Hints ..of Spring

[Silas_Sancona]

Sunrise Roadside wildflowers, and some spring blooms at Tohono Chul Park:

While it has been a very dry year, there are a few spots where native, ephemeral wildflowers managed to pop up and paint some spring color this year. Took the scenic route this morning to Tucson, and glad i did.. This years' best wildflower displays were found out here.



Lupinus sparsiflorus, Coulter's Lupine. Seed of these will get scattered in the Rectangle- shaped planting bed at the house, along w/ 2 or 3  Phacelia sp. next fall.









Baileya multiradiata, Desert Marigold.  Some Prickly Poppy ( Argemone sp. ) and Bush mallow ( Sphaeralcea sp. ) flowering, or close to popping here and there in spots out here, and in other areas between Chandler and Tucsonas well.









Some spring stuff near the entrance of Tohono Chul Park, while i waited for the plant sale to start:



Calliandra eriophylla, Desert / Pink Fairyduster. Some of the nicest looking specimens of this sp. i have seen. Not trimmed too much, not too leggy or thin.. Full of flowers that glow when backlit by the morning sun.



Salvia coccinea, Tropical Red Sage.. Considering a few mornings at/ below freezing around Tucson this winter, a bit surprised to see these already going full gear. Would have thought the sub 32F mornings would have delayed heavier flowering for at least a few more weeks. Noticed some of the Mealy Cap Sage, Salvia farinacea in their entry display beds are already starting to flower also.. Is another one of those " somewhat tender " Salvia species that most would assume only flowers during the summer..  Both will flower from now, until -at least- late October / November ( ..or all year, in the case of S. coccinea )







Another, uncommon Salvia sp. from various spots around the Southwest, Salvia henryi. Usually found among piles of rock below Cliff ledges, or crevices in those Cliff walls / large boulders themselves.



Salvia X " Trident "  A 2 or 3?? way cross between some CA. native Salvia sp.





Onethera caespitosa, one of several, tufted- type, desert adapted Evening Primrose. This sp. is very common further west in the " no man's land " section of the Sonoran Desert on Sand Dunes, and gravely flats that can extend for miles out there. Flowers generally last only for a day or two, but are extremely fragrant.  During really wet - winter years out in Anza Borrego, endless fields of these and Desert Sand Verbena ( Abronia villosa ) perfume the air for miles around on warmer spring days.





A very spiny Vachellia rigidula, Blackbush Acacia,  at another nursery.. Have seen other specimens ( have one myself ) that aren't nearly as spine covered..

[Tom in Tucson]

I was at Tohono Chul this morning too. I was looking for some rare or bargain priced succulents. I didn't find any. I waited in line 1/2 hour to buy 2 Salvia hybrids with 2 names on each pot (tag and stake) which said deep pink and deep red. I Googled both, but only found 2 hits for 'Deep Red' from wholesalers without any descriptions. High priced ($8) too. I enjoyed talking to some people shopping, so it wasn't a total waste of time.

You took some nice pics with good descriptions.

Hi 86˚, Lo 44˚

Edited March 20, 2022 by Tom in Tucson

[Silas_Sancona]

23 minutes ago, Tom in Tucson said:

I was at Tohono Chul this morning too. I was looking for some rare or bargain priced succulents. I didn't find any. I waited in line 1/2 hour to buy 2 Salvia hybrids with 2 names on each pot (tag and stake) which said deep pink and deep red. I Googled both, but only found 2 hits for 'Deep Red' from wholesalers without any descriptions. High priced ($8) too. I enjoyed talking to some people shopping, so it wasn't a total waste of time.

You took some nice pics with good descriptions.

Hi 86˚, Lo 44˚

I noticed prices had gone up last time i visited..  Desert Survivors $'s have ticked up as well..  What's odd is perennial stuff at a specific nursery here can be a $ less than down there atm, while other stuff they sell has definitely gone up.  Found a few things in the sales area, then found other stuff in the nursery area attached to the greenhouse. This go around was mainly finding stuff for the front yard, though i did grab a couple cacti for myself, haha.

