THE ADVENTURE IN THE FOOTHILLS BEGIN - FIRST HIKE TO THE VALLEY VIEW SPOT-AMAZING DIVINE VISION DISCOVERIES - DANGERS IN THE FOOTHILLS - EDIBILE & MEDICINAL USES OF THE VISIONS of NATURE

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CHAPTER 2

Painful hiking to keep alive but with powerful motivation to discover & share the 
  DIVINE VISIONS of NATURE

                Do you recognize the plants I'm walking among?

I'll feature them later, but one is  critical for survival of several  species of mammals in Utah....and one becomes perhaps the.....
....MOST  SPECTACULAR FLOWERING PLANT IN UTAH with a STUNNING FLASH of BRILLIANT,  AWAKENING COLOR....we'll see later in the Fall!

NOW to the "DIVINE VISIONS" 

To begin, I must say that the foothills of Timpanogos and of the Wasatch Mountains, in many ways are DESERT ENVIRONMENTS.

 They gradually change as you get into the canyons and their creeks, and get higher and higher.  I will  comment  as much as necessary, expand when needed, but mostly let the photographs speak for themselves in what will  actually be my THIRD BOOK....or my 5th including the two now on Amazon in late November 2023!

SPRING BRINGS ON NEW VIBRANT LIFE!

With a wisp of green in the foothills we see the first tiny plant I noticed sprouting as I began my hikes for this project on March 15, 2023.  

NOTE: All plants, flowering bushes, and a few dominant trees will all be given a number that will remain  constant in the book.  As yet Unidentified will also be given a number preceeded by a "U."  

It's in dead center. Below I'll zoom in and insert one of it sprouting more visibly.

This beautiful plant, U-1 UNIDENTIFIED  with incredibly unique, beautiful  leaves...actually "out of this world" leaves..was the first really impressive wildflower I noticed blossoming in a two stage performance on April 15th..first dark marroon...

...then vibrant yellow. 

The flowering of the plant photo above was taken on April 15
 and for this report was enlarged a great deal.

Almost a year later, from early in  February 2024 I have been searching every other day the area where on April 15, 2023 I photographed the blossoming of this so far "mystery plant,"  and finally found one tiny plant large enough to notice....seen below.

Following is a series showing the plant's evolution to the first signs of a blossoming today February 26th 2024.

Today, February 26, 2024

Below is a shot from waist high with a plant beginning to blossom in the upper right corner, another bottom middle, and a 3rd left middle.  This will give you an idea that this is a tiny plant....... 

.......but with a very exotic,  wonderful leaf structure. 

The blossoming reaches it's peak as seen below

This picture taken on Apil 4, 2024

Seed production begins with some plants as seen below.....

......and by early May 2023 we see the seed pods forming but  in 2024 beginning with a wet Spring, then a drought in the foothills to the middle of August 2024,  the usual patterns of evolution are different.....some plants not having germinating yet....and some won't unless we get some significant rain soon.

May 6, 2024

May 11, 2024 

*********************

I WAS WRONG ABOUT WHAT I ORIGINALLY CALLED THE

"FIRST WILDFLOWER of 2023"

In this photograph  

a close inspection shows tiny redish-orange leafed plants. 

 I'll show below a ckise-up picture showing it better. 

For 2024 when my hikes began in January  I photographed the beautiful tiny flower of this plant named.....

.....REDSTEM FILAREE....

as early as January 15th and on the 31st as seen below.

After a brief report on what I'm saying was the first in 2024, I'll give a full report on REDSTEM FILAREE. 

NOTE:  In the first version of the completed book, Chapter 5,  I  introduced another "first flower to blossom" in mid-winter, and then it's gone.  I was lucky to see it one day on January 31, 2024, photograph the beautiful white flower, and never again.  I will look for it in late January 2025 in that area and hope for better luck.  It is... .....

1.  HOODS PHLOX 

or

SHOWY PHLOX

Let's go with "Showy" as it sounds  better

I have now added this tiny flower  from January 31, 2024.  With warmer than usual weather today up to 53 degrees...18 degrees above the average,  I was surprised to find  this beautiful white flower.  

I haven't seen  it in previous years as it apparently blossoms very early as explained below.  Last year (2023) I never even started my hikes in the foothills until March 15th.  

NOTE:  A few days later I went back to check up. Blossoming was over....maybe a deer ate her as I couldn't even find the flowerless plant, but so far I haven't found any others blossoming. 

I've got a lot of catching up to do and do right the 2024 season that for me has started already.  I suspect I will learn a lot  in February, March  and into the 2024 season.   

ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL FLOWER WE LEARN FROM THE: 

FIELD GUIDE TO THE BOISE FOOTHILLS

• Flowering occurs in early spring before most other foothills wildflowers.

 Interesting facts Showy phlox grows in a dense mat, whereas longleaf phlox (page 58) often grows more upright. Leaves at the base of Showy phlox are usually quite hairy, while longleaf phlox leaves have few or no hairs. Above ground portions of the plant emerge from a coarse woody taproot, which may extend several feet deep. Showy phlox resprouts from this taproot soon after fire.

The Blackfoot people used Showy phlox as a mild laxative for children, to alleviate chest pains, and to make a yellow dye. 

**************

NOW, BACK TO...ONE THAT NORMALLY BLOSSOMS SEEMS TO BLOSSOM ANYTIME.....

2. REDSTEM FILAREE....

....a plant with an 

IMPRESSIVE TINY FLOWER.

  Do you see it below?  

I'm not kidding, there is a flower there.....by the rock in dead center!  My trekking pole inserted for size perspective.  If you like to hike fast....you'll never see this beautiful jewel!

Zooming in....

.....picture taken on June 22nd, but I've photographed  filaree 

from April all the way to November, 

even December & January/February 2024.

It never really stops....except when eaten by deer or me for 

my salads as I'll show you later.   

NOTE:  I was wrong with that statement as a several month dry 

spell in the summer of 2024 had it all drying up and dying by drought as happened the summer of 2024, with a full report in Chapter 7.   I'll include two pictures of that in just a moment when mentioning what I called 

"the largest Filaree seen to date," 

Zooming in we see the tiny flower at the end of reddish branched stems, all very low to the ground. It is called FILAREE, 

 sometimes called AFILARIA and  is one of the earliest to bloom....actually never stopping into winter and sometimes in winter itself when warm periods has it peeking through patches of snow.

It is alive in January having lived through the winter under the snow and by the end of January is blossoming and soon begins the seed producing stage we see above and below.  As we will see by June and July, at least in a dry summer like 2024, Filaree has distributed its seeds and is all dried up.

But with summer rains, we see it sprouting everywhere as I'll show in Chapter 5 on THE DROUGHT.  Below I will show you its fascinating and beautiful evolution to reproduce itself and keep our foothills adorned with beauty. 

I photographed on September 13th the beauty below along with its seed.

In this picture we see the "fruit" that bears the seeds.

Follows in a series of extreme close-up photos the development of flowers and seed

NOTE:  Such pictures should carefully be taken using a tripod, 

but I have to take all of them on the fly. I do the best I can using 

knee pads to get down on the ground and  steady myself with my trekking poles, and here and there I get lucky as you will see sprinkled throughout this book. Thus I'm  able to share 

unbelievable  

VISIONS of NATURE 

seldom if ever seen by lovers of the outdoors....unless you hike 

with a magnifying glass....and knee pads! 

Seed production is seen everywhere with a seed unit that 

someone thought looked like a "stork's  bill" thus that is 

what some called this inique plant of the foothills:

"Redstem Stork's bill" 

It will eventually dry up and humid conditions  

will move this seed unit to corkscrew around drilling it into 

the moist soil.

Below we see after the drought broke in mid-August with one rain, and again in one day in early September producing in a few areas new Filaree sprouts, with some developing into new green plants, but only seen in one area so far (September 24, 2024):

September 4, 2024

September 18, 2024

September 23, 2024

And, on October 18th (2023) this tiny beautiful plant 

is growing again and producing a wonderful 

VISION of NATURE

Today, November 22, in the middle of a more than month 

long period this plant is coming up all over.....

.....again, and now 

in November its leaves are showing the brilliant colors of Fall, 

with the newer plants shrinking in size to make a very fine 

unique 

VISION of NATURE

That's a very old  small .22 caliber casing above giving you a 

better idea of the size of the tiny plant sprouting on November 4th.  As you see below the progression of the flower, remember we 

are dealing with a very small flower about  1/8" in diameter. 

In this  series of new photos taken ...

.... on the 21st of December still growing......so there will be 

another picture  a bit later.

The FILAREE  is the first plant to germinate in the Spring, even in January if it is a warmer than usual winter, and 

the last in late Fall.  

The stork's bill fruit when moistened begins 

to twist working the seed into the ground.

EDIBILITY?

We zoom in on the center so you can see the beautiful green 

leaves of this tiny, but wonderful plant, which leaves I today 

mixed half and half with my lettuce/tomato salad and Thousand Island dressing, and it was delicious!  

 

Young leaves of the plant we see above are edible and were 

used by the Indians or Native Americans, and as I've mentioned 

I also gather some each day during their prime and eat as a salad. 

 By THANKSGIVING 2023 we are to have snow, and I will 

make a  hike to the foothills to show what affect the winter has 

on the determination of this plant and others to reproduce and 

NOT GIVE IN....EASILY

So,  on December 5th  I was in the hills again, and took this 

picture of  Filaree  showing signs of more blossoming flowers

 and seeds......so it looks like I've got to go again and maybe again.....to see how this beautiful scene plays out. But by then I 

had learned I needed daily my mini-hikes to control my blood pressure, avoid having mini-strokes and keep my legs from going 

to sleep, so I kept hiking all winter except on a few real bad days when I'd use the stairs at the INSTACARE building.

All the pictures below were taken between December 7th and 

15th, so this little fellow is pretty resistant to cold  and the short days. 

