Wasatch Wildflowers: Abies lasiocarpa, Sub-Alpine Fir

Perhaps among the most distinguishing features of this fir tree is the upright presentation of dark purplish cones early in the season.  The cones exude sticky sap that drips down.

The bark of mature trunks of the tree is smooth gray, punctuated with elongated lenticels and minor branch scars, which give it a stippled appearance.

The crown of mature firs present as a sharply pointed and gradually tapering pyramidal shape, typically with major branches reaching to the ground, or nearly so

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Firneedles adopt a very dark green color overall, with the new growth appearing much lighter in color.

On close examination, in can be seen the needle is pyramidal in cross section, and that the needle surface is densely packed with white lenticels on either side of the needle midrib, with the upper surface less dense and the lower white stripe being wider.

Interesting to note that the Sub Alpine Fir at the highest elevations adapts a "Krumholtz" growth habit, the trees presenting stunted and twisted shapes with little height, sometimes even reduced to mat-like prostrate and ground hugging growths that bear scant resemblance to trees at lower elevation.

Early Flooding 2017

The first major flooding incidents in Utah Valley are purely man-made.

The gates of the seldom-used spillway at Deer Creek Reservoir were opened.

KSL reports on warnings from the NWS about release of excess water from Deer Creek Reservoir into the Provo River.

In order to provide better control for spring runoff, the water management administrators decided to allow excess flow from Deer Creek Reservoir now.  The spillway and dam hydro facilities were opened to bleed off some of the totally full reserves.

Over the weekend, this resulted in flooding all along the Provo River down to Utah Lake.

Water roaring over the weir at the collection dam near Nunn's Park.

The popular riverside trail through Provo Canyon was later closed as parts of the pavement was undercut by the river current and fell into the rushing waters.

Deseret News article on the canyon trail closure.  SLTrib also mentions.

If this is the full extent of flood damage, residents of Utah County have dodged the bullet.

Utah Snowpack 2017

USDA NRCS Snotel (snow telemetry) provides selected monitoring sites throughout Utah and the western US.  This particular graphic characterizes the snow accumulation at Timpanogos Divide monitoring site.

Another graph illustrating SWE and Precip at Daniels-Strawberry monitoring station, 2017-to-date compared with 2016 data.  Note the dramatic contrast, more than 100% difference.

Another graph showing accumulation data from Ben Lomond Peak north of Ogden.  Again comparing the current and previous year.  If you note, for this location the scale is staggering.

Lines showing what seems to be "normal" or "average" are nothing of the sort.  Rather, they plot the data accumulation over a selected range of past history.  For weather patterns, there really seems to be no such thing as "normal".  Or perhaps more accurately, if you need to see what is "normal" today, stick your head out the window and check.

In any case, the accumulated total precip and snow water equivalent are trending rather high compared to past weather data.  Some would even say it is not too early to start planning for catastrophic flooding when the weather turns hot.  Many of Utah's reservoirs, which also serve as flood control resources, are already filled over nominal capacity.

So get ready for an interesting and lively spring season.  Our problems in Utah will be nothing compared to the potential wave of disaster that threatens to crest over California.

This graph plots snow accumulation data from near Mammoth Lakes in California.  Comparing current and last year.

Wow.  Oh, wow!  Are you California guys STILL complaining of drought?

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 13

Taraxacum officionale, Dandelion. Family Asteraceae. The ubiquitous flower commonly found in lawns. The blossoms are sometimes used to make wine.  Dandelion greens are said to be edible, but I disagree.

Thermopsis montana, False Lupine. Family Fabaceae. Pretty yellow flowers.  Commonly found in Utah mountain meadows.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 12

Veratrum californicum, False Hellebore. Family Melanthiaceae.  Common in marshy riparian zones.   Rhizomes are extremely toxic. Veratrum contains highly toxic steroidal alkaloids that activate sodium ion channels and cause rapid cardiac failure and death if ingested.

Don't eat these.

Equisetum arvense, Horsetail, Scouring Rush. The only living genus from Family Equisetaceae, others are present in fossilized specimens. Ours are found in wet marshy areas. Early settlers in the Rocky Mountain region reputedly used the silica-laden stems to scour their pots and pans. Extracts have historically used for medicinal purposes, but I'd never eat this stuff.

The big leaves in the foreground are Thimbleberry.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 11

Sphaeralcea coccinea, Scarlet Globemallow. Family Malvaceae. These showy little orange flowers grace dry foothill and desert areas, just to make it more interesting.  A close relative of the Hollyhocks in our flower gardens!

Urtica dioca, Stinging Nettle. Family Urticaceae. Poisonous hairs on stems and leaves are a skin irritant. These plants are traditional source of food and medicine. Soaking in water or cooking denatures the stinging chemicals. I've still got plenty of better things to eat.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 10

Hackelia micrantha, Stickseed.  Family Boraginaceae.  The seeds stick very tenaciously to your socks. Similar to the genus Myosotis, Forget-Me-Not.

