Snake

Saw our first snake tonight. Our neighbors here in the volunteer campground were sitting out behind their trailer and heard a hissing noise. JJ had disconnected his water hose and was pulling it in to roll it up. Upon further investigation of the hissing, they discovered a diamond back rattler caught in a roll of chicken wire. It was evident that it had recently eaten as was too large in the middle to squeeze through the holes in the wire. Then it had turned back on itself and had entangled itself even further. The hissing was actually the sound of its tail rattling rapidly in anger. He was not a happy camper.

Our friend, Shiny,another volunteer, heard the commotion and went to check it out. I went with her. When she saw the situation she immediately wanted to help it. Luckily there is a snake grabber stored in teh volunteer house for just such an emergency. It looks like a tool for grabbing something on a high shelf, but the handle is about 5 feet long, to keep the animal at a safe distance.

After a few minutes with a very unhappy fellow, S finally grabbed the guy just behind his head so he could not harm anyone. Then another volunteer cut the mesh with a wire cutter so that the snake could be freed. He was then taken quite a distance away and released in an arroyo to recover himself. I’ll bet he will have a story to tell his family when gets gets back home.

The Eyes Have IT

The Eyes have it. Sunday 3.27.11

I hate eye exams. I could not wear contacts because I don’t like to touch and have someone else touch my eyes. Never have. Contacts were out of the question; had to touch my eye. Laser surgery, has to touch the eye.

That all changed in the last couple of days. Wednesday I when I woke up I noticed that my left eye had a dramatically increased amount of “floaters”, the little pieces of dots and specks that float around in your vision when you look at the sky. I have had a certain amount of floaters since I can remember. This was a marked increase. A rather large floater was right in my line of vision, very distracting. I lived with it on Thursday thinking it would go away. When it didn’t by Friday morning, I called the Ajo Clinic and received an appointment for 2 pm. The Dr checked me over with that tool that they use when you get a pysical, but she was not an eye doctor. She recommended that I call an ophthalmologist. So when I left the clinic I parked in front of the library and checked on line for ophthalmologists. Bear in mind that it was 3:30 on Friday afternoon. After calling several Tucson numbers, “You have dialed the number of Dr ---, we are closed. Our office hours are …”, I finally got one to answer and got an appointment for Saturday at 10 am.

R and I left the trailer at 6am and drove into the doctor’s parking lot in Tucson at a little after 9am. After the usual paperwork I was taken to a room and examined by the technician who used an expensive-looking laser machine that took pictures of the inside of my retinas. The ophthalmologist came in and checked me over. She saw some blood in there so she suspected that there was a tear in my retina. She told me that she could not find a tear but the seriousness warranted that she contact a retina specialist. After a few minutes she told me that she had contacted Doctor H and I would be gettign a call on my cell after she finished surgery.

R and I left the office and drove to the nearby Costco for a much needed hotdog lunch. Afterward, we strolled up and down the aisles looking for items that we needed or didn’t know we needed. As we were leaving the store Doctor H called and set up a time to meet at her office. I put the address into the Garmin and followed Emily (that is what we call her) for directions. We arrived at the address without trouble. Doctor H finished two other emergency patients before calling me into one of her rooms. She checked me out “thoroughly”. After four kinds of drops in each eye she basically manipulated my eye every way but upside down to look (with a Very bright light) into my eyes. Frankly, at dinner over a glass of wine would have been more pleasant, but she insisted on doing it this way.

After much squeezing, pushing and those bright lights, she told me that she found no tear in the retina!!! Very good news! She mentioned that as we age our eyes change too. The liquid in the eye dries up and the eye pulls away from the retina. As it pulls away sometimes it takes part of the retina with it and these pieces are the floaters. Because most of us older folks are instructed by our doctors to take a baby aspirin every day, it is more likely to be some bleeding because the blood is “thinner”. Interesting, huh? So I am to take it easy, no jogging, no boxing for a week or so. Next week we are planning to go to Tucson with a friend so we will have a follow-up appointment with Dr H.

If you read this, pay attention to your body, in this case, your eyes. If you have sudden floaters and especially if there are flashes in your eyes in conjuction with this, call your ophthalmologist immediately. It could mean your sight.

Sells, AZ

BAT IN MY BLOSSOMS!

