One of my NAU classes on a spring trip to Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona. An lush riparian habitat with many deciduous trees: willow, sycamore, oak, alder, cottonwood, apple and cherry. A true botanical paradise and an area I explore often with classes.
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Exploring along a drainage in the ponderosa forest at 7,000′. The extra moisture here provides wild onion, Arizona grape, bullrush and Monarda.
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A student is working with prickly pear pads, making a poultice from the demulcent insides of a pad. Cooling, soothing and moistening, good to use on sunburns. Similar to aloe vera gel.
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I treasure having the opportunity to work with the next generation of herbalists. Herbs are best learned with a hands-on approach of smelling, touching and tasting. While this can be new for some adults, younger ones tend to jump right in and get engaged.
Dogbane (Apocynum sp.) grows in wetter environments around the Southwest. A perennial, the stems from the previous year’s growth can be processed into a useful fiber. We sometimes have the opportunity to weave and spin these fibers into cordage on plant walks.
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Another group from NAU, we are in a remote section of the Grand Canyon, just above the Inner Gorge. Lots of ocotillo, Larrea, cholla and barrel cactus in this area. We are sometimes visited by desert bighorn sheep, which is always special.





