Mesa Verde – Green table is Spanish.  And, it looks like that from a distance during certain seasons.  Mesa Verde is a climb – and if you have ever tent camped there, the temp drops accordingly.  I have great memories of camping there with my daughters when they were growing up.  And, in my adult life.

Yucca House National Monument – Mesa Verde National Park in the distance – 2019

Dogs have slowed down my camping there because National Parks are not dog friendly – although they would be fine in the campground – it is a drive to get in and out to dog friendly places.

The road up Mesa Verde – 2017

However, in 2017, Kachina, Maizzy and I headed up during our annual labor day trip.  It was hot – too hot to hike.  So, I thought the elevation would be to our advantage.

Smiling doggies – Kachina and Maizzy at Mesa Verde 2017

That was the weekend I also decided to foster my little disabled dog, Sazi, then Dotsy.  Her name, Sazi Ana, is inspired by our drive through Mesa Verde that day.

Mesa Verde 2017

The ruins of Mesa Verde are unique cliff dwellings.  It has probably been close to 15 years since I went by myself on spring break and climbed one of the ladders.  Folks, I have a huge fear of heights and that was nothing I would ever repeat.  But it does give some idea what the Ancient Pueblo Indians must have lived like.  I always wonder how they ever kept toddlers off of the ladders without baby gates.

Mesa Verde – 2017

Mesa Verde – 2017

Mesa Verde is also a gorgeous daylily with outrageous ruffles.  She was another of my early Southwest named daylilies.

Mesa Verde daylily – 2019

I was naive before thinking that there might be a few dozen kinds of daylily.  Somehow, I figured out about ordering bare-root on-line.  The first year, I just picked fun colors.  After that, I picked Southwest names.

Mesa Verde Daylily – 2018

Mesa Verde is decidedly pink until the sun hits – then she resembles the orange cliffs of her name sake.

Mesa Verde daylily – 2018

Her pot is over growing in grass.  I was going to fix that in March, until COVID-19 hit and I didn’t want to go buy soil until it was too late.  Perhaps this fall.

Mesa Verde daylily – 2018

This weekend, I am repainting my Monument Valley mural.  I think living vicariously during the safer-at-home phase of corona virus has inspired the creative in me.  My creativity has been totally shut down for the last year or two.  Feels good to be covered in mural paint.

Mesa Verde tile painting – 2019

A couple of Christmases ago, I did try my hand at painting Mesa Verde.  The flower, that is.