wildflower – Vapor Trail

Posted on April 19, 2009 April 10, 2015

Snake on the path…

Today was a great day at Government Canyon. It had rained a bit this week and I anticipated a burst of wildflowers but was disappointed again. There really isn’t much bursting forth going on out there this year. Last week’s Mountain Laurel has pretty much disappeared. I did find some clusters of Plains Blackfoot sometimes known as Rock Daisy. Anyhow, that is the identification I’ve come up with using my Wildflowers of Texas book. The scientific name is Melampodium leucanthum and it is a member of the sunflower family.

So, I am thankful to have seen some smatterings of Plains Blackfoot. Also, a few cactus were beginning to show an inclination to bloom. It has been several weeks now when it seems they have been poised to explode yet nothing until today.

But the cool thing about today’s hike—I saw a rattlesnake, and a fairly large one at that. It was on the Johnston Trail between the 7 and 8 markers and was making his way across the trail into the brush. I was able to capture a photo as he was disappearing into the brush. The rattle is distinctive. And it looked well fed. Click on the photo to get a larger view.

Posted on April 10, 2009 October 25, 2022

…and then a hog snorted…

Government Canyon might have a lot of wildlife but I haven’t really seen much on my myriad of hikes out there. I have seen a few dear, a couple of wild hogs, a porcupine, a rattlesnake, a coyote. But these are always the exception and really make the hike better.

Today a hog snorted at me. I was on Caroline’s Loop, near the 2 marker and I heard a distinctive snort. I peered into the brush but could not make out anything. But I could imagine a big yellow hog eye staring back at me, maybe a feral boar, with boar’s feet stamping at the ground looking for a charge angle. I saw that once in a movie, I think it was The Thornbirds. I know the feral hogs play a predominant role in Old Yeller. Anyway I continued to stare and it continued to snort and I finally moved on. No chance for a picture there.

The wildflowers are not blooming in Government Canyon. But there is an abundance of Mountain Laurel and that is always welcome. The cactus seem ready to bloom, maybe next week.

Posted on October 26, 2008 October 23, 2022

Porcupine

This weekend on the Cave Creek trail I spotted a porcupine. It was near the #2 marker Just off the trail and was slowly climbing a tree. By the time I got my camera out it was near the top and had hunkered down. It would be difficult to notice that this was not part of the tree.

At Soto Vista I captured another shot of Senna.

Velvet leaf senna is also known as Lindheimer’s senna, Velvet leaf wild sensitive plant, Velvetleaf senna, Puppy-dog Ears (PictureThis app).

Sunday I took Colter out to see how he would like the Canyon. It was quite difficult because he is very curious and just wants to sniff. It was agonizing to go around the Savanah Loop. I think he is just as happy to go to Connally and avoid the car ride out to the Canyon.

Posted on September 27, 2008 October 23, 2022

Government Canyon Update

It’s been some time since I last posted to my blog. Blame college football season for that. I have not been negligent in going to Government Canyon though and am hitting the back country trails each week. This involves some variation with Cave Creek Trail. For example, today’s hike was Far Reaches > Twin Oaks > Black Hill Loop (8 to 32) and then Cave Creek back to Parking D. It is about 12.5 miles. Check the map for GPS tracks.

I captured several nice photos of Morning Glory and Lindheimer Senna. Also, I have seen a few feral hogs this past month. Coming down Cave Creek I could hear them rooting along the pathway and carefully came upon one. But, by the time I had my camera out it had scooted up the trail.

I plan to add to the Grand Canyon pages a bit today, where I left off. I believe I am on Hedy’s trip over Spring Break in 2004.

Velvet leaf senna is also known as Lindheimer’s senna, Velvet leaf wild sensitive plant, Velvetleaf senna, Puppy-dog Ears (PictureThis app).

Ivy-leaved morning glory is also known as Ivyleaf morning glory, Ivyleaf morning-glory, Woolly morning-glory (PictureThis app).

Posted on August 23, 2008 October 23, 2022

Rained in

Well, no Government Canyon today. We had a steady drizzle this morning and the canyon gets quite sticky when it is wet. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to make a perimeter walk.

Last week I captured a photo of a Rio grande copper lilly. I don’t recall ever seeing this plant before. It was mixed in with a sprinkling of Rain Lillies.

Also known as Copper lily (PictureThis App]

Posted on August 10, 2008 October 23, 2022

Gov Canyon

Since returning from the Appalachian Trail I have made it out to Government Canyon the past two weekends. Both days have been exceedingly hot. I did the perimeter route which is my usual hike for this time of year. Next month, when the back trails open, I will be able to hike the Cave Creek and Black Hill Trails, my favorites. Here is a Google map of the GPS tracks of the perimeter route.

During the hike yesterday (August 9, 2008) I was able to capture a nice photo of White mouth dayflower (also known as Erect dayflower, Slender dayflower, Widow’s tears, Sand dayflower) and Violet wild petunia (also known as Wild petunia, Violet ruella, Common wild petunia (PictureThis app)).

Posted on June 21, 2008 October 23, 2022

Government Canyon Revisited

Government Canyon Sunflower — Common sunflower, Helianthus annuus

Well, after a 2 week layoff due to Bronchitis I managed the perimeter OK. Not too many wildflowers. I was able to capture some sunflowers. It was quite hot but still a beautiful day-first day of summer. Blue sky, white cumulus clouds.

Next major trip is the Appalachian Trail. This will be my fifth year now, doing section hiking. I will be in central Virginia and begin at the exact spot where Sophie and I finished last year. Eventually I will have an Appalachian Trail page that will describe this particular adventure.

The Common sunflower is also known as Annual sunflower (PictureThis app).

Posted on May 4, 2008 October 23, 2022

Texas Thistle

Had a short walk in Government Canyon, Saturday—Far Reaches and return by Sendero Balcones for about 5.5 miles. Probably next weekend will be a short one as well as I am in the middle of a diet. Dieting and hiking are not a good mix.

I did capture several photos on the walk. Here is one of a young Texas thistle on the Recharge Trail. Also known as Texas purple thistle, Southern thistle (PictureThis app).

Posted on April 27, 2008 October 23, 2022

Silverleaf nightshade

Yesterday I walked the reverse perimeter of Government Canyon. This would be the Johnstone Trail > Carline’s Loop > a bit more of the Johnstone Trail and then Sendero Balcones to Far Reaches. From Far Reaches I walked along the Recharge Trail to Parking Lot D. On the way were a bunch of Silverleaf nightshades. Hence, the photo.

Also known as Silver-leaved nightshade, Silverleaf nettle, Prairie berry, Silver nightshade, White horsenettle, Silver-leaf bitter-apple, Satansbos, Bull-nettle, Horsenettle (PictureThis app)

Posted on April 25, 2008 October 23, 2022

Morning-Glory

At Government Canyon today I captured this photo of Ivy-leaved morning-glory. Also known as Ivylear morning glory, Ivyleaf morning-glory, Woolly morning-glory (PictureThis App).

Government Canyon is bursting with flowering cactus (yellow and red). I had a bit of excitement on the trail as I was photographing some yellow blooms—I had my left knee unknowingly pressed against some tiny cactus spines (called glochids) and my right foot squarely planted in a fire ant nest. About 10 yards down the trail I noticed an itching sensation and that’s when I spotted my right foot swarming with ants, a few had reached my knee. In the process of brushing them off I noticed the spines. Quite a mess there for about 10 minutes but then was back on the trail, none the worse for wear.