This panorama was taken near 209 mile on the Colorado river. Rising above the river bank is a large sandy plain. The sandy plain is covered with many different kinds of vegetation. Because of the recent spring rain the grasses are growing and turning green. The cacti are swelling and their buds will be blossoms in just a few days. The Ocotillo shrubs are a lush green. Except, look just uphill. There is one very healthy Ocotillo but just a few yards away there is the skeleton of one that has died. Other plants that are thriving here are a young Barrel Cactus, Brittle Brush, and our first signs of Cholla Cactus. The sandy plain is also home to many shrubs and other cacti. But, what I found to be prevalent on the ground was Crytogamic soil cover. Cryptogams are a fragile ground cover usually living in arid and semi-arid climates. They help hold soil in place but are easily destroyed when walked on. As you can see in the panorama, the sandy plain has many social trails.