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Preparing for Camping: What Else Might We See...

10/31/2022

As we prepare for our possibly wet camping trip this weekend, here are a few more things we are likely to see on our hike and perhaps in our campsite. Although we have been focusing on Central Texas trees the past month or so, there are a lot more than trees to see in our scrubby woodlands if you keep an eye out.

A Few Cacti Along the Trail
Row 1: Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp.) - We have several different species of prickly pear cacti in Central Texas. As a group they are easily identified by their pads. The fruit is edible (but watch the spines). Locally you will often see cochineal insects on the pads - it looks like a whitish fuzz, but inside are the insects that were long a source of red dye.
Row 2: Tasajillo (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis) - Known by many names (from Turkey Pear to Desert Christmas Cactus), this is a local Cholla with very slender "branches."
Row 3: Lace Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) - Lace Cactus thorns lay nearly flat against the stem, making a white, lace-like pattern giving them their common name. They aren't very tall, so look low, and watch for them also emerging from around the edges of rocks.
Row 4: Twisted Rib Cactus (Theleocactus septisinus) - Another cactus given several common names (miniature barrel cactus, fishook cactus, hedgehog cactus - all three are also names given to many other species), this little cactus has central recurving spines and notable "twisted" ridges along the side.

Some Fauna As Well...
We are certain to see White-Tailed Deer, and we will likely see (or at least see the tracks of) Raccoons. Other possible encounters include Armadillos, Foxes, Jackrabbits, snakes, lizards, and various spiders and insects.

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Preparing for Camping: More Trees to Remember...

10/27/2022

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In preparation for our upcoming campout, here are a few trees to review that we are likely to see on the hike. Some of these we encountered before, others are new for us. One main reason for the differences is the overall environment - instead of a riparian ecosystem, we are now going to be in a more of an Oak/Ashe Juniper ecosystem: trees of the limestone outcroppings and hills. Many of these trees require a lot less water than those of our riparian ecosystem. We will mostly see Oaks, and a few Elms as the large trees, with many Ashe Juniper as the understory trees/shrubs, and some Texas Persimmon interspersed. Near the edges of clearings, we will also see Honey Mesquite. In addition to learning a few more trees, we will add a few more Cacti to our list - there are at least four species along the trail we will take.

OAKS (Genus: Quercus)
Row 1: Likely Escarpment Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis) - One of our two common Live Oaks, along with the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana). They often hybridize, so it isn't always easy to tell them apart. The underside of the leaves is often densely pubescent (covered with a lot of hairs, a little like velvet). The acorn is long and slender, and narrows at both ends (hence the scientific name fusiformis).
Row 2: Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica) - In the Red Oak group, Blackjack Oak has leaves that are wider at the tip, frequently in three lobes, each with a bristle tip.
Row 3: Post Oak (Quercus stellata) - In the White Oak group, Post Oak leaves, when well developed, form a sort of Maltese Cross shape, though many leaves on the tree may not be of an ideal shape. If you use a hand lens, you can see star-shaped hairs on the underside of the leaf, from which the scientific name stellata is derived.
Row 4: Likely Lacey Oak (Quercus Laceyi) - Although our hike is outside the normal range for the Lacey Oak, many of the characteristics of the leaves and acorns match those of the Lacey Oak. The leaves are similar to the White Shin Oak (Quercus sinuata), but the trunk does not have the shaggy appearance (though I did see a few dead trunks of smaller White Shin Oaks along one part of the trail). For our tree identification, we will leave this one a possible, and focus on our other tree Oaks.

Other Trees and Large Shrubs
Row 1: Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana) - A fruit-bearing shrub, occasionally a small tree, with distinctive peeled bark, giving a white or silver appearance to the trunk. The small fruit is edible when ripe. The leaves are relatively thick.
Row 2: Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei) - Often referred to locally as "cedar," the Ashe Juniper is a master at competing for water and space. The peeling bark is an easy identifying mark, and small trunks or branches often have a white striped appearance - patches of the White Juniper Fungus. In areas with both Ashe Juniper and Eastern Red Cedar, the Juniper is more often a multi-trunked shrub and the Cedar a standing tree, but of course not always.
Row 3: Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) - a common tree of open scrubby dry areas, the Honey Mesquite has double compound leaves that look almost feathery. The bark is often rough and deeply furrowed, even on relatively thin trunks. I find the scientific name easy to remember when looking at the thin branches which appear to be jointed with dark glands.
Row 4: Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia) - The Cedar Elm wee saw on our previous hikes. Small toothed oval and slightly shaggy bark are relatively easy to recognize characteristics.

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SAIL Pathfinder Induction and Overnight

10/2/2022

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This was an important and eventful weekend for the SAIL Pathfinders. We began by taking part in leading the church service, from the opening song service through serving potluck to cleaning up. For Pathfinders, service is a part of their lives. In the afternoon we headed out for a hike to study trees, learning how to distinguish many of the common trees here in Central Texas. We also collected sample leaves to press, and will use to aid in identification in the future. In the evening, the Pathfinders cooked the SAIL signature dinner out on the camp stoves - Pizza Tacos. Then it was time for our induction ceremony, welcoming new and returning members, and focusing on the meaning of the Pathfinder Pledge and Law, the code that we choose to live by. We were blessed to be joined by our Area Coordinator for the ceremony, a reminder that our Club is part of something much bigger. In the evening, we set up our tents inside, training for next month's campout. In the morning it was up early to head outside to make breakfast, and discover how many great cooks we have in the club this year! Then there was time to do some more work on our wood handicraft projects before packing up and heading out. It was a full weekend, a time for the club members to come together as a real team, and to enjoy fellowship together. Thank you all for your continued support of the SAIL Pathfinder Club, and we look forward to continuing to share our experiences with you this year.

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Preparing for Camping: What Else Might We See...

Preparing for Camping: More Trees to Remember...

SAIL Pathfinder Induction and Overnight

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