Ocotillo — Not Only Beautiful but Biologically Fascinating
Bert Gildart: Spring in the desert can be a glorious time, particularly when the season is associated with fall and winter rains. When such conditions prevail, spring flowers sometimes carpet the sands.
Though it does not appear Borrego Springs will be lush with flowers this year, nevertheless, cacti of various species are dotting the valley with reds and yellows. Coyote Canyon, for instance, is lush with sand verbena and with the red of the ocotillo plant. Ocotillo is one of my favorite species (and I’ve reported on it before), in part because it has such a fascinating biology.
Ocotillo
Following rains, leaves sprout, and then if the grounds remain damp, red flowers begin to emerge. Such is the situation now, but if there is a prolonged dry spell the plant will protect itself by shedding its small leaves. Nevertheless the Ocotillo can perform photosynthesis during dry spells.
Hummingbirds pollinate the ocotillo because they like the honey nectar it produces. They feed on the flowers during their travel north from Mexico to the mountains of the Western US.
I took this photograph about three days ago but have noticed that just a few days later parts of this desert are literally alive with the ocotillo.
You’ll note the black background and that was achieved using two electronic flash units and setting the strobes so they would overpower the existing daylight. Exposure for the strobes were manually set for a shutter speed of 250th of a second and an aperture of f-32. Exposure without the strobes would have been about 125th of a second with an aperture of about f-11. If you understand basic lighting you’ll understand light from the strobes was so bright that the sun simply could not compete, hence the black background.
Lots of other flowers will soon be blooming and as they emerge I’ll try and provide some basic information.
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THIS TIME LAST YEAR:
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BOOKS FOR SALE:
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