Now in December with snow up in the high country I'm seeing 

signs of deer and elk down in the foothills and very close to the Trailhead.....like the hoofprint of a small elk we see below.

And below we see the lush green leaves of Filaree are being 

nipped off by deer, elk and likely rabbits, as well as by me........mixing them with my salads.

THE LARGEST REDSTEM FILAREE PLANT....

.....I've seen so far in this area is seen below, at least 12 inches wide and growing.  I was tempted to have it for my evening salad.....and later sorry I didn't as you see one picture below.

Above picture taken on December 26th

Then below on December 31st, after deer, elk  and rabbits had their fill.

In the Spring of 2024 after the deer had other food to browse on this plant recovered some as seen below on April 19th....

And it was in the seed producing stage as seen with a close-up below.

A month later 2024 in mid-May a dry spell began and we can see below the maturing and drying of Filaree and other plants.  

By June 20th we are looking directly at the spot where the 

"largest Filaree" was growing. By July 15th we still had no significant rain in the foothills and so far there are some plants 

I documentled in 2023 that in this summer of 2024 have not germinated and maybe won't.

Below...dead center...the site of "the largest" with no sign of Filaree germinating in the area....those pictured previously germinating were acrossed the road above lthe Trailhead, rather we see here germinating and growing 

Goatshead or Punctureweed.

Below is the same photograph from above with puncturweed, but the large Filaree from last year before the deer ate it photoshoped in.  So far no sign of new Filaree germinating except on the other side of the road, and two new plants 30 feet down on this side of the road.

NOW BACK TO THE YEAR-LONG EVOLUTION

First below a picture of Filaree dressed in its vivid Autumn colors.

And below nearby on December 26th, covered by snow on December 31st. 

**************

 In this desert-like environment it's so no surprise to find...

3.  PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS....

.... the first, and so far the only cactus I've found in the small 

section of the hills I worked with in 2023, and did my best to 

follow its development.  In 2022 I missed the blossoming as 

I've learned it happens real fast and is then gone. 

It blossomed on June 8th

The reason in past seasons I have missed this development is because the blossoming happens literally in two days, and in two days the flower was withering away and gone.  

So in most of the plants followed, it required me making the hike every two days.  Other Plants took sometimes all summer to go through their development...one or two of them are in September finally in those key final stages...blossoming & reproduction, like
the  wild Western Ragweed!

Below is seen  a bee happily burried in the pollen of one of the cactus flowers. 
I think he's winking at us.

After these two there were two more blossoms, plus new....what 

we might call "ears"  like seen below that were beautiful to 

begin with, then soon blended in with the whole community of CACTI.

Below  photos in the 2024 season. 

Compare the ending (2023) scene below to the original and you'll realize

 there was a lot of change even though very slow.

And, at the end of the 2024 blossoming season for this cactus.....

As seen above, there were 5 blossoming flowers, with at least three other developing buds eaten by what I asume was by deer.

Blossoming came in 2024 between June 6-14, about 

the same as 20-23.

This was end of the blossoming season 2024 with several more ears or paddles formed to expand the cactus patch which is still the only one I have found in the foothills of Timpanogos, by July 7th, but with an increasingly smaller section of the foothills as my condition as a "recovering cripple"  is gradually shortening my mini-hikes even though the number is increasing....140 for 2023, but already 164 through September 2024.

*******************************

NOW TO TWO WARNINGS...LATER ANOTHER

With the desert, or foothills in mind best mention that at the Grove Creek Trailhead there is a warning sign about.... 
RATTLESNAKES.  
I'll incorporate it into the following montage, but mention that through the 2023 season in  the foothills of Timpanogos I hadn't seen a live one.  I have seen the sloughed off skins blowing around in the winds, as they shed their old skin after the warmer weather has them coming out of hibernation....usually here in the month of May. 
But in the early 2023 summer on the road entering the Grove Creek Trailhead parking lot I got the following photograph of one, we see below run over by a car or two.  So there is reason for the warning sign, and to be careful....ALWAYS!

NOTE:  I should have collected this specimen for closer examination, as it's coloration could mean that it was a Gopher snake, that I report on in Chapter 3.  I needed to find a triangular shaped head, and importantly rattles on the tail.  It was pretty messed up, but I could have made a better identification.

 YET, THE WARNING ABOUT RATTLESNAKES IS VERY VALID, 
so read on......as in early June 2024 right at the gate where the trail leaves the Trailhead, I all of a sudden had my encounter with a rattler, seen below.....

MY EXPERIENCE WITH RATTLESNAKES

As I have reported in past posts, in my youth in Provo, in mid-May one year I climbed Little Squaw Peak and as I neared the summit all of a sudden one struck at me from the left, then one from the right. There was no rattle as when changing skins they are blunted, blind and will just strike at anything that frightens them.

 I have experience with rattle snakes having worked in my youth for two summers as a hunter and trapper for a University of Utah Wildlife program connected to the Army's Biological Warefare work at Dugway Proving Grounds in the West Utah Desert and captured and had in cages several rattlesnakes, so I had learned to be be careful.  
Those first two didn't get me, nor the 3rd, 4th or more before getting to the summit, where in the middle of small scrub oak brush there was another one!  To say the least I was even more cautious as I headed down.

Also back in my youth I found and captured a small rattlesnake on the trail to the Y.

About 8,000 people a year are bitten, with 10-15 deaths.  So, be cautious and if bitten, get medical attention quickly.

Sweetwater, Texas claims the largest "Rattlesnake Roundup" but Arizona has the most venemous snakes--19 out of  the 20 varieties in the U.S., but the largest rattlesnake is the Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake, the largest recorded was 7.9 feet long, weighing 34 lbs. There are 34 species of rattlesnakes, Utah with 7 varieties, most of which are in southeastern to southwestern Utah.  The ones we have in most of the western half of the state are the Great Basin Rattlesnake--which looks like the one in my picture above.  

 Alaska has no snakes.
*******************

Below the 4. YUCCA PLANT  of the deserts

 with a fascinating, but almost tragic history as we'll see in the pictures. 

The Yucca is a desert plant with over 50 different species, but is a perrenial plant  that can be grown in pots for indoor use lasting for about 5 years.  Outdoors in full sun it can grow for more than 20 years.

I found this dual plant in late 2022  and in past years it had reproduced two other plants well see below and, in spite of the enemies almost totally destroying them, they reproduced a number of live plants we can see spread around the parent plant.

The continuing drive to reproduce....had both of them blossoming.......were they successful?

"The survival of the fittest" 

is sometimes brutal in nature, and so it was with the colony of 

YUCCA PLANTS!

Aphids take over. 
 There are predators, maybe the tough looking one above/left and enlarged below.....

........ and the Lady Bugs,  that eat the aphids, but the good guys are far and again ougunned by the APHIDS!

Then in the early 2024 Season on February 26th  I was exploring off-trail about a quarter of a mile from the first one and.....

...found a new VERY HEALTHY YUCCA plant 

with several offspring next to it. 

When it developed to the flowering stage I decided to 

"upset the balance of nature" 

and avoid the plague of aphids and other enemies that ambushed the reproductive stage of the 1st Yucca site  as seen already in the 2023 season.

.

So I armed myself with a tiny spray bottle filled with SEVIN, and began spraying every other day the previous plants and this new one 

I got it safely to the seed producing stage as seen below.

Both sites this year had beautiful blossoms for future propagation of this beautiful plant.

And both sites successfully developed to the SEED STAGE as seen below with site #2

Before we learn about the YUCCA's edibility and medicinal uses, we are forced into an 

IMPORTANT DETOUR......

.....as around the base of the first plant in 2023 I all of a sudden noticed a dangerous arachnid or spider.......

THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE CAREFUL WITH. 

Something tiny and black with a brilliant red marking caught my eye around the  base of the Yucca plant 
and I clicked off a quick shot with my camera in full-zoom range.....

I was lucky to get the following good picture in perfect focus making possible enlarging the picture as seen below.

The BLACK WIDOW SPIDER, that 

we all know is poisonous. It didn't come after me, rather scurried away out of sight. Researching it Google gave me  the following:  

In rare and extreme cases, black widow spider venom poisoning may lead to seizures and even death, but death generally doesn't occur in healthy adults. Young people, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to serious complications and death from a black widow spider bite.    One report I have says out of 2,500 bites only 4-8 people die each year...

... so your chances are pretty good to survive, but 

ALWAYS BEST TO SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IF BITTEN.

MORE INFORMATION:

from:

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/see-rare-footage-of-a-black-widow-spider-capturing-a-snake-in-its-sticky-web/

Black widow spiders have a deadly reputation. Their scientific name is Latrodectus which comes from the Latin word “latro,” meaning “bandit,” and the Ancient Greek word “dēktēs,” which means biter.
So, their name translates as “bandit who bites!”  The name black widow comes from the fact that females sometimes eat males after mating.

NOTE:  I do not intend to specialize in this book on arachnids (spiders) or insects but many colorful and fascinating ones were photographed  and will be inserted here and there at transition points in the book with no effort to identify or comment much, if at all, but will do so on special ones like the BLACK WIDOW, with mention of a few other arachnids. First:

THE BLACK WIDOW
After my first encounter pictured above, I began finding in rodent burrows, and rocky areas, black widow dens, and  began observing them making egg sacs, and began monitoring them to be able to report with photographs some fascinating pictures that follow:

Below is the first burrow I began observing, and then got a different angle.

Below is a specialized view...actually a terrible looking photo pushed with photoshop to show the unique web of a black widow..... focusing on multiple depths of field to show the spider webs that you will notice are not typical of what we expect from spiders, but just random straight  spider silk threads made by 
Black Widow spiders.

I cleared out some of the webs to be able to began taking telephoto shots into the dark den and then on photoshop zoomed in, increasing the light, etc.  and began making some incredible discoveries. 

Below in dead center is a black widow spider ....a bit hard to see, but she's there seeing light reflecting on her leg!

