August Wildflowers
A summary of the Wildflowers I spotted on Sunday’s hike to Tom’s Thumb. Learn more about these and other Wildflowers in the Preserve in WILDFLOWERS and more.
Posts from the ‘McDowell Sonoran Preserve’ Category
Aug 31
Aug 30
Desert Tortoise
I hiked the north access trail to Tom’s Thumb yesterday with a goal of seeing what was blooming. I spotted several flowers (check tmorrow’s post) but I also came across this guy! There are lots of Desert Tortoise in the Preserve but they’re really good a hiding so this was a treat! The lighting was mixed so I used my Canon SX 1 to capture two exposures and combined them in Photomatix.
Aug 18
Wildflowers and lots more!
Hot off the presses!!! My Wildflowers and more flora photo ID guide. Multiple photos of over 150 species of flowering plants, shrubs and trees. The size is slightly larger than my first edition but still fits easily in large pockets or your backpack, of course. This one has laminated covers!
You can now order a copy from the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy by calling 480-998-7971. They’re working on their website bookstore so you’ll soon be able to order from there too. http://mcdowellsonoran.org. OR you could mail me a check for $20.00 plus $2.24 shipping. Marianne Jensen. PO Box 25250, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. As with the first guide, my profits benefit the Conservancy.
I’m incredibly proud of this guide and hope it brings lots of awareness to the importance of saving our beautiful desert from development! If you find the guide helpful, please let everyone know! Also think about holiday gifts, hostess gifts, etc.
Jun 16
Wildfire!
After the 4th fire engine went by our neighborhood, I looked out the window and got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I saw the smoke on top of the mountains. I jumped in the car and just 4 miles away I got there in time to see them dropping slurry and water on the ridge that includes Toms Thumb (scroll down for video link). Because of the expertise of our firefighters, the fire was contained to just 200 acres. Whew! The probably cause was electrical sparks from construction on a house at the base of the mountain. Wildfire is a constant threat in the summer and with two thirds of Scottsdale being either Preserve or natural area open space (NOAS), these fires can be a real threat to homes. The last fire that came dangerously close to the neighborhoods up here was in 1995, the year we moved here. That fire destroyed thousands of acres of pristine desert. A real heartbreak. VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/user/ezpixels
Video captured with Canon SX1 IS
