Smell the Desert

Location #1: Santa Cruz River Park

The topography is mostly flat in the designated park area, some small slopes exist along the side of the paved trail. The ground is covered mostly by fine gray-brown gravel and dirt, no grass or lateral growing groundcover other than a few short leafy weeds. There are several small shrubs or seedlings located under larger plants and trees that are a different species; this may provide protection to the smaller species. Also under many of the larger trees are burrowed holes not more than ~5 inches in diameter. I believe these made from by the Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus tereticaudus). There are a few very tall trees that have long, soft needle-leaves of which some have shed and fallen to the ground below. This area is covered by the brittle orange-brown needle-leaves and seems to be a favored area for burrowing holes and growth of small leafy seedling plants. The squirrels may prefer the spot because of the protection from the tree or because the ground is softer here and would be easier to burrow. There is a massive, thick thorny bush that appears to be the Desert Hackberry (Celtis pallida) and many Beargrass bushes (Nolina microcarpa), Paloverde trees, and a few Mesquite trees as well. A Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) is hovering around some small yellow flowers on a short plant that I think may be the Yellow Spiny Daisy (Machaeranthera gracilis). The park area is landscaped only a little and the trail leads to an elevated area with a bench and water fountain, not far away is a log jump exercise area. There is no visible irrigation system but there is an irrigation control valve box in the ground several feet from the area with the bench. The entire park is elevated in relation to the adjacent Santa Cruz River, which is currently dry. The riverbed is lined with concrete retention walls and runoff drains. This area is sandier with a lot of footprints that appear to be human because they are too large...