Cheesehead Travels: Gardens of Casa/Casita Del Rio & Exotic Cactus Ranch

Large hot springs tub of Casa Del Rio overlooking Rio Grande river and Turtleback Mountains

This will be the last post on my travels to New Mexico.  I promise tomorrow to feature a hosta for you!  I just enjoyed my stay in New Mexico so much that I wanted to share it.  I don't think New Mexico is usually on the top of everyone's travel list.  There are natural hot springs that run throughout the town of Truth or Consequences.  Our house featured a hot spring tub, which was where we spent the majority of our vacation.

Everyone was so nice in Truth or Consequences.  Even though it was a small town and everyone knew everyone they never made visitors feel unwelcome.  It was not uncommon to walk into a store or restaurant and people would just start talking to you, asking about your day, like you were one of the local towns people.  Here are the last of some of the pictures of gardens and such of the house we rented while there, and of the nursery I visited there called Exotic Cactus Ranch:

Another hot spring tub of Casita Del Rio house

Casa Del Rio

Spaceport America is not far, and they launched a rocket during our stay. 

Overlooking Rio Grand and Turtleback Mountains

Love this metal garden sculpture

Heron on Rio Grande

Loved these hooks they had placed all over the gardens and fences.

Visiting Exotic Cactus Ranch

Cactus in bloom

Another Cactus bloom

Large display cactus

Sign for Exotic Cactus Ranch

Cheesehead Travels: Irises of Casa & Casita Del Rio

View of Iris garden overlooking Turtleback Mountains

 

The house that my husband and I rented last week was located in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.  I was very surprised when we arrived to see their irises in bloom.  I didn't expect to see irises in the desert climate of New Mexico.  The owner told me that it was actually quite early for the irises to be blooming, much like many of the flowers here in Wisconsin.   Because the house is located on the Rio Grande river, they can use the water from the river to keep their gardens watered.

Sedona, Arizona

This week I will be taking you with me as I travel through the state of Arizona.  I will be visiting Sedona, the Grand Canyon, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson.  Don't worry, I still left one day for a hosta posting!

Today's stop is Sedona, AZ known for it's beautiful red, sandstone formations in the Sonoran Desert.  We made a quick stop in Sedona on our way to the Grand Canyon and it did not disappoint!  The red rocks of Sedona are absolutely beautiful!

Chapel of the Holy Cross built into the red rocks of Sedona