Walnut Canyon National Monument
I am learning that our national monuments are just as awesome, if not better than, our National Parks! Went to Walnut Canyon on a whim, and it was amazing! First off, seeing the dwellings where the natives once lived in the area was so neat. Learning the history before hiking down into the beautiful Canyon was awesome; they have an amazing visitor center. They also had signs all along the trail, teaching you about the plants, which was a special way into my heart.
Speaking of, I chose Petrophytum caespitosum or Rock Spiraea as my plant focus for this hike, though there were a lot to choose from. This plant is in the rose family despite its shrubby appearance. It is a hardy plant that grows in the sunny parts of the canyon, out of the limestone, and helps break down rocks, contributing to the natural erosion of the canyon. The flowers can persist through winter, as seen in my photos!
Thanks to Walnut Canyon, I have been keeping my eye out for other National Monuments on my route, so I’m sure I’ll have more monument posts in the future! See ya then!
The Fools Journeys 
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