Rock Peak Cacti ...with a view

February 13, 2023

A warm Sunday as the end of winter inches closer is a great day to be out..

Aside from checking to see what early annual stuff might be starting to flower, today's walkabout offered a chance to see how the cacti in this section of the San Tans are looking after a decent, albeit cool-ish winter..

Been quite awhile since i'd been out this way and can see how much development has occurred near the park since that time.

While there are plenty of homes scattered in the areas southeast of the park ( San Tan Regional ) lots of space between each, and some pretty nice views they get to enjoy. Being this section of the San Tans is sort of an island which sits above the surrounding valleys, i'd bet there is just enough cold air drainage off the hills here that it stays at least a couple deg. warmer on cold nights out here.

Anyway, some shots.. Cacti first..

Some nice Cali Barrels, Ferocactus cylindraceus

Buckhorn Cholla, Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa

San Tan Mamm a' Graham, Mammillaria grahamii ...And possibly a Common Fishhook, Mammillaria tetrancista, which is easily confused with M. grahamii, though it supposedly does not grow east or south of the South Mountain Park / the Superstition Mountains to the northeast of here.

May be close to Valentine's Day but don't think this is the right Teddy Bear to gift that special someone. Perfect surprise gift for an Ex perhaps? lol.

Hedgehogs.. Echinocereus englemanii. As many healthy clumps as i observed, there were plenty of dead specimens around as well, some quite large in size ( width of the clump )..

Saguaro, galore

...Even the deceased. Look closely to see the skin of an arm that got hung up in the Ironwood this specimen fell into.

And pretty much perfect, naturally sculpted Desert Ironwood, Olneya tesota

..........

February 13, 2023

Some envy worthy views.... Lucky are the homeowners who get to enjoy it every day.

Coolidge, Eloy, and the Newman Mountains / Picacho Peak

Distant and hazy views toward the Catalinas and Tucson. Tough to see due to the haze but there's still snow up there. Will be more by Thursday.

Looking toward the mountains east of Queen Creek and the San Tan Valley

Wide view ..of the same view.. Pinal Peak is the taller, distant mountain near center of the picture. Square -looking peak on the far right may be North Butte, near the Gila River east of Florence, AZ.

Picket Post Mountain ( Square-ish looking thing just right of center ), and Apache Leap, just to the left.

Valley facing side of the Superstitions and 4 Peaks ( Brown's Peak ) in the background )

Random extras..

Want to work out your legs? Take a 2 hour hike up a wash that is nothing but deep, soft sand..

In many places, can see a well defined clay-like layer above some bends in the Wash. Lots of holes carved out by furries ..and tails with scales.. in this stuff too. Not sure if the powdery, white deposits in this bank are evaporated out Salt, Gypsum, or ..maybe a fungus that turns hikers into zombies, haha..

A geological hint at how parts of the San Tans were created.. May be much denser than what you might see in Hawaii, but that is old Lava / Cinder.