This morning I went on hike up Child’s Mountain. It has been pretty chilly the last few days and it still was this morning, until the sun finally came out. My hiking trail is the road that leads to the summit. It is gated and open only to foot traffic. Off road, the terrain is very rocky and steep. The flowers are really coming along, Brittlebush is starting to bloom profusely. About a mile up, there is a flat and there I discovered a new plant for me, growing in abundance.
The new plant, Desert Onion, Allium macropetalum, a species of wild onion that is reported to be common and widespread in the southwest. However, according to records in iNaturalist, it is rarely reported in most of the Sonoran Desert. It is not even listed in my book Sonoran Desert Wildflowers. UPDATE: After some discussion in iNaturalist, it has been decided that this plant is Sperry’s Onion, Allium perdulce var. sperry. Rather than repeat what has already been said, if interested, read the information at this LINK .The flowers on various plants range from creamy white to a light pink, as this one shows. Here is a plant with nearly white flowers. I spent a long time looking at the variability among the plants. There were literally thousands of plants, quite amazing considering I have never seen it before. I don’t think the flowering stage will last very long though. Here’s another new plant for me, Spiny Goldenweed, Xanthisma spinulosum. Like the onion, it appears to be more common in other areas of the American southwest, outside the Sonoran Desert.Northern Mockingbirds are well known for this flight display. This is the time of year when they are very actively doing this. From a high, exposed perch, the males sing and then periodically fly up a few feet and display the white feathers in the wings and tail. I’ve tried to capture this with a camera before with little success, it is very difficult to maintain focus and the action is fast. Yesterday, I finally got a few photos that are worth showing. I would have liked a little more light on the eye, but this is the best I have so far.
One reply on “New Flowers and a Mockingbird”
You’re seeing lots of flowers there. Who knew onion flowers were so pretty? I thought the Miner’s lettuce was interesting too.
I miss the mockingbirds.
One reply on “New Flowers and a Mockingbird”
You’re seeing lots of flowers there. Who knew onion flowers were so pretty? I thought the Miner’s lettuce was interesting too.
I miss the mockingbirds.