. IOW, a very diversified place with all habitats present except for the high riparian and arctic/alpine. So both plants and animals from the higher habitats can spread down into the true desert along the narrow stream corridor. That allows all species found in that greater part of the country to live and thrive in the same place. Not a well known place to Lepidopterists like Madera Canyon in SE AZ is, but it is truly a heaven for plant and bug diversity, and about the farthest north magnet for stray species migrating from as far away as Central America. The Las Vegas Valley, being 160 miles further down into the true Mojave doesn't share that diversity, except to a point on its NW edge where the Spring Mountains also create a drier but still riparian habitat. These mountains being well isolated and surrounded by the desert is what makes them unique. Being isolated from the gene pool, species have evolved on their own there into species that exist no where else on earth. The other areas around the valley are anything but bleak though, but the flora and fauna have had to adapt to and find their own niches to survive and flourish there. It may appear bleak to those who do not know how to find those niches, but it is far from it. BTW, there are many species that use cactus and succulents for their larval food plant. From utilizing the new growth, leaves, florens, or tunneling into the roots or stems. My son always loved going on Megathymus and Agathymus larva/pupa "digs", and we got a kick out of handing visiting newbie bug collectors a shovel instead of a net to go collect them. Larry Gene, Even though I have collected in many beautiful places around the world, I'd sure like to be able to go back to the Beartooth Plateau on the WY/MT border just one more time. Won't happen, but out of the hundreds/thousands of places I have been studying bugs, it is easily my favorite. It's a place every budding Lepidopterist should visit at last once in their lifetime, and although 11,000'-14,000' feet high, it can be easily accessed along Highway 212 even in a motor home. Seeing millions (literally) of dozens of arctic/alpine species of butterflies on the wing all at the same time is a sight few would ever forget, and there are species there that are not found anywhere else. Larry

Never mind - problem solved! My know-it-all BIL told us that 801 is the toll free number used in the US (as well as 800) so of course we didn't even TRY to ring or fax. Have since found out that it is in fact the area code for Utah! I'm going to love telling him he's full of it and actually got it wrong hahaha!!

I often get AAA maps--but I really don't think they'd appreciate it if I walked in and requested all that don't have (30-40)--LOL. Also, the AAA maps often combine several states on one map--so they're 'scrunched'. I really like B-I-G maps. And I do like the extra info included on the state maps. I figure, though, that I can fill in any I don't receive with the AAA maps. thanks for the link, Chubby--don't know how I missed that one in my search, but I've now ordered my last map! Hope they all arrive!