Sambucus cerulea, Elderberry. Family Caprifoliaceae. Abundant in Rocky Mountain region, the berries of this species are a source of sweet delight, for classic Elderberry Wine, as well as all forms of preserves, jams, and jellies, and syrup . Not only do elderberries make delicious syrup and jam, but some claim they also have particularly healthy properties. Possibly antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral benefits. In fact, elderberries seem particularly helpful in fighting the flu virus, if anything really does.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 9

Frasera speciosa, Elkweed. Family Gentianaceae. Such elegant flowers.  These grow in mountain meadows at intermediate elevation.  Other species of Frasera are found throughout Utah deserts.

Tragopogon dubius, Oyster Plant, Salsify. Family Asteraceae. The large tap root can be roasted and eaten - but it tastes pretty awful.  The mature seedheads form a large ball of fluffy seeds, similar to dandelion but much larger.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 8

Helianthella uniflora, Onehead Sunflower. Family Asteraceae. Very showy flower common in subalpine meadows.  This beauty is the summer splendor over the high meadows on Mount Timpanogos.  Millions and millions of these blossoms turn the whole landscape into yellow gold.

Tamarix ramosissima, Salt Cedar, Tamarisk. Family Tamaricaceae. An introduced invasive species common along waterways throughout the western region of the US. Introduced to the US early in the 20th century, Tamarix is thought to crowd out native species and compromise riparian environments.  Nice flowers, but the shrubby trees are kinda messy when they get overgrown.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 7

Eriogonum umbellatum. Sulfur-flowered Buckwheat. Family Polygonaceae. An important species providing food sources for wildlife.

Balsamorhiza sagittata, Arrowleaf Balsamroot. Family Asteraceae. Such an interesting name.  Used by indians as food and medicine source.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series - 6

Calochortus nutalli, Sego Lily. Family Liliaceae. The Sego Lily is the State Flower of Utah. Mormon Pioneers depended on the bulbous root for subsistence during the early settlement years. The plant was used extensively by indian tribes across the Western US. Other members of the Calchortus genus are found throughout the area and are cultivated for their elegant floral display.

Caltha leptosepala, White Marsh Marigold. Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup). This lovely flower is found in marshy wet places in subalpine locales throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Wasatch Wildflower Series - 5

Rudbeckia hirta var., the popular Black-Eyed Susan.  Family Asteraceae.  Cultivated in gardens all over the world.  These were photographed by my son Thomas, as his shadow shares the glory.

Astragalus utahensis. Utah Milkvetch. Family Fabaceae. Extracts are used for medicine. Also known generally as "locoweed", it can have toxic effects on browsing livestock.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series - 4

Erigeron utahensis, Utah Fleabane. Family Asteraceae.

Arnica cordifolia, Heartleaf Arnica. Family Asteraceae. Common in shady undisturbed coniferous forest. Aromatic extract has been used for medicine.

Wasatch Wildflower Series - 3

Epilobium angustifolium, Fireweed, Willowherb. Family Onagraceae.

This graceful beauty of forest lands is often the first to populate burned-over areas.



Erigeron utahensis, Utah Fleabane. Family Asteraceae.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series - 2

Achilea millefolium, Yarrow. In the family Asteraceae. A classic herbal medicine source, the flowers are a splendid array.

Agastache urticifolia, Horse Mint. Mint Family (Labiateae). Strongly aromatic perennial. Some find the strong perfume disagreeable.  When I hiked the high elevations where this species was common, I would put a few blossoms in my pocket.   The pleasing odor is half the point.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series - 1

I have been posting flower photos to Facebook.  Just occurred to me, might just as well copy them here too.  These are flowers from around the Wasatch region  and elsewhere.

The above lovely is Asclepius speciosa, Common Milkweed. Family Asclepiadaceae. Milkweed is attractive forage for nectar-gathering insects, especially the Monarch butterfly. Used to be common as a yard weed but populations have been much reduced by urban sprawl.

Please let them grow in your flower beds.  The the bees and butterflies love them.

Aconitum columbianum, Monkshood, Wolfsbane. A beautiful but deadly member of the Ranunculaceae. Leaves and root are the source of Aconite, a virulent neurotoxin.

Don't eat this.

Wastch Wildflowers

Wasatch Wildflowers.

I have been identifying the profusion of mountain wildflowers from A to Z, from photographs submitted by the Hike the Wasatch club over a number of years.  The mountains of Utah become a summer showplace of superlative splendor.   This YouTube slide show is another form of home movies, though the accompaniment is courtesy of the Vienna Philharmonic and first movement of Beethoven's 9th.  The sequence follows more-or-less alphabet sorting of the taxonomic genus names.