Also in the above photo upper-right center is the web of a funnel  Hobo funnel spider with him there waiting for its prey.  I will have a few shots of these unique spiders further along after the black widow report, and will also insert pictures of others, like the wolf spider that is unique as they don't make a web, but roam the hills looking for their prey. 

Below we can now see the Black Widow that in the previous picture we could only see light reflecting off of her legs. 

Zooming in on  a small upper area of the above picture we see below some red spots that are black widow spiders. 

And....

...below there one of them is below....a bit clearer telephoto shot only obstructed some by natural debri...

Over months visiting this site and another, I got shots of egg sacs, monitoring them every few days to photograph the hatching of hundreds of tiny spiders, and also photographed  a the black widow making en egg sac with its silk the same as used for webs.  It will then take about 30 days to hatching which you will also see below, usually hatching between 200-250 tiny spiders that are independant and on their own from hatching on.

She usually hangs around to protect her egg sac from other spiders that find an unprotected egg sac easy prey for a nutritious meal.

In a season she will make from 3 to 6 egg sacs with fertilized eggs she retains in her body from one mating.

They immediately begin making webs shooting out their silk threads from various parts of their body, like from the tips of their legs, and below from the abdomen.

Each spiderling, about the size of a pin-head.  They immediately begin looking for food.  Usually luck is'nt with them so they  begin cannibalizing each other, as well as trying to eat their mother.  She also will often eat some of her offspring.

  Such is the life of black widow spiders, usually with only a few of the 200 surviving.  As they grow their sex will gradually become apparent the male looking more like the hatchlings, and female becoming very different, eventually a shiny black with the bright red hour-glass marking.  

THE MALE OF THE SPECIES?

He doesn't look much like the same species, tan in color and half the size or less of the female, and often is eaten by the female after mating....thus she becomes a "self-made WIDOW."  Luckily I was able to photograph a male several times.... seen below.

Do you see him?  

Later we'll meet Utah's 5th largest spider, 
the HOBO FUNNEL SPIDER,  another  web seen below.

Then in Chapter 6  I will report, with a good photograph, about UTAH'S LARGEST SPIDER the DESERT TARANTULA

I will wait until Chapter 6  because that will begin to cover the AUTUMN SEASON, when you have the best opportunity of seeing one.  Normally they are nocturnal, but autumn is the mating season when they let their guard down some with sex on their mind...the female coming out of her den hoping a male comes looking for her, the male of course hot on the search.....wandering all over looking for her.....and I did get a good photograph of one in Grove Creek Canyon on October 13th, 2023. 

******************
To finish up with the BLACK WIDOW, 

BE CAREFUL IN THE HILLS, and/or AROUND YOUR HOME!  Just recently in the Fall I went to get a wheel barrow in the back yard to gather up leaves, and on turning it over there one was!

Now, back to the 

4. YUCCA......

                                      ......so in 2023, somehow in spite of the aphids,  the original plant produced a few seeds that sprouted in 2024  and have a chance of growing up to keep the species going.  Apparently the aphids only attack the flowers.  And with me combating the aphids, 2025 should see more new plants in both areas

The beautiful flower deserves a chance to reproduce!

MEDICINAL & EDIBLE QUALITIES
of YUCCA

healthline 

Tells us:

Yucca offers numerous health benefits and is often used medicinally. Parts of the yucca plant can be incorporated into your diet. It can also 
be used topically to treat skin conditions or wounds. Most commonly, yucca is taken as a supplement.

Yucca contains high amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants, both of 
which can benefit the immune system and overall health.  Vitamin C 
stimulates the production and activity of white blood cells, which fight 
infections and viruses. The antioxidants yucca contains protect us 
from cell mutations and damage from destructive molecules called 
free radicals.

Eases arthritis pain

Native Americans have long used yucca for relief from arthritis 
symptoms, and yucca supplements (often in tablet form) are 
frequently taken for the same purpose today. Yucca has anti-
inflammatory properties that help soothe pain.

Some research

Trusted Source

 suggests that those at high risk for arthritis could potentially prevent its onset by taking yucca.

Benefits skin health

• dandruff

• balding

• sores and cuts

• sprains

• skin diseases and infections

Aids diabetes treatment
Yucca also contains powerful antioxidants and saponins. These 
substances can decrease arthritis symptoms.
Yucca provides multiple skin benefits. Studies have shown that yucca 
has photoprotective properties, and it may be able to protect against 
sun damage better than some commercial SPFs.  Yucca extract, which
 is sometimes added to lotions, soaps, or shampoos, can be used to 
treat a variety of skin conditions, including:  The folic acid found in 
yucca may help improve overall skin and eye health. The high 
amounts of vitamin C also aid in the production of collagen, the main 
protein in skin.
Yucca can still boost health in people with diabetes. There is evidence 
that yucca helps regulate blood sugar.

FOR OTHER DETAILS, SUGGESTED USE: Forms 
for more information. 
& dosages, and   POTENTIAL RISKS go to the website 

EDIBILITY

MedicineNet 

Describes what and how we can eat Yucca & one NOT.

Yucca can be cooked and eaten. However, yucca flowers may be eaten 

raw because they have a mild sweet taste. Most people prefer boiling 

yucca flowers and adding them to soups and stews. However, it is recommended to eat yucca only after cooking because some parts of 

the plant, especially the sap, are mildly toxic to humans. Moreover, 

red yucca should not be consumed because it is not edible and considered poisonous.

Yucca tastes delicious when it is baked, boiled or fried. After cooking, 

yucca usually tastes like a potato. Depending on the species, the 

consumable parts of yucca may include

• Root
• Seeds
• Blossoms
• Flowering stems
• Purplish yucca fruits

Stems, leaf bases, flowers, emerging stalks and fruits of most types 

of yucca are edible.

For more details go to the website.

My 2023 season ended with the following picture with little whispy threads all around that we can see come off the edge of the mature leaves. 

I'm not sure what, if any purpose these have but they are strong and I can imagine Native Americans found ways to use them. 

 You'll have to Google it, if interested. 

***********

5.  WESTERN YARROW 

was the next plant that came alive visibly impressive...

.......and eventually evolved to the blossoming stage.

 Numerous tribes in North America used yarrow for a variety of ailments. The crushed plant was applied to wounds and burns which I have seen done many times in the TV series, Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. 

The dried leaves were used as a tea to soothe colds, fever, and headache.  The Navajo considered it to be a "life medicine", chewed it for toothaches, and poured an infusion into ears for earaches. One of the most widely used medicinal herbs, yarrow tea was taken for stomach problems, fever, and restful sleep. It was made into poultices for treating rashes, swelling, eczema, and spider bites. Popular in European folk medicine, yarrow contains flavonoids, plant-based chemicals that increase saliva and stomach acid to help improve digestion. Yarrow may also relax smooth muscle in the intestine and uterus, which can relieve stomach and menstrual cramps. Yarrow may reduce skin and liver inflammation, which could help treat skin infections, signs of skin aging, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.  

WOW!  It "MAY" do a FEW GOOD things, or

 perhaps....EVERYTHING?

NOTE:

 One of the supplements I take to have a strong immune system is DEFENSE Plus, which lists Yarrow extract  as one of the ingredients. 

It usually is white, but pink also is ocassionally seen....

Below we see it late in the summer in its reproduction stage.

Interestingly this same plant is sprouting again on September 15th 

as we see below.....

.....and from mid-September thru November with new sprouts some dressed with the brilliant colors of Autumn......beautiful little VISIONS of NATURE.

This was one of those lucky shots by being in the right place at the

 right time....and  INTENTIONALLY SEEKING...........

A GENUINE DIVINE VISION of NATURE

***************

THEN TO A NICE PLANT with a BEAUTIFUL FLOWER
but...a 
DEADLY NAME:

6.  FOOTHILL  DEATH CAMAS

NOTE:  I previously called this plant Meadow Death Camas, but further investigations reveal it is most likely Foothill Death Camas.  Both plants are very similar and all the following information is correct.  The entire plant of both varieties are 

DEADLY if eaten!

THIS PLANT HAS KILLED MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER PLANT IN THE WEST AND NORTHWEST!

GERMINATION....SPROUTING NEW LIFE
on February 23, (2024) in an area at least a quarter of a mile from the ones photographed last year. I'll keep an eye on them to see if this poisonous plant is eaten by deer or elk in its early stages as happened last year.  Food for these large mammals is much more abundant this year...so far resulting in them not hedge trimming the sagebrush nor the death camas as they did in 2023.

This is an early spring plant coming to life as we see on the left, while the reference books say Death Camas comes to life later. Whatever variety I've photographed in our desert-like foothills it is a dead ringer for the pictures on the internet of the Death variety, the deer and elk are still around in the low foothills that early in the season and one or the other or both seem to like it (2nd picture).   Apparently in the early stages they are not affected by it at least I've found no dead animals.  a few plants survive and develop into a beautifull flower that  eventually produce seeds. 

Let's enlarge the flower so we can appreciate its beauty more.

There is another Camas that is not poisonous:  COMMON CAMAS

But its flowers are almost always blue and the pictures I've found are somewhat different than our foothill variety of Camas.  I have never seen here Common Camas, nor another variety called Blue Camas.  Death Camas flowers are always white, and that's what we've got in our foothills.....A WARNING TO BE SAFE as explained in....

...... a GOOGLE SEARCH that reveals: The entire plant is highly toxic and fatal to both humans and animals. Poisoning symptoms include profuse salivation, burning lips, mouth numbness, thirst, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, slow irregular heart beat, low blood pressure and low temperature, difficulty breathing, coma, and death.

All parts of the Death Camas plant contain a steroidal toxin called Zygacine. Eaten in small amounts, Zygacine causes stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea. Swallow too much of it and the toxin in Death Camas will trigger varying degrees of paralysis and only rarely death. There is no cure for Zygacine poisoning.

