Two posts in one day!

Sonora Mud Turtle

Photos (and glasses) from Mark Hengesbaugh

Yes, it's a Sonora Mud Turtle (kinosternon sonoriense)! Confirmed by Bill and David. Seen by Jean and Mark today at the dam. Unlike the desert tortoise, the mud turtle is a carnivore. Keep your toes in your shoes.

Bloomin' Barrels, Batman!

Better than a barrel of monkeys!

Red, orange, and yellow flowers. Head out to the canyon soon for great views.

Not marshmallow!

Globemallow (genus Sphaeralcea) 

Rosemallow hibiscus coulteri

There is a third 'mallow' in the canyon. Indian Mallow or (genus) Abutilon. Lots of it along the road into Sabino Canyon. Not blooming yet for the post-monsoon, but look for the heart-shaped leaves and the remaining dried out seed pods - round, with (what reminds me of) a star in the middle.

Saguaro Forest

Along the Rattlesnake Trail, August 2010

Third time's the charm

Bush Spiderling

This photo was also taken by Matt Ball on 12 August, but it took me until today to identify. Looking through the firefly forest site a third time was the charm. More info. The flowers are VERY tiny. Smaller than the tip of your pinkie finger. Look for this among other plants along the big path/dirt road by the picnic tables in the area where SCVN does the elementary programs.

Puncture vine

Ditto on the date, photographer, and charm of three for i.d. More info and photos. Look for this in the turn-around circle in the same area. As always, let me know if I've made a mistake. It wouldn't be the first time - or even the third. amgreenvo at gmail

Water over the dam

Perhaps after posting this video, the rain gods will see fit to send more! (And then I'll post an update :-)

Video from Monday, 16 August 2010. Click here for water!

Three to see!

Arizona Blue Eyes

Trailing Four O'clock

Honeymat aka Woolly Honeysweet
All photos by Matt Ball

Why does the tarantula cross the road?

Made a video this morning on the road to Bear Canyon. Carol spotted this burly tarantula. The heavy breathing is from me, not the tarantula. Click!

But it's a pretty weed!

Correction: Pringle's Clustervine, not Bindweed. 8/12/10
by Matt Ball

Find this along the road in the morning. But don't eat.

Squirrel's out for the summer

Rock Squirrel, 12 August 2010
Photo by Matt Ball

I almost missed this healthy-looking critter, happily munching on mesquite pods on the wide path by the hummingbird area. Squirrels may be out, but school is back 'in'. Watch out for squirrels, children, and squirrel-y children.

Not very aptly named

Cockroach Plant Haplophyton crooksii
Photo by Matt Ball

Neither name is pretty enough for this plant! Look for it on the Bluff trail, the Rattlesnake trail, and around the dam area. If you are looking for great photos and information about Southeastern Arizona wildflowers, check out Fireflyforest  I've never met a flower in Sabino Canyon that I couldn't identify using this site.

Don't try this at home!

Who is this strange monster?

Why is it eating pipevine? (aka Southwestern Pipevine)

Could it be the Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar? In fact, it is. I was in the canyon today with my own personal photographer and spouse, Matt Ball; instead of getting a photo of the pipevine 'flower' (which Carol and I saw on Tuesday), he 'shot' this great critter - not quite an inch long, red and moist looking, with some amazing protuberances.

Let's call him Mort the Tort(oise)

Photo by Ned Harris

The fine looking fellow was seen in the Bear Canyon area. Phoneline Phil - who has a silver-dollar-sized dent in the back half of his shell, on the left or right, depending on how you are looking - has also been seen this season. Anyone have a photo to share? We can start an informal record of Phil over the years. amgreenvo at comcast.

Unicorn in the canyon!

Desert Unicorn Plant aka Yellow Devil's Claw

And, for those fans of Carl Linnaeus, Proboscidea althaeifolia, according to Spellenberg, Sonoran Desert Wildflowers. Look for this in the turn-around circle in the SCVN elementary program area near the dam bridge. Photo by Matt Ball.

CSI: Sabino Canyon

What happens when a black widow meets a  coral snake? Who wins out?  Josh shared this with me. The Black Widow wins out and wraps up the snake as a holiday present for the New Year!  This is quite the picture. Josh had NEVER seen this before either! (SO...how does he know it was a black widow? Its eggs were by it)

Photo by Josh Taiz. Text by Richard Safran. All via Walt Tornow.

And, speaking of coral snakes and black widows, take a look at this article on anti-venom. Or rather, the lack thereof. 

Herbicide gets to the root of the problem!

November 9, 2008 - Bear Canyon Bridge

August 3, 2010 - Bear Canyon Bridge

When do you apply herbicide to Sabino’s Giant Reed (Arundo donax)? All the local experts told us: “Look at the plant, not the calendar. Whenever the plant is green, the herbicide will work.” Following that sage local advice paid off during the 2009 growing season. We made spring and summer applications with a wetlands-approved herbicide that killed the re-growing Arundo canes and rhizomes (roots).

First photo taken Nov. 9, 2008 shows part of a colossal Giant Reed thicket that was destroying a locally famous native buttonbush stand. Second photo, taken Aug. 3, 2010, same stand after spring and summer herbicide treatments. Third photo is same spot Aug. 3, 2010 from a reverse angle showing buttonbush expanding and a reduced set of re-sprouted Arundo that needs to be treated again.

Arundo is an extremely fast-growing destroyer of native plants. Re-sprouts in Sabino will need to be treated aggressively and continuously during the entire growing season for the next several years to bring the infestation under control.

--Photos and text from Mark Hengesbaugh

Deer, eating pods vs. Deer-eating pods

Photos by Mark Hengesbaugh

If you haven't already enjoyed the book Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, by Lynne Truss, get yourself a copy.

Remember, punctuation is key!