[COLUMNAR CACTUS

in the Sonoran Desert]

Welcome to the Sonoran Desert, one of four located in North America. The uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert is that is has five seasons, two of which are rainy seasons, one in the summer and one in the winter. The average amount of rainfall is 7 ½ inches in this Desert. The average temperatures from Oct. thru April is 60-70 degrees and 105* the rest of the year. Twenty-eight species of cacti have adapted their lives to these conditions in the Sonoran Desert. Cacti are succulent, drought resistant plants that store water in their fleshy, succulent leaves, stems or roots. BATS IN MY BLOSSOMS is an introduction to cacti, specifically the columnar cactus in the Sonoran Desert within ORPI.

The columnar are cacti with stems shaped like columns; the stems have ribbed ridges and grooves. After reading this, perhaps, you will become a bit more acquainted with three of the columnar cactus: the saguaro, the Organ Pipe cactus, and the senita, along with the importance of the lesser long-nosed bats to these cacti.

Part I: SAGUARO

This cactus is one of the most recognized cacti of the SW, the saguaro with its telephone pole-like columnar stem. Its scientific name, Carnegia Gigantica, comes from the size of the columnar, as well as from Andrew Carnegie who financed an expedition to the SW for unusual plants to take back to the East Coast. Hardier than the organ pipe cactus, the saguaro grows at elevations of 1,670 to 4,700 feet; however, it does not like below freezing or real hot conditions. The young saguaro is difficult to differentiate from the barrel cactus. In the beginning it is small like a nickel which is a challenge to find in the desert floor. As it grows, the saguaro has a club-shape to it, not the straight up and down lines of a barrel cactus. The first five to ten years there may be an inch in growth, one foot by 30 years, 3 feet by 50 years, and 6 ft. between 60 and 75 years of age when arms appear. The average height of a mature saguaro at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument [ORPI] is 43 to 50 feet. The saguaro lives on average from 150 years to 200 years of age, perhaps even 250 years old.

The seeds of the columnar cacti look similar in appearance to poppy seeds in color and size. About 2,000 seeds are produced from one flower and about 4 million from one saguaro in its life time. The seeds need good summer rains, at least 1 ½ - 2 inches, but preferably 4 inches of rain with substantial rains for the next few years. In order to survive, the seeds must germinate within a few weeks or be eaten or burned by the sun. Survival depends on a ‘nurse plant.’

Saguaros require a nurse plant to establish itself. Being a nurse plant is a risky, thankless job. It provides shade, light, moisture, and nutrients. Over 80% of the nurse trees are palos verde, as well as mesquite, ironwood, ocotillo, and even creosote. The roots of the saguaro will be found 4, even 5, inches below the surface. The length of the roots is the same as the height of the plant. [5 ft. tall, the roots go out in a radius of 5 ft, or ten ft. in diameter. During drought periods, the root ends will develop a hard cover to stop moisture escaping. When it rains, new roots grow quickly absorb the rain. A mature saguaro has been known to drink 3,000 liters within a ten-day period.

The ribs or rods give the columnar cacti rigidity that allows for contraction and expansion for water and allows more surface for photosynthesis. The stems are able to expand into green succulent structures containing the chlorophyll necessary for life and growth while the leaves becomes spines for which the cacti are well known. A healthy plant can hold up to 85-90% water; on the other hand, it can dehydrate up to 80% and still survive. Waist bands are a result of not enough water or being too cold. MYTH: Cacti can not provide water to the thirsty. The slimy fluid inside is too gritty and bitter and alkaloid

In May about the age of 50, a saguaro will begin to flower, perhaps 6 that first year. The blooms are white, vase-like flowers at the end of the stem. The flowers open at night around 10 pm until the following afternoon. The fragrance and color of the flowers attracts insects, doves, but particularly the lesser long-nosed bats. About 6 weeks later, the woodpeckers stand ready to peck open the fruit; other birds stand ready to gorge themselves on the pulps and seeds; bees are ready to wallow in the sweet juices; ground squirrels are willing to brave the climb for a tasty treat; and coyotes & javelinas a wait for the fallen fruit down below. The Lesser Long-Nosed Bat, however, is the number one indulger. The sweet strawberry like-pulp is devoured by the creatures of the desert, including the People. The To’hono O’odam harvest the fruit using ‘kupits’ to knock down the fruit. The harvest is used for jams, syrups, and sweeteners. Some of the juice is fermented for four days to make a wine for a celebration to summon up the summer rains needed for other agriculture endeavors. Perhaps, some seeds will be overlooked and not killed by the heat of the sun to germinate a new Plant! Remember, 2,000 seeds per flower and 4 millions seeds produced per saguaro in a life time.