Medicinal Uses
The Mendocino, Montana, Paiute and Okanagon Indians made a poultice of mashed bulbs of death camas applied to rheumatism and to painful bruises and sprains that would be deadly if eaten.  The Common Camas bulbs were eaten by the Native Americans, and the mountainmen.

The BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMING

The SEED PRODUCING STAGE

Mixed with sagebrush and broom snakeweed

......and THE SEEDS seen below.

***********************

In Chapter 6 & 7 I'll show the very last pictures 

of others of our DIVINE VISIONS of NATURE and what winter does to life in the 

FOOTHILLS of TIMPANOGOS 

and its vegetation and wildlife.

Autumn colors are becoming more and more dominant 

and beautiful to bid us farewell until the 2024 season when I will start earlier than in 2023.....in fact whenever the temperature is above freezing, I will be on the trail. 

***************

Below we see another pretty flower and plant quite different than our previous one.  This one blossomed quite early in May, and very quickly disappeared......I've only seen it in  one small area of the foothills in 2023.  But, in 2024 I had more luck finding as you'll see.  

It is called: 

7. LEMONWEED  or  YELLOW PUCCOON

Native Americans made a tea from its roots to stop internal bleeding.  Shoshoni women drank the tea everyday as a contraceptive.  

Some tribes used Lemonweed as a charm to bring rain, while others believed that it would stop thunderstorms.

In the 2024 season I found a number of real nice plants like the one  seen below and between a number of plants was able to follow the development of the seed stage that I missed in  2023.

Below we observe the development of the 

REPRODUCTIVE STAGE 

with  egg-shaped seeds called nutlets that were used by some tribes as decorative beads.

Then on a big hike up the front of  Mahogany Mountain on September 27, 2024 I found on a very steep, dry mountainside a patch of very large Lemmonweed plants as seen below with the seeds in their last stage of development--pure ivory white.

And above one of  them cracked open with the seed 

seen above in dead center.

**************************

WHAT WILL THESE BEAUTIFUL LEAVES DEVELOP INTO?

Have you guessed what well known plant this is?  The picture below

is a dead give-away!

It's the OREGON GRAPE.

There are at least two main varieties in our foothills canyons, first: 

8. TALL OREGON GRAPE 

with leaves that always have spines and are shinny as seen below on the right;  Then, the  

9. DULL OREGON GRAPE  

without the extreme shinny leaves.

The berries make good jam, jelly and wine.  Juice is quite sour, but with enough added sugar it tastes like grape juice.

I add to the Oregon grape berries some apples, cinnamon and sugar to make my jam which is quite good.

************

The Flathead used root tea to aid in delivery of the placenta,  Crushed plants and root tea are antiseptic and antibacterial, and used to heal wounds.  Leaf tea taken as a contraceptive, and used to treat kidney  and stomach troubles, rheumatism and loss of appetite.

CAUTION

The National Standard Dispensatory lists many uses, but also warns that an overdose can be fatal.

HEALTH NOTE:  

One of the supplements, mentioned dealing with Yarrow,  I take to have a strong immune system is DEFENSE Plus, 

which lists Oregon grape root as one of the ingredients. 

In September I got the following photos of beautiful new sprouts of DULL OREGON GRAPE

And, in early October another beautiful sprout....

And at the end of Novcmber.

ENOUGH OF THE DULL OREGON GRAPE, 

let's finish with some 

TALL OREGON GRAPE 

with its shiny leaves, pictures taken early in  the season:

And below Tall Oregon Grape at the end of the season.

You won't usually find this beautiful plant in the foothills, 

but have to head for the creek and canyon with its shade of bushes and trees, 

and cooler temperatures of higher elevations .

DROUGHT IN THE FOOTHILLS IN 2024

Chapter 7 will focus on this event and its affects on Tall Oregon Grape, when from about mid-May until mid-August there was basically no significant rain in the foothills. 

In 2003 and 2024 DULL OREGON GRAPE  did fine, and from it I harvested berries for my jam and juice....from July all the way to August, while keeping an eye out to see if the Tall/Shinny variety would produce berries and seed. Finally on September 20th I noticed the first and only fruit so far, seen below:

More on the DROUGHT & PLAGUE in Chapter 7

**************** 

We will include in this 2023-24 book  some of the plants and wildflowers of the CANYONS of the FOOTHILLS....not just Grove Creek Canyon, but also a few from the next canyon south,  Battle Creek Canyon of which I'll also give a little history in Chapter 4, and in Chapter 8 a short segment on Dry Canyon that is between Battle Creek and Provo Canyons.

********

Along the creek  that has flowed all summer, and likely will continue until winter..which happened in 2023, and so far in 2024....

......let's check out the beauty there, but...

 ALSO LEARN ABOUT ANOTHER DANGER WORTH UNDERSTANDING

For this I'll go to my  "LEAVES"  folder and without much comment  show you 21real delicate beauties 

and see if you can pick out any of them that are dangerous, or poisonous.

#1

We'll see and learn about this beautiful plant: Above and below,  later

#2

#3

#4

#5

As we will learn there is one plant that  has 3 leaves per stem like this beautiful plant you might want to have out around  the patio, I'll insert at the end a photo of this plant in late September with the most  spectacular colors. The above photo  taken on May 22nd, and of the others  of the same "3 leafs per stem" plants taken at about the same date. 

#6 

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

Again three leaves per stem!

#13

#14

#15

Again....three leaves per stem!

#16

Above at the tip, this one has three leaves, but differs as it has leaves along its stem.

#17

Do I see again  three leaves per stem?

#18

WONDERFUL & UNIQUE

#19

#20

Fascinating....we'll get to it  later, but no 3 leaves per stem....

...... but below?

#21

And above,  last from Battle Creek Canyon, one of at least 3 photos 

I've taken there of a similar plant, photos taken on July 3rd.  

Notice this one is again characterized by clusters of 3 leaves per stem

 and is a beautiful plant . 

SO WHAT?  

NOW IN ADDITION to BEING WOWED 

by just a few of the unending variety of  beautiful....

LEAVES of the CANYONS, 

LET'S LEARN SOMETHING THAT WILL SAVE US

 A LOT OF SUFFERING....

...maybe not pain, but ITCHING and sleepless nights!

Four of the 20 pictures of beautiful LEAVES from Grove Canyon...

...in this section: #5, #12, #15, #17,  and #21

and one from Battle Creek Canyon  (#21) are the dreaded....

10.  POISON IVY .....

NOTE: three, which are #1, #2, & #11 are also poisonous if eaten,  named Spreading Dogbane, discussed in Chapter 3

 I have enlarged in the collection of leaves each of the previous ones with bunches of 3 leaves per stem that were Poison Ivy. They are among the most "admired" of the leaves......so remember "good looks can be dangerous" with leaves, or with the opposite sex....but of course...... not always.  

So let's learn just a little about Poison Ivy that is among the 

7 poisonous plants in Utah,

but it is the one that will quickly cause a blistery rash on your skin, with an itch that will make life difficult for a few weeks.

I know because I'm now in my 3rd week with it, the first two especially difficult at night....... more than once making sleep impossible ALL NIGHT!  Let me quote from an internet reference that begins giving credit and where I found it:

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/beware-of-these-dangerous-plants-that-grow-in-utah/

7. Poison Ivy

• Scientific Name: Toxicodendron radicans
• Common Name: Eastern poison ivy
• Plant Description: Poison ivy is famous for its 3-leaf clusters, small yellow-green flowers, and white berries. The shape and texture of poison ivy leaves can vary between dull or glossy and smooth or toothed. Plus, this dangerous Utah plant’s growth habit can be both climbing and shrub-like. Poison ivy produces its flowers in late spring through summer, and its leaves turn yellow-orange and brown in the fall.
• Mature Height: As a climbing plant, poison ivy can grow up a tree or other nearby structure to 75 feet high or more.
• Habitat: Trails, roadsides, forest edges and clearings, and other sunny woodlands
• Toxic Parts of the Plant: Avoid all parts of poison ivy plants.
• Symptoms of Plant Poisoning: Touching poison ivy can result in an itchy skin rash, redness, swelling, and blisters. Eating poison ivy could lead to stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and damage to the esophagus, kidneys, and other organs. Also, burning poison ivy plants can cause throat discomfort and difficulty breathing from inhaling the smoke.

Most people know about the dangerous plant growing in Utah called poison ivy. But did you know that the allergic reactions caused by touching poison ivy could lead to anaphylaxis? This hypersensitive condition can cause the throat to close, the tongue to swell, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. And the symptoms of anaphylaxis could come on within minutes from poison ivy poisoning.

So wear protective clothing on your nature walks through wild and beautiful Utah vegetation, just in case you accidentally touch or brush against some poison ivy along the way.

Toxins in Poison Ivy

The poison ivy plant protects itself from predators by releasing a toxic oil when the leaves are touched or disturbed in any way. This poisonous oil is called urushiol, and it’s hard to remove from the skin unless you use anti-grease soap formulated to dissolve oily substances.

Urushiol contains a mix of allergenic compounds that are also found in poison oak and poison sumac plants.

******************************* 

NOTE:  Now, with this on your mind, best go to the internet and look for this article that deals with the 7 poisonous plants in Utah and then research also Poison Sumac.  

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

In my personal autobiography 0-22 years I call My Checkered Faith & Works Journey that is Part 1 of my book , except for the first Part, is about my LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA. On page 17 I tell the story of my first camping trip as a Boy Scout in California's Bay area.  I had not been told anything about Poison Oak, which has the same oil on its leaves as Poison Ivy, and Poison Sumac, which is urushiol oil that  causes the allergic reaction. 

You can check that out if interested, but it boils down to me getting into it real bad....in fact my entire body was covered. For a month I couldn't put any clothes on, followed by another month before venturing out into the world. NOTE:  As difficult as my present minor experience was, it had me wondering.... 

....how I ever survived having my entire body covered with it? 

