Archive for the ‘Sabino Canyon Volunteer Nationalists’ Tag
Pampas Grass In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
For many, pampas grass is an ornamental landscape plant, for others it’s an environmentally dangerous plant that crowds out indigenous desert plants and can become kneeling for wildfires. Sabino Canyon has a lot of pampas grass, fountain grass, buffel grass and other invasive plants. The battle to remove these invasive plants continues on National Public Lands Day as Sabino Stewards (Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists) and community members will be digging, pulling, and bagging invasive plants near the Sabino Creek area. This activity is one of several activities that will be taking place in the Coronado National Forest September 24th on Public Lands Day. All fees are waived for the day.
— kenne
Once an invasive species arrives, it’s about impossible yo get rid of it.
— Sean Hanna
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Cooper’s Hawk Above Nest In Sabino Canyon (October 31, 2016) — Image by kenne
Wind gusts ruffle the hawks feathers while watching over the large nest
high in an ash tree in the Sabino Canyon riparian area above the Sabino Creek dam.
Since this area is near where the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN)
conduct their nature program for elementary school children,
many students will have a opportunity to see activity near the creek
adding to the excitement of being on a field trip in Sabino Canyon.
— kenne
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Goldeneye In Pima Canyon — Grunge Art by kenne
My mountains,
Santa Catalina, one
of the Sonoran Desert’s
sky islands, presenting
a life zone tour
of desert,
grasslands,
oat woodlands,
and pine forest
where climate diversity
is equal to a drive
from Mexico to Canada,
with panorama views
of surrounding Sky Islands —
where less becomes more.
— kenne
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Ventana Canyon Hikers On Canvas by kenne
Ventana Canyon On Canvas by kenne
Sing and dance and be joyous,
but let each one also be alone.
Even as the strings of the lute are alone,
through they quiver to the same music.
— Kahlil Gibran
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“Remembering The Hiking Moments” — Image by kenne
Remembering the Hiking Moments
Let’s remember for a moment . . .
The trailhead gatherings,
the greetings, the smiles,
the joy of another hike.
The steep climbs, the switchbacks,
the majestic views at the top,
the masterful returns.
The trail fellowship,
sharing who we are
and common interests.
The pools near mountain trails,
resting tired feet in the cold water,
while others jump in.
The hikes along ridges of granite
and the juxtapositions of water-loving
and drought-tolerating plants.
The images captured on camera,
or our mind’s eye,
lasting images to share.
That which we have added
to life’s experiences forming
a better understanding of self.
The desire, the drive to see
what lies just over the next ridge,
on the other side of the mountain.
To our Sabino Canyon friends,
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome,
dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” *
— kenne
* Edward Abbey
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Mr. T with 2nd Grade Students In Sabino Canyon (January 15, 2015) — Image by Phil Bentley
A great way to stay young is to spend a morning with five second grade students in Sabino Canyon on your seventy-four birthday. Today’s program, titled “Back to the Past”, was about the Hohokum peoples of the Sonoran Desert that use to inhabit the Tucson basin hundreds of years ago — covering such topics as hunting, gathering, farming, water, shelter, art and sports.
At one point I was talking about how the Hohokum dug canals from rivers to grow crops.
One of the students asked, “What’s a canal?”
To which I replied, “It’s like a ditch, channel through which water runs from the river to the crops.”
The little girl said, “Oh, like a TV channel?” — “Out of the mouths of babes!”
A boy told me how he liked the hike and going by the dam, but added:
“I really don’t like how we stopped every 20 seconds, but I had a great time.” (Think he was telling me that I talk too much?)
Another great day outdoors with nature talking about the past with the future.
“. . . that fruitful miracle of communication in the midst of solitude.”
— Marcel Proust
kenne
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Paperflower (Psilostrophe cooperi), November 10, 2014 — Image by kenne
The SCVN A Naturalist’s Guide To Sabino Canyon states:
Quarter-sized bright yellow composite flowers with 3-6 petals on bushy plants to 2 ft.
Thin, lance-shaped, gray-green leaves with white hairs. Blooms most reliably Apr-Jun.
Fun Fact: Flowers fade to white and stay on long after blooming.
These plants are still providing much color this fall in Sabino Canyon.
kenne
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Night-blooming Cereus (ceroid cacti) — Image by Jeffery Banfield
Night-blooming Cereus Fruit — Image by kenne
The Night-Blooming Cereus
And so for nights
we waited, hoping to see
the heavy bud
break into flower.
On its neck-like tube
hooking down from the edge
of the leaf-branch
nearly to the floor,
the bud packed
tight with its miracle swayed
stiffly on breaths
of air, moved
as though impelled
by stirrings within itself.
