Botanical trip in Texas april 2024
Many thanks to all who helped me !
Link to preparation https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/jmvanel/87520-preparing-a-botanical-trip-to-texas-trans-pecos-end-of-march-or-april
WIP ...
El Paso
Travelling today to Van Horn.
I stayed longer than expected in El Paso, because of suitcase lost by AA, etc. Yesterday I spent the morning with Kevin F. in Chihuahuan Desert Garden, and the afternoon in the small mountains above Arroyo Park. I hiked in the West and East of Franklin Mountains. The drought is there since last summer, but a few allowed some flowers.
Archeological Museum & its Nature Walk
Trail near Franklin Mountains headquarters
For your convenience , the link to my observations
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
And the ones in need of identification:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&quality_grade=needs_id&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
Van Horn
To drive from El Paso to Van Horn, I took mainly the road 20, which follows more or less the Camino Real of the Spanish time.
I passed by an organic vegetable farm, Bodega Loya. I was welcomed by Ralph Loya, who is a retired engineer, and of native Piro origin.
We was educated by his father a farmer; but now he does winter crop, which was not done formerly .
He showed me the partial eclipse through a welding mask.
Then I went to nearby Mission church, continuation of a sanctuary started in 1680, rebuilt 2 times after floods.
Im the brochure of the Mission, I learned about the 1680 indian revolt in New Mexico
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueblo_Revolt#:~:text=The%20Pueblo%20Revolt%20of%201680,than%20present%2Dday%20New%20Mexico
I crossed 2 Road runners ! Geococcyx californianus . https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_roadrunner
Pecans orchards are numerous, but it hurts me to see them clipped like platans in France. I picked a few nuts staying on the tree, but rather light, they may be not good to eat...
There are canals everywhere, I wonder how water is managed.
I went to the locations of Michelle's observations, but found other species...
My observations of the day:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-08&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
I had a chat with a lady of the border guard.
I saw cattle , black, not a good color for hot climate , on irrigated grass.
Yesterday evening , had a good steak at V.H. Cattle Co.
Today, Guadalupe !
Guadalupe Park
Yesterday april 9 in Guadalupe national Park, I saw many beautiful Madrones (Arbutus xalapensis) in flower. Like men their skin color is between white and salmon. Nobody cares, but the smell is special, hint of pepper, different from our Arbutus unedo.
Among the tree, I admired maple Acer grandidentatum, and Juglans microcarpa (that I grow from seed). The MacKittrick Canyon is beautiful, but the park closes at 5 so I just went to the Pratt cabin. It was nice to running water after several days in desert land! After I went to Frijoles Ranch, an historic place with an orchard of old varieties watered from a well.
Michelle @pufferschung wrote : Congratulations! You found two Prunus murrayana. The petioles and stipules of a leaf of Prunus murrayana are red. See the second last picture https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202875883
and this observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/205627749
I did not think of it then, that I could see this rare tree just along the trail; so I just didn't check the hairy characteristic.
My observations of april 9:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-9&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Plantae
Today I went to Alpine through Marfa. On left side of the road, again pecan orchards with a canal. I took farm road 2810, and then a dirt road, Chispa road, to hike to a hill with rusty rock; several new species including a fern, and beautiful white Amsonia longiflora.
I had a Chili at Beer Garden in Marfa, and chatted with a cowboy, drunk a tequila.
In the afternoon, after Clifton's advice, I hiked in Dixon Water Foundation's ranch, welcomed by president C. Wade. Even after a few days in Texas, I can see that the biodiversity is greater here than in the average ranch.
My observations of april 10 on the road from Van Horn to Alpine (south , road 90 ) :
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-10&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Plantae
Alpine
In Chihuahua Research garden, I saw for the first time the flowering ash; not so beautiful as the cover of Benny Simpsom's book :(
My observations of april 11 in Chihuahua Research garden :
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-11&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Plantae
My observations of april 12 in Monahans natural Preserve:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-12&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Plantae
My observations of april 13 in Davis Mountains State Park, with Clifton
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-13&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Plantae
Candelaria
We didn't stay long in this tiny border village. We took the magnificent Pinto Canyon Road.
The season was more advanced; more cacti were in flower, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/207310006
Near the Rio Grande, lots of willows eaten by goats, and a rope bridge , the river is only a few meters wide, and muddy.
On the road to Big Bend Nat. Park, I swimmed in Grassy Bank; the river was larger and rather clear and green. I respected the sign of not reaching Mexico under a 5000$ fine ! But under a old treaty with Mexico, the whole of Rio Grande is common use of both nations, so I could have swimmed to next shore :) .
My observations of april 14 in Candelaria and all the way on FM 170 to Terlingua
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-14&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Plantae
Big Bend Nat. Park
Nice walk to Laguna Meadow just under Livermore Peak. The vegetation was dry; altogether McKitrick Canyon was more interesting.
My observations of april 15 in Big Bend Nat. Park
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-15&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
Devils River
My observations of april 16 on the road from B. Bend to Del Rio
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-16&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
Gold Mine Canyon has a good biodiversity! With halp of Michelle, I saw , only here, a nice lime cliff daisy Perityle lindheimeri = Lindheimer's Rockdaisy https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/207856965 , and Leucaena, a palatable tree not common .
My observations of april 17 in Gold Mine Canyon and on the shore of Devils River, one of the few drinkable rivers in USA !
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-17&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
Austin
My observations of april 18 on the road from Devils R. to Austin
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-18&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
Austin is greener than Connecticut, and trees are completely in leaves.
Michelle lead us, Clifton and me, to Doeskin Ranch.
Nice dry rocky meadows with a rare Primula, woods of Juniperus with Passiflora, a clear water stream with Adiantum capillus veneris.
My observations of april 19 in Balcones Nat. Park ; with Clifton & Michelle
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-04-19&place_id=any&user_id=jmvanel&verifiable=any
