Showing posts with label wildflowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildflowers. Show all posts

July 30, 2017

Zazo in Training

We have a new horse, a 6 year old Arab.  He's still in the learning and conditioning phase.
He's coming along well.  At the Strawberry Fields Endurance Ride, he completed 25 mile events two days in a row, no problem.  He'll be ready for 50 mile events soon.  He's a tall boy, so he'll be Steve's ride.
Sugar also completed 25's at Strawberry.  She loves to go, and she's already proven she can do 50 mile events.
While training on a mountain near home, we saw this rare white bitterroot.  There were only a few of them in a big meadow at about 8000 feet.
In the early spring, we saw a lot of Balsamroot, with their bright yellow flowers.
A week ago, Zazo discovered chicory in bloom.  He liked it.
On the Yellow Fork trail, an animal hid in the brush.  Can you spot her?
On a trail near Woodland, Utah, we found  the world's most pitiful excuse for a gate, shown above.  The feed bags are supposed to be a warning that wire is present, I presume.  The yellow sign says "Please close the gate".  The word "gate" must be someone's idea of a joke.

The mountains north of Strawberry Reservoir are at their wildflower peak in late July.  We took a lot of photos there.
With Zazo coming on board, we had to find places for Boss and Coco, who are both in the 18 to 20 year range, a little old for endurance, but still a good age for 4-H or general trail riding. Fortunately, we were able to find good homes for both of them.  Mischief is 27 now and doing great for his age.  We hope he'll be giving rides to the grandchildren for many years to come.

May 22, 2016

San Rafael Swell Wildflowers

claret cup cactus
Many wildflowers were in bloom when we visited the San Rafael in mid-May.  I will attach my best guess at names, but I can't guarantee accuracy.  Please let me know if you have a better idea.
Fendler's Hedgehog cactus
Fendler's Hedgehog cactus flower

Balsamroot
Fleabane
Globemallow
Penstemon Ambiguus ?



Penstemon ambiguus flower



Penstemon ?



Scapose Greenthread



Yellow Cryptanth

 
Fleabane
yucca


May 8, 2016

Spring on Antelope Island

Lupine with the rock formation known as Elephant Head in the background
Antelope Island is a Utah State Park surrounded by the Great Salt Lake and reached via a causeway.  The first week of May, Antelope Island has turned green
Wildflowers are in bloom.
Indian Paintbrush
Sweet Fennel

Fleabane

Balsam Root

Cryptanth

 tiny, delicate Claytonia perfoliata

Claytonia perfoliata is also known as Miner's lettuce.  The leaves are edible and provide vitamin C.  Western gold miners ate it to prevent scurvy. 
Gooseberry bushes



Gooseberry branch with buds
Globemallow

Globemallow hill
Boss eating thistle buds VERY carefully.

Boss enjoying the plentiful grass

We saw antelope, buffalo, raptors and chukars.  Meadowlarks sang everywhere.  Spring has arrived on the island.  Biting flies and gnats have arrived, too, so it's a good idea to wipe down yourself and your horses with insect repellent!

April 18, 2016

Canyon Water and Wildflowers

Water in the San Rafael Desert is not as rare as one might think.  We find many pools and water pockets in the sandstone canyons.  These water sources are not on any map, but many of them are reliable all year. 
One of the many small springs makes a handy place for a drink.  Some of these are on maps, but many are not.  Also, the maps are often inaccurate, sometimes placing a spring several miles away from the actual water source.
 Water that hides in the shade of a sandstone shelf will satisy a thirsty animal.  
Sometimes water can be found at the base of a cliff, a pour-off pool that gathers from melted snow and spring rain.
And of course green grass goes with water.  The horses love that!
The wildflowers are just getting started in mid-April. 
A claret cup cactus brightens up the rock and sand.
Milkvetch (purple)  and wallflowers (yellow) bloom between the scattered juniper trees.  
A Fremont's mahonia bush grows near a spring.
   Here is a closer view of the yellow flowers.
This one is my favorite, a Showy Stoneseed.  The lackluster name comes from the seed with an extremely hard, thick, impervious shell, which must allow survival of the species through winter cold and summer drought.  I think it's the prettiest of the desert flowers.
The Indian paintbrush is a close second for color and beauty. 

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin