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A reflective blog since 2017 The Apples in My Orchard

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Did you know that I also write on Medium.com? I have been a writer there since 2022. My address page can be found at: https://carollabuzzetta.medium.com/ Medium is a membership platform, but I can share with a friend link, too.

Formal Education

My background is varied. I earned a BSN from Alfred University in New York, a Master's in Child Health from SUNY Buffalo, and another Master's from UW- Steven's Point in Natural Resources, with an emphasis on Environmental Education.

What do I write about?

I write about life. You will find my articles focus on travel, education, community involvement, gardening, and sometimes parenting, although those days are mostly behind me now. I value honesty and transparency, as well as education, service, & creativity.

Silent Sunday: White Sands National Park

Posted on by theapplesinmyorchard
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Headed to White Sands National Park, a four-hour drive from Santa Fe. 

 

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White Sands is our newest National Park in the US. It became one in December of 2019.
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Driving on Dunes Drive after entering the park.
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More and more of the dunes become visible.

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Nature Trail in the park

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Lake that is dried up now. Fills in the wetter months. Underlying the dunes is water.
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The Gypsum Dunes come into view.
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Entering another world.
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The White Sand dunes look devoid of life but there is a whole ecosystem that resides here.
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A sample of scale – a man over 6 feet tall in the distance.
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A beautiful day make the dunes glisten.
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Yucca is a prevalent species in the park.
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The winds move the dunes each year – some inches and some feet! 
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Yuccas can grow rapidly to avoid being buried by the shifting dunes.
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Another sample of scale.
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Most of the dunes are firm, not unlike a beach where the water meets the shore.
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One of my favorite shots from our visit to White Sands with the mountains in the background.
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Endless.
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A sample of erosion.
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Driving on the compacted gypsum was cool!

 

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A beautiful day in White Sands National Park.

All images copyright by Carol Labuzzetta, 2020. All rights reserved. Do Not Duplicate.

Category: American Experience, Biodiversity, Cacti, Culture, Geography, landscape photography, life experience, Mountains, National Park Photography, nature, observations, photography, plants, travel, travel photography, Wilderness

9 thoughts on “Silent Sunday: White Sands National Park”

  2. Love your photos. I was amazed with the quiet when I took a hike out in and among the dunes. And everything was SO white! Looks like you enjoyed your visit! 🙂

    Reply

  3. That’s very high up on my National Parks priority list! Hope to make it there someday very soon 🙂 Gorgeous photos and looks like an amazing trip.

    Reply

    1. I hope you get to go soon, too! It is a little remote – taking the whole day to get there, visit, and back from Santa Fe. But, it was worth it. Such an unusual ecosystem. What other parks have you been to?

      Reply

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