But, from then on I was immune until moving to Guatemala 19 years later where  there is a plant that can grow into a tall tree called AMCHE or PALO BRUJO ("A Witch Tree"), that is  beautiful with handsome long pointed oily leaves (urushiol oil), like Smooth Sumac leaves (hat are nott poisonous) that I will add to this report next below.  I soon learned there that I had lost my immunity with the effect the same as Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac.

What I just had was some spots on one leg, other patches on my arms and upper body, and a lot on my lower back (around the protruding bone centering my misalighned spine), but I kept up with my hikes and normal activities, the difficult part being not able to sleep  well at night. 

  I soon realized what was happening,   washed all my clothes and bedding that maybe still had some of the oil, and I bathed with Cutter Poison Ivy Scrub to remove any oil residue and keep it from spreading.  To relieve the itch and help dry it up I used Calamine Lotion mixed with it Hydrocortisone Cream, and Walmart's Anti-itch Cream (basically Benedryl & zinc acetate). I finally went to a Dermatologist who told me to stop using all that stuff and prescribed Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment.   I did as instructed and went through an entire night not able to sleep. By itself it didn't seem to help at all.

 So, I went back to my mixture, adding to it the Doctor's prescription, and began doing real well, and  by the mid-third week almost totally well.  Now, about four weeks have crept by and I'm not using any medication anymore. 

SEARCH FOR THE CULPRIT 

 I went through my leaf photos and tagged the ones among them that were Poison Ivy, but I couldn't recall having come close enough to touch any them.  I was cautious with  Poison Ivy  and carefully avoided touching them or brushing up against them.

  

But, I obviously had carelessly gotten into Poison Ivy without noticing.

Today I went down along the creek where I had photographed Poison Ivy, and re-photographed the now extensive growth of the beautiful but dangerous plant, pictures below:  

Below we see berries with seeds, so we can expect it to spread next year, along with 

even more extensive Poison Ivy in Battle Creek Canyon, 

so we all have to be careful....or

learn the hard way!

When I took these pictures just a day or two ago, I was extremely careful to not get close as I remembered a friend from California who was so allergic to the poisonous oil that every Spring even being extremely careful and not even getting within sighting distance  of Poison Oak, he would get the rash real bad anyway.  The last I heard he was going through an immunization program to hopefully solve this problem, but we moved to Utah then and I never knew what happened. 

 

But since going back to get the above pictures I was mentally weak and immediately imagined and felt itching all over!  And now, three or four days later I do have small patches of rash in a couple of places....from who knows where?????

For the end of this report I have acquired through my Guatemalan contacts photographs of the plant down there with the same oil which causes the same rash, and will show you pictures of 

AMCHE or PALO BRUJO!

************

BACK TO POISON IVY  IN GROVE CANYON

On September 11th I was determined to make it further up the canyon to look for, and photograph the plants near the trail and hope that a few might notice to avoid trouble.  I'll confess that my hikes have got shorter and shorter this summer because my back pain has greatly increased, that forced me to not do a hoped for overnight backpack in the High Uintas, but I had to do the Grove Canyon hike  to locate other patches of the poisonous plant to help all be careful. So, below is what I found...and it was a lot... going up the canyon along the creek:

This is just up the hill from the Trail Head parking lot. From here a trail goes down to the south and just before getting to the creek on the left a short 5-10 yards you begin seeing a lot of Poison Ivy, pictures already shown.  I'll insert just two below that you've seen already.  The first one below is beginning to show signs of Autumn.

From here, a month or so later on September 18th, we look over towards the creek 

and find a big patch that is beginning to show the shades of Fall....

And as FALL progreses......

Then to the south above the creek with photos taken on October 1st.

 And, another shot of the fruits that sort of look like tiny white pumpkins.

We return about 10 yards to the trail coming down from the galvanized cover, and see a trail that goes down west paralleling 

the stream, and immediately see more Poison Ivy as seen below...

Back to that galvanized cover, we go up just past the first turn, and as we continue on the right is an open area looking down on the creek.  Go to the 2nd open area and  you will notice a number of small Poison Ivy plants along the road high above the creek,  seen below.  These small plants are not doing as well as the others as they are up from the creek on the edge of the road in full sunlight.  I suspect they got started when there was shade here, perhaps from the downed Gambles oak tree we see below.

But with the 2024 drought these plants died completely  as seen below.

I doubt that these plants will sprout, or that there are viable seeds that will germinate  in 2025.

At this point the trail heads left up the canyon, with the road going a short distance to the diversion dam  where water is taken out in a burried pipe for the potable water systems that make Utah Valley a center of growing population and flourishing industry. Looking back we see below a portion of all of that as well as Utah Lake.  

Now, following the road towards the small diversion dam, on the right we will soon notice there are a lot of Poison Ivy plants all with quite large leaves, which I hope we can note in the following photos of the 4 or 5 that I took up there. 

 

And as we get into Fall, Poison Ivy is one of the first to begin its brillant change of colors.....photos below taken in mid-October.

We then come to the diversion dam you see below and 

I'll climb up behind it and show you what I found.

At the  very top of the dam to the left we immediatly begin

 seeing Poison Ivy. I'll insert a few pictures below. 

Here we are seeing apparently also the climbing variety.

To Follow the creek upstream, or downstream, there will most certainly be more Poison Ivy, so be aware, and be careful.

Here also I'll insert the FALL colors from of the same Poison Ivy plants....

Yet on September 30th, in protected areas, plants continued 

to resist the color change as seen below.

But soon in October FALL began to show its beautiful colors 

in the same scene below picture taken on October 22nd.

WOW....ARENT THEY BEAUTIFUL!

In this phase the leaves don't have the shinny, oily leaves, 

so danger for us is reduced.  

I even have some dried leaves in my home, and I haven't 

been affected, but best 

BE CAREFUL!

In a moment we will return to this spot above the dam where

 I found for the first time in all my years of hiking the foothills

 a new quite unique plant that inspired the creation of 

something that didn't exist in my youth, but now is part of all 

of our lives!

From the diversion dam we backtrack to take the trail that goes

 up the mountain through the "Rock & Roll Area," and then you 

come to the two rocks right in the middle of the trail.  The 

picture below is up the trail looking down on those nice "resting rocks."  

The fringe of low green vegetation on the left in the above  picture 

is Poison Ivy. 

A close-up below of part of it.  BEAUTIFUL LEAVES!

Next, up the trail a bit off to the right in at least three areas Poison Ivy is mixed in with dead wood and other vegetation, and is quite recognizable.

Then we come to the big turn where the trail begins a long switchback up the mountain. We see that point below where a 

trail goes down to the creek and then continues up along the 

stream.

Close ahead where the trail begins to descend towards the creek, 

on the right is a whole garden of Poison Ivy.  Interestingly in 

the exact spot of the first picture below, early in the season 

before the Poison Ivy plants sprouted, I rested and had my 

lunch there.  Next year I will carefully notice when the plants coe lalive and how quickly they develop. 

Poison Ivy plants produce a white/slightly yellowish fruit with

 seeds that will multiply the plant for next year.  

From that first point, I continued up the trail along the creek 

and found Poison Ivy all along the trail, both sides and in 

places where hikers not knowing what to avoid would certainly 

get some of the oil on their legs or clothing.  Early in the 

season when the leaves are shinny with oil is when there is 

the greatest danger.   Below are a few of the many photos I 

took up that trail.

In several places there were Poison Ivy plants right in the 

middle of the trail. 

The tall plants on the left with long woody stalks at the end 

of which are clusters of three large leaves are also what we 

are looking for, as well as the low to the ground green ones,  

all are Poison Ivy.

It might be a bit hard to distinguish Poison Ivy from all the 

other green vegetation. To help a little, let's zoom in some on 

the tall plants.  Then hopefully to help a little more, let's erase 

as best I can all except the Poison Ivy.

That was a pretty rough Photoshop job, and I actually erased some of the Poison Ivy, but I think you'll get the point that there is likely more of the poisonous plant than we might have thought.  

BEST BE CAREFUL 

as we learned is also necessary with

RATTLESNAKES and BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS. 

To end this section around the diversion dam  I'll insert a late September Poison Ivy  photo with the colors of Fall below the dam right along the road.

Remember one dominant characteristic of Poison Ivy is three leaf clusters at the end of each stem that has no other leaves.

*********************

Before leaving the subject of POISONOUS PLANTS, I'll insert below a picture and information about the Guatemalan plant--ACTUALLY THE "AMCHE"  TREE, that I have mentioned and which oil on its leaves is the same as for Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac. 

The leaves are like the leaves of Smooth Sumac we see in the next section, but here are the poisonous AMCHE plant/tree in Guatemala.....a rough picture I'll insert below.....

For the above picture, I'll insert information in Spanish from the book I'll identify below,  along with information from that book about what actually is a large tree.  I have even seen some use it for fence posts that then sprout creating a formidible barrier for those who want to.....like rustle cattle.

In the first few days of October I received from Guatemala photos and a short video of AMCHE or PALO BRUJO from my friend and brother, 

Federico Veliz

He came through again helping me with photos and the video. In thanking him let me say a word or two about him.

He is now in his 48th year cooperating with me, 42 years through the Guatemalan Foundation, as a volunteer  and my brother, in projects among the needy Mayans in Guatemala

Here he is in 2016 at a Foundation sponsored event for Christmas. In my Maya book he is featured as one of the TWELVE STRONG who contributed the most to the Foundation's 50 year history.  He was described therein as 

"THE VOLUNTEER of ALL VOLUNTEERS!"

Now to a couple of  photos of AMCHE or PALO BRUJO, along with a short video: 

Above we see the beautiful leaves, somewhat similar to 

Smooth Sumac leaves, as mentioned. 

Above we see in the center an Amche tree that grows tall and straight, below with a close-up of a large trunk.  In the photo above we see on the left a young Amche tree with the leaves visible at the top. 

