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Rocks of wonder, way out yonder.. Social Distancing in the Desert. Part #1: Non- succulent plants


Silas_Sancona

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With spring well underway, it is no surprise everyone wants to get out for a hike while the weather is good. This year, enjoying the outdoors comes with some added, and necessary caution. With current concerns concerning an unwelcome, unanticipated change in everyday life in mind, it is just as important to avoid crowded places outdoors, as it is keeping your distance indoors.. as much as possible.
While i'd hoped to re-visit some spots i had last year this spring, obviously plans had to be changed.. mainly because many of those places are very popular and have been extra -overcrowded as families and individuals take a break from staying close to home. With this in mind, started looking around to see what, if any, places further away from town would be worth exploring.. that aren't also experiencing large crowds. It is the desert after all, and wide open spaces aren't too hard to come by.

By accident, i stumbled on a vaguely explored scenic area along a dusty highway that extends between the towns of Florence and Kearny Arizona roughly 30 miles south east of Chandler. After doing some detailed homework,  i'd wanted to get out there a few weeks back but between ups and downs with the weather, and waiting to see whether or not other quick trips i'd planned would have to be rescheduled  ..or shelved completely, yesterday provided a perfect opportunity.  While known to locals simply as "The Boulders", the area sits tucked between privately owned/ State Trust / BLM Land just as you start rising into the lower foothills  approx. 15 miles east highway 79 just south of Florence.   While popular with OHV enthusiasts, this area is located in a relatively un -touched section of South Central Arizona, in contrast to the often overly exploited parks / open space areas in/ closer to town. Because of this, crowds aren't much of a worry, though you still have to be mindful of the Cattle that graze land in the area.. and the surprise guest guarding some cactus.

The place itself sits in at an interesting crossroads for plant/animal diversity. According to the Arizona Eco- zone map, provided by Plantmaps, the area sits in / near the transition between the AZ. Upland/ East Sonoran Basins, and the AZ. Upland/ East Sonoran Mountains, two distinct sections of the Sonoran Desert. It also sits quite close to where the northern boundary of the Semi Arid Grassland ( Also referred to as the Apachian Valleys / Low Hills ) eco region of the state.  There are also hints of Interior Chaparral both on site, and nearby yet there are also plenty of Saguaro, various Cholla, and Ocotillos mixed in.  Koppen classifies the area as Hot Summer Mediterranean Climate, the same basic designation as what is seen across Southern California, and it is listed ( by Plantmaps ) as zone 9b, despite being well out in the open desert and at an elevation straddling 2500ft. Noting a few "frost sensitive" natives growing there, i'd say that data would be on target, though the climate is more likely a lower end 9b, anyway..

Major borders would be Highway 10 to the west, the lower section of the San Pedro River where it meets the Gila off to the east, and the central section of the Gila River to the north. Several areas in various hilly/ mountainous spots just south of " the boulders" have been explored/ studied in greater detail recently and turning up previously un documented range extentions for plant/ animal species thought to only occur as far north as the mountains /deserts in/ around ..or south of Tucson.  Because the San Pedro starts just south of the Mexico border, running north,  the entire region along it's length and to the west likely represents a significant north / south wildlife corridor, especially since most of the area between the San Tan valley, and highway 10 east of Tucson is relatively undeveloped/ disturbed. For now at least. Have seen several master plans drawn up by Pinal County regarding proposals for several new parks/ large open space areas for that area of the county.. This is exactly what i would like to see happen.. Even here, there have been some issues w/ littering and, more recently, several of the boulders were cleaned of spray paint. Never understand why anyone would "tag" a rock out in  the middle of nowhere..

All in all, very worthwhile trip, while staying distant.. Hope everyone enjoys this chronicle of what i'd describe as " Un-spoiled Sonoran flora " from where ever you are. Hope everyone is safe, healthy and staying positive. 

**As alluded to in the title, breaking this thread into 2 or 3 parts. General plants first, Cacti, etc 2nd, Scenery ( likely post that in the Ohuna Nui section ) last..

On to some pictures, finally, lol:D

After a pretty rainy winter, pretty decent diversity of spring flowers here. Very green, overall too. Unlike the lower desert areas, very little Creasote bush here.. Main green "bushes" are Jojoba, Triangle Bursage, and Flat Topped Buckwheat. But first,...