Part II: The namesake of this Monument is the Organ Pipe Cactus with its many slim, round-like columns of vertically ribbed stems branching upward from the base. This plant is not as hardy as its tall cousin and prefers elevations from 1,00 to 3,500 feet on sunny, rocky, south slopes. The tips of the Organ Pipe Cactus will freeze and die at 20 degrees. The Organ Pipe Cactus may grow 5 to 20 arms all from the base of the plant and be as wide as twelve feet and 9 to 20 feet in height [40 ft is the record]. Life span is about 150 years of age. Organ Pipe Cactus spines [11-14 in a cluster] are set in areoles set closer together than saguaros. Early on they are brownish/blackish that turn gray with age. The flowers bloom annually nocturnally from May through July. These lavender-white , 2 ½ inches, funnel shape blossoms open at night and close by the morning. The Organ Pipe Cactus fruit called pitahaya lose their spines at maturity, opening an edible red pulped fruit which taste more like watermelon. Pitahaya dulce refers to delectable fruit. As in the saguaro fruit, this food has provided a food source to animals, insects, birds, as well as to the People for centuries. The pulp can be eaten as is , or made into jelly or fermented into a beverage, too. The To’hono O’odam called the plant ‘ool’ and dried it for medicines as well.

Part III: The Lesser Long-Nosed Bat, a weird 2 ½ to 3 inch creature with a 14-inch wing span, is an extremely important creature to the saguaro and Organ Pipe cactus!! Yes, it is a winged mammal covered with fur that nurses its young pup mild. But, how can such a small creature be so critical in the survival of the saguaro and Organ Pipe Cactus? Until the 1960s, not much was known about this little guy until researchers realized that the numbers of bats were diminishing and it was affecting the survival of many plants. As researchers study bats, they have discovered that there are over 980 species.

For many years I have thought that all bats used Echolocation to navigate, as well as locate their food. To my surprise this isn’t always the case. Some bats, particularly the nectar-feeding and fruit bats use their excellent sense of vision and olfactory abilities.

Such is the case with the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats. Bats use their olfactory senses to detect fragrance of flowers, as well as of the fruit. They also utilize their vision to locate colors of the blossom of the flower. And, when I thought of bats, I pictured them hibernating for the winter in roosts, such as caves and other empty spaces. Again, the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats surprised me. Not only do they not hibernate, the MIGRATE from the southern areas of Mexico up the coast to southern Arizona, east to the Tucson area, and then back to southern Mexico. The impregnated females fly north resting and eating along the way for strength until they locate nectar and fruit and finally their favorite buffet~agave. Bats hang upside down which is great for take-off; they can’t take off from the ground. The knees of the bat are well suited for clinging to walls. Their knees are rotated 180*, compared to human knees, which makes clinging to walls and taking off much easier. Bats roost or rest during the day, bringing down their temperature levels to the ambient heat of the moist, roosting habitats, conserving their energies for the night ‘buffet’. The LLN Bats roost in the Pinacante Lava Tubes and the other roosting areas in ORPI, using them for nurseries, too. Mothers leave the ‘pups’ in the roost to hunt for food. Upon returning the mothers can hear the sound of their pups, as well as detect their pups’ odors.

Bats are designed to fit inside a flower to suck out the nectar with their tongues. In the process, the fur of the bats are covered with yellow pollen. As they move from one flower to another, they help in the pollination of the plant, in this case the cacti. A single bat can dine at 100 flowers per night! The flock of 100,000 LLN bats pollinate and feed on ten million cacti. The females need the nourishment for their pups weigh up to 40% of their own weight. If I compared that to my own babies, they would have weighed 60 to 65 # at birth!! The LLN Bats eat the fruit of the saguaro and Organ Pipe Cactus to nourish themselves and their pups as they continue their flights back to southern Mexico. By eating the fruit they assist in the reproduction of the cacti by depositing the seeds from the pulp. The survival of the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats is crucial in the survival of the saguaro and the Organ Pipe Cactus!

