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A socially distanced Sunday Saunter in South Mountain.. Pt #1 The usual spines


Silas_Sancona

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As alluded to over in the Wx section, took a superb Sunday and spent it exploring a section of South Mountain Park/Preserve i hadn't yet explored.. Weather couldn't be perfect.. nor the scenes.  Obviously, due to the on-going COVID situation, gotta keep your distance. While i'd hoped it might not be quite as busy at the trailhead when i arrived at about 9:30Am, Parking Lot and nearby extra spots were pretty much filled, and cars were arriving about as quickly as an opened Faucet. Regardless, plenty of space to greet those passing by, but, safely. 

Part of today's agenda was accessing a section of the Park known as Hidden Valley, an elevated valley that sits between two of the north end of Park's ridges and is often referred to as Wonder Rift.  Another item on today's itinerary was looking around for native ferns, and hopefully securing some Spores of each for a later project..

Due to the on-going drought, very dry out there. Even with the decent shot of rain we'd had, very little growth of winter/ spring Annuals, and only where shaded by trees, or massive Boulders. 

Obviously, one does not explore a park in the desert and not admire all the spiny things within it..  While Barrels were plentiful enough, some of our other " famous pricklys " were more scattered, or nearly absent from this section of the Park. Not sure why but, in the case of Graham's Fishhook ( Mammillaria grahamii ) i came across less than a half dozen specimens, a very low number compared to other parts of the park i have explored.. and far less than what i have observed out east of Florence at Rock Tank..

Anyway, some pictures..

Hedgehogs ( Echinocereus.. ) Thinking E. elglemanii but get this sp. and one that looks almost exactly like it mixed up easily. Morning, winter sun = some great looking, glowing spines
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 A small fry, peaking out from behind a rock..
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Some Saguaros..
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W/ the U.S. 60 Freeway in the distance..
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The Savior.. and another..
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..And some friends..
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Perhaps the handsomest Mam. Graham ( Mammillaria grahamii ) i've seen.. They're all good lookers, but this kids a real stunner, imo.. Don't really see many specimens that pup further up the stem, rather than closer to the base either. Trying to compete w/ the Saguaros perhaps?
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Little guy, trying to flower.. in winter. ( Flowering on these is usually in Summer, a few occasionally appear in Feb. or March.
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Beautiful Barrels..
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..A little closer.    Notice that the bases of some appear to have been damaged from this past summers' torch fest/ Non- Soon. Noticed this on numerous other specimens that face south.
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...Another small fry, Ferocactus-style
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Great looking spines. Excellent view of the San Tans in the distance too. Look closely, to the right of the San Tans and the faint outline of the Catalinas, down in Tucson can be seen as well. ( ** Last picture, bottom of page ** )                         


**Extra**.. Bursera Microphylla.. Didn't notice as many specimens in this section of the Park.. One ( pic #1 ) was nearly hidden up on a high ledge ( Yes, I almost climbed it to get a better look, lol ).  While short, the other ( Pic #2 ) has a nice form.
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Enjoy....
-Nathan

 

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Edited by Silas_Sancona
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On 12/27/2020 at 5:50 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

**Extra**.. Bursera Microphylla.. Didn't notice as many specimens in this section of the Park.. One ( pic #1 ) was nearly hidden up on a high ledge ( Yes, I almost climbed it to get a better look, lol ).  While short, the other ( Pic #2 ) has a nice form.
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I really like this Bursera.  Great find!

33.0782 North -117.305 West  at 72 feet elevation

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35 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I really like this Bursera.  Great find!

This is probably the easiest ( and most cold hardy ) species in the Genus, though i've had no cold- related issues with others i've been growing for years.  They also had no apparent issues w/ the wetter winter we had last year/ in 2019 either. B. microphylla also holds its leaves thru winter while others drop most/ all of theirs ( but throw around some fall color as well )  While most of the specimens i have seen over in South Mountain, and pictures i have seen of specimens over in Anza Borrego tend to be somewhat small/stunted, there is someone in the Palm Springs area who has one that is massive and spectacular. Living Desert may have a bigger sized specimen also in their collection. Others i have seen at the Huntington/ L.A. Arboretum in the past were decent sized as well. 

Related article about that specimen: https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/home-garden/maureen-gilmer/2017/06/09/tree-botanical-garden-make-forget-summer-desert/102565624/

Can obviously take lots of drought, but grow fast, if you want it bigger,  when provided a deep soak every couple weeks during the summer.  Two forms: The typical microphylla, and a supposed natural hybrid from the Waterman Mountains down south, somewhere near Ajo. Growing both, only obvious difference i see is in the leaves.. more slender in the normal form, slight lobes on the Waterman form but have heard leaves can be variable in the standard form,  depending on where the trees originate.  Both have been easy.  Planning on stepping up my Waterman Mtns. form next year. Has been in the same pot for about 6 years.

Edited by Silas_Sancona
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