Who let the frogs out?

Reports of water flowing (at last) at the dam led Ned to head out on Sunday (8/2/15) morning to find some ready-and-willing Red-spotted toads. Although the bleating of many males was heard, only a single - but photogenic - pair was found along the creek between bridges. Be on the lookout in a month or two for many tiny ones.

All photos by Ned Harris 8/2/2015. Click on photos for larger views.

Male Red-spotted toad

The female is larger

Together at last!

Who's got the button (bush)?

All photos from Ned Harris 7/26/2015

Fig Beetle

Acacia Skipper

Paper Wasp (probably Polistis major major - definitely major acrobat)

Blooming Button Bushes (Cephalanthus occidentalis) are real insect magnets!

Early and Late

Photos by Ned Harris 7/26/2015

One of the first Arizona Barrel Cacti (Ferocactus wislizenii) we saw blooming in the canyon.

And some of the final flowers on a Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea).

For flowers pollinated by animals (insects, birds), it can be a good strategy for getting your genes into the next generation to be among the few early- or late-bloomers. (Assuming your pollinators are already - or still - around, that is.) When nothing much is blooming, you can be the only game in town, and that can pretty much guarantee a visit from a thirsty flying critter.

Mystery plants revealed

Under the rubric 'inquiring minds want to know,' we turn to two formerly mysterious plants growing great in the riparian area above the dam by the graffiti-ed Cooper's-Hawk-nest tree (and elsewhere). I'm thrilled that both turned out to be species in the sunflower/aster family, because that was my initial semi-educated guess. (And a good guess to make, given that the sunflower/aster family is second only to the grass family in terms of number of species in the canyon : -)

Because they weren't flowering (or, when I looked at them, even budding) and were somewhat atypically tall, they didn't give me the necessary knock on the head regarding their identity. I had to call (actually email) for aid. 

Ned and I did a point-and-shoot session; Debbie had already taken a sample to the plant people at the U, and she was able to help with the identification of both plants. Hooray for team work!

Photos by Ned Harris 7/26/2015

Camphor Weed aka Telegraph Plant (Heterotheca subaxillaris)

Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)

Go out and take a look!

Perfect slice

Photo by Gene Spesard 7/29/2015

Thanks to Gene for sharing this photo from Wednesday (7/29/2015) evening. Can't beat the view!

Hummingbird and bonus : - )

Photo by Ned Harris 7/26/2015

Broad-billed Hummingbird (male)

And a live webcam of the activities in and on a well-wired nest at the Environmental Building (still under construction) at the U of A.

Hear ye, hear ye!

Photo by Ned Harris 7/19/2015

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