Agree, Wasn't the worst ..but not the best sale they have had.  Heard the member's sale on Wednesday wiped out a lot of stock.  Was also told ( last time i stopped in ) they're supposed to start growing some of the less common / more unique stuff again over the next year or two..  Kind of drop hints regarding a few things when talking w/ some of the people i happen to cross paths with who work in the nursery / greenhouse each time i have visited, lol.

 Was nice talking plants w/ some folks in line before the gate opened as well.

** Should add  There was a guy in front of me in the checkout line who picked up a real' nice pair of Agave titanota, one of which had what looked like some variegation in a couple of the leaves.. Completely blanked out asking if i could take a picture or two, lol.

Edited March 20, 2022 by Silas_Sancona
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[teddytn]

Greek oregano off to a good start. Bees will hit it in flower, but sparingly. Grow this to cook with and for the fragrance it puts off. Similar to lavender in its wafting nature when warm and humid. Cat mint went wild last year with panicles of purple flowers blooming for a few months. Bees jump back and forth from this to the next plant. Totally different when you have a plant bees swarm towards. I honestly had no idea there were that many species of bees until I started growing these and a few other bee magnets. Bees of every shape, size and quite a few different colors. And this one, you would think with a name like bee balm it would be obvious bees love it…doesn’t do it justice until you see a 5’ tall and wide mass of green leaves and purple pom pom flowers on sticks. Bees get more lethargic on catmint, on bee balm it’s like they can’t get enough are are worried they won’t get enough ( which they don’t, super long flowerer, with consistent blooms for 3 months at least here ). The energy in the air is thick when this is going off. I’ll update these as they flower later on.

[teddytn]

Glad I took pictures when I did, storm we got last night blew a good amount of flowers off and we’re supposed to go down to the low 30’s overnight this weekend. So much for a dazzler display from this one. Best it’s gonna look this year. 

[Silas_Sancona]

..More:

Coral Fountain/ Firecracker Flower, Russelia equestriformis  Grown everywhere in FL. ..also used everywhere here in landscapes. Our special flavor of  heat doesn't bother it one bit.

Two different views of Blue Emu Bush, Emerophila hygrophana

Grown more naturally, or rarely trimmed:







Trimmed occasionally:





Silver Bush Morning Glory, Convolvulus cneorum,  Mediterranean region.  Like these for the burst of white this time of year, but they can look rather ugly if not cared for properly after awhile..







Caesalpinia mexicana






Caesalpinia mexicana X palmeri " Sierra Sunrise "  Like this cross, but like the individual sp. better.

With " Sweet Acacia season " just past peak.. Had to get shots of one of the bigger, less chopped up specimens around town while out. Located in a neighborhood out by Veteran's Oasis Park.



What some of the chopped up ones look like around town ..Oof!



..just as the sweet Acacia start to fade, local Palo Verde gear up for their turn on stage..

Blue Palo Verde, Cercidium floridum.. spied a few specimens  jusstt starting to color up.





Palo Brea, Cercidium Praecox, ..Looks like it is gonna be another big year for these..





A tribute to Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa.. As dry as it has been this winter, surprised to see them this lit up around the park.. Very impressive year for one tough desert survivor.

Brittlebush and " Santa Rita " Purple Prickly Pear.. A classic Desert combo..





Brittlebush and Chuparosa, Justicia californica



Brittlebush and Sweet Acacia..



.....















Enjoy...

Edited March 26, 2022 by Silas_Sancona
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[Peter]

Great photos Nathan!  Looking forward to planting out my Blue Emu bushes here to see how they do.  And like that Sierra Star, but agree with you about preferring the species.

[Silas_Sancona]

27 minutes ago, Peter said:

Great photos Nathan!  Looking forward to planting out my Blue Emu bushes here to see how they do.  And like that Sierra Star, but agree with you about preferring the species.

