"One
of my favorite National Scenic Byways is Arizona State Route 260, better known
as the Desert to Tall Pines Scenic Road or the Young Highway. I like driving it
from south to north. In a day’s drive, I can enjoy everything I love
about Arizona. You begin with beautiful views of Roosevelt Lake, deep
canyons, stands of saguaro and ocotillo. As you travel north and up in
elevation, you quickly leave the desert and enter ponderosa pines, cool streams
and grasslands. Along they way there is treasure to find. Indian paintbrush,
yucca blooms, and on this day, the bright pop of Butterfly Weed. I don’t
see these very often in Arizona so this was a treat. Evidently the Butterfly
thought so too, she landed lightly and stayed a while, as it should be.