….continued from the chapter “A Peaceful Day at Pine Creek.”
Compare these Arizona Sycamores with the struggling specimen from the last chapter, “A Peaceful Day at Pine Creek.” Many Sycamores such as this one flourish along Reavis Creek, a perennial stream of the eastern Superstition Wilderness. The drainage that feeds Pine Creek is far less acreage than that of Reavis Creek and, when the Pine Creek flow fades in the driest seasons, plants go into survival mode and halt growth and may even slough off limbs to conserve water.
These Sycamores grace a stream that seldom stops flowing, even in the driest of seasons. I had the good fortune to visit the Reavis valley of the Superstition Wilderness in November 2007, when these trees were at peak autumn foliage.
The tree requires a supply of water to thrive. This specimen demonstrates the species growth habit growing multiple trunks with a shape driven by water availability and the environmental context. The multiple trunks may be a desert survival mechanism. In dry periods a trunk or trunks are sloughed off to reduce moisture loss. This is why the Sycamore of “A Peaceful Day at Pine Creek” has a single trunk.”
To encounter a riparian space of the Arizona desert is a revelation, to progress from Sonoran desert spaces assailed by the breath of dry wind, to see the first signs of water in the distance as a welcome fluttering of leaves, to feel a welcome odor of water.
Yes, the first effect of a riparian space on the senses is the smell of water. Let’s finish this post with limbs of the Reavis Creek Arizona Sycamore reaching for the sky.
I love the atmosphere and the colors. Magnificent.
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an unforgettable environment
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Beautiful!
Right now our trees are covered in snow. Which is pretty too.
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yes, so true
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magnificent trees
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I love the gorgeous colors of the Arizona Sycamore trees. I find that some trees and plants thrive through seasons when water is available.
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I can still see them, leaves fluttering in a light breeze.
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Looks amazing 🙂
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It is a unique experience.
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Sweet shots, Michael! Trees have their own individual personalities. 🙂
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It was several morning hours well spent.
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The white, bark with the yellows of autumn are lovely.
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There is no tree quite like it. The clear sky and angle of the sun both played a part.
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So awesome!!
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Hooray for these sycamores. I think people are surprised to find out they can survive in Arizona.
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The popular image is the Saguaro and Gila Monster, even in those locations there is luxuriant plant life.
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And I’ve enjoyed photographing some of that other plant life during the few days at a time I’ve visited Arizona in the past five years. Of course I did include saguaros, too.
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April through May is a perfect time to capture the Saguaro blooms!!
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Unfortunately I’ve only been there in later in the year and so never did get to see the saguaros flowering.
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