Think you'll like that Emu.. especially once they start filling in.  Untrimmed specimens are nice as - is, but the ones that get an occasional, light haircut to tidy them up a little really stand out when flowering.

[Meangreen94z]

Maybe flowers

[Peter]

A couple of Australians:  Grevillea Ned Kelly and Callistemon Slim

[RyManUtah]

Jungle cacti waking up 

[RyManUtah]

Salvia greggii x 

[RyManUtah]

Penstemon

[RyManUtah]

Echinocereus reichenbachii albispinus

[RyManUtah]

Echinocereus engelmannii

[RyManUtah]

Opuntia basilaris doing fun things 

[RyManUtah]

Unknown salvia 

[RyManUtah]

Trachycarpus fortunei 

[Silas_Sancona]

9 minutes ago, RyManUtah said:

Unknown salvia 

Not 100% ( a couple other Salvia have a similar look ) but thinking this is S. nemorosa   .." whichever "  cultivar of it.  Regardless..

Yards looking good Ryan

[Meangreen94z]

Lupinus texensis(Texas bluebonnet) and Echinocereus coccineus roemeri 

 

[JohnAndSancho]

Yep - blue bonnets, everything here is covered in pollen, and my first mosquito bite of 2022

[Silas_Sancona]

Uncarina  ..possibly peltata  on stage atm




....What could this be?

That would be signs of life from some Sabal uresana  seed i'd collected last fall in Tucson. Interesting note, 1st, most advanced seedling germinated late last month,  2nd ( just barely poking above the soil ) germinated back in late Jan. then sat not really doing much until recently.  Other seeds sown are rooting, but no top growth yet. With the heat cranking it up another notch or two, would anticipate seeing them show themselves in the next coupe weeks.    Nothing special done / No babying when sown..  Potted, Stuck outside in the makeshift " cold " frame, ..and left to do their own thing.

[RyManUtah]

Some roadside wonders.

[teddytn]

StrawberryHostas out and about all over the yardViolets got to love them!All the ferns are hanging fiddleheadsDwarf minor pushing a spatheDogwood Lilac, personal favorite smelling flower. Gardenia close second.DelospermaCreeping phlox This is why old lady’s grow azaleas! Me too I don’t care lol. Pictures don’t do it justiceCoreopsis I believe? Bigger garden phlox

[Tracy]

On 2/21/2022 at 11:00 AM, Tracy said:

Several things in the garden are showing signs of Spring.  The mango tree is pushing out some future flowers and new growth right now for starters.  Unfortunately, a very cold front is headed our way right now.  Thursday morning after it passes but leaves some cold air in it's wake and we have clear skies will be the scary one.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that as we continue through spring these will Mangos will stay on the tree this year.  Hoping to eat a few of my own Alphonso mangos again, as it quite often gets to this stage then drops all the fruit.

[teddytn]

Threadleaf coreopsisPhlox and coreopsis good combo hereAnother coreopsis down in the yardTwo clematisPineapple sage getting going (annual here, but worth planting) A few spirea A few irisClover Salvia nemorosa hanging toughMilkweeds are up, @Silas_Sancona I owe you pics this year, worked on roots last year and didn’t flower. 
Asclepias syriacaAsclepias incarnata Asclepias perennis, slow to come up

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, teddytn said:

Threadleaf coreopsisPhlox and coreopsis good combo hereAnother coreopsis down in the yardTwo clematisPineapple sage getting going (annual here, but worth planting) A few spirea A few irisClover Salvia nemorosa hanging toughMilkweeds are up, @Silas_Sancona I owe you pics this year, worked on roots last year and didn’t flower. 
Asclepias syriacaAsclepias incarnata Asclepias perennis, slow to come up

Good choices for Milkweeds.. and yes, lol most people probably don't realize some of the really good sp. will take a couple years from seed ( or being planted ) to flower, focusing on building a root system first.  From seed they can look scraggly until in the ground a year or two.

Clematis are one of those things that i wish could be grown here, but, forget it outside places up in the mountains. Native sp aren't quite as showy, but can survive in moist shade here.