Utah Betterment

According to an incisive and insightful new analysis at the website 24/7 Wall St., Utah ranks as the worst state in the entire nation for women.

The specifics are not all that relevant.  Obviously Utah just needs to clean up it's act, right away.  If we can just convince the "worst" women to move somewhere else, I'm sure we can field a better performance almost immediately.

Please don't be fooled by the apparent trivial nature of this rank "ranking".  What matters most is making it to the bottom 25.  Indeed, the primacy of the race to the bottom has prevailed in many important issues in this country for many years.   Some of the most popular celebrities of our time are correctly characterized as "bottom feeders".

So I'm advocating a voluntary "Utah Betterment" campaign.  Will all the "worst" women in Utah, please self-identify - and move someplace else.  California and Colorado will joyfully embrace the very worst of you.  So please don't hesitate. The sooner you are gone, the better this place will be. 

And please note - we only seek to rid Utah of the "worst" women, for the sake of a better ranking.  All those who are more moderate in their "worstness" can rest easy, no need for you to pack.

"Gay" in the News: Melodrama Debuts at Utah State Capitol

Utah legislators conduct tear-jerker hearing.

Photos of other men expressing similar sentiments.

Members of Utah Congress heard pathetic stories of sad Utahns who have been insulted, fired from their jobs and felt unable to make a decent life because they are "gay".

I am not without feeling.  But a photo-op of one of the attendees at the hearing, apparently caught wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, just might approach maudlin.  And it certainly represents the degree of calculated cynicism exhibited by the typical media reporting of these events.

 
It approaches melodramatic proportions where this is no longer staging a demonstration, it is a performance piece.  Victims on parade.  And bleeding hearts reporting it.

What kinds of gestures will it take to satisfy homosexual advocates in Utah that they have made their point?

I get it.  People are getting their feelings hurt, subjected to hearing of discouraging words, and worse.  This is belaboring the point.

And now what you do shouts so loudly in my ears, I can't hear a word you're saying any more.

Is the US facing the threat of Balkanization?  Have we become so polarized that debate in the public square becomes just another recitation of charges to shout past each other?

I have no defense against the accusation that a few people in the state of Utah are perpetrating harm and malicious acts and denigration against social misfits.  Since I am personally handicapped and have suffered all kinds of resulting discrimination myself, I have no reason to deny that such things happen.  Sometimes people park in the blue spot that are clearly not among those designated for such accommodation.  I have considered reporting this to police, but I suppose cops really have better ways to spend their time.  And balancing these few unfortunate episodes are countless gestures of kindness and good intentions from Utahns trying to be sensitive about my disabilities.

The question is, do I expect government regulation to come to the rescue in cases where nothing less than thought police will do?  Have we reached a point where the priority of special rights for one group overrides the existing protection of rights for all others?

One of my friends participated in staging this production.  I wonder if I should ask him for a copy of the script?

"Gay" in the News: Supporting Traditional Marriage

At the "Support Traditional Marriage" rally a couple of weeks ago, the "gay" interests held a competing rally on the same location several hours before.  Some of them stayed on, apparently intending to disrupt the subsequent rally.  They marched down the aisle while the Utah Attorney General was trying to speak, and threw glitter-filled balloons at him.  Then they fell on the floor kicking and shouting like an angry two-year-old in a tantrum.  That part was not particularly interesting to me, but it was fascinating to see dozens of media representatives rush down the aisle to make a record of the petulant outburst.  There were more cameras than cops.  The reporters swooped in from the periphery like a flock of vultures as the cops dragged them away.  Thus the protesters apparently fulfilled their purpose.

It would seem that most of us pitiful and pathetic people have an independant life of our own.  Others seem compelled to publicly exhibit a contrived "gender identity" that we must never presume to question.  That would constitute a thought-crime against humanity.

I'm pretty sure I have little understanding of what "transgender" hopes to accomplish.  As far as I can tell, what happens to a developing human takes place a long time before anyone is even born.  A bit of snipping and cutting, an excision or augmentation here and there, is not going to ever change that.  Cosmetic surgery makes changing some rather superficial physical characteristics about as easy as changing your clothes.  And as meaningful.

I personally feel that the ramifications of my own life are more important than an actor's wardrobe.  Sexuality is a human attribute, but I would think my life shallow indeed if I held that to be anything more than a small integral piece of what defines me.  Those advocates for "gay" thinking seem to be letting one obsession define the whole of their existence.  I could never be so narrow.

An associate once challenged me about my presumed "homophbia", suggesting that I should "try being gay for a day".  My impression has long been that I would find no real difficulty in doing so, in every bit as superficial manner as those who would project a "gender identity".

In me it seems to represent a character defect that I must work to overcome.  But others are apparently privileged to argue, "I was born this way".

Weren’t we all...