Canyon beautification

It was a beautiful morning in the canyon.....

Carol and Anne set out to make it even moreso.

Anne captures another pop bottle!
We picked up a lot of trash, including at least 7 diapers. Yes, diapers. 

And we ran into Bruce, who had clearly eaten his wolfberries, err... Wheaties. 

Bruce received permission from the Forest Service to repair the ocotillo ramadas in the area by the dam where SCVN does the elementary programs. Thanks, Bruce!
Please join us in canyon beautification by picking up trash wherever you see it. (All photos by Carol Tornow)

Dam, Devil's Claw, Tracks

Dam, 9/8/10, c. 7am

Devil's claw, near the 'entrance' to the riparian area, same side as the bathroom.

Raccoon tracks, on the dirt 'road' leading to the dam

All photos taken this morning (9/8/10) by Carol Tornow.

Look low and look early!

Dwarf White Honeysuckle

This photo was taken this morning at about 6.30am (as Matt walked the road with me, taking photos of everything I pointed out). We were by the entrance to the bluff trail,on the left hand side as you come down the hill. This tiny plant is delicately beautiful. Long-tubed white flowers open in the evening and fall off (yes, entirely) in the morning. Also known as Longflower Tube Tongue, I just like (and will remember) the honeysuckle name better.

A bit closer

Look, but don't touch!

Rouge Plant aka Bloodberry
(photo by Matt Ball, 9/5/10)

Tiny white or pinkish flowers on stalks, fruit is a dark red berry. As you see, buds, flowers, and fruits are present at the same time. Look for this in the riparian area. As you enter from the steps by the bathroom, this will be on the left in the area where sacred datura (and many other plants) are recolonizing a patch formerly occupied by giant reed. (This area is a real bonanza for wildflowers and other neat plants now.) Leaves of the Rouge Plant are REALLY poisonous; berries are also poisonous. But it's very nice looking.

How to distinguish a wolf from a hack (berry, that is)

Wolfberry

Hackberry

Note the leaves. Which ones are larger?

Correct, this is Hackberry. Above it, Wolfberry.

Don't let the fruit fool you. Let's review.

Update 1/14/11: Wolfberry: redder, edible

Hackberry: EDIBLE

As Bruce likes to say: "Everything is edible at least once." But just say: "NO!" when Bruce offers you a wolfberry. UPDATE: 1/15/10: I'm embarrassed to discover I didn't cite a source for my claim that Bruce would try to poison you with a wolfberry. Turns out they are edible. The native peoples used both hackberry and wolfberry as food sources. Thanks to Robin for setting me straight on this.

Potty-trained frogs

Canyon tree frog - male

Canyon tree frog - female

And how do I know who's who? Well, these frogs are not only potty-trained, they also know how to read. Thanks to Carolyn (of the hummingbirds) for going where few women have gone before in order to get these photos in the bathrooms by the dam this morning. And thanks to Elissa for sending the photos to me.

One you should know!

Arizona Foldwing (dicliptera resupinata)

This little flower (smaller than a dime) blooms in spring and after the monsoons. The two 'lips' of the tube stay on after drying out. You can see some dried ones on the right. Look for them in shady spots. The leaves are bright green. A wonderfully happy-looking native, too.