There is a Botanical Garden at the trail head for the Silly Mountain hike and after our hike we walked through the gardens. One thing is for certain, and that is that these plants are survivors of pretty inhospitable environments, yet can still create a pleasing landscape. After traveling in the area several times now, I am able to recognize some of the plants and cacti. Others are new to me.
The walk through the gardens was a learning experience. I was particularly intrigued to discover the various uses of many desert plants by Native Indians. Of those used as medicinal aides, several could well be applicable still today as herbal remedies and ones I would seek out.
The senita cacuts is one which I mistook for an organ pipe cactus, surprised to see one this far north.
Brittlebush can be seen along the highway divides and along the sides of the road. They look pretty when in bloom.
Learning that the common creosote is considered to be the "drug store" of the desert is a surprise. These hardy desert plants are a marvel. As are the folks who discovered their various properties and uses.
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I was interested to learn that Monarch butterflies rely on the desert milkweed. We learned about the importance of the milkweed plant in the Monarch life cycle when we first encountered these amazing creatures in Pismo. These butterflies make the journey all the way down to Mexico and it makes sense that they would migrate through areas where the desert milkweed grows.
Of interest was learning how the Anasazi conserved moisture by using stones to prevent evaporation.
There definitely is something almost unreal about a desert landscape with its strangely shaped vegetation that defies the relentless sun and lack of water. I still find the saguaro most fascinating and they are my favorite desert inhabitant.