Part III: Last, but not least, we have the Senita Cactus which is not as visible to the visitors of ORPI due to their location in the Monument. The Senita is referred to the ‘old man of the desert.’ Like the Saguaro it prefers flatter, sandy soils at about 1,500 feet or less in elevation. Most grow in Sonora, Mexico. As of the 1990s, between 50 and 100 may look quite similar to its cousin the Organ Pipe Cactus. Take a closer look and you will see that the columns are hexagonal and have more of a hairy appearance at the top of the columns. This species will grow 6 to 21 feet tall and 6’ to 15’ in diameter. Senita spines [15-20 in a cluster] are beard-like gray in color that are 1 ½ inches to 4 inches long on the upper stem that turn from pinkish red to gray in later years. Unlike the Saguaro and the Organ Pipe Cactus, the Senita’s main pollinator is the pyralid or senita moth, not the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats. The Senita moths lays its eggs inside the flower where the eggs hatch and the larvae eats the fruit. Ants also feed on the nectar secreted by the spines. The fruit of the Senita is a spineless, fleshy oval green pod that ripens to a red pulp containing black seeds that are edible, just not as tasty to humans.

As we all know, death must come to the cacti. In the dying process, the columnar cacti continues to be of use to the ecosystem. Even as it dies, the columnar structures houses many animals, as well as provide burrows below in the root systems. The message of death takes awhile to move through the plant. The cacti has been known to flower for two years after the process begins ~ sometimes a nine-year process. The centipedes and other insects continue to feed on the columnar structure, whether it is in the upright position or lying upon the ground. The dying cacti is still a home for many creatures as it wastes away. And, finally, it becomes nutrients to the soils for new growth.

In conclusion there are many reasons for the survival of the Saguaro, the Organ Pipe cactus, and the Senita. These cacti provide homes for many creatures, such as the cactus wren, the Harris Hawk, the re-tailed hawk, owls, and pack rats. They provide food sources for the creatures of the desert, as well as for the People. The ribs/rods have been utilized as building supplies for homes/fences and for tools, such as the kupit. The spines are used as needles for sewing. Many people plant the cacti in their gardens for their ornamental value. And, of course, do not forget their historical value. The Saguaro is thought of as the ‘symbol of the SW.’ Keep in mind that it is our responsibility to protect all plants and animals within our ecosystem; one loss will have a

negative effect in our lives. Do your part to maintain the world of the Saguaro, the Organ Pipe Cactus, the Senita, and the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats.

This bit of information is part of my Power-Point program that is presented at the Evening Programs. Perhaps, this information may encourage you to visit Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument or do some research on your own.

RAW's Evening Program

BAT IN MY BLOSSOMS!

[COLUMNAR CACTUS

in the Sonoran Desert]

Welcome to the Sonoran Desert, one of four located in North America. The uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert is that is has five seasons, two of which are rainy seasons, one in the summer and one in the winter. The average amount of rainfall is 7 ½ inches in this Desert. The average temperatures from Oct. thru April is 60-70 degrees and 105* the rest of the year. Twenty-eight species of cacti have adapted their lives to these conditions in the Sonoran Desert. Cacti are succulent, drought resistant plants that store water in their fleshy, succulent leaves, stems or roots. BATS IN MY BLOSSOMS is an introduction to cacti, specifically the columnar cactus in the Sonoran Desert within ORPI.

The columnar are cacti with stems shaped like columns; the stems have ribbed ridges and grooves. After reading this, perhaps, you will become a bit more acquainted with three of the columnar cactus: the saguaro, the Organ Pipe cactus, and the senita, along with the importance of the lesser long-nosed bats to these cacti.

Part I: SAGUARO

This cactus is one of the most recognized cacti of the SW, the saguaro with its telephone pole-like columnar stem. Its scientific name, Carnegia Gigantica, comes from the size of the columnar, as well as from Andrew Carnegie who financed an expedition to the SW for unusual plants to take back to the East Coast. Hardier than the organ pipe cactus, the saguaro grows at elevations of 1,670 to 4,700 feet; however, it does not like below freezing or real hot conditions. The young saguaro is difficult to differentiate from the barrel cactus. In the beginning it is small like a nickel which is a challenge to find in the desert floor. As it grows, the saguaro has a club-shape to it, not the straight up and down lines of a barrel cactus. The first five to ten years there may be an inch in growth, one foot by 30 years, 3 feet by 50 years, and 6 ft. between 60 and 75 years of age when arms appear. The average height of a mature saguaro at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument [ORPI] is 43 to 50 feet. The saguaro lives on average from 150 years to 200 years of age, perhaps even 250 years old.

