Native Beauty

Photo by Ned Harris 2/8/2012

This beautiful (quarter-sized) blossom is called Ragged Rock Flower (Crossosoma bigelovii). (Even the buds are stunning.) We've seen loads of these plants in the rocky slopes along the road, and there are several plants tucked into the rocks on the Bluff trail (where this photo was taken. Thanks, Ned!)

Even More Blooming Now!

Photo by Matt Ball

Like the yellow-orange Fiddleneck, this is another reliable bloomer in the Borage Family (Boraginaceae). It's probably Chryptantha barbigera (Bearded Cryptantha), but the Chryptantha species are hard to tell apart. If you'd like, call these tiny white ones Popcorn Flowers. Look along the road, on the Bluff trail, on the Esperero trail.

Photo by Matt Ball

Many plants in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) are blooming now, including the Lace Pod Mustard (Thysanocarpus curvipes). The white flowers (see link) and the seedpods (pictured above) are VERY tiny, but the seedpods are definitely worth a closer look. If you see a tiny white flower, stop and inspect.

More Blooming Now!

Okay, these photos are from 2010. Ned took photos on the nature walk today that I'll get later. The same plants are blooming, though. Look for them.

Photo by Matt Ball

This is another primrose, specifically: Mustard Evening Primrose (aka California Sun Cup) Camissonia californica. It's in the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) (and is NOT a mustard). Buds look orange, flower is smaller than a dime on a very slender stem. We saw several on the Bluff Trail this morning. Look carefully, though, as they are often hidden under other plants.

Photo by Matt Ball

Two plants here: The purple is Desert Lupine (Lupinus sparsiflorus). It's in the Pea Family (Fabaceae) and is only starting to bloom. You'll find this all along the road from the entrance to the Esperero Trail to the entrance to the Bluff Trail and beyond. This year's plants aren't very tall.
The yellow-orange is Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia). Borage Family (Boraginaceae) Also very low growing this year. We saw a number of these on the Bluff Trail.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's "Even More Blooming Now!"

Blooming now!

Photo by Carol Tornow 2/6/2012

Yellow Desert Primroses (Oenothera primaveris) are blooming now in Sabino Canyon. Get out early to see these beauties and look low.

Cinderella was here?

Photo by Carol Tornow, 2/6/2012

Yes, Carol and I found this at-least-4-inch-stiletto-healed 'shoe' (using the term rather generously) in the canyon. At the risk of being redundant to my very rational readership, I'll make this public service announcement:
Under no circumstances should you or anyone you care about wear anything remotely like this.
In the canyon or otherwise. (Mating season or not.)
Cinderella, your shoe is now in its rightful place. You're welcome.

Not from last year!

Photo by Matt Ball 2/3/2012

Last year, this was the time of the big freeze. On Friday, I saw this Desert Spiny Lizard sunning in my neighborhood. A small one, I'll grant you, but very neat!

A winter visitor

Photo by Bob Wenrick

This beautiful blue bird is, in fact, a bluebird; specifically, a Western Bluebird. Small flocks have been seen in Sabino Canyon. If you are interested in birds, check out allaboutbirds.org 

Abert's Towhee

Photo by Bob Wenrick

Abert's Towhee  is a year-round resident.

What's a bird on a branch worth?

Photo by Ned Harris

One of the blogs I read is called "A Phrase a Week" and this week's phrase is "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." This bird on a branch is an American Kestrel.

Today in Kingdoms

Photo by Ned Harris 1/21/2012

On the Wednesday nature walk, we talked about mosses, algae, and fungi (among other living things). I needed to refresh my memory about algae, so I found this site. It provides a quick overview of the 6 Kingdoms of life. Basically, there are:

• 1. Weird Bacteria (that live at the bottom of the ocean, say)
• 2. Not-so-weird Bacteria (that live in your mouth, say)
• 3. Algae (but not the stuff fka blue-green algae. That's cyanobacteria. See 2.)
• 4. Fungi (mushrooms, etc.)
• 5. Plants (mosses, cacti, etc.)
• 6. Animals (horse and rider above)

Keep in mind: Today, there are 6 Kingdoms. As we learn more about life, the universe, and everything, though, the number of Kingdoms may change (or things may be switched into a different Kingdom or Phylum, etc.). Because DNA sequencing has become relatively inexpensive, it's much easier to see what is related to what and who to whom. Bottom line: All living things share a common ancestor. Very cool!

