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May 26, 2010     Sedona Red Rock News
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May 26, 2010
 
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8B - RED ROCK NEWS, Sedona, Arizona Wednesday, May 26, 2010 All types of recreationists visit Verde Valley for natural beauty Hikers, photographers, equestrians, birders, hunters, boaters, swimmers, fishermen and fisherwomen, cyclists, and campers come to the Verde Valley to experience its natural beauty. Distinctive geologic features are a significant part of this attraction. The geologic features have scenic beauty, but also direct the subsurface flow of water to springs and creeks and cause moist air masses to rapidly cool increasing the probability for precipitation. The varied geological features also contribute to a range of soil properties which lead to a wide array of plant communities which support diverse wildlife populations. Plant communities in the Verde Valley include semi-desert grassland, interior chaparral, pifion/juniper woodland, montane coniferous forest, and riparian a eas. Where plant communities border each other, we do not see a distinct JFFF line, but often see a combination of both $CHA[JUJ communities, which is "" called an ecotone. For example, semi-desert- grasslands in the Verde Valley can have a significant shrub component and where soils differ the shrub component is often made up of different species. Most people are not thinking in terms Of plant communities -- they see a unique native plant and want to know what it is. Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener volunteers regularly answer plant identifi- cation questions in our offices, but it can take time because of individual plant identifica- tion skills vary. Books can also 8e useful in native plant identification, but most people prefer pictures and thet'e are no comprehensive Arizona plant picture books. That being said, I am pleased to announce the launch of a new online native plant identification website called Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants. The URL for the site is Ba&yard Gardener Most people are not thinking in terms of plant communities -- they see a unique native plant and want to know what it is. cals.arizona.edu/yavapaplants/ and it is also linked from the Yavapai County Cooperative Extension Homepage. The Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants website contains multiple photos and descriptions of over 150 native and naturalized plants -- including 76 grasses, often the most perplexing plants to amateur bota- nists. The real value of this website is in its searchability and elegant design. For example, it can be searched by both common and scientific plant name, growth form [e.g. tree, shrub, grass, etc.], plant community, or by individual plant char- acteristics. More plants will be added to it over time. It is truly one of the best local, Web- based plant identifica- tion resources I have plant. Well, then you try the search function for "Woody Plants, Succulents and Cacti." Remembering it had spiny- edged, compound leaves and was in the pifion/juniper wood- land, you select these attri- butes from the menus and the only plant that is in the search results is the Fremont mahonia [Mahonia fremontii]. Well, this may be the correct plant, or it might be very close. There is a close relative Of Fremont mahonia called red berry mahonia [Mahonia haemato- carpa] which Still needs to be added to the database. The Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants project was headed up by Yavapai County Master Gardener Sue Smith, a top-notch Web database designer who also happens to have a deep passion for native plants and education. She and a group of Yavapai County Master Gardeners worked on this project for almost three years before it ever seen. In addition to the attributes was made public last week. listed here, each plant descrip- University of Arizona V l ar tion includes synonyms [pr'evi- Ranch Research Specialist Jolin Kava and Sedona area botanist Max Licher also provided '! their expertise to this project. This website is a real gem and I encourage you to utilize it. Use Twitter to follow the Baekyard Gardener -- see the link at the Backyard Gardener website at http://cals.arizona. edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. If you "have other gardening ques- ' tions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113, ext. 14, or e-mail us at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com and be sure to include your address and phone number Jeff Schalau is an associate agent for the Agriculture & Natural Resources Department, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County. ously used scientific plant names], various common names and plant family. There are multiple photos of each plant showing distinc- tive features at various times of year. These features may be a leaf, flower, bark, overall appearance, or, in the case of grasses, vegetative attri- butes that are distinctive for that species. Each photo also provides a general location and credits the photographer. To use the website, say you encountered a native shrub in the pifion/juniper woodland and wanted to identify it. You could start by searching the plant list under shrubs or the plant community under pition/ juniper woodland, and look for something that looks like your plant. Still, you don't find your with purchase of any complete skateboard One Free Item Per Purchase JEWELRYI with purchase of any handbag One Free Item Per Purchase In the Fry's Shopping Center 1100 W. Hwy. 260 Ste. C-5 639.3377 = ' (-89AtoSedona I~ 89AtoCottonwood ") gr g lVeF rOlt gr$ Buy Direct from the Farm and Savet. 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