Couple shots on the road:

West flank of the San Tan Mountains
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Sacaton Mountains
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Looking east toward Coolidge and Florence.
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Flat open lower Sonoran desert in the Cactus Forest area where the Florence- Kelvin highway meets State highway 79. Will have a couple better pics from here later.
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Annuals/ Perennials: Annuals first..

Desert/ Coulter's Lupine, Lupinus sparsiflorus
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White Easterbonnets, Antheropeas lanosum
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Goldfields, Lashenia californica
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Minature Woollystars, Eriastrum diffusum
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Speading Fleabane, Erigeron divergens
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Silverpuffs, Uropappus lindleyi
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Whispering Bells, Emmeranthe penduliflora
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Edited by Silas_Sancona
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Perennial forbs/ shrubby stuff:

Desert Wishbone Bush/ Desert 4-O'-Clock, Miribalis laevis var. villosa
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Odora, Porophyllum gracile
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Desert Chicory, Raffinesquia neomexicana
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Desert Rockpea/ Deer Vetch, Acmispon rigidus
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Desert Lavender, Condea emoryi.. Smells just like,  ( if not better than ) traditional Lavender.. Hardy and very drought tolerant but frost sensitive ( 22-25F ) Part of a tropical section of the Mint Family.
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Could throw this one in w/ cacti /succulent stuff but isn't what i'd call a succulent member of the Euphorbia family.

White Margin Sandmat, Chamaesyce albomarginata
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California/ Eastern Mojave Buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum. probably the most common  low growing "shrub" here. Interesting since this is a common plant in Chaparral areas of Southern California. Did not realize this species can grow into a very attractive form, mainly the twisting trunk/ stems.. One of those plants whose deadwood would be interesting displayed w/ Cacti / smaller succulents. Plant itself, and all Buckwheats, are an extremely important nectar source for Bees and Butterflies.
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Foothills / Little Leaf Palo Verde, Parkinsonia microphylla. Small and stunted, or taller and tree- like.. some interesting specimens here.
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 Only fern i observed in the areas i walked.. Might be other types in another section i did not hike out to.

Spiny Cliff Brake, Pellaea truncata. Always nice to see Desert Ferns.
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..Onto the spiny stuff, and a surprise guest..

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  • 2 weeks later...

A perfect day for a return trip..  Major goals this time around were to hike out to the boulder outcrop groups further away from where i'd explored on the first trip, Hopefully catch all the Echinocereus ( Hedgehog cacti ) at peak bloom, and to collect a bucket of river grit from one of the washes.. mainly to be used for re potting some of my cacti / sowing seed of some new cacti sp. i'm ordering soon. 

Since the first outing, i had been planning to come back before the heat sets in for the year.  While the weather has been pretty forgiving here in the desert so far this spring, whispers of upper 90-100F heat ahead have been growing louder in some of the GFS model runs over the last week. With this in mind, now would be the best opportunity to hit the road.  While the desert is starting to change to it's typical late spring brown again closer to town, still quite green out here. Many of the spring annuals were just past peak bloom, but still presenting lots of color. Hints of summer were present here too with the Ocotillo in flower, and many Saguaro rapidly forming flower buds up on their crowns, nearly out of sight. I'd seen some of the locally planted specimens in the neighborhood also starting to bud as well.. Budding Saguaro are sure sign the heat is on its way..  Wasn't sure if they'd be budding yet way out here also.

Needless to say, as you'll see, no disappointments this time around. Oddly, no snakes out and about ..at all..  this time. Lots of Lizards, few Rabbits ..and Harvester Ants ( Don't want to get stung by those either ) Was officially baptized by the desert today, but knew that was coming, sooner or later. Not a huge surprise there.

While i'd had company in the form of some dirt bikers, and trucks w/ attached Off Road Vehicle Trailers parked along side in the parking area, today, i had the place to myself, at least until about ready to head home when some bikers pulled in and headed off into the desert for an afternoon ride. The road the most accessible parking area is located on heads several miles north and east toward the Gila River at Cochran AZ. Not much out there except more incredible scenery.  

May return toward the end of September to see what plants the Monsoon brought out, if we have one this year..

As was the case before, everything is divided among the 3 parts of the trip.. Pick the part(s) you enjoy..

A couple annuals, an unexpected surprise perennial, and an interesting shrub / tree..

