Fall Pastel

 In the middle of a hot summer, it is always a good idea to remember that, unless you live in the lower desert, Fall will come and the temperatures will drop. 

RootsTech 2025 Immigration Reel

 https://youtu.be/biVzAYkhCdU?si=7W84vdYw1yivevYg

I am publishing a series of short videos about the upcoming RootsTech 2025 Conference. It isn't too early to start making plans to come to Salt Lake City to the in-person conference. Check the RootsTech website for more information about the conference. 

An Almost Empty Lot, Provo, Utah Temple May 29, 2024

 https://youtu.be/pojfvh4aYSY?si=flUCAfRgqgdaqHKQ

The demolition of the Provo, Utah Temple is almost complete. This video shows a view of the entire temple lot. We do not yet know where the new Provo Rock Canyon Temple will be built. I suppose we will know when they start excavating the basement. It was a lovely day but sad. 

The Demolition of the Provo, Utah Temple

 It is warm and beautiful day but very sad. This is what is left of the ongoing demolition of the Provo, Utah Temple. I expect that this all we gone or in piles by the end of next week. You can see the base of the spire in the center of the ruin. It was on the roof and keeps falling down in the middle as the temple is demolished. 

Provo Utah Temple Reconstruction Begins with the removal of the Angel Moroni statue.

 

https://youtu.be/f9E270KcMmE?si=b_9xd0lRh90EKeZm

The Provo Utah Temple closed on February 24, 2024 for reconstruction and will be renamed the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple. The temple has served BYU students, missionaries, and local Latter-day Saints for more than 50 years. The actual reconstruction began the week of April 14th through the 20th with tree removal and site demolition. The Angel Moroni statue was removed on 18 April 2024. This is a short video showing the removal. 

A Colander View of the Eclipse

Using a colander or strainer, you can see miniature images of the solar eclipse. We had a few clouds but a good view of the sun. Not enough coverage to make the light go weird however. 

Cholla in the Desert

 Cylindropuntia fulgida or Hanging chain cholla or jumping cholla

Cylindropuntia fulgida, also referred to as the hanging chain cholla, is a remarkable cactus native to the Sonoran Desert and the Southwestern United States. Its greatest range encompasses nearly all of Sonora, except for the Sierra Madre Occidental cordillera on the east, and extends into northern California. In the Southwestern United States, you can find it in the Colorado Desert of California and various locales in Arizona. It even ventures into the Mojave Desert in southern Nevada and Utah, as well as the Great Basin Desert in southern Utah. The jumping cholla thrives in arid environments, where it forms striking forests of interconnected plants spanning vast areas1.

The jumping cholla is an arborescent (tree-like) cactus with a low-branching trunk. Its stems are light green, tuberculate (covered in wart-like projections), and measure 6 to 9 millimeters in length. These stems give rise to drooping branches adorned with silvery-yellow spines, which darken to gray as they age. The spines form a dense layer, obscuring the stems and creating an otherworldly appearance. As the spines fall off from older parts, the bark reveals a rough, scaly texture. The jumping cholla blooms in mid-summer, displaying white and pink flowers streaked with lavender. Interestingly, it opens its flowers precisely at 3:00 p.m. solar time, a quirk noted by naturalists1.

Cylindropuntia fulgida grows at elevations ranging from 300 to 1,000 meters (980 to 3,280 feet). While the name “jumping cholla” specifically applies to this species, it is also used more broadly for all chollas. The plant can reach heights of up to 4 meters (13 feet) and forms dense, sprawling clusters. Its cylindrical trunk holds multiple low, drooping branches, creating a distinctive silhouette. Beware of those spines—they detach easily and seem to “jump” onto unsuspecting passersby. So, if you encounter a jumping cholla, admire its unique beauty from a safe distance.

Abstracted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylindropuntia_fulgida by Microsoft Copilot