You will see in the video small Amche plants that are being cut with a machete, the plants handled by the fellow who apparently has no fear of suffering an allergic reaction with a blistery rash that is intensely ichy as I have explained from personal experience:  

First as a 12 year old Boy Scout completely covered by it that had me out of action for 2 months.  But, that resulting in acquiring immunity that apparently the man with the machete had. 

 

My 2nd  encounter was 19 years later when living in Guatemala and I tested myself  with a small spot on my arm and learned I had lost the immunity and suffered immeasurably as a flea bit me right on the rash....small but resulting in the most intense itch I can imagine. 

 

My 3rd experience was a couple of months ago in the middle of summer 2023.

  

HERE'S THE VIDEO FEDERICO SENT which will work if you are online.

AMCHE VIDEO 

I just had a long telephone chat with Federico who tells me he is immune to the effect of Amche, then mentioned the young man in the video handling Amche with no fear, saying,

"They have a secret weapon against Amche!"  

He then described what the Mayan/Poqomchi Indians believe: 

 

They take the person exposed who thinks he feels he is getting it, or someone who has got it, and go to the Palo Brujo, and say to it, 

'"We are friends and my son who got too close is sorry and from now on will be your friend, and is accepting his punishment now!'"  

All the while during the sort of prayer, or chat the person exposed and with the rash, or thinks he's getting it, is being whipped with a branch of Amche!  

 They swear it works!

*************

I send my thanks again to Federico for the innumerable ways he helped make our work extremely effective among the Mayans in Guatemala.....and he is still doing it with this Amche info but also in projects among the needy he and I are still doing.

MIL GRACIAS, FEDERICO, por seguir tu dedicacion en las Montañas de los Mayas!

**********************************

NOW ON TO ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PLANT WITH IN PART A NAME OF A POISONOUS PLANT POISON SUMAC, and WITH A BEAUTIFUL LEAF REMINICENT OF 

POISON AMCHE or PALO BRUJO 

FROM GUATEMALA.

11.  SMOOTH SUMAC

Which is NOT POISONOUS! 

 

In spite of the name this beautiful plant is not poisonous to the touch.... 

.... and the fruit/seeds are even edible, but make sure and do some research on them 

before having them for lunch. Below are close-ups of them.

......and into the Winter.

By mid-October SMOOTH SUMAC ends the season with additional gradual more impressive flashes of color.

The leaves are like the leaves of the poisonous AMCHE plant/tree in Guatemala...pictured below 

....and the name sumac, POISON SUMAC also with a similar leaf, but SMOOTH SUMAC is not poisonous. 

 

NOTE:  Poison sumac is considered the “most toxic plant in the country.” However, on a positive note, it's also much rarer than the others. It only grows in super wet areas, like bogs or swamps along the Mississippi River, etc.. 

**********************

Now BACK ABOVE THE DIVERSION DAM to meet a new plant seen below I mentioned finding in my investigations of Poison Ivy. In some respects it seems to be related to the thistles, at least in the appearance of the flower-head, but totally different with nothing else like the thistles....it is the:

12. COMMON BURDOCK plant. 

 I spent hours searching my reference books and my  investigations I first thought I had the GREAT BURDOCK, but further searching indicates it is the  Common Burdock. 
I found it in shade  along the creek in the rocky creek bed, above the diversion dam,  where there was a lot of Poison Ivy. 

It is originally from Europe but somehow brought to America through BC and Alberta, Canada and then south to Colorado and the U.S. 

NOTE:  During the late fall, someone riped up this beautiful plant that had a quite large and old root system, and it eventually died.  I'll insert two  pictures below.

I've found a few other plants in nearby areas, but none as old

 and well developed as this one.  Next season I'll add on what

 develops.  

This flower is about as ....

....FASCINATING & UNIQUELY BEAUTIFUL...

... AS A FLOWER COULD BE...

Previously I said it was....

..... a new quite unique plant that inspired the creation of something that didn't exist in my youth, but now is part of all of our lives....

....the hook of the burr-like flowerheads, seen above, and below  inspired the invention of 

VELCRO.

A few days later I revisted the BURDOCK plant and photographed some flower heads that will soon teach us about their reproductive system and collected a couple of the drier or more advanced flower heads to dry at home and and add to my collection of seeds from the more important foothill wildflowers.

....but I also kept my eyes open and began noticing small plants coming up we see below, and....

....others  in various stages of development, and realized that in my file of "unidentified new plants" I had pictures of the BURDOCK plant in their early stages of development.  

I doubt that the season will be long enough for them to develop, but I've now got more plants I have to check on every few days.

We have noticed that with the hooks of the burrs on the flower head, 

the plant easily collects whatever the wind brings close, like we see below with a lot of hair.

But, we'll end with a relatively uncontaminated flower head 

which is a beauty to behold.

Below we see the REPRODUCTION STAGE it taking all summer 

for the flower head, and then the burr to dry up......

.......and the seed separated from the burr.

BURDOCK is another plant 

that has the reputation of solving many problems, almost like another "CURE ALL" but caution should be exercised with those having low blood pressure, women who are pregnant, and  children. After Greater Burdock, I will describe edibility and medicinal benefits. 

DO YOUR RESEARCH TO LEARN WHAT IS KNOWN. 

***************

Now to the

13.  GREATER BURDOCK

Below the dam on the south side of the road where is found Poison Ivy  with huge leaves, I found a plant growing in 2024 very much like Common Burdock, but as it grew it had HUGE LEAVES, and I followed it through the season ....which, with the drought, was not kind to Common Burdock above the dam and so I have no pictures to add.  

However my new plant soon was identified  as GREATER BURDOCK.  It soon developed well to the seed stage, but with no worthwhile flower stage.  Below is it's development through the season:

April 27, 2024

This was a GREAT BURDOCK that was lush to begin located just to the left of the dam, but it was where people would step on it, and insects attacked so it didn't do well  and we won't follow it, rather the one along the road  with the large leafed Poison ivy.

May 27, 2024

GREATER BURDOCK along the road, poison ivy behind and to the right, with a Leafy aster plant in front.  The great burdock is already showing signs of drought effects....at this point two weeks without rain.,

Two months later .....8-1-24

8-7-24

September 9, 2024 with one of the several varieties of 

88.  Leafy Purple Aster blossoming...discussed in Chapter 6

EDIBILITY & MEDICINAL USES from 

https://www.fourseasonforaging.com/

Harvest and Preparation

For edible and medicinal purposes, greater burdock is considered the best species, followed by common burdock. There are several edible parts: the leaf stem, flower stalk, and root. Some sources claim the leaves are edible, but in my experience they are consistently bitter beyond belief. I have not found a way to make them palatable, but if you want to try, be my guest! But don’t say I didn’t warn you!

The leaf stem contains only a slight amount of bitterness. When the leaf has reached near full size, it is ready to harvest. Simply cut the stem from the plant, and peel off the outer skin. The inside has a fairly mild taste and a texture that’s crunchy and stringy, similar to celery. It can be eaten raw, or added to stir fries, soups, pot pies, and other hot dishes.

The flower stalk is similar in texture and flavor to the leaf stem, except that it tastes sweeter and has more of a starchy texture. The flavor has been compared to artichokes. Harvest the stalk when it is near its full-grown height; it should be tall and thick, but have no flowers or flower buds. The taller it gets the tougher it gets, so harvesting requires impeccable timing; you want it as tall as possible but still tender. Like the leaf stem it should be peeled, and can be eaten raw or cooked.

The root is perhaps the best-known edible part of burdock. Cultivated in Japan and sold under the name “gobo,” this vegetable can be found for sale in co-ops and specialty stores. To harvest, find a plant in the fall of its first year or the spring of its second year. First year plants display a basal rosette— no flower stalk. If harvesting the root in the second year, it’s important to do so before the plant sends up a flower stalk, or the root will be tough.

Digging burdock root.

Burdock sends a long taproot deep into the soil, which is part of what makes it so infamously hard to eradicate. It can reach several feet in length, and has a tendency to break easily. This can pose challenges to harvesting the root for edible purposes. Basically, the method is to use a shovel or post hole digger to dig a hole alongside the root. Do not attempt to pry the root out of place with the shovel, or it will break and the best part will remain in the ground. Just keep digging parallel to the root until you’ve reached the tip. Then carefully loosen the root out by hand. A trowel may aid in the process. To eat, wash and peel the roots. Cut into matchsticks or slice diagonally into thin ovals. They have a crunchy texture and an earthy, starchy flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked in stir fries!

Medicinal Uses

The primary medicinal uses of burdock come from its bitter principles. These stimulate the digestive tract, including the liver and pancreas. As such, it is a mild laxative and also helps to lower blood sugar. By activating the liver, it helps rid the body of toxins. Burdock also has mild diuretic properties, further promoting the elimination of toxins via urine.

Burdock is also used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatism or arthritis, and skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Typically the root of burdock is used medicinally, though the leaves and seeds have similar effects. To reap the medicinal benefits, it can be eaten, boiled with water for a tea, or steeped in alcohol for a tincture. 

**************************

NOW TO THE ALSO UNIQUE FAMILY OF 

THISTLES

with the well earned reputation for its sharp spines, but also

 with a beauty that can't be denied.

Above and below we first see beautiful examples of the 

14. UTAH THISTLE.....

.....and then the darker ones that are the

15. CANADIAN THISTLE

Below we see a beautiful series of the

16. MUSK or NODDING THISTLE

ARE THISTLES GOOD FOR ANYTHING?

Native thistle provide important habitat and food sources for native fauna. The nectar and pollen of native thistles are incredibly valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.  Many insects feed on the leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, while some songbirds also feed on thistle seeds. These nectar sources help support pollinators year-round, and can help to increase yields for many valuable crops.

