Sand Hollow Reservoir

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day Weekend. We aren't venturing too far from home, mainly because last weekend we did. We wanted some warmer weather, so we headed south to Sand Hollow Reservoir near Hurricane (pronounced Hurr-eh-kun), Utah. We had never been there before, so we didn't quite know what to expect. We stopped at the store to get a fishing license and lures for the bass and stocked up on snacks.

We drove along the dam to a quieter part of the state park, where another dock and boat ramp were found. After we got home, we learned that quagga mussels had been found by divers just days earlier. Those are nasty things, and it's really too bad that they are now in this reservoir.

I had to have my cuties pose for a photo in the wind. That wind was everywhere last weekend.

Desert Boy quickly found a game: wade out in the water, then climb up on the dock, then wade out a little further, and repeat. The water was cool but not unbearable.

We watched some bass boats go near the dam, and one boat had a lot of success. So we gave it a try, but didn't have near the success.

We did get to see one bass, washed up dead on the beach.

Then we wanted to see a little more of the state park, so we drove around part of the reservoir. There's an area for four-wheeling on sand, picnic spots, a campground, and some really beautiful wildflowers. A botanist had told me that the Mojave desert was having a really good flower year, and I was happy to get to see some in bloom.

I took a lot of flower photos, but I'll just include a couple here.

I really like the orange sand, it gives everything such a nice glow.

We found another spot to try fishing. You might notice the different fishing attire. Desert Boy then had a new target--wade out to his papa.

When he got a bit chilled, he returned to the beach to play in the sand.

Then it was time to head back out in the water.

Meanwhile, I was holding Desert Girl on the beach and playing with the camera. She didn't really like it when I dipped her feet into the water. Doesn't she have lovely legs? I just want to continually squeeze them. Of course she might get a little tired of that, so I only squeeze them once in awhile. I'm glad that it's getting warmer so that I can admire her legs more often. There's just something special about rolls of baby fat.

I was having some difficulties getting photos of her while trying to hold her up at the same time. I think she was amused by my efforts.

Here she looks like she's contemplating the sand.

I think the sand on her feet was something that she enjoyed a little.

Then my husband came and took a proper photo of the two of us.

We knew it was time to leave when she started looking so concerned.

I imagine that during the summer this place is packed, but there was plenty of elbow room last weekend. Someday we'd like to go back and visit again. Maybe we'll have more luck fishing.

Desert Girl agrees that's a good plan!

Spring Flowers

I've really been having fun photographing flowers this spring. They have been about two weeks behind last year, but I figure that's just given me more time to get my bootie in gear and get outside ready to discover them.

In honor of all the spring beauty, I've restarted my A Plant a Day blog, which features plants in this area. Here's a sampling of flowers I have on the blog, but rephotographed this spring because I couldn't resist. If you like plants, be sure to check out the other blog!
The brilliant orange gooseberryleaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea grossularifolia) really lights up the desert floor. This is a plant I have in my native flower garden because I like it so much.

This beautiful tiny daisy is only a few inches tall. It's called spreading fleabane (Erigeron divergens), a rather funny name for such a cute flower.

I just saw this Nevada Onion (Allium nevadense) yesterday. It doesn't grow very tall, but the small balls of flowers are a nice splash of color in the gravelly soils.

I found this bright yellow flower on a rocky outcrop. It's called nakedstem sunray (Enceliopsis nudicaulis) due to the leafless stems.

This beautiful flower that lies close to the ground flowers at night, so you can see it at it's best very early in the morning. It's called tufted-evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa).

This splashy yellow flower with the lobed leaves is lobeleaf groundsel (Packera multilobata), which goes by many other names you can see if you click on the link.

I also saw this beautiful deep blue flower for the first time this year yesterday. The palmately divided leaves look intriguing, and the flowers are amazing. This is Anderson's larkspur (Delphinium andersonii), a member of the Buttercup Family.

I like the flower so much that I couldn't resist a closeup.

And last but not least for today, here's some desert Indian paintbrush (Castilleja angustifolia). It usually grows close to sagebrush, and the bright red bracts really light up the landscape.

Hope you're having fun looking at wild flowers where you live!