[teddytn]

12 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Good choices for Milkweeds.. and yes, lol most people probably don't realize some of the really good sp. will take a couple years from seed ( or being planted ) to flower, focusing on building a root system first.  From seed they can look scraggly until in the ground a year or two.

Clematis are one of those things that i wish could be grown here, but, forget it outside places up in the mountains. Native sp aren't quite as showy, but can survive in moist shade here.

That was me last year lol. Planted 2 asclepias tuberosa a few weeks ago, 2 Joe pye weed as well really looking forward to those next year. The Joe pye weed is a good plant to take divisions of, try and get that spread around over the next few years. 
That purple clematis I forgot I even had…planted against the house on the east side under heavy canopy, surprised it keeps coming back. I’ve got to work on some more vining plants, one on the radar is native Crossvine. There’s a bunch in the woods out back at work in forested shade, pics I’ve seen of specimens in full sun are crazy, stay semi evergreen and bloom a few times a year. I’ve got a wisteria in a pot, not sure what I’m going to do with it yet.

[Silas_Sancona]

14 minutes ago, teddytn said:

That was me last year lol. Planted 2 asclepias tuberosa a few weeks ago, 2 Joe pye weed as well really looking forward to those next year. The Joe pye weed is a good plant to take divisions of, try and get that spread around over the next few years. 
That purple clematis I forgot I even had…planted against the house on the east side under heavy canopy, surprised it keeps coming back. I’ve got to work on some more vining plants, one on the radar is native Crossvine. There’s a bunch in the woods out back at work in forested shade, pics I’ve seen of specimens in full sun are crazy, stay semi evergreen and bloom a few times a year. I’ve got a wisteria in a pot, not sure what I’m going to do with it yet.

Would be careful w/ releasing Wisteria into the ground.. Think the non - native sp. are considered aggressive/ invasive where you're at/ further south.. Cross vine is nice, particularly the " Tangerine Beauty " form sold everywhere here..  Much tamer than " Cat's Claw " ..Looks like Crossvine, except w/ yellow flowers.. Fast grower that takes heat, but very invasive and almost impossible to get rid of ..unless you nuke everything ( still may not completely kill Cat's Claw though ) Seen it covering parts of homes - up and over the roof - here.

Favorite hybrid Clematis variety by far is " The President " and some of the white /  light blue - flowered cultivars.. Many people think they're delicate but many Clematis are pretty tough - provided the right conditions.. and can live quite a long time.

Other good vines include Coral Honeysuckle,  Moonflower ( Roots will supposedly  survive the winter there ..Can get massive, but the fragrant flowers at night are worth it though ) Scarlet / Trans Pecos / Ivy Leaved Morning Glory ( good on a fence / trellis, tamer than the non native sp.  ) Snapdragon Vine, Centrosema virginianum, ..and acouple similar looking " Pea Vines " i believe are native out there / further south..  Alamo Vine ( Distimake dissectus )  ..various Passiflora  of course..

Pretty sure there are some other, more exotic vine choices that will survive your winters ( ..the roots at least )  as well..

Have a few things started vine- wise that will get planted in various spots this year, both for color, and to soften the block wall out back.
 

[teddytn]

22 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Would be careful w/ releasing Wisteria into the ground.. Think the non - native sp. are considered aggressive/ invasive where you're at/ further south.. Cross vine is nice, particularly the " Tangerine Beauty " form sold everywhere here..  Much tamer than " Cat's Claw " ..Looks like Crossvine, except w/ yellow flowers.. Fast grower that takes heat, but very invasive and almost impossible to get rid of ..unless you nuke everything ( still may not completely kill Cat's Claw though ) Seen it covering parts of homes - up and over the roof - here.

Favorite hybrid Clematis variety by far is " The President " and some of the white /  light blue - flowered cultivars.. Many people think they're delicate but many Clematis are pretty tough - provided the right conditions.. and can live quite a long time.

