I recently spent about 10 days in southern Utah, both camping and staying with friends. I experienced all kinds of weather: hot, cold, wet and dry. Rather than present my trip as a travel log, I decided just to group certain photos together along with my thoughts. Click on any photo for a larger version.
![Red Canyon](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/utah-0684-640x427.jpg)
Red Canyon
For the most part, I hiked in areas less travelled. I had thought about going to Bryce Canyon National Park, but it happened to be on a weekend (not that a weekday would have made much difference), and the traffic leading into the park was heavy, so I turned around and headed for the dirt roads.
Being spring time and with the recent rains, many plants were blooming.
![Yellow prickly pear cactus](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/utah-0612-640x427.jpg)
Yellow prickly pear cactus.
![Cactus with red flowers.](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/utah-0671-640x427.jpg)
Claret cup cactus
![.](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/hbr-0560-640x427.jpg)
Evening primrose
![This was probably blooming a million years ago. Fossilized plant material.](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/utah-0600-640x427.jpg)
This was probably blooming a million years ago. Fossilized plant material.
![Not exactly blooming, but pretty none the less.](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/hbr-0553-640x427.jpg)
Not exactly blooming, but pretty none the less. (Click for the larger version to see the detail.)
It always amazes me where plants choose to take root (probably not a conscious choice). There’s plenty of sand and dirt around for a plant to grow in, but perhaps these cracks have more moisture in them.
![Growing in a crack in the canyon wall.](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/utah-0594-640x427.jpg)
Utah fleabane growing in a crack in the canyon wall.
![A shrub and a pine are sharing the same crack.](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/utah-0606-427x640.jpg)
A single leaf ash and a pine are sharing the same crack.
![Jack Rabbit](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/zen-0590-640x427.jpg)
Jack Rabbit sniffing Scotch broom.
![My friends George and Kristine as we explored Manganese Wash.](http://invertedsky.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/utah-0602-640x427.jpg)
My friends George and Kristine as we explored Manganese Wash.
Go forward to Utah 2016, Part 2.