here are your pictures:

It's your layout & if you like minimalistic than that's fine.

Reminds me of Neil Young's layout where he used natural materials for landscaping and also..an indoor G scale ( which I once had). It was a bear to disassemble. Looks great. All it needs is a Jeep climbing over the boulders and a camper. 

I use real rocks if they look good. Track ballest stone looks great stuck in the side of a hill, Folks want to know how I painteds them so well. I tell them God painted them. Ya, I get the look.

Nice work, don't feel apologetic about it. I'm not keen on industries and city clutter myself.

Hello Rip Track

   I enjoyed looking at your layout photos, first class scenery.  

Duh......looks like a desert to me...and they are defineitely not all full of saguaro, cholla, or Joshua trees.

HEY COLORADO HIRAILER:

You say "Duh......looks like a desert to me..."

Well, that's exactly what I wanted it to look like!  (And Joshua Trees are on the way...here's a real one in front of my house... click to enlarge)

So you complimented me without apparently meaning to!

Thank You!

RIP TRACK

WOW!

I got 3 "liked your topic" notices out of 9 replies!

I usually get just one, but this was a bonanza, so I want to thank Sinclair, Spence, and TrainRoom Gary!''

The remining 6 of you were mostly complimentary too!

Keep 'em coming...

RIP TRACK

Really nice and a good job!

 People in the East can't imagine some of this unless they've been there.

Out in some areas, It's just plain deserts. You nailed it.

 Reminds me of when I see some BNSF warbonnet engines with the paint baked right off. If the sun didn't do it, the sand storms did.

Nice!  It has its own charm.  Sort of a Japanese Rock Garden layout.  Very zen-like.  

Mr. Willis,

"Zen-like", you say?

Then I guess I'll sleep on a rock and talk to a snake...

Ah so,

Sayonara...

RIP TRACK

Rip Track-It doesn't need a lot of extras. I'm no expert on deserts, but that looks like one to me! Besides a few more cacti, what else could you add that would add to the barren look of a desert?

Dear Milwaukee Road Paul,

In addition to a few more Saguaros, I've GOT to get a few Joshua trees!

Thanks for the compliment!

RIP TRACK

Not many folks model a desert scene so I am impressed!!  I think a few more and taller desert "trees" and cacti as well as some tumble weed will be icing on what looks to be a pretty nice "cake"...I mean layout!!

Rip...wonder what the large rocks would look like sprayed with a little of the reddish colors one sees out west...???  Anyway, I like what you are doing...keep going you're doing goooood!!

Alan

HEY ALAN,

I intend to do just that!

I can afford to plant Saguaros twice as tall as the ones I now have (10 scale feet), and tinting the buttes is also a good idea!

I've got to find some Joshua Trees too.

(Next siding at milepost 58, if you have to clear for the express...)

RIP TRACK