chiricahuas, after the fire

after the fires, and at the beginning of the monsoons, mimi and i and one other apprentice went to the chiricahuas to evaluate the destruction left behind after months of wild fires. this was about two months ago, so i'm a little behind on my posts. it's time to visit again, now that the monsoons are over their peak and nearing the end, to see what the rains have brought up through the ash laden soils.

near the entrance, no damage. they were successful in protecting the buildings at the entrance and visitors center.

typically the monsoons will cause erosion, but with the preceding fires that stripped the land of plants and roots that hold it all together, there were many roads that were not passable. some had been cleared enough to cross over, if you have a four wheel drive.

after a fire as hot and devastating as this, it can sometimes be difficult to tell what has surface burn and what was killed. it was encouraging to see all the little green shoots coming out of the base of so many plants....LIFE!

other areas looked to be victims of a massive inferno...trees smoldering from the inside out.

amongst the plants that we did find growing were:
"TRUE" GERANIUM - CRANE'S BILL - WILD GERANIUM - ALUM ROOT
* not the garden variety, hence "true" geranium. an astringent with tannins and gallic acid. tea made from leaves and used as a wash need direct contact with the affected area to be an effective treatment for inflammation: sore throat, thrush, tonsillitis, etc. as digestible tea made from the roots, is effective in treating catarrhal gastritis, and stomach ulcers. is also useful in treating hemorrhoids and as a douche for vaginitis. also has mild hemostatic properties.
(michael moore's medicinal plants of the mountain west)

MULLEIN - VELVET PLANT - BLANKET LEAF - CANDLEWICK - PUNCHON - GORDOLOBO
* a mild sedative for lungs and throat: raspy throat, early stages of lung infection and dry feeling in chest. ironically, the dried herb can be smoked for it's medicinal effectiveness in the lungs for coughs, relaxes bronchial spasms and asthma. many other uses for this plant, but these are the most common.
(michael moore's medicinal plants of the mountain west)

 CHOKE CHERRY - WILD CHERRY - ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOKECHERRY - CAPULIN
* sedative for cardiopulmonary excitability, expectorant. (michael moore's medicinal plants of the mountain west)
every wonder why cough syrups are often cherry flavored? for centuries chokecherry has been used for such ailments. unfortunately today most cough syrups are artificially cherry flavored, whereas if it really had chokecherries in it the flavor would be delicious and medicinal.

TREE OF HEAVEN -CANCER BUSH
* treats water born bacteria in the intestines such as giardia and dysentery. in various forms is used as antispasmatic, astringent, epilepsy, asthma, and cardiac depressant. brought from asia,  a very invasive plant brought due to its rapid colonization (check out photo below). constituents: (described by maud grieve)  Lignin, chlorophyll, a yellow colouring matter, a gelatinous substance (pectin), quassin, an odorous resin, traces of a volatile oil, a nitrogenous, fatty matter, and several salts. A later analysis found starch, tannin, albumen, gum, sugar, oleoresin, and a trace of volatile oil, potash, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, iron, lime, and magnesia.

SYCAMORE
* i remember these trees on the east coast when i was a kid. the trees would shed it's bark and we'd  gather it up and use it as paper in our pretend store. we called it a paper tree. in arizona it's called arizona sycamore, a different species than on the east coast. to be more specific, Platanus wrightii. mimi said she had never seen this tree shed so much bark. i was familiar with the amount as the ones in georgia seemed to shed all the time, all year long. but she said it was probably due to the excessive dryness and then the sudden rains that the tree swelled and shed to make room. it is said that only the Platanus orientalis species native to