This book by Frank S. Rose is more like a bible for naturalists walking and hiking in southern Arizona. The abundance of wildflowers varies from year to year, and this year is definitely one of the better years.
“I was lying on the ground in Molina Basin, camera at the ready, attempting to photograph a flower. I had no idea what it was, but I had a list of the plants in the Santa Catalina Mountains. How, I wondered, would I connect what I was seeing through my camera lens with a particular plant on the list? Then I heard a woman’s voice. ‘Ooh, another plant photography.” I looked up to see two women approaching. The person who spoke introduced herself as Joan Tedford, and, to my delight and amazement, she was the person who had made this list I was using . . . Joan invited us to join a group that takes a weekly nature walk in the Catalinas. Every week for the summer and into the fall I happily followed the leader, Bob Porter, as we explored many different trails, noting plants, birds, and anything else of interest along the way. So began a ten-year adventure, some of the happiest hours of my life, spent in the company of Joan Tedford, Bob Porter, and other Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists who helped us explore the extensive trail system in this Sky Island range.” — Frank S. Rose
(Click On Any Of The Tiled Photos To See A Larger Image.)
“The Sonoran Desert is nature’s giant watercolor.”
Northern Mockingbird in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
One of the most familiar birds in the Sonoran Desert is the Northern Mockingbird. They hunt insects and spiders eat a wide variety of fruits; berries of lantana and pyracantha are mainstays. Males and females have similar plumage: nearly uniform gray except for long dark tail and white patch in open wing. Males are the singers that often practice all night long on a concatenation of bird songs borrowed from a variety of other bird species. Three plants in particular produce fruit attractive to mocking birds: Desert Mistletoe, Fremont Thornbush, and Desert Hackberry.
“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here.”
Another Year of Few Wildflowers In The Sonoran Desert — Image by kenne
Spring wildflowers in the Sonoran desert depend on fall and winter rains. When there are little to no rains, as has been the last few years, then there are few wildflowers in the spring. The above image is in the Molino Basin, where in non-drought years, there are plenty of wildflowers to photograph. This year there are only a few patches to be found.
I’ve been told that I’m built like a fencepost Kind of wiry A few knobs here and there A knot or two for character I make a pretty good fence Good at keeping things inside Not letting things out But now my shadow seems leaner Not quite as tall in the morning sun The soil around my feet eroding Drying out isn’t all it’s cracked up to be Staying straight ain’t easy The herd is getting restless And the barbed wire on my back is tearing me up inside.