Desert / Coulter's Lupine, Lupinus sparsiflorus still looking good in many areas.
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Miniature Wollystars. Seems these really took off between visits. Very noticeable drifts of these scattered here and there today.
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White Thorn Acacia, Vachellia constricta starting to green up/ get ready to flower. Interesting that this is the most dominant " Tree" here aside from Little Leaf Palo Verde. Ranges from Southern Mexico to roughly Las Vegas, the  Anza Borregoarea of san Diego County ( CA. ), Northern AZ., and West Texas. There is also supposedly a disjunct population of this Acacia sp. in Maryland and Virginia. Specimens out in the Desert weep almost to the ground. In cultivation, can be shaped nicely but is always airy / open in form. Spiny but not as wicked as many other "spiny" trees. 
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American Threefold, Trixis californica. Another odd, mainly tropical member of the Sunflower family. Grows as a low shrub in hot rocky/ scrubby areas. Can flower almost all year where it occurs in the desert/ further south in Mexico. This is where i was "baptized" today..

Have heard many times that you aren't officially " welcomed by the desert " until you have had a run in with Teddybear/ Jumping Cholla. For the entire time i have lived here, i'd avoided every opportunity these things have had to snuggle up and say " Hello there stranger ".  Leave it to trying to get close ups of a primitive Daisy for a sneak attack from a large, Teddybear nearby..
Needless to say, every story i have heard about how the stem joints can attach to you, and how painful they are to detatch is 100% true. Luckily, i got "hugged" on the side of my heel, and lightly.. Still not fun to remove ( They don't like to let go  ), but not quite as bad as i'd assumed in the past.. Anyway.. I've officially joined the club. Those Capitulas /Capitulums ( arrangement of the flowers in the Sunflower family )  were worth it, lol:blink::D

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Edited by Silas_Sancona
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Not exactly a combo you'd anticipate seeing in the desert, Desert ..or Parish.. Delphinium /Larkspur, Delphinium parishii, Ocotillo, Saguaro, and Prickly Pear, all in the same spot..  Not sure why, but wasn't expecting  to encounter these here. Plenty of them in this one area.  Very nice surprise..
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Edited by Silas_Sancona
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  • 4 weeks later...

A few additions after making a quick trip back here to collect more gravel, seed of a few things, and check on fruit development on the Echinocereus / how the Saguaro bloom was progressing earlier today.  Was pleasantly surprised to see the "Season of Gold" was stunningly present out here. Saguaro were looking good wearing flowery crowns as well.

Whitethorn Acacia, Vachellia constricta.  Between these and the Little Leaf Palo Verde, the landscape near and far was cloaked in swaths and scattered blotches of sunny yellow. Nice aroma when in close proximity to them as well.
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Interesting and rather unusual Arizona native, Little Leaf Ratany, Kameria erecta. Almost looks as though it should belong to some sort of Orchid genus but is it's own family ( Kameriaceae ) that is primarily tropical in nature, and in several cases, are root parasites which is especially helpful to species native to the desert survive droughts. Have seen these around South Mountain, but plants there always look beat up and aren't all that noticeable tucked under other things. This seems to be a really favorable location since many specimens here are large and quite showy.  Tiny hooks at the ends of the spines on the seedpods likely evolved to be moved from place to place by animals. Not all that dangerous, more like Velcro when brushed against. The family is distantly related to such things in the Calthrops family such as Creosote Bush, and the Lignum Vitaes ( Genus Guaiacum )
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Little Leaf Palo Verde, Parkinsonia microphylla  Perhaps the smallest, and toughest of the genus. Individual specimens i have observed here, and other places can range from stunted and tortured 3ft tall " bushes " to 20Ft and well formed trees. The white/yellow combination of the flowers is unique as well. Along with prior -mentioned Whitethorn Acacia, one could observe countless specimens at peak bloom scattered across the horizon in every direction.  Look real nice lining the road home too..

Closer-ups of the flowers..
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Morning horizons painted in sun kissed gold..
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Tree on the right is Gregg's Acacia, Senegalia greggii.
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One of numerous Ironwood, Olneya tesota at/ nearing peak bloom, in habitat..  There were a couple spots along the highway where dozens of specimens were flowering, unfortunately, those were the spots that weren't exactly safe to pull over for a few shots.. Dry grass + hot car parts on a breezy day don't make a good combination. Quite a sight regardless. Wasn't expecting these to be so widely distributed in this area.  Seeing that the Ironwood both in/around town, and out in habitat are having a good flowering year, perhaps a sign of a decent, or at least average monsoon season ahead?.
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Enjoy,

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Nathan

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Thanks so much, I really enjoy these photos! 

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San Francisco, California

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