Other good vines include Coral Honeysuckle,  Moonflower ( Roots will supposedly  survive the winter there ..Can get massive, but the fragrant flowers at night are worth it though ) Scarlet / Trans Pecos / Ivy Leaved Morning Glory ( good on a fence / trellis, tamer than the non native sp.  ) Snapdragon Vine, Centrosema virginianum, ..and acouple similar looking " Pea Vines " i believe are native out there / further south..  Alamo Vine ( Distimake dissectus )  ..various Passiflora  of course..

Pretty sure there are some other, more exotic vine choices that will survive your winters ( ..the roots at least )  as well..

Have a few things started vine- wise that will get planted in various spots this year, both for color, and to soften the block wall out back.
 

I’ve heard that about wisteria…I believe there’s some native sp. around here, not sure what I have, was a rooted cutting from a friend, may keep it potted…

I’ve seen trumpet vine sold around here, very similar looking at first to Crossvine, but super aggressive. I’ve been hesitant to go all in with too many vines. I’ve been battling Virginia creeper ever since we moved in. I guess some people plant it?! Hard pass for me on that lol. 
I was thinking the same thing, maybe try and run a Crossvine up the side of the house on a trellis…working on a pergola atm that’s where the wisteria was an option, almost seems like a hassle for them to flower for a week or two here at best. 

[Silas_Sancona]

3 minutes ago, teddytn said:

I’ve heard that about wisteria…I believe there’s some native sp. around here, not sure what I have, was a rooted cutting from a friend, may keep it potted…

I’ve seen trumpet vine sold around here, very similar looking at first to Crossvine, but super aggressive. I’ve been hesitant to go all in with too many vines. I’ve been battling Virginia creeper ever since we moved in. I guess some people plant it?! Hard pass for me on that lol. 
I was thinking the same thing, maybe try and run a Crossvine up the side of the house on a trellis…working on a pergola atm that’s where the wisteria was an option, almost seems like a hassle for them to flower for a week or two here at best. 

Not that they're not nice when flowering, but, Crossvine definitely would be better than the Wisteria on a pergola.. Much more color, over a longer season to enjoy.

Typically, even in California, 1-3 weeks is it for Wisteria flower displays. Royal Purple Trumpet Vine, and Chilean Jasmine ( a hardy species of Mandevillea < M. laxa > ) can provide the same " look " as Wisteria, but over a much longer growing season out there.  See regular ol' Trumpet Vine ..the sp. native back east  occasionally ..and yes, lol   very aggressive / hard to keep under control / get rid of,  even though the flowers are attractive..

[teddytn]

@Silas_Sancona should be right up your alley! Went out on lunch to see if the Crossvine was still flowering, it’s not. But in what would be a gardeners nightmare of a landscape, super shallow clay with rock ledge directly beneath, tons of plants (weeds) thriving. 
Hairy vetch visia villosa purpleAnd whiteMusk thistle carduus nutans Hairy pucoon lithospermum caroliniense Carolina cranes bill geranium caroliniamumTwo white flowers I couldn’t exactly identify. Very similar seems to be in the aster/ daisy family. This one small flowers and big leavesThus one big flowers and small leavesButtercup I believe ranunculus bulbosusThis was my favorite find!! Native sedum widows cross sedum pulchellumwild blackberry Back at the house honeysuckle bush flowered and is done for the year, honeysuckle vine flowering now. 3rd favorite smelling flowerPinks scattered around the yardRed clover

[Silas_Sancona]

35 minutes ago, teddytn said:

@Silas_Sancona should be right up your alley! Went out on lunch to see if the Crossvine was still flowering, it’s not. But in what would be a gardeners nightmare of a landscape, super shallow clay with rock ledge directly beneath, tons of plants (weeds) thriving. 
Hairy vetch visia villosa purpleAnd whiteMusk thistle carduus nutans Hairy pucoon lithospermum caroliniense Carolina cranes bill geranium caroliniamumTwo white flowers I couldn’t exactly identify. Very similar seems to be in the aster/ daisy family. This one small flowers and big leavesThus one big flowers and small leavesButtercup I believe ranunculus bulbosusThis was my favorite find!! Native sedum widows cross sedum pulchellumwild blackberry Back at the house honeysuckle bush flowered and is done for the year, honeysuckle vine flowering now. 3rd favorite smelling flowerPinks scattered around the yardRed clover

   Shallow, but fertile rocky soil = Where many really interesting plants like to grow.. ( less competition = room to evolve )

2nd picture looks like a Penstemon sp.. Possibly P. tenuiflorus.