EDIBILITY OF THISTLES

Believe it or not some of the thistles are edible, especially the roots, leaves and stalks.  It gets quite involved, so best let me refer you to a good place to learn about this from the following site on the internet:  https://foragerchef.com/edible-thistles/

FORAGING AND COOKING THISTLES

Published: Jun 3, 2023 Modified: Jun 4, 2023 Author: Alan Bergo

Jump to Video

EFFECTS of DROUGHT & OBSESSION to REPRODUCE

will be discussed in Chapter 7

*********************************

Now a quite unique and a very different

variety of 

THISTLES

The 

17.  RUSSIAN THISTLE 

that becomes TUMBLEWEED.  It is not native to the U.S. but is a summer annual native to southeastern Russia and western Siberia and was first accidentally  introduced into the United States in 1873 by Russian immigrants as a contaminant in flax seed in South Dakota.

  It is now found in every state but two:  Alaska and Florida.  We'll learn more about it later when at the entrance to Grove Canyon it turns into tumbleweed.....WHICH CAUSES A LOT OF TROUBLE IN SOME PLACES......like we see below, I believe in New Mexico.

IF YOU ARE NOT IMPRESSED WITH RUSSIAN THISTLE, 

LOOK  BELOW AT THIS GLIMPSE OF SOME  OF ITS  BEAUTIFUL STAGES....there will be more...

During the summer the Russian Thistle finally grows to maturity, by mid-September it stops growing and then begins to dry up, 

  the wind tearing it loose from its roots, and

 converting it into

TUMBLEWEED

Below on January 8th we see this Russian thistle  got snowed on and there never was a wind  strong enough blow the several 

Russian Thistles  lose from their roots and 

so in our area of study in 2023 there never were any TUMBELWEEDS!

And, to end the season in early October new thistle  plants are sprouting....like the Canadian thistle seen below, we'll see if they survive the winter and have an early start next Spring.  

  But  The RUSSIAN THISTLE  in 2024?  

It did not germinate normally.  I kept an eye out for germinating plants in May, June and into July, when in 2023 plants were large and well developed at that time, but there were none to that point in 2024!  I began to think it would be one of several plants that wouldn't sprout in 2024.  The last significant rain in the foothills was in mid-May....so we were into two months of drought.  Then in mid-July I found a tiny plant, then another and more.  

Do you see it?  Maybe I'd better zoom in....

It was in front of the largest of the two from 2023 you see below.

But  was there enough time left to develop into enough to become a tumbleweed?   

With more than half the summer gone and a continuing drought...it didn't seem likely!  It will be discussed in 

Chapter 7:  2024....

INCREDIBLE NEW VISIONS of NATURE  DISCOVERED..... BUT DROUGHT & PLAGUE in the FOOTHILLS & HOW NATURE ADJUSTS TO SURVIVE!  

*****************

NOW TO DISCOVER MORE OF MOST OF OUR FOOTHILLS....THAT ARE REALLY 

DESERT COUNTRY  

with a very important dominant plant.

Our desert SAGEBRUSH is in some respects the salvation of our foothills and Utah deserts, as well as being an important food for deer in the winter time.  That crucial plant, experts call 

"the most important plant in the West" 

will be discusssed in detail in Chapter 6  where it will be featured and given the credit it deserves, but here in Chapter 2 we'll study......

....THE NEXT OF IMPORTANCE IN THE FOOTHILLS  WHICH IS  THAT GREEN VEGETATION WE SEE ON DISTANT HILLS.

Most just call it  SCRUB OAK   but its real name is

18. GAMBLES OAK

It is often more like a bush, or at best a thicket of small trees, but under the right conditions it can grow quite large as we see below.

I love to use its rough beauty for outdoor picture frames like the one below with one of my favorite High Uinta Mountain scenes.  

With hiking, and backpacking becoming increasingly more difficult, I might just get a few tools and go back to work doing this again.

Of course Gambles Oak produces 

acorns as seen below.  They are an important staple food for deer, squirrels, mice, voles, rabbits, raccoons, red foxes, badgers, and even birds as we'll see below. They drop to the ground and are easilly accessed by all the critters mentioned. 

I'm not sure what this Western Scrub Jay  will do with it.....but I'm sure he will figure it out.  By the way, it is a "he" as recognized by his beautiful colors....the females in nature are drab and dull...natures way of helping to assure her safety to reproduce and take care of the little ones.

 ^^^^^^

Just as Gambles oak comes to life after the Maples, it is also among the last to begin showing signs of Autumn, the below picture taken on October 8, 2023.  

Below at the higher elevations, as the Maples begin to fade, we see a slight yellowing of the vegetations around them which is scrub or Gambles Oak.  

Since this is  an online book, I'll insert another picture here to complete the cycle for Gambles Oak..

Gambels Oak's 

usefulness can be Googled leading to many websites that explain it's usefulness for the environment and wildlife:  Deer, elk, squirrels, turkeys, etc. 

For the environment it's useful to help burned out areas recover as it grows like the Quaking aspen with communities of trees interconnected into the same root system, that send up sprouts from its underground root system to create new trees.  

Planting new trees from the acorn seed requires patience as during the first year it doesn't send up a sprout, rather works for a year sending down a tap root, with the sprout coming the second year.  I've got a few in a pot to be able to observe and report......adding to this oline book.

 Also it's used as  fence posts, and is exclellent for firewood as it burns hot, produces little smoke, and leaves little ash. 

I've shown one of its artistic uses with many more one's creative abilities could come up with.

EDIBILITY,  & MEDICINAL  USES

A Google search will lead one to many sites, but I'll just mention a little useful information, and you can search the internet for details.

.....let's continue  with the first item for edibility usage:

ACORNES

In gathering ACORNS that can be found on the ground under the trees, best to not collect those that have little holes we see below on the left......as you will find the nasty left overs of the acorn weevil we see below.  On the right are healthy ones, with the acorn nut I broke out of the shell so you could see what you will find. 

We learn from: 

From:  UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/files/isu-extension-wordmark.png

The adult acorn weevil lay their eggs inside developing acorns in mid summer. The eggs hatch and the creamy white larvae feed inside the acorn until fall when the acorn falls to the fround.  The grub then chews a hole in the acorn, crawls outside and digs its way into the soil to continue its evolution.

Squirrels and other wildlife that eat acorns are smart enough to leave the "holey" ones on the ground.  

USES OF HEALTHY ACORNS

Acorns are high in tannic acid and so are bitter, but that can be leached out by  boiling the shelled acorns for 5 minutes, then discard what should be brown water.  Repeat process until water is clear.

They can be then used  roasted with honey and cinnamon and eaten as a snack or used to replace nuts in cookies, and dried can  be ground into flour for baking.  They are rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and E and used  to reduce inflamation.

There's lots of information on:  https://honest-food.net/ 

********************************

There is

ANOTHER of the DECIDUOUS TREES  

that come alive in the Spring, actually  ahead of the Gambles Oak, and adds splashes of color to our canyons and foothills as we see below.......

It will be one of the first to add touches of brilliant yellow/green color to our foothills, canyons  and lower mountains. 

Seeing its beautiful leaf we should all know what we are talking about, especially those of you from CANADA as its likeness is the flag of our neighbors to the north who are now 

not able to keep quiet singing........

 

 

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

19.  ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAPLES  
Along the creek below we see it growing quite tall, and I'm sure those from Canada, and also from Guatemala, recognize that we have here in Utah a different species, adaptable to our more desert climate and doesn't produce syrup for our pancakes or waffles. In fact in Guatemala we had a quite tall variety that I would use in home construction as it was more resistent to termites, as well as another variety that was really different with a twisted grain that made splitting it and making firewood almost impossible.  I gave it a nick-name "GAMUSA."

Towards the end of September they 

are the first to begin showing off for the Fall season with brilliant colors decorating the foothills.

We can see above that the Gambles Oak hasn't begun yet its

Autumn awakening display, but rather begins a little later as we have seen already. 

We note just a tinge of yellow spreading to  the Gambles oak.

NOW to end this Chapter 2.....

......WITHOUT SO MUCH COMMENTARY.....

....LET'S ENJOY a few more of my  UNENDING......

VISIONS of NATURE

First a longer hikw moving away from the hills with glimpses 

up the canyon all the way to what I call 

THE VALLEY VIEW SPOT and then BEYOND.

Beginning at the Trailhead at times with some of my cherished ...

....HUMAN VISIONS of NATURE!

And one showing us guys how to warm up for a great hike!

Just a 100 yards or so above the Trailhead on the trail going up the canyon I happily find a plant  I just identified...December  3rd...an invading type of plant with tiny beautiful blue and sometimes pink flowers at best 1/8th of an inch...it is the...

 BIGTRACT VERBENA, Verbena bracteata, 

It wasn't in the Audubon Society Field Guide to WILDFLOWERS, nor in any of my reference books, but I found it finally  at 

Southwest Desert Flora

Home to the plants of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts

It lists many species of the plant in all the western states, with 5 for Utah. Some have pink flowers as you will see below. It is sometimes called 

20.  PROSTRATE VERBENA

..I'll enlarge below for you to appreciate better

 and then zoom in

Remember that we are dealing with a plant with tiny heavenly blue DOTS..... around 1/16th of an inch in diameter. 

Continue below to see it like you have never seen it before.

WHAT GOOD IS PROSTRATE  VERBENA?

In some areas it is considered a noxious weed, but it could be used as a more than interesting groundcover.

GOOGLING it we get the following: 

Some people apply verbena directly to the skin to treat poorly healing wounds, abscesses and burns; for arthritis, joint pain (rheumatism), dislocations, bone bruises (contusions), and itching. Verbena is also used as a gargle for cold symptoms and other conditions of the mouth and throat.

At:  https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/verbena.htm 

we get the following

Verbena is used for sore throats and respiratory tract diseases such as asthma and whooping cough, and for heart conditions such as chest pain (angina) and fluid retention due to heart failure.

Verbena is also used for depression, hysteria, generalized seizure, gallbladder pain, arthritis, gout, metabolic disorders, “iron-poor blood” (anemia), fever, and recovery after fever.

