Big Bend in Bloom
Photographs and stories by Alexa Walker

STANDING UP TO THE STORM
Big Bend National Park, Texas

The storms just didn't want to quit at Big Bend this spring. I didn't get to go all the places I wanted to because so many roads were washed out. It was a bit of a frustration, but then you can't argue with the beauty of the storms when you see such vistas as this. And the ocotillos were a bit of a mystery. On the west edge of the park, the spiny arms were fully leafed out, topped off by those crimson blooms. And the ones on the east side were blooming as well, but the leaves were absent. I don't know why, but it was all beautiful. Let the mystery be.