More of the East Desert

I came across an area that seemed to be crumbling pale gray sandstone kind of cemented together...the rocks had the same texture as the "ground"

nevertheless things were growing, although fairly dormant now, waiting for possible winter rains...this does not happen every year

 

this is a pair of young Cottontop Cacti, about 8" across, seeming to grow right out of the rock...this bodes well for their future, for although they look well protected with these lovely pink curved spines, desert creatures have learned to borrow underneath and eat out the inside...it does not look like this would happen here...this was the only Cottontop I saw that afternoon...