McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Adero Canyon

Wednesday, January 11,2023 My sister, Brenda, and I joined our neighbors in going to the McDowell Mountain Regional Park for the "Welcome to the Sonoran Desert" tour. Ranger Evan met us at the parking lot and led us along the Pemberton Trail to the trail that went to the Nature (Visitors) Center. Along the way he identified the Jojoba mail bush

and told us to look for the seed clusters as a way of knowing it was a male. Later he identified a female plant with a dried nut.

He also identified the mesquite

and Creosote bushes.

And the Cholla with these small red buds.

We had beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the lone raven sitting in a leafless tree.

At the Nature center we observed rattlesnakes and scorpions; I didn't choose to take any photos of these animals.

Saguaros, standing sentinel-like, are native only to the Sonoran Desert that extends from Mexico to the Mountains North of the Park and West to California.

January 12, 2023 Adero Canyon About an hour before sunset I drove up to the Adero Canyon trailhead in Adero Canyon. This trailhead is part of the McDowell Mountain Preserve but requires no admission fee. The native plant Brittlebush was in full flower around the parking lot.

and I walked over to the overlook for a view of the canyon, Fountain Hills and Red Mountain.

I then started up the trail to see what views I could get from it.

Dumfungled in Fountain Hills

Arrived on October 23, 2022 and stayed with my neice a couple of days while things arrived. My stuff arrived the 25th and my bed arrived the 24th, but my sister's stuff is yet to arrive. Hoping to see it soon. We did order a couple of chairs so we have something besides lawn chairs to sit on. I have managed to take a photo a day, so here are some of the pics I took.

Spring Flowers are Finally in My Yard

 I have been seeing Spring flowers around town, but not much action in my yard until this week.

Chokecherry blooms and Lilacs.
 

 

 

And the first of my Iris, hoping for more to bloom

 

 

  

 

Botanical Lane and Spring Creek Trail

 Tulips along Botanical Lane.

Female Catkin of the Cottonwood Tree

 

Fauna and Flora along Spring Creek Trail.

 

 

Never too late to learn something new

After years of living here, I have just noticed the catkins on the Cottonwood trees this spring.

I have also noticed these that develop into a maple-like seed.

 

Both of these as I was walking between the Poudre River and Prospect Ponds where I took some reflections shots as well.

2022 Spring Flowers

 Just saw that it has been a long time between posts.  I also have come to the realization I prefer taking photos to writing my thoughts or scribbles.  So here goes with photos.

Espaliered apple tree blossoms

Another tree, but I don't know what kind.

 

 Tulips all in a diagonal row and then a different perspective.

Spirea

A favorite of mine, Hellebore

Ops, another unknown.

 

 

My lilac bush getting ready to burst into bloom.