It repelled as much
as it fascinated me
sometimes – snake,
eyeless bird head,
beak that would gape
with grotesque life-squawk.
— from “Night-Blooming Cereus” by Robert Hayden
Listen to “Night-Blooming Cereus” by Robert Hayden
https://soundcloud.com/william-a-sigler/night-blooming-cereus-by
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Children at the SCVN Booth at the Wild for the Wilderness Event In Sabino Canyon (November 8, 2014) — Images by kenne
The long-planned and awaited celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act signed by President Johnson, “Wild for the Wilderness” took place in Sabino Canyon this past Saturday. Over forty organizations participated providing nature and wilderness activities, including nature walks, exhibits, and activities designed to test wilderness skills. The event was sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Sierra Club, Friends of Sabino Canyon, and several other partners. Hundreds of volunteers help create many lasting memories for visitors to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
kenne
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Members of American Senior Housing Association with SCVN Guides Dan (Dusty) Granger and Ed Rawl (November 7, 2014) — Image by kenne
Creek Crossing
Crossing Sabino Creek
Coming Down Phoneline Trail
Going Up Phoneline Link Trail
Group In Front of Visitors Center
Images by kenne (Click on any of the tiled images for larger view in a slideshow format.)
This past week executives belonging to the American Senior Housing Association (ASHA) attended a conference at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. An arrangement was made months ago for members interested in hiking in Sabino Canyon to be shuttled the short distance from the resort to the canyon. Thirty members spent approximately 2 1/2 hours hiking led by Dan Granger, Ed Rawl, and myself. We divided into three hiking groups, one a less demanding hike led by Dan and two more difficult hikes led by Ed and me. The demanding hikes were four miles, combining several trails (Esperero, Rattlesnake, Phoneline Link, Phoneline, and Bear Canyon trails) looping into the canyon with an elevation change of 600 feet. Ed’s group went counterclockwise, and my group went clockwise around the designed loop. Meanwhile, Dan took those interested in a less demanding hike on trails the lower Sabino Canyon.
ASHA provides leadership for the seniors housing industry on legislative and regulatory matters, advances research, education, and the exchange of strategic business information, and promotes the merits of seniors housing. Located in Washington, DC, the membership represents businesses in North America, and for most, this was a perfect time to be in sunny Tucson. We did our best to add to their brief time in the Sonoran Desert.
— kenne
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As a Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist, I enjoy teaching children about nature — thanks for sharing, Cathy. It was a pleasure to be with polite, inquisitive children interested in learning about nature.
Life is good and I love it!
kenne
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Desert Spiny Lizard
SCVN Lizard Walk
SCVN Lizard Walk
SCVN Lizard Walk
SCVN Lizard Walk
Side-blotched lizard
SCVN Lizard Walk
Side-blotched lizard
SCVN Lizard Walk
Side-blotched lizard
Desert Spiny Lizard
Twenty-one people participated in the last SCVN 2014 Lizard Walk (October 11, 2014).
Although the count was low, observing mostly side-blotched, desert spiny, and zebra-tailed lizard lizards,
it was an enjoyable walk on a beautiful fall desert morning.
— Images by kenne
(Click on any of the tiled images to see larger view in a slideshow format.)
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Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist, Ralph Mersiowsky Recently Passed Away In Tucson
— March 27, 2014 by Images by kenne
The Man In The White Shirt
Everyone who walked with
Ralph Mersiowsky
can share many stories about
the man in the white shirt.
During my naturalists training
I observed naturalists
teaching children,
each with his/her
naturalists vest
covered with badges
and many pockets
full of rocks,
minerals, seeds and pictures.
Of the naturalists
with whom I have walked,
from which I learned and
shared knowledge of nature,
Ralph will always be
the man in the white shirt.
For three years
I have spent
Thursday mornings with
elementary school children and
the man in the white shirt.
He has a star
above the canyon
that will always shine
on the hundreds of children
who are closer to nature
because of Ralph Mersiowsky,
the man in the white shirt —
a big-hearted, gentle man.
— kenne
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Greater Earless Lizard
Greater Earless Lizard
Greater Earless Lizard
Ornate Tree Lizard
Greater Earless Lizard
Ornate Tree Lizard
Ornate Tree Lizard
Desert Spiny Lizard
Zebra-Tailed Lizard
Desert Spiny Lizard
Desert Spiny Lizard
Desert Spiny Lizard
SCVN Lizard Walk (August 9, 2014) — Images by kenne
(CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE LARGER VIEW IN A SLIDE SHOW FORMAT.
You can also go to my Flickr account to see all 22 photos taken yesterday.)
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Fourteen Sabino Stewards participated in learning to identify invasive grasses,
and bagging the grasses early morning on July 10th in Sabino Canyon.
— Image Source: SCVN Member Tracks
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