Jump to content
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT LOGGING IN ×
  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Closing scenes in the land of sand and sun, Pt. #1: Spring in a neighborhood Oasis


Silas_Sancona

Recommended Posts

As the clock counts down the final days here in Arizona, and more of the house is boxed up, some final scenes from some of the special places i've had the opportunity to explore while living here, while still in town.  While not sizzling through another summer will be welcomed, other things enjoyed in the time here will be missed until the next opportunity to return and explore more comes. 

In part 1, some spring scenes from a favorite neighborhood escape, Veteran's Oasis Park. A gem in the heart of Chandler.  As referenced to in the past, this 117 acre park also serves as a ground water recharge site and is a big draw for local.. and not so local birders and has boasted several sightings of extremely rare birds that pass through. The park offers up a fishing lake, numerous paved and more natural grit and gravel trails, and an environmental education center.. all with views of the San Tan Mountains ( and Regional Park ) and more distant views of the Superstitions/ mountains to the east ( esp. on clearer, less dusty days ) from atop one of the two easy to hike hills in the park.

Plant diversity within the park is decent, though there is plenty of opportunity to " add more to the palate ", so to say. Can see a few Montezuma Cypress, and regionally native Ficus -from further south in Sonora or Baja- hanging out on the natural bank of the fishing lake, or near one of the recharge ponds.. along with group plantings of Brahea / Sabal Uresana here and there.. ( Plenty of the other palms in surrounding neighborhoods ) among other thoughts.. Regardless, a great spot to enjoy a picnic, or simply take in " suburban " nature, not too far removed from the less tamed desert nearby.

Spring flowers:

Opuntia englemannii var. lindheimeri ' Seguin '
DSC01661.JPG.3f50123053eee8e87f90858f37be5e9b.JPG

DSC01664.thumb.JPG.af220291964b3c95d0e4cc9502610d3e.JPG

DSC01663.JPG.7dac2a8bf922220b063ef89517428507.JPG

Opuntia " Santa Rita " ( pic. # 1 ) One of the larger, single specimens i've seen locally.
DSC01665.JPG.b54b30a9d1fd0bd4e7dd486366b2d9ee.JPG

DSC01660.thumb.JPG.6e4d354f5967e3d9060a5fdadcd71af9.JPG

DSC01668.JPG.cafb21f3b755b8643eb71749747db7b8.JPG

Yerba Mansa, Anemopsis californica. Tough but very tropical looking desert oasis native.
DSC01655.thumb.JPG.fa0c6a05ba27225f309de1711eaa652b.JPG

DSC01709.thumb.JPG.a8ebfaa3665267608f63231e37db0dcc.JPG

DSC01695.thumb.JPG.87baf269019c664af9c9f8488a68bad5.JPG

Sunny yellow start of Palo Verde Season..
DSC01657.thumb.JPG.6378aeb978fc3231e792b10e6d482708.JPG

A nice patch of Chuparosa, Beloperone, ** formally Justicia** californica.
DSC01679.JPG.400c8ca6e93bb61b5fc73ab3093c040b.JPG

The two forms of Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa..  Typical form w/ yellow disc flowers, E. f. farinosa ( pic. #1 ) and E. f. phenicodonta with dark brown disc flowers ( pic. #2 ). 
DSC01672.JPG.fb7ca28e26407c083de03afd9ff0e0fa.JPG

DSC01647.thumb.JPG.9f1f22a3efd63a1f79204a468e8180c4.JPG

One of a few decent Fremont Cottonwood, Populus fermontii scattered around the fishing lake/ recharge ponds. What a sight local rivers would have been before so much of the riparian woodlands lining them, inc. tall Cottonwoods were chopped down/ water diverted.
DSC01714.thumb.JPG.1008e2019c8089376e36e3eeb4c3a146.JPG


Random pics. and the desert stream/ waterfall i wish was rolling through my backyard, lol.