Think the Puccoon is actually a Composite ( Sunflower family member ) Just not sure which ( maybe a sp. of Senecio, but, " DYC's " aren't always easy to distinguish ) Lithospermum caroliniense for comparison: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/224007-Lithospermum-caroliniense

First white Composite looks like Fleabane ( Genus Erigeron ). Annual and Philadelphia Fleabane are both pretty common where you're at.

Second composite ..might be Ox Eye Daisy ..but, like yellow flowering members of the  Sunflower family, White flowered sp. can be tough to nail down at times..  Hence " DWC " = Damn White Composites, haha




>



 

[teddytn]

25 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

   Shallow, but fertile rocky soil = Where many really interesting plants like to grow.. ( less competition = room to evolve )

2nd picture looks like a Penstemon sp.. Possibly P. tenuiflorus.

Think the Puccoon is actually a Composite ( Sunflower family member ) Just not sure which ( maybe a sp. of Senecio, but, " DYC's " aren't always easy to distinguish ) Lithospermum caroliniense for comparison: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/224007-Lithospermum-caroliniense

First white Composite looks like Fleabane ( Genus Erigeron ). Annual and Philadelphia Fleabane are both pretty common where you're at.

Second composite ..might be Ox Eye Daisy ..but, like yellow flowering members of the  Sunflower family, White flowered sp. can be tough to nail down at times..  Hence " DWC " = Damn White Composites, haha




>



 

I stand corrected! I try to stay away from playing at plant ID, seriously not easy, things can get cloudy for sure. Different growing conditions can alter the look of some plants drastically. I’ll leave the plant IDing to the real plantsmen! Lol. The inaturalist ID app is badass though. 
I’ll go and check that second white one again, that’s awesome if it’s a penstemon. Crazy what’s on just this property, I’ve spotted at least 2 different species of trilliums in the woods here, and further up the cleared hillside there’s all kind of other flowering goodies. This will sound worse than it is. My boss will get a hair up his ass and want to expand and just clear a huge area with an excavator and bulldozer. Just typical normal American stuff. Crazy to think that some endangered or unknown species of plants and animals may have had just a tiny grasp on a small area and it just gets razed. 
Tony Avent has said he discovered all kinds of new species of plants in highway medians and are the only know location, could have easily been wiped out and never discovered.

Caymas boats is right next door, they found a rattlesnake in their supply room last week, I don’t do snakes lol, I’m gonna stay out of the thick forested areas for a while. That’s one of my biggest fears is stepping on a poisonous snake 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, teddytn said:

I stand corrected! I try to stay away from playing at plant ID, seriously not easy, things can get cloudy for sure. Different growing conditions can alter the look of some plants drastically. I’ll leave the plant IDing to the real plantsmen! Lol. The inaturalist ID app is badass though. 
I’ll go and check that second white one again, that’s awesome if it’s a penstemon. Crazy what’s on just this property, I’ve spotted at least 2 different species of trilliums in the woods here, and further up the cleared hillside there’s all kind of other flowering goodies. This will sound worse than it is. My boss will get a hair up his ass and want to expand and just clear a huge area with an excavator and bulldozer. Just typical normal American stuff. Crazy to think that some endangered or unknown species of plants and animals may have had just a tiny grasp on a small area and it just gets razed. 
Tony Avent has said he discovered all kinds of new species of plants in highway medians and are the only know location, could have easily been wiped out and never discovered.