The seeds of the columnar cacti look similar in appearance to poppy seeds in color and size. About 2,000 seeds are produced from one flower and about 4 million from one saguaro in its life time. The seeds need good summer rains, at least 1 ½ - 2 inches, but preferably 4 inches of rain with substantial rains for the next few years. In order to survive, the seeds must germinate within a few weeks or be eaten or burned by the sun. Survival depends on a ‘nurse plant.’

Saguaros require a nurse plant to establish itself. Being a nurse plant is a risky, thankless job. It provides shade, light, moisture, and nutrients. Over 80% of the nurse trees are palos verde, as well as mesquite, ironwood, ocotillo, and even creosote. The roots of the saguaro will be found 4, even 5, inches below the surface. The length of the roots is the same as the height of the plant. [5 ft. tall, the roots go out in a radius of 5 ft, or ten ft. in diameter. During drought periods, the root ends will develop a hard cover to stop moisture escaping. When it rains, new roots grow quickly absorb the rain. A mature saguaro has been known to drink 3,000 liters within a ten-day period.

The ribs or rods give the columnar cacti rigidity that allows for contraction and expansion for water and allows more surface for photosynthesis. The stems are able to expand into green succulent structures containing the chlorophyll necessary for life and growth while the leaves becomes spines for which the cacti are well known. A healthy plant can hold up to 85-90% water; on the other hand, it can dehydrate up to 80% and still survive. Waist bands are a result of not enough water or being too cold. MYTH: Cacti can not provide water to the thirsty. The slimy fluid inside is too gritty and bitter and alkaloid

In May about the age of 50, a saguaro will begin to flower, perhaps 6 that first year. The blooms are white, vase-like flowers at the end of the stem. The flowers open at night around 10 pm until the following afternoon. The fragrance and color of the flowers attracts insects, doves, but particularly the lesser long-nosed bats. About 6 weeks later, the woodpeckers stand ready to peck open the fruit; other birds stand ready to gorge themselves on the pulps and seeds; bees are ready to wallow in the sweet juices; ground squirrels are willing to brave the climb for a tasty treat; and coyotes & javelinas a wait for the fallen fruit down below. The Lesser Long-Nosed Bat, however, is the number one indulger. The sweet strawberry like-pulp is devoured by the creatures of the desert, including the People. The To’hono O’odam harvest the fruit using ‘kupits’ to knock down the fruit. The harvest is used for jams, syrups, and sweeteners. Some of the juice is fermented for four days to make a wine for a celebration to summon up the summer rains needed for other agriculture endeavors. Perhaps, some seeds will be overlooked and not killed by the heat of the sun to germinate a new Plant! Remember, 2,000 seeds per flower and 4 millions seeds produced per saguaro in a life time.

Part II: The namesake of this Monument is the Organ Pipe Cactus with its many slim, round-like columns of vertically ribbed stems branching upward from the base. This plant is not as hardy as its tall cousin and prefers elevations from 1,00 to 3,500 feet on sunny, rocky, south slopes. The tips of the Organ Pipe Cactus will freeze and die at 20 degrees. The Organ Pipe Cactus may grow 5 to 20 arms all from the base of the plant and be as wide as twelve feet and 9 to 20 feet in height [40 ft is the record]. Life span is about 150 years of age. Organ Pipe Cactus spines [11-14 in a cluster] are set in areoles set closer together than saguaros. Early on they are brownish/blackish that turn gray with age. The flowers bloom annually nocturnally from May through July. These lavender-white , 2 ½ inches, funnel shape blossoms open at night and close by the morning. The Organ Pipe Cactus fruit called pitahaya lose their spines at maturity, opening an edible red pulped fruit which taste more like watermelon. Pitahaya dulce refers to delectable fruit. As in the saguaro fruit, this food has provided a food source to animals, insects, birds, as well as to the People for centuries. The pulp can be eaten as is , or made into jelly or fermented into a beverage, too. The To’hono O’odam called the plant ‘ool’ and dried it for medicines as well.

