I lived in Santa Fe for three years. Most of the houses are pueblo style - stucco and flat roof type things. It harkens back to the time when the white people were not there. Santa Fe, with a population of less than 50K (when I was there in the 1990s) is one of the smallest state capitols in the USA. There are still many active pueblos (not reservations) there and those folks co-mingled with the Spanish conquistadors many years ago. The northern New Mexico cuisine is not the Tex-Mex that many associate with the southwest. it is less spicy (unless you want it to be). When we lived there, there was a large increase in the population and the housing market was unusual. There are many folks who live in the area whose names you would recognize easily. That made the median value of a house quite high. In 1998, we purchased 'affordable' housing at $200K. 1998 folks! At 7000' we had to learn how to cook many things differently. At that altitude, we got snow during the winter, but it never melted, it evaporated. It was extremely dry. Moisturizer and lip balm were in the car, at my desk, at home, everywhere. It was a great three years, and we have returned to visit. But I don't want to live there again - it is just too expensive! If you are ever in the Santa Fe area (skiing, SF opera or for art walks) you gotta stop at the Bobcat Bite. You'll rave about it to everyone for many years. Jim

My Helianthus are not quite this far in their flowering, so this is from last year.

I love this time of year. That cottage is so neat and so many beautiful flowers in everyone's yards!! Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures. This is a little building in the middle of a small local park's forest.

Annie, I haven't tried the soap thing to discourage the deer. Daughter has some hanging in her yard and says it seems to work as long as the soap in within a few feet of what she wants to protect. Liquid Fence works well for me if I am diligent about timing and consider any rain washing it off in the equation. I should hang the soap to help take up any slack. You say Ivory, I have always heard Irish Spring. Joanmn, my memories of Bison is a herd of them walking within 10 feet of the road we were riding on in N.D. Too close for comfort when on a motorcycle. Love your pics of these magnificent beasts.