Petrified Forest NP Residency - Day 4-10

Time flies when you're having fun! 

I'm getting near the end of my residency here at Petrified Forest National Park, but I'm still discovering all the beauty this place has to offer.

Even though I've lived here, and completed a residency here before, I am fascinated with how much life is here. Every step you take, you have to watch for flowers and just the tiniest little plants sprouting out from the ground. It's fun to catch glimpses of different birds and lizards. I've found signs of larger animals, but can't quite make out what it is. 

The most frequent animals I see are ravens and these wonderfully bright and colorful collared lizards.

When the day time temperatures weren't so hot, I ventured out for a hike at Long Logs Trail, at the south end of the park. What I didn't realized was how windy it was! 

The trail follows what appears to be an old road, which leads you to rolling hills covered in big chunks of petrified wood! The details, like burls and bark, are what just amaze me. 

This trip is inspiring me for the next Howdy Joey! book - I want children to be excited about exploring the National Park system - I hope the book will help them look for the little details that make visiting the park an amazing experience.