Caymas boats is right next door, they found a rattlesnake in their supply room last week, I don’t do snakes lol, I’m gonna stay out of the thick forested areas for a while. That’s one of my biggest fears is stepping on a poisonous snake 

W/ some exceptions, once you've looked at various plants enough, ID'ing becomes pretty straight forward.. Even the tougher to distinguish between Composites / some other stuff..   Just have to know what grows where, then narrow down the list and details between things like flower or leaf arrangement / size / height, and flowering season..  I'm always a bit baffled when someone candebate about the most minute detail between two palm species, but has no clue how to id other plants..  A symptom of tunnel vision learning i suppose.. regardless, like riding a bike, id'ing plants becomes second nature when you're motivated to do enough homework.

Highway medians can be about as good of places to sniff out locally uncommon / rare, or unusual plants  as seemingly barren, rocky areas..  Both types of environments can keep competition between various things low, and, you have to be tough enough to survive increased degrees of stressor factors like increased heat / cold / sun exposure, moisture cycles that can be unpredictable, ..more so than in say a forest understory, or place where water might collect,  and ..depending on where X plants are growing, the mineral makeup of the soil the plants are growing in. In California, you'll often find areas of Serpentine, a type of rock that naturally contains high levels of toxic metals / elements. In many cases, only very specific plants will tolerate growing on it while others won't.  Gypsum - derived soil can harbor a similar degree of floral diversity that, in many cases, won't be found growing in other soil types.. even if a hillside w/ a different soil type is within a couple hundred feet of the hillside derived of Gypsum.

As for snakes, love 'em ..Haven't feared them since i was 9 and spent a summer pushing around boulders / looking through wood piles in search of various species..  As mentioned before, dealing w/ venomous species is all about respect.. A grown human terrified of a snake ( or any critter that isn't a large, highly mobile mammal ) is a sad reflection of an intentionally distorted view of nature, imo..  Fear itself is overrated..

Rattlesnakes are a piece of cake, most of the time anyway.. Cottonmouths?  only crossed paths with a couple in FL. but knew right away to keep my distance.. Definitely grumpy and stand their ground w/ little thought. 

When exploring in dense or unfamiliar territory, wear good shoes, ( or boots / gaiters ) carry a sturdy hiking stick at least 5' in length ( most rattlers can only lunge 1/ 3rd to 1/ 2 their total length ) and pay attention to what is hidden in the grass / sounds of things moving through it/ nearby.. No, not all rattlesnakes will rattle which is why you have the stick ..to bang against brush or on the ground ( to get anyone hidden to rattle or move away ) as you're moving along..  Most will turn tail and move somewhere else rather than stand their ground..  When they don't,  and assume a striking position,  hang back and observe, ..or move around where the snake is seated.. 

Last year, when i nearly stepped on ..what i'm pretty sure was a Mojave Rattler,  i sat near it ..w/ enough distance between us to avoid any trouble.. and it stopped rattling and lowered itself back into a non - strike ready position.  After allowing me some decent pictures, we both went on about our business for the day.. No dead snake, or me hoping to make it to the hospital, let alone back to the car.

While they don't rattle, Copperheads will usually flee rather than pick a fight. Bite from them will be a painful experience, but are rarely life threatening.

Only places i'd be a little more weary of Venomous snakes, Africa, Australia, and parts of Central and South America.. where some really dangerous species ..that don't rattle, ..and/ or have pretty bad tempers like to hang out where people do ..and up in trees.

[teddytn]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

W/ some exceptions, once you've looked at various plants enough, ID'ing becomes pretty straight forward.. Even the tougher to distinguish between Composites / some other stuff..   Just have to know what grows where, then narrow down the list and details between things like flower or leaf arrangement / size / height, and flowering season..  I'm always a bit baffled when someone candebate about the most minute detail between two palm species, but has no clue how to id other plants..  A symptom of tunnel vision learning i suppose.. regardless, like riding a bike, id'ing plants becomes second nature when you're motivated to do enough homework.