Part III: The Lesser Long-Nosed Bat, a weird 2 ½ to 3 inch creature with a 14-inch wing span, is an extremely important creature to the saguaro and Organ Pipe cactus!! Yes, it is a winged mammal covered with fur that nurses its young pup mild. But, how can such a small creature be so critical in the survival of the saguaro and Organ Pipe Cactus? Until the 1960s, not much was known about this little guy until researchers realized that the numbers of bats were diminishing and it was affecting the survival of many plants. As researchers study bats, they have discovered that there are over 980 species.

For many years I have thought that all bats used Echolocation to navigate, as well as locate their food. To my surprise this isn’t always the case. Some bats, particularly the nectar-feeding and fruit bats use their excellent sense of vision and olfactory abilities.

Such is the case with the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats. Bats use their olfactory senses to detect fragrance of flowers, as well as of the fruit. They also utilize their vision to locate colors of the blossom of the flower. And, when I thought of bats, I pictured them hibernating for the winter in roosts, such as caves and other empty spaces. Again, the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats surprised me. Not only do they not hibernate, the MIGRATE from the southern areas of Mexico up the coast to southern Arizona, east to the Tucson area, and then back to southern Mexico. The impregnated females fly north resting and eating along the way for strength until they locate nectar and fruit and finally their favorite buffet~agave. Bats hang upside down which is great for take-off; they can’t take off from the ground. The knees of the bat are well suited for clinging to walls. Their knees are rotated 180*, compared to human knees, which makes clinging to walls and taking off much easier. Bats roost or rest during the day, bringing down their temperature levels to the ambient heat of the moist, roosting habitats, conserving their energies for the night ‘buffet’. The LLN Bats roost in the Pinacante Lava Tubes and the other roosting areas in ORPI, using them for nurseries, too. Mothers leave the ‘pups’ in the roost to hunt for food. Upon returning the mothers can hear the sound of their pups, as well as detect their pups’ odors.

Bats are designed to fit inside a flower to suck out the nectar with their tongues. In the process, the fur of the bats are covered with yellow pollen. As they move from one flower to another, they help in the pollination of the plant, in this case the cacti. A single bat can dine at 100 flowers per night! The flock of 100,000 LLN bats pollinate and feed on ten million cacti. The females need the nourishment for their pups weigh up to 40% of their own weight. If I compared that to my own babies, they would have weighed 60 to 65 # at birth!! The LLN Bats eat the fruit of the saguaro and Organ Pipe Cactus to nourish themselves and their pups as they continue their flights back to southern Mexico. By eating the fruit they assist in the reproduction of the cacti by depositing the seeds from the pulp. The survival of the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats is crucial in the survival of the saguaro and the Organ Pipe Cactus!

Part III: Last, but not least, we have the Senita Cactus which is not as visible to the visitors of ORPI due to their location in the Monument. The Senita is referred to the ‘old man of the desert.’ Like the Saguaro it prefers flatter, sandy soils at about 1,500 feet or less in elevation. Most grow in Sonora, Mexico. As of the 1990s, between 50 and 100 may look quite similar to its cousin the Organ Pipe Cactus. Take a closer look and you will see that the columns are hexagonal and have more of a hairy appearance at the top of the columns. This species will grow 6 to 21 feet tall and 6’ to 15’ in diameter. Senita spines [15-20 in a cluster] are beard-like gray in color that are 1 ½ inches to 4 inches long on the upper stem that turn from pinkish red to gray in later years. Unlike the Saguaro and the Organ Pipe Cactus, the Senita’s main pollinator is the pyralid or senita moth, not the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats. The Senita moths lays its eggs inside the flower where the eggs hatch and the larvae eats the fruit. Ants also feed on the nectar secreted by the spines. The fruit of the Senita is a spineless, fleshy oval green pod that ripens to a red pulp containing black seeds that are edible, just not as tasty to humans.

As we all know, death must come to the cacti. In the dying process, the columnar cacti continues to be of use to the ecosystem. Even as it dies, the columnar structures houses many animals, as well as provide burrows below in the root systems. The message of death takes awhile to move through the plant. The cacti has been known to flower for two years after the process begins ~ sometimes a nine-year process. The centipedes and other insects continue to feed on the columnar structure, whether it is in the upright position or lying upon the ground. The dying cacti is still a home for many creatures as it wastes away. And, finally, it becomes nutrients to the soils for new growth.

