Page 34 - Volume 3 - Walks In The Black Range

In May and in October we found bear scat along the trail, I suspect that there is at least one about much of the time. Other than Mule Deer on the drive up, we have not seen any large mammals on these outings, however.
Mountain Parsley, Cymopterus lemmonii, below and Western Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, right, were especially prevalent along the upper trail in May.
When manna falls from heaven, you should probably just go ahead and eat it. In May 2015 I spied this parsley and decided to bend my creaky old legs, get a little closer to the flower, and take some photographs.
In my years in the Northwest of the United States I had a fair amount of experience with Desert Parsley and marveled at their diversity. When I started exploring the Black Range I noted the parsley here and put it on the list for future study. On the 30th, the future arrived and I had no choice but to bend to nature. But more of this flower in a bit, for now - the manna.
When I got home and started arranging photos I noted the bee at the top of the flower, something I had missed entirely in the field. I have been laughed at more than once for my efforts to capture insects on flowers, I think it makes
for much more interesting photographs - but it is hard work. So, coming home to note that I had missed a wonderful opportunity was bittersweet to say the least. Insects are difficult to parse, to identify them to species is often something that should be left to entomologists. I was able to key this bee down to the genus Agapostemon, but I dare not go farther - even if I had a better photograph. The common name for this group of bees is “Metallic Green Bee”. Indeed. Perhaps “manna” would work as well.
Within our region, this species of parsley exhibits an interesting color variation in its flower color. Plants from the Burro Mountains have red flowers while those farther north have yellow flowers. The petals of the individual flowers fold backward, giving the flower a very “globular” appearance.
A bit earlier in the year is a good for flowering plants, as well. On April 23, I found Ribes pinetorum, Orange Gooseberry (photo top of the next page) in bloom at the cabin. I have yet to see this species in fruit.
In October, we found a few Campanula rotundifolia, Harbell, still in bloom on the Powderhorn Ridge Trail, although many