The cooler microclimate with shade and a different rock nearby resulted in some foliose lichens!We found a flower blooming that wasn’t skunk bush sumac! Mom identified this as Ribes leptanthum, trumpet gooseberry. It has lovely flowers and very friendly spines too. We didn’t see many insects out on either species though, presumably because it’s such a drought. Little sprinkles to the west (if it even hit the ground) on our way back to camp!A multipurpose state line sign on a county road. On the way back we stopped to see the replica of a brontosaurus femur that the park brochures note is on private property by the roadside. It is for commemoration of many dinosaur fossils found on the private property.
Briar posed for us as we began our slow walk up the trail. Here we go! Briar was on her leash and thought we were slow. Especially when I kept stopping to take photos of grama grass. Mom also does botany photography along the trail!I’ll look up this grasshopper when we get home.I like how this photo has a cholla in front of a juniper with grama grass framing it. These were among the dominant plants along the trail. Framed by the cholla cacti and distant junipers is a stretch of green tinted soil exposed by erosion! you can also see some of the abundant yuccas. This young yucca by the trail already has a few strings peeling off the leaves. One of the volcanic rocks that gives Black Mesa its name was down at our level. The trail climbs the Mesa for a round trip of 8.2 miles, but between botany and my arthritis we did a round trip of 1.6 miles in 1 hr and 50 min. This dried leaf was very firm and had lovely reticulated veins. Close up of cholla cactus branches and spines, with Black Mesa in the background. Briar is the picture of patience once again. The packed earth trail is really broad and smooth!
We are now at Black Mesa State Park. Mom and briar look for a bird!We went to the start of the Petrified Forest trail. We will explore more in a few days. Here’s a petrified log! Briar also smelled it. I love all the grama grass here!This big flat rock had an unexplained old bolt and washer in it. Here’s the lichen on the same big flat rock!There’s a Say’s Phoebe in here. we also saw a bunch of American Goldfinches and House Finches. There was a Canyon Towhee by the park office! We have also been hearing flickers and robins.
We managed a short walk for dog business before Briar freaked out about wanting to get in truck. On that walk we saw this nice crustose lichen with orange apothecia (the round speckles) on a walnut tree. Briar safe in the truck and you can’t take her out!!!
That’s all dust in the sky!Satellite view on the Windy app definitely shows us in the tan dust area! Boiling Springs is very near Woodward. On our evening walk along the camp area (almost completely empty) Mom spotted a colony of chimney bees! Zoom in to see the holes in the soil. A mystery grass. Lots of beautiful big bluestem here along with little bluestem!Big bluestem with the dusty sun behind it. Grama grass with the dusty sun!Resting on warm concrete after a dusty day. Shackleton would be jealous of Briar.