More natives return

Arundo text and photos from Mark Hengesbaugh. 

The north side of Sabino’s Bear Bridge was infested with dense thickets of 25-foot tall Arundo donax (Giant Reed). On November 2, 2008, volunteers began to cut it down, dig it out and haul it away. 

The total Sabino Arundo removal effort included 6,000 volunteer hours. More than 40 species of plants have been observed returning to places that once grew only Arundo.

Photo by Matt Ball, 2/10/2012

On the once-Arundo donax-infested mound on the north side of Bear Bridge, you'll now see (among other natives) Mexican Vervain Glandularia bipinnatifida. (Yes, that's a dead stalk of giant reed in the center of the photo.) Go take a look. And marvel at the courage and vision of Jean and Mark Hengesbaugh for taking on the coordination of this eradication project.

Another Blazing Star

Photo by Ned Harris 2/27/2012

These are blooming mid-to-late morning between bridges 3 and 8. Look on both sides of the road if you are out and about. Jones' Blazing Star Mentzelia jonesii.

In the pink 2

Photo by Ned Harris, 2/26/2012

As it happens, I already have a post entitled 'In the pink'; hence the 2.
This stunning plant is Parry('s) Penstemon (rather conveniently Penstemon parryi).

Barrel of Sparrow

Photo by Ned Harris 2/26/2012

Black-throated Sparrow on Arizona Barrel Cactus (aka Fishhook Barrel) Ferocactus wislizenii. This sparrow prefers a diet of insects; the fruits here were probably eaten by a ground squirrel or a deer. Maybe by Paul.

Ornate is Great!

Photo by Ned Harris, 2/26/2012

This is an Ornate Tree Lizard.
Lizards don't look at the calendar. They come out when it's warm enough; the smaller ones first, as they have less mass to warm up. Many can change color such that they are darker when they are colder. As you know from wearing a black shirt on a sunny day, darker colors absorb more light as heat.

News in Nature

Saw several little lizards out and about recently, but not as small as these recently discovered in (or 'on' if you prefer) Madagascar.

News and video about one of my favorite desert animals, the Grasshopper Mouse.

And finally, some bloomin' ash. Velvet Ash, that is. (Fraxinus velutina) May be the source of your sneezing.

Photo by Ned Harris, 2/26/2012

Bloomin' Bells!

Sand Bells, All photos by Matt Ball

This specific plant is blooming in the wash - that has pieces of a rusted drainage cylinder - on the main path. Sand Bells Nama hispidum are in the Borage Family, as are the next two 'bells.'

Whispering Bells

Saw these blooming on the Phone Line Link Trail. Whispering Bells Emmenanthe penduliflora.

Desert Bells

These are blooming in my yard, but they are found in Sabino Canyon, too. They are non-native, but seem to have naturalized themselves (like many of us). Desert Bells Phacelia campanularia.