Showing posts with label Yarnell Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yarnell Hill. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sunday, February 22, 2009
(In)famous Yarnell Hill
Map of Highway 89
Yarnell Hill changes 2500 feet in elevation over four miles along the side of Table Top Mountain. An overlook about a mile from the top offers views of...
Yarnell Hill changes 2500 feet in elevation over four miles along the side of Table Top Mountain. An overlook about a mile from the top offers views of...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
What the...
...did I find in the desert?
Maybe this will help.
80-100+ year old Saguaros in front of Joshua-tree
The Saguaro, pronounced sah-wah’-ro, is the state flower of Arizona (sorry it’s not in bloom, yet) and is protected by law. It grows up to 50 feet tall, but very slowly, and the oldest plants could be 150-200 years old.
Joshua-tree, the largest of the yuccas at 15-30 feet tall, is iconic to the national park bearing its name in southern California. It also grows in abundance in Joshua Forest Parkway in western Arizona, not far from where I live. Mormon pioneers during the late 1800s named this species Joshua because its shape mimics a person with uplifted arms gesturing wildly as if to pray.
Here’s another interesting discovery.
Ocotillo, pronounced o-ko-tee’-yo, grows multi-stems up to 30 feet tall. Leaves appear only after rain then withers as the soil dries. The tip of each stem displays a vibrant red cluster of flowers. This cycle repeats several times during the year.
OK, now you know we’re in the desert, so steer clear of these.
Prickly Pear Cactus is one of the most common cacti found in the desert.
Highway 89 winds 2500 feet up Table Top Mountain in four miles
Note the prickly pear cactus in center foreground
I live at the top of this Yarnell Hill
Maybe this will help.
80-100+ year old Saguaros in front of Joshua-tree
The Saguaro, pronounced sah-wah’-ro, is the state flower of Arizona (sorry it’s not in bloom, yet) and is protected by law. It grows up to 50 feet tall, but very slowly, and the oldest plants could be 150-200 years old.
Joshua-tree, the largest of the yuccas at 15-30 feet tall, is iconic to the national park bearing its name in southern California. It also grows in abundance in Joshua Forest Parkway in western Arizona, not far from where I live. Mormon pioneers during the late 1800s named this species Joshua because its shape mimics a person with uplifted arms gesturing wildly as if to pray.
Here’s another interesting discovery.
Ocotillo, pronounced o-ko-tee’-yo, grows multi-stems up to 30 feet tall. Leaves appear only after rain then withers as the soil dries. The tip of each stem displays a vibrant red cluster of flowers. This cycle repeats several times during the year.
OK, now you know we’re in the desert, so steer clear of these.
Prickly Pear Cactus is one of the most common cacti found in the desert.
Highway 89 winds 2500 feet up Table Top Mountain in four miles
Note the prickly pear cactus in center foreground
I live at the top of this Yarnell Hill
I’ve admired this particular cluster of Saguaro many times on the drive to Wickenburg on Highway 89 at the bottom of the Yarnell Hill. Yesterday I finally stopped to take pictures. The close up idea was inspired by Joan at SAP
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