..A not - so - socially distanced February walkabout in the desert ..Pt. #1

[Silas_Sancona]

Took a reasonably nice late February day before a storm sweeps through  to return out to the Boulder Fields east of Florence to see how everything was looking out there after both last summer's epic Monsoon season, and in light of a pretty lack luster winter rainy season.. 

While most stuff that probably came up last summer has long since dried out and blown away ..or been consumed by the Cattle that roam much of the Public and State lands out here, can see how much the area benefited from those summer rains - if you have a very good eye.  had to get more grit from a nearby wash as well, and scope out road cuts / debris piles neat road cuts for some larger rock for the yard.. Yes, here at least, you are allowed to collect reasonable amounts of rock out in the desert  ..emphasis on reasonable   ..believe there is a 250lb yearly limit,  ..anyway..

As expected, due to very minimal rain this winter, not as much annual color as i had seen here in 2020, still, was kind of surprised at how green everything looks atm..  I also stumbled upon an intriguing mystery..

Unlike all visits in 2020, during the worst of the pandemic, ..and to some extant when out here last year,  I also was not alone..  Holiday weekend played a part i'm sure,  and no doubt more people are getting out / exploring this area in the midst of great late winter weather  but ..lots ( and lots ) of hikers / campers / folks taking the OHV's for a Monday spin in the desert..  Nice to see, but, more people means more trash scattered about, and more boulders defaced by Graffiti again.. Some defaced after being cleaned by an organization that has come out here to remove paint from boulders here in the past..

Walked more areas i hadn't explored on past trips this time around. Appears, from passing where the gate is, the official entrance to the heart of the boulder fields has been opened to the public, ..i think.. ( Did not go through the gate myself, but saw other cars pass through it.. Some signs that apparently detail when it is open on the gate as well.  Will check it out on the next visit )

Onto some habitat shots..  As i try to do w/ these kinds of threads, ** Pt #2 " Scenery Shots " will be posted  in Ohana Nui.. **

Opening scene as you approach the Boulder field.. I use Cochran Road to access areas i've explored ( where the " for sale " sign is in the picture. Apparently a " Horse Property "  piece of land is for sale somewhere along Cochran Rd ) Heart of the area is accessible ( ..or so it seems.. ) about a mile or so up the road, on the left. ( if you're headed east ) anyway.. Some work is being done to a bigger Wash east of here, possibly in preparation of widening / paving another stretch of the Florence - Kelvin Highway between here and Kearny, AZ. ( Is a graded, dirt road currently out there )



As mentioned, not much in the Spring Wildflower department this year, but, some color scattered across the landscape non the less..

Shrubby Deer Vetch, Ottleya rigidus ( ** formally Lotus rigida )



Noid Legume..



Desert Wishbone Bush and Fiddleneck, a common spring Annual. Icy Quartz in the background.



First flowers of the spring on Desert Wishbone Bush, Mirabilis laevis.  Several forms of this 4- 0' Clock relative across the Southwest. Not sure which one is common in the area.. ( may be a couple, depending on location )




Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum.. As common here in AZ as they are in California..




Jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis. Possibly a male specimen ( Jojoba produce male/ female flowers on separate plants, most of the time anyway )



Ephedra sp..  One strangely intriguing Conifer relative..  Same plant family that was an part of the energy boost / weight loss supplement craze not too long ago.




Two interesting grasses: As odd is it may sound to many, Grasses make up a good sized chunk of Sonoran Desert Flora, and are extremely important to the ecology of the region as well. From providing food, an annual / bi-annual source of organic material for the soil, Desert grasses can also act as " nurse " plants for Cacti and other larger plants here.  Unlike invasive grasses ..like certain annual grasses, Fountain and Buffelgrass,  most native sp don't out compete other native plants, allowing space for them to colonize and grow.  Here in Central / Southern AZ, you can find grasses that have their origins both in the cooler temperate regions of North America, and those whose ranges extend north from the warmer,  frost free tropics  growing on the same chunk of real estate,  depending on the season.

Noid on this one.. but common in tight rock crevices, esp. up on the Quartz- covered hill.. Casual thought is some sort of Muhly or Three - Awn ( Aristida sp. ) Time for some homework..



Fluffgrass / Low Woolygrass, Dasyochloa pulchella.  As tiny as this is ( Most specimens i found were under 4" in height, possibly due to lack of winter rainfall this year ), it is a perennial that withstands scorching heat and prolonged drought well. Good indicator  desert / Chaparral that has been minimally disturbed.






A tribute to Foothill / Little Leaf Palo Verde, Parkinsonia / **Cercidium**  microphylla .. in all their late winter glory..  A couple more months until they'll light up with flowers.














Very interesting, almost caudex- like trunk base on this specimen..  One old tree for sure..





Cliff Brake / Coffee fern sp. Pellaea sp. Keep hoping to find other ferns out here, but no luck yet..





Like Grasses, as " Meh / boring " as they may be to most,  Lichens present some interesting splashes of color on rocks in the landscape..  Seems the Blue / Gray-ish colored sp. has a thing for Limestone, vs areas of Granite or Quartz - derived rock.. Would only find it growing on chunks of Lime / Mud stone scattered on outcrops ..or " balds " - as they're sometimes referred to-  that are all Limestone / Calcium Carbonate- type derived rock.









.........
 

[Silas_Sancona]

As mentioned plenty of times.. Saguaro - a - Plenty  out here.. Lots of little ones too in the " newly explored " spots  ..which is good to see considering some concerning recruitment challenges in other parts of the state..

Grand dads..





Crowned prince..



'Wee ones..






Peek -a- Boo Prickly Pear, up there..



Sun bathed Hedgehogs ( Echinocereus englemanii variety )..









Rare, Crested hedgehog..



I spy me some 'more  M'aam -a- Grahams..



Big, fat Barrels ( Ferocactus wizlizenii )





Christmas Cholla, Cylindropuntia leptocaulis





Eerk' - Ah' - Till 'Aah ( Fouquieria splendens )







Yucca elata   No pods / seeds on any encountered again this year







..The heck is this little ( ..well not so little ) surprise??  ..Agave?, obviously ..but which?  A. chrysantha?, palmeri?  Looks close, ..Something just doesn't fit, imo.   ..A domesticate remnant?  ..or something else.. Could've been planted since i didn't spy any other plants near by, but.. Might have to look around more on another visit.  ..Interesting none the less. 














Regardless, that Bi / Tri -colored  leaf tip spine is pretty sweet.




.......









 

[PalmsandLiszt]

2 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

 

Is this the oldest one currently alive? It's quite magnificent.

[Silas_Sancona]

6 hours ago, PalmsandLiszt said:

Is this the oldest one currently alive? It's quite magnificent.

Definitely old ..but pretty sure there are living specimens specimens here in AZ  that are older.. ( and still alive ..Believe one really old specimen was toppled not terribly long ago ) By how much?.. not sure, but imagine it would be close age-wise.

[spike]

can't wait to see part 2

[Meangreen94z]

Great pictures, thank you for posting 

[Silas_Sancona]

13 hours ago, spike said:

can't wait to see part 2

   ..Enjoy