Springs Preserve

            Yesterday (2/2/13) I made my first visit to Springs Preserve.  This attraction is located just minutes north of the Vegas strip.  There are many things to do here....so much that I decided to get a 25 dollar membership because I want to visit at least 1 or 2 more times.  There are many different exibits during the year as well as activities, tours, the Origen Museum and the gardens.  For more information just checkout their website. 
       I spent about 4 hours here  yesterday.  It was a nice hazy winter day, with temperatures in the 60's, I was able to spend a lot of time outside taking pictures. 
     I began my Springs Preserve adventure taking in an 8 minute video in the Origen Museum about the natural history of Vegas.  There were only 3 other people here.  Then I proceeded to look at some magnificent art work done by students.  These students were winners of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Southern Nevada Region Competition.  Afterwards I checked out the Wings Over Springs Raptor Show.  The kids really seemed to enjoy it.  Some of the birds fly close to your head as they dart from pearch to pearch.  For an extra fee, you can also get a special behind the scence tour.  Here are a few pics from the raptor show.

    After the show, I rented a bike (8 dollars for 1hour, 6 if you are a member) and rode around the trails.  There was not much to see here.  After the bike ride I walked around the gardens.  I spent most of my time here taking pictures, I narrowed them down to my top 10.

If you look closely you can see the little ant.  This plant is called Compass Barrell (Ferocactus Wislizeni).

 

What does this look like???

And last but not least a really big cactus.  This species is cargegiea gigantea.