Tag: wildlife

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.

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.