Desert Destination: Pinyon Pine Nut Picking

2009 has turned out to be a good year for pinyon pine nuts in our area. Many of the pinyon pine trees (Pinus monophylla) are loaded with cones. This species of pine tree grows throughout most of Nevada and into parts of Utah and California. Another species, Colorado pinyon (Pinus edulis), also produces pine nuts and is found in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. (Click here to see maps and more info on these two trees.)

Pine nuts fall out of mature pine cones and can then be easily gathered. Even Desert Boy quickly got the hang of it. You can either pick up individual seeds from the ground or get pine cones and pry the nuts out of them. The second way can leave your hands covered with sap. Up to 25 pounds of pine nuts per person are allowed to be taken on federal lands.

Businesses also can bid on certain areas for commercial pine nut picking, and they use a slightly different technique, described in this Utah extension office PDF file.

Pinyon pine nuts have been an important food source in this area for thousands of years. A pine nut is about 10% protein, 23% fat, and 54% carbohydrate. It contains 20 amino acids and is rich in thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin A, and niacin.

In the photo above, you can see an old pine cone next to one from this year, with seeds still in it.

Desert Boy enjoyed picking up pine nuts, although he had to be taught to distinguish them from rabbit scat, which is about the same size, although a different color, shape, and texture.

We found a few trees just loaded with pine nuts, and since we only wanted a small amount (they are kind of a pain to shell), we were content after about 45 minutes of picking.

Daddy likes eating them raw.

Desert Boy observed and gave it a try, but wasn't as enthusiastic.

When we got the pine nuts home, we filled the bucket with water and scooped out the "floaters." About 10% are empty shells. Then we boiled the rest in salt water. They are also really good roasted with salt in an oven at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Pinyon pine nut picking might not be quite as fun as blueberry picking (I have very fond memories of this as a kid!), but it still is a very popular activity. Many people go searching for pine nuts as a family event, traveling to where ever the crop is good that year. It can take several years for pine trees in one area to have another good crop, so it is a good way to visit some of the different mountain ranges in the area.

Pine nuts are often used in pesto. Bon appetit!

When a Tree Falls

We had some tree trimmers come a week ago. They were planning on trimming the branches near the power lines, but it quickly became apparent that there was more rotten wood than good wood in this old Lombardy poplar, so they ended up taking down the whole tree.

The pieces are still in our driveway, and I keep trying not to run into them.

Here's part of the rotten trunk. It was over eight feet wide. It's likely that the tree was over a hundred years old. 

Lombardy poplars are native to Europe (and named for Lombardy, Italy), but they were popular trees planted by pioneers because they grew so quickly. They grow up rather than out, so they have a distinctive profile.

The wood isn't particularly strong, though, and as the tree age, it often reaches a stage where a large wind storm will blow it over.

A couple other trees near the cookhouse were in need of cutting, too, before they fell in the wrong direction and caused more damage.

I was very glad that the tree trimmers took the trees down. My husband was plotting on howing to do it using backhoes and other ranch equipment. It sounded a little scary to me. Trees weigh a lot!

Here's another view of those two trees. 

You might think I'd be sad about the trees coming down, but I'm not. I didn't want them to fall on me.

And Lombardy poplars tend to regenerate after they've been cut. This is one near our driveway. The tree fell about six or seven years ago and was cut at the stump. Now the regrowth is already over thirty feet high and looks good!

Desert Boy Looks at Flowers

I've been doing a lot of botanizing lately (looking at plants and trying to figure out what they are), and Desert Boy got to go with me one day. He liked the star-shaped flowers of the milkweed.

But much better was exploring the tunnels in the rose bushes. The cattle made these tunnels, and the arched bushes provided great shade. They were also the perfect height for Desert Boy to run through, while I had to stoop walk.

Desert Boy liked having different passageways and choosing where to go.

His faithful dog Henry also thought it was quite fun to scamper through the tunnels.

Desert Boy spotted Mama and came running. He wanted to do some more exploring. Nevertheless, eventually it was time to leave, although not without a major temper tantrum.

Desert Boy eventually got over it, and we played with more flowers. I couldn't resist posting this photo of my "flower child." 

And no, uncles, this does not make him a wuss. 

Besides, we're off to go on a walk, because he wants to look for snakes. We're in for some fun!