DSC01649.thumb.JPG.7cf16c27c9262c6d17c542228e60988b.JPG

DSC01682.thumb.JPG.fc7985ba1ada108c4a0833c5f88ee270.JPG

DSC01690.JPG.c5daa3e19e3f3cf9d057bbbdae3bb0d2.JPG

DSC01670.JPG.e8636d72bd77bc212789c5338fbb7318.JPG

DSC01685.thumb.JPG.bf264c97e67b877ad5c44a2345c3e833.JPG

DSC01676.JPG.6002ab5c839a58deb32b816a14354563.JPG

DSC01678.JPG.5ec14177d0f48a7d231e6b5cd6a69541.JPG

DSC01686.JPG.f2ba6da3cb5a06e22b76d9ef32671954.JPG

DSC01687.JPG.08d66311deed7016d07876058b51756c.JPG

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A stream runs through it... Now just imagine a few groups of Brahea and/ or Sabal uresana along it..

DSC01651.thumb.JPG.6b6d63251db77be6809348b941e58992.JPG

DSC01693.JPG.aafdc5a5f2fb02025b47181849357644.JPG

DSC01697.JPG.a737a404143cd9955e63608d28b03ccb.JPG

DSC01701.thumb.JPG.bad68f7937ee7db0b4f40482695cecff.JPG

DSC01703.thumb.JPG.6e8e08f59ba0fc92905583e1350d9f7e.JPG

DSC01704.thumb.JPG.bb84040266ae32b6751c7a49f0da2882.JPG

DSC01711.thumb.JPG.214f0a8f7dd42691cda9a54edca2370d.JPG

DSC01712.thumb.JPG.376d154de1a248a488a9ff4bcc88d446.JPG

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

45 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

One of a few decent Fremont Cottonwood, Populus fermontii scattered around the fishing lake/ recharge ponds. What a sight local rivers would have been before so much of the riparian woodlands lining them, inc. tall Cottonwoods were chopped down/ water diverted.
DSC01714.thumb.JPG.1008e2019c8089376e36e3eeb4c3a146.JPG

That's a nice Fremont cottonwood.  I have been looking for a while for one of these but with no luck.  A lot of people don't like these but I like them.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Reyes Vargas said:

That's a nice Fremont cottonwood.  I have been looking for a while for one of these but with no luck.  A lot of people don't like these but I like them.  

In the right place they're a great tree.. aside from the fluff shed this time of year, you really don't have to do much with them and while they can be found mingling with Ficus and more tropical things in Southern Sonora, they'll certainly take lots of cold. 

National Champion tree, located here in Arizona ironically is 102ft in height / 560in in diameter, with a crown spread of 160.5ft. That's a monster, lol

Have seen seedlings/ whips for sale. Supposedly easy from cuttings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well what the heck, friend?! Where are you moving to? :crying:

  • Like 1

Naples (inland), FL - technically 10a but more like 9b in the winter :hmm:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/10/2021 at 6:00 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

A stream runs through it... Now just imagine a few groups of Brahea and/ or Sabal uresana along it..

DSC01651.thumb.JPG.6b6d63251db77be6809348b941e58992.JPG

DSC01693.JPG.aafdc5a5f2fb02025b47181849357644.JPG

DSC01697.JPG.a737a404143cd9955e63608d28b03ccb.JPG

DSC01701.thumb.JPG.bad68f7937ee7db0b4f40482695cecff.JPG

DSC01703.thumb.JPG.6e8e08f59ba0fc92905583e1350d9f7e.JPG

DSC01704.thumb.JPG.bb84040266ae32b6751c7a49f0da2882.JPG

DSC01711.thumb.JPG.214f0a8f7dd42691cda9a54edca2370d.JPG

DSC01712.thumb.JPG.376d154de1a248a488a9ff4bcc88d446.JPG

Wow it’s gorgeous there. That opuntia Santa Rita above!!!!!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Missi said:

Well what the heck, friend?! Where are you moving to? :crying:

Headed west " over the hill " to north county end of San Diego.. Can't take the heat here ( Plants or myself, lol ) Will be back to explore more though ( when it's not 110F/ 110F+ )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...