Today in Flowers

I don't have any photographs at the ready, but I hope to soon. For today's flowers, we'll use the fantastic Firefly Forest site for wildflowers. Gayle and I walked the entire road to nowhere and, in addition to some of our favorite road-walking regulars (Gloria and David, Michael, Ray and Kathy), we saw these great flowers:

• Wild Cucumber (Marah gilensis); 
• Filaree (Erodium cicutarium) introduced from Europe; 
• Fleabane (Erigeron divergens); 
• and one of the Cryptantha species (Popcorn flower, to the kids).

Wherever you walk in the canyon, you are guaranteed to see someone or something nice.

Today in Blossoms

Photo by Fred Heath

Wolfberry (Lycium exsertum) is blooming. (The other common Wolfberry Lycium berlandieri blooms Jul-Sep). Gayle and I saw White Bladderpod (Physaria purpurea) and Ragged Rock Flower (Crossosoma bigelovii) today as well, along the road between mile 3 and (a bit past) stop 8, non-creek side.

Hummingbird News

Photo by Ned Harris

You're thinking: Biggest hummingbird ever! He's not, of course. He's an American Wigeon. For more from Sweetwater Wetlands, fly over to Ned's Flickr site.

Now for the hummer news: Banding in Sabino Canyon will start March 24; that's great. The Madera Canyon site is no longer available, however, and the Hummingbird Banding Network is looking for another site in the Santa Ritas. If you know anyone who owns a ranch in Gardner Canyon (for example) or have other ideas for sites, please contact Elissa through this site. If you are interested in helping in Sabino Canyon, please look at this site and contact Elissa. We need feeder changers during the week, banding help every other Saturday in Sabino Canyon (and, of course, at other sites).

More about Jojoba

Thanks to Donna for this link about the wondrous plant that is Jojoba. I've added it to the recent post as well.

First of the season!

Photo by Kenne Turner 1/25/12

This beauty is a Sara Orangetip, seen on the Bluff Trail by Ned and FON (Friends of Ned) on the Wednesday Nature Walk. For a 3-minute video of the life cycle of the Sara Orangetip, click HERE.

Photo by Kenne Turner, 1/25/12

A Gray Hairstreak was also seen. (On a mesquite, not on Kenne.)
Be sure to check out this great photo on Kenne's blog. (Do you know which bridges you see?)

Blooming Jojoba

Photo by Peggy Wenrick 1/23/12

Peggy caught some blooming Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis). This plant is dioecious; separate male and female plants. Both sexes produce these small, greenish-yellow flowers, though, so it's unclear which sex this one is. Female plants (of course) will produce the acorn-like green fruits that turn brown. Let's keep watch! More info on Jojoba here. 


Update on liverworts: Fred found them on the Bluff trail. They are very tiny, though. (The photo shows about one square inch of space.) Look in the shady areas where you see the spike mosses (Resurrection plants). 

New Fern to Learn

Photo by Fred Heath

Text by Fred Heath:

The Star Fern (Notholaena standleyi) is found along the main tram road starting just before Tram Stop 2 and the Spike Moss or Resurrection plant (Selaginella arizonica) is found everywhere this year.

Anne says: Note that Star Ferns are different from Fairy Swords.

Anne also says: Yesterday's bridge is bridge 4. (Bridges 6, 8, and 9 weren't shown from above - this time anyway). Walt Tornow got a perfect score. How did you do?

Last of the bridges from above

Photo by Carol Tornow

(For this season, anyway.) You can't see your clue from this vantage point, but this is an even-numbered bridge. Answer tomorrow.

Liverworts

Photo by Fred Heath

Text by Fred Heath:

The liverworts are a primitive plant. Bryophyte is a traditional name used to refer to all embryophytes (land plants) that do not have true vascular tissue and are therefore called 'non-vascular plants.' Currently bryophytes are thought not to be a natural or monophyletic group; however the name is convenient and remains in use as a collective term for mosses, hornworts, and liverworts. The Liverworts alone are in the Division Marchantiophyta. In ancient times, it was believed that liverworts cured diseases of the liver, hence the name.   

Red-tailed Hawk

Photo by Ned Harris, 1/18/2012

This guy looks a bit cold, if you ask me! An adult Red-tailed Hawk.

Yesterday's bridges are bridge two (Two-faced) and bridge three (ZZ Top). Hearty thanks again to Walt Tornow for helping all of us learn where we are on (and above) the road.