In conclusion there are many reasons for the survival of the Saguaro, the Organ Pipe cactus, and the Senita. These cacti provide homes for many creatures, such as the cactus wren, the Harris Hawk, the re-tailed hawk, owls, and pack rats. They provide food sources for the creatures of the desert, as well as for the People. The ribs/rods have been utilized as building supplies for homes/fences and for tools, such as the kupit. The spines are used as needles for sewing. Many people plant the cacti in their gardens for their ornamental value. And, of course, do not forget their historical value. The Saguaro is thought of as the ‘symbol of the SW.’ Keep in mind that it is our responsibility to protect all plants and animals within our ecosystem; one loss will have a

negative effect in our lives. Do your part to maintain the world of the Saguaro, the Organ Pipe Cactus, the Senita, and the Lesser Long-Nosed Bats.

This bit of information is part of my Power-Point program that is presented at the Evening Programs. Perhaps, this information may encourage you to visit Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument or do some research on your own.

Desert Tortoise Program

My first program, “Desert Tortoise.”

My first program was last night. I had run through it a couple of times by myself on the patio of the trailer, but never in front of an audience. Way different!

I arrived at the amphitheater at 6pm, an hour early. There are certain tasks that need to be performed to start up the machinery needed to put on the show. Doors unlocked, light turned on, the projector started, the laptop started so getting there early is necessary. I remembered all the start up sequences necessary and had things “up and running” within 20 minutes. So then it was just stand around a wait until 7pm.

Guests started showing up at about 6:50 and continued through my introduction speech. I was a little nervous, because it was my first evening program ever and I was not totally familiar with the equipment. The program went off without a hitch. For the most part, people got my humor and my choice of slides looked good on the screen. It just needed to be longer. The programs and usually about 40-60 minutes long and mine was closer to 30 minutes.

I am happy with the content and concept. I will just add more meat to the program. I had many questions after the program about various parts of the life of the desert tortoise. Volunteer B, who was my assistant, suggested that I use those questions to expand my talk. Our supervisor, Ranger S, loved my program but suggested that I expand on the emotional part of the desert tortoise’s life. One way that I hope to do this is with a video that I have received from the US Geological Survey showing a desert tortoise emerging from an egg. It will be a show-stopper if I can get it loaded into my Power Point program. (Easier said than done) It has to be in the right format to work and the formats I received are not.

Expanding my program explanations should help give the presentation more meat and length.

QuitobaQuito #3

Quitobaquito #3 Tuesday 3/08/11er

It is 12:30pm and the third trip to QBQ is history. It went off without a hitch. The IC

(Incident Commander) is the LE that is has the responsibility for the safety of the trip. At the opening briefing he explained the rules. He also related that there was already a team of LE officers at the site, clearing the area, making sure that it was safe for our outing.

Four miles of pavement (the LE call it the hard ball) 20 miles of rough mostly washboard dirt road at 15-20 mph which means an hour of bumps. The time at the site is limited to 1 ½ hours which works out pretty well but does not allow getting into the real history or prehistory of the locale. Then it is time to reload the rigs for the trip home. We left at 11:00 and got back to the hardball at 11:54. By 12:10 the vans were unloaded and folks were drifting back into their own lives and the LEs were able to relax.

Their presence allows us to venture into the back areas that are too dangerous for us to go alone. It is really unfortunate that these circumstances exist in this area. Thanks to law enforcement officers everywhere for what they do.

Evening Programs

Evening program, another look

It’s Tuesday night and I am very close to finishing my evening program. Fifty four pictures are in my Power Point program on the Desert Tortoise. I started out to make just an informational program but I got in the night and came up with an idea. I now am comparing a desert tortoise to a desert RV. I guess you could say that my program is part information and part fun. I have found some fun pictures on the Web that make me smile when I look at them and have added them to the show. It should be fun to “tell the story.”

The story goes like this: I am thinking about replacing my RV and in searching the Web and checking out lots of pages, I come to the conclusion that the desert tortoise has all the desirable features that I want in a desert RV. The features that I compare are;

Hard Top - both have one

Traction - big tires, // sturdy legs with claws

Fuel - diesel fuel, // biodegradable fuels of flowers and cactus fruit

Storage of unit - RV garage // dens under the ground or in cliffs and under rocks

Manufacturing - Large factories /// the reproduction process of the tortoise – after copulation the female lays 4-8 eggs which hatch after 90-120 days. The eggs are food of various animals and the young are vulnerable for at least 5 years.

