Not far from the city is a river in the desert.
A river than runs continuously.
What? You ask, a river with actual water in it. In the Sonoran desert. In July.
Along the river are lush green trees and plants and a rainbow of birds such as Yellow Warblers, Blue Grosbeaks, Green Herons, and Vermilion Flycatchers.
Blue Grosbeak
Sacred DaturaAlong with beauty is danger in the form of two members of the poisonous Nightshade family, Sacred Datura and Silverleaf Nightshade. They were growing right next to each other along the river.
Silverleaf NightshadeThere was also a seemingly crazy Cooper's Hawk, dive bombing people along the trail. She was only a mother protecting her young.
In the summer, the tiny river bubbles along happily like an innocent child at play. In the spring, this same river can become a roaring monster, pulling out trees and destroying trails as it rushes along, bloated with spring rains and snow melt.
Trees bent by spring floodThis is a wonderful place, preserved by people interested in nature for its own sake. Isn't it important to save something like this? If you can't guess where it is, ask and I will tell you.
4 comments:
Hey. talk about coincidences, I used the silver leaf night shade as an object lesson in my sunday school lesson. I was told that it was called horse nettle though. A very interesting plant. Very hard to get rid of -roots can go 8 ft deep. I always love your photos.
From what I have read, Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) is another species from the Nightshade family, Solanaceae. The Silver-leaf Nightshade is Solanum elaeagnifolium.
However when it comes to common names the same name can be used for several species which can get confusing, so I found some sources that called both plants Horse Nettle.
How did you use it in your lesson?
Thanks for reading my blog and commenting!
How pretty? Do tell where it is! Is it cooler there?
Hassayampa River Preserve near Wickenburg. Not much cooler than Phoenix, except the fact it is under the canopy of trees and near water.
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