Wednesday, August 31
7:00 to around 10:30 or 11am (depending on how hot it gets)
Limited to 10 participants
Meet at the 3 bridges parking lot (east, just 0.3 miles past the Gabe Zimmerman parking lot. Detailed directions sent to participants after sign up). Carpooling would be helpful.
RSVP to: nativeplantstucson@gmail.
Enjoy a delightful morning exploring several different habitats including desert grassland with a wonderful diversity of plants and flowers plus butterflies, lizards, birds and other creatures. Then we drop into the one of the last remaining desert riparian ecosystems with perennial stream flow (with 3 species of native fish, plus frogs and toads, mud turtles, snakes) in Southern Arizona. Here the shady, lush riparian forest hosts an abundance of wildlife (including coatis) and vegetation. Our pace is relaxed as we stop to observe all the wonders, including tracks, a bat roost, many birds (Gray Hawks nest here) and other wildlife. We will especially keep our eyes open for Lilaeopsis schaffneriana ssp recurva, a federally listed riparian plant species. But with the rains we’ve had, we are likely to see lots of good plant species, in full bloom.
There is no designated trail in Cienega Creek and we’ll be crossing the creek several times and walking on rough, uneven ground with tree roots, rocks, etc. Participants should be able to walk for 3 miles with some uphill at the end.
Bring binoculars, hats. water, snacks, walking stick, sturdy close-toed shoes that can get wet. (sandals not recommended because of rough ground, ants, spines etc.)
