So, in the midst of all the craziness and drunken tourism which makes up much of Las Vegas, there's this place called the Springs Preserve, which is 180 acres owned by the water district and largely untouched by development. They've created a sustainable living/building educational facility, and 2 miles of trails through a re-created wetlands. I started volunteering out there recently, and snapped some pics.
Here's a shot of the wetlands with the Strip in the distance.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/100_0356.jpg
A tiger whiptail lizard. I saw a ton of these guys, but the suckers are way faster than my picture-taking ability.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/100_0360.jpg
Archeological site of the water system caretaker's home. The spring that supplied Las Vegas with water was way away from the town back in those days, so the caretaker of the well and pumphouse lived on the site.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/100_0362.jpg
Beautiful cactus flower (don't ask me which cactus; I'm so not a plant person, lol)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/100_0365.jpg
Thanks for looking!