Longevity - see above dangers are from badgers, coyotes, foxes, snakes, gila monsters, various birds such as eagles, road runners, and ravens. Only 1 % of eggs laid result in mature adult tortoises.

That’s basically it, with pictures and a Minnesota story. Ask me about a Minnesota story if you are not sure what that is. It’s another story.

I give my first program Friday night.

R’s first program was last Sunday night. She did very well. With the time she spent in preparation there was no doubt. There were a few things she will do differently next time but now she has been initiated.

Evening Programs

Evening programs are part of our fun here at ORPI. R was scheduled to give hers last Sunday night, but because of technical difficulties her Power Point program would not load, so the ranger who was the assistant, stepped in and his program loaded OK so the campers received a program on Geology instead of one on the columnar cacti of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument entitled “ Bats in Our Blossoms”. We have reloaded her PP program on the jump drive and so she is primed and ready for next Sunday night March 6^th.

My program is about 90% finished. I had it pretty much worked out and then I got a brain storm in the middle of the night. I decided to make it less of an informational program and have some fun with it. I am making a comparison of the Desert Tortoise and an all terrain RV. I already had some great pics of the tortoise so all I needed was to search the web for some pics that showed different RVs and their equipment. It should be fun getting it finished and putting it on. I am scheduled for Friday night March 11, 2011. I will let you know how things go.

Learning Power Point has been interesting. It is a great program and is pretty easy once you figure things out. Of course it has more capabilities than I will ever learn but it is still fun to play with. I just hope that it works. Until I see it on the screen at the amphitheater, I will be apprehensive. Right now, I am stuck trying to load a video into my evening program. I need Ranger K to help me and he is not available until Monday afternoon after we get back from Quitobaquito. I hope I can get into my program because it is shows a baby desert tortoise hatching from an egg. It should be a show-stopper.

The first guided trip to Quitbaquito

QBQ Trip March 1, 2011

This is the border fence between Mexico and the US. Those posts are 4"hollow steel filled with concrete and rebar and placed every two feet with a steel rail welded horizontally between them. It will not keep out a human. It is desoned to keep out vehicles.

The first trip taking the public to Quitobaquito has been completed. The whole thing went off without an incident. I picked up Van #2 at our parking area which is adjacent the VIP camping area. When I arrived at the Visitor Center before 7:45am, the place was bustling with cars, people getting bags out their cars and walking toward front door. I parked my van and took Ranger K’s pickup over to the parking area and returned with Van #1 which he was driving for the trip. By the time I returned, he had the visitors in the auditorium and was giving them a briefing about the upcoming trip. He covered where we were going and what we were going to see. He also stated that the entire trip was under the control of Law Enforcement. They had the final and absolute say as to when and how and even “if” the trip would go. The LE who was “command” for the event came up and explained the rules.

Then it was time to load up. As people boarded the van, I checked them off on my master list. They were told that they to come and go using the same van. By 8:30 we were buckled up and heading down Hwy 85 to the South Puerto Blanco Rd. where we turned west. Before 2002 the entire Puerto Blanco loop was open for its 51 mile loop. But now only the northern section of 5 miles is open to visitor traffic.

Twenty miles and almost an hour later, we traveled over the shoulder of the Quitobaquito Hills and dropped down into Quitobaquito Springs area. After the vans were off loaded, the visitors were given the opportunity to back a potty break (women in the bushes to the left, men to the right). When all were back together and a head counted taken, the tour began. This hill in the picture is part of the Quitobaquito Hills which house the 11 or so springs which feed the pond. As our group was being guided around the area I noticed that there were two LE rangers silhouetted against the sky. Our guardian angels watching our us.

Even though there were three rangers on the trip only one is the lead ranger. This is part of “ranger etiquette. The ranger leads the group, conducts the tour, answers the questions, etc. The other rangers are there to help out. They don’t make comments unless they are asked by the head ranger. They are there to keep the herd aimed in the right direction, answer a question from someone in the back such as “What is that bird?” “How much rain do you get here?” “Is it further to Chicago or by bus?” Because there were two vans on the trip another ranger was the assistant ranger which meant that he presented the narration in that van out and back. On the next QBQ trip which is next Monday March 7 another ranger will be the lead and the ranger that was lead on this trip will not be on the spot like he was this time. Another trip and twenty more people get to go where few have a chance to go.