 Penstemon floridus |  Opuntia erinacea |
The oldest Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) trees are found here in the White Mountains, some older than 4,000 years old ! I have to admit to feeling a sense of awe walking among the ancient giants on the Discovery Trail at Shulman Grove.
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 growth rings |  young cone |
 cone bristles |  |
My reverence was broken as we followed the trail through a talus slope because I caught sight of my first ever pika scrambling over the rocks !!! Holy stinking cute. We watched him pop in and out of sight until we couldn't see him anymore, then continued down.
We braved the 12-mile unpaved washboard road up to the Patriarch Grove at the timberline (11,000 feet). If not the oldest, this Grove holds the largest bristlecones. We were also able to watch red crossbills feeding on the cones ! Other birds we saw on the trip included: gray flycatcher, mountain bluebird, and Clark's nutcracker.
 Patriarch Tree |  |
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Patriarch is totally beautiful. Oh and heading up the hill towards the White Mountains, watch for a riparian looking little spit on the left hand side with a couple of tamarisks. It's an open seep area that will indoubtably have a population of spring orchids growing in the wettest parts. I've been there several times all through out the summer and they are always there! Plus it's the closest open water for quite a ways, so great for birds and reptiles.
ReplyDeleteThe penstemon floridus you captured is definitely a penstemon with some character! I've really enjoyed the lower petal pouch that looks like the flower is trying to imitate a puffer fish :)
Ooh I'll have to check out that seep, thanks for the tip !
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, that's the chunkiest penstemon I've ever seen hahaha. The Lone Pine book says "you may not know whether to ooh and ahh or break into laughter". :)