Highway medians can be about as good of places to sniff out locally uncommon / rare, or unusual plants  as seemingly barren, rocky areas..  Both types of environments can keep competition between various things low, and, you have to be tough enough to survive increased degrees of stressor factors like increased heat / cold / sun exposure, moisture cycles that can be unpredictable, ..more so than in say a forest understory, or place where water might collect,  and ..depending on where X plants are growing, the mineral makeup of the soil the plants are growing in. In California, you'll often find areas of Serpentine, a type of rock that naturally contains high levels of toxic metals / elements. In many cases, only very specific plants will tolerate growing on it while others won't.  Gypsum - derived soil can harbor a similar degree of floral diversity that, in many cases, won't be found growing in other soil types.. even if a hillside w/ a different soil type is within a couple hundred feet of the hillside derived of Gypsum.

As for snakes, love 'em ..Haven't feared them since i was 9 and spent a summer pushing around boulders / looking through wood piles in search of various species..  As mentioned before, dealing w/ venomous species is all about respect.. A grown human terrified of a snake ( or any critter that isn't a large, highly mobile mammal ) is a sad reflection of an intentionally distorted view of nature, imo..  Fear itself is overrated..

Rattlesnakes are a piece of cake, most of the time anyway.. Cottonmouths?  only crossed paths with a couple in FL. but knew right away to keep my distance.. Definitely grumpy and stand their ground w/ little thought. 

When exploring in dense or unfamiliar territory, wear good shoes, ( or boots / gaiters ) carry a sturdy hiking stick at least 5' in length ( most rattlers can only lunge 1/ 3rd to 1/ 2 their total length ) and pay attention to what is hidden in the grass / sounds of things moving through it/ nearby.. No, not all rattlesnakes will rattle which is why you have the stick ..to bang against brush or on the ground ( to get anyone hidden to rattle or move away ) as you're moving along..  Most will turn tail and move somewhere else rather than stand their ground..  When they don't,  and assume a striking position,  hang back and observe, ..or move around where the snake is seated.. 

Last year, when i nearly stepped on ..what i'm pretty sure was a Mojave Rattler,  i sat near it ..w/ enough distance between us to avoid any trouble.. and it stopped rattling and lowered itself back into a non - strike ready position.  After allowing me some decent pictures, we both went on about our business for the day.. No dead snake, or me hoping to make it to the hospital, let alone back to the car.

While they don't rattle, Copperheads will usually flee rather than pick a fight. Bite from them will be a painful experience, but are rarely life threatening.

Only places i'd be a little more weary of Venomous snakes, Africa, Australia, and parts of Central and South America.. where some really dangerous species ..that don't rattle, ..and/ or have pretty bad tempers like to hang out where people do ..and up in trees.

Oh yeah the abrupt stop to the abundance in a species from county to county on certain plant maps I’ve looked at is eye catching to say the least. Doesn’t include terrain, elevation change, soil and or zone change, but seriously eye opening considering some species may be threatened in a certain locale and the next county over they’re non existent. Should make the pre checklist for construction imo.

Man you know some of the stuff I’ve done in the past. And considering most guys on here are deathly afraid of their old lady, I’ll be sad and sorry and stay being afraid of snakes!!!  I completely hear what your saying and for sure it’s unfounded, but ever since I was little I just can’t, maybe when I grow big and strong I’ll mess with them. 

Bunch of work friends are big into fishing and running into cottonmouths is common here. 
Aussies are on a different level lol, no worries mate kicking around through the bush with sandals on lol. The most badass operators I came in contact with overseas we’re Australian special forces, made different lol. 
I’ll try and work on my plant ID skills

[teddytn]

Some lillies at the house floweringWalked the state park near my house and spotted this spigelia which was cool to see

[teddytn]

@Silas_Sancona maybe time for a summer flowering thread….

[Silas_Sancona]

3 minutes ago, teddytn said:

@Silas_Sancona maybe time for a summer flowering thread….

Me thinks great minds are thinking alike..

[gurugu]

Aloe ferox on the way.