Other uses include treatment of pain, spasms, exhaustion, nervous conditions, digestive disorders, liver and gallbladder diseases, jaundice, and kidney and lower urinary tract disorders.

Women use verbena for treating symptoms of menopause, irregular menstruation, and increasing milk flow, if breast-feeding.

Some people apply verbena directly to the skin to treat poorly healing wounds, abscesses and burns; for arthritis, joint pain (rheumatism), dislocations, bone bruises (contusions), and itching. Verbena is also used as a gargle for cold symptoms and other conditions of the mouth and throat.

In combination with gentian root, European elder flower, cowslip flower, and sorrel.

Following we see the final days of its growth cycle.

Including the production of seeds.

************************

Above one of the dozen or so varieties of grasses, 

and we have already been introduced and warned about the 

Black Widow spider. 

There are small harmless spiders too....

....here seeing the hatching of  many of the smallest!

Seeing here such a large number of hatchlings, they couldn't have come from just one egg sac of a black widow, or other normal spiders. The only spider with an egg sac large enough for such a mass of hatchlings, would be a TARANTULA with egg sac producing 1,000 or more offspring.  They don't look like   Tarantulas.  I'm not sure what....except that they are ARACHNIDS!

In Chapter 6 
we will meet  the largest of the spiders
that might seem a bit scary to some of you, but I promise it will be interesting.  

Below, as we hike Grove Creek Canyon we meet the blossoming of the

21.  PUSSY WILLOW

Here we are dealing with a shrub-like plant that has both male and female plants.....best for me to quote from https://www.bbg.org/article/what_are_pussy_willows_anyway

BBG GARDENS & COLLECTIONS | CHILDREN & FAMILIES

What Are Pussy Willows, Anyway?

By Ashley Gamell   |   March 3, 2017

Pussy willows are dioecious, meaning there are both male plants and female plants. Only male plants produce the fuzzy flowers. Home gardeners may be disappointed if they wind up with a female tree, but the flowers on female plants are equally funky—they just look more like greenish [or yellowish] hairy caterpillars. Look for both blooming over the coming season.

When the flowers mature, you will see scores of yellow stamens emerge to cover each catkin. A tiny clump of pollen stands at each end. Wait even longer, and you may also see pale green, strappy leaves unfurl from the leaf buds. At this point, your willow stems will be in full spring growth........

This is another of many that I've got to watch more carefully next season and hope to observe all the periods of evolution and add to this online book, but I must say what we observe above is spectaular to say the least, and 

Wow, what a beautiful way to go about reproduction!

WHAT'S A PUSSEY WILLOW  GOOD FOR?

Googling it we find a long chain of possible uses.  We can begain with the bark containing salicin, which is converted withint the body to salicylic acid.....or Aspirin, and was used by Native Americans to treat fever, headache, coughs, and used for treating inflammation and arthritis related conditions. 

In China it was used for all of the above, as well as for jaundice, skin problems and toothache.   

Additionally its wood was used for basket making, crates, furniture and traditionally it's been the preferred wood for cricket bats.

Oh, and there's even a pychological use as in some cultures it has been inspiring and symbolic of humans' capability to withstand hardship, and difficult emotions.....and is therefore seen as representing  

SURVIVAL and a SYMBOL OF REBIRTH! 

**************

NOTE:

Now below another example of  my learning process...

22.  WHITE DESERT STAR  Aster

This is actually a very tiny flower about 1/2 inch wide at best usually growing very low to the ground in thick masses in  very arid portions of the foothills.  It blossomed quite early in the season and was gone quickly.  At this point in my project I hadn't learned about the "asters" being identified by overlapping leaves or bracts under the flower head and so didn't look for that....but will have to wait until the 2024 season to confirm this identification and will then add more information, like edibility and medicinal uses. 

By inserting my trekking pole we can see it is a quite small flower, usually growing in masses of flowers as seen below.

By mid-May they were blossoming, and, as seen below,  by mid-June they were in the seed producing stage....each seed with its own parachute to carry them far and wide..

********************************************

Later in the season, about in July I began discovering a later blooming wildflower that looked very similar except a bit larger, and growing on long stems.....discovered when finding the flowers growing in the middle of sagebrush and rabbitbrush.  By then I knew about the overlapping bracts or leaves under the flower head that distinguised them as ASTERS.  Since it blossoms later I describe  the White Woodland Aster, in Chapter 6  but show below the overlapping bracts or leaflets under the flower head that distinguish all the ASTERS. 

 It would seem that it was named Desert Star more for how it

 looks once through its life cycle as we see above after the seeds have been carried away by the wind,  leaving star images.

The edibility and medicinal benefits & cautions are listed in Chapter 6, .  

With a positive identification on a White Woodland Aster and its benefits, see Chapter 6 down towards the end.  

**********

 

NOW ONE OF THE INCREDIBLE TREES...

At one spot in the canyon where I always rest a bit because of a perfect square boulder right in the middle of the trail, mentioned in the Poison Ivy report, I noticed in the tree off to the side something I hadn't noticed before, looking closer I saw something unique and readied my camera for a real treat....

...... and moved in  enough to begin being.... 

WOWED.....

....by another of the trees whose reproductive system is like

CLIFF ROSE, we'll see in our next chapter.  

Feathery plumes  are produced with a seed on each.  The plumes help the seeds get spread around by the wind.  

In Battle Creek Canyon,  one canyon south there are several other varieties of trees that have a similar system....we'll get to in a later chapter. 

....and above,  down the trail, a plume with seed that the wind has carried about 50 yards away from the mother tree.

Below we see the same tree still has a few seeds left to celebrate NEW YEARS 2024!

 

We are now switchbacking up from the canyon 

and soon will be at the 

VALLEY VIEW SPOT 

for a needed rest for this old guy, but first...

....ONE MORE SPECTACULAR 

VISION of NATURE!

High up above the canyon we all of a sudden see a strange plant

 that has no leaves, but going through a thicket of them....

......OUCH! 

The  plant doesn't look too "SPECTACULAR"..... 

....one of several  plants I've photographed with no leaves, 

but zooming in it's flower is  a 

LEGITIMATE VISION of NATURE  

                    It begins with an ominous looking flowerhead with a                       hint of yellow that soon bursts into  impressive greatness!                                                                    

This is the 23. YELLOW STAR THISTLE native of 

Europe that somehow got to the U.S. and is spreading in the dry western areas like Utah.  There are places where thickets of this plant makes hiking very painful.....unless you have tough cowboy chaps on. 

Last of all the REPRODUCTIVE phase with a couple of pictures below after most of the seeds have dispersed.

 Farmers don't like Yellow Star Thistle as it is damaging to livestock in a number of ways.

 In many areas, like California it is considered an invasive, noxious weed for man and his livestock.

Econologically it is beneficial to bees, butterflies and birds.

For honey producers with bees where there is  a lot of it.......it is a blessing producing a unique and superior honey with 

Yellow Star Thistle honey named 

the "champagne of honeys"

by the staff at Food and Wine magazine. 

In the Foothills of Timpanogos I've only noticed isolated plants in a few areas so.....no problem here...yet, but one area 

found near the Trailhead will be mentioned in 

Chapter 7 about the DROUGHT.

***************** 

MADE IT....AGAIN, 6 TIMES IN 2023  & 

4 MORES TIMES IN 2024

which will be reported on in 

Chapter 7. 

Let's just say for Chapter 2, that this hike was the first of the season 

going up the canyon and switchbacking up to the....

....VALLEY VIEW SPOT

I'll have to confess that as the season progressed getting up here by the 5th time was....

..... getting harder as my misaligned spine hurts all the way and I have to rest about every 50 yards or sometimes every 10 yards and lean on my trekking poles for a minute or two....and then continue as.......

....I CAN'T GIVE UP.....EASILY, 

WITHOUT A FIGHT!

 

It seems to be getting worse and it feels like I need to get a....

"NEW SPINE SPECIALIST!"

 So far I've outlived all of them, my first one died of cancer, 

my last two.....Colledge & Bacon,  both incredible doctors and human beings, but now retired.....

......but I'm NOT RETIRED.....

 and NEED ONE AS I'LL HAVE TO ADMIT MY HIKES ARE GETTING SHORTER DUE TO INCREASED BACK PAIN! 

I have to confess right here, that was the main reason 

for not meeting my goal of an overnight backpack in the High Uintas this summer....

....but don't count me out for 2024!

Note: I have an appointment in October with a 

new spine guru and hope he can help the miracle to continue...

.....but since this book now includes 2024  I'll have to confess that the overnight backpack in the Uintas had to be forgotten  as I had to focus on completing this book and so by December 31 will have done 361 hikes since beginning on March 15, 2023.  

What 2025 will bring is anybody's guess, but one thing for sure is that I  will keep moving or die!   So  I will be working towards  my new goal of being useful 

as I work  in my 90th   year & maybe my 6th BOOK!

BUT, I WAS GREATLY BLESSED AGAIN..

....with the help of the Lord and my Guardian Angel Ted.....

....FOR MAKING IT TO THIS WONDERFUL SPOT 6 TIMES in the  2023 SEASON and 4 more in 2024.... TO SEE AGAIN...

"The Valley of our Lady of Mercy of Timpanogos"

as named in 1776 by Fathers Escalante & Dominguez, 

who came up the "Old Spanish Trail" from Santa Fe, New Mexico 

to the Uinta Basin, and then on to 

UTAH VALLEY, 

calling it, 

"..... the most pleasing, beautiful and 

fertile site in New Spain.” 

 The Timpanogos Indians were called "fish-eaters" because  a major source of their food was from Utah Lake that then had clear water teeming with abundant and large native cutthroat trout--no carp!  The "fish- eaters"  had a friendly relationship with the Catholic priests who promised to return and establish a Mission.  But, they were never seen again.  

Can you imagine how different the Utah territory would be if they had of kept their promise?

END OF CHAPTER 2

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