Click here for information about 2020 City Nature Challenge.
For my second hike to capture nature observations for 2020 CNC, I chose the Wallis Palms Oasis Trail. Although, we've stopped a few times at this trailhead, we've never hiked here. Due to the oasis environment, I thought this trail would give me an opportunity to capture lots of observations in a short time frame. Since daytime temperatures were in excess of 95°, I waited until 4:00pm to start hiking. This meant that lighting conditions for the 35mm would be harsh but I had already decided to capture most 'close-up' observations using my iPhone anyway.
No sooner had I started walking the trail when 2 coyotes darted across the path, unfortunately, they were too fast to capture in a picture. I made a total of 66 observations during the hike but I've only included a few interesting one for this blog.
Desert iguanas
It's hard to capture the beauty of Schott's Indigo bush with its small deep purple pea-sized flowers.
Wand Holdback, a rather boring twiggy shrub produces slender, wand-like stems up to 6 feet tall, takes on a new light when its yellow flowers begin to bloom.
Emory rock daisy and notch-leaf scorpion-weed
Pencil cholla cactus
Bristly langoisia and ghost flower
Catclaw acacia
Sweetbush
Smoke tree
Desert tobacco and desert sand verbena
Desert dandelion
California fan palm
Silver cholla cactus
Western side-blotched lizard and desert cottontail
Swainson's hawk
After 3 hours of making observations, it was time to head back to the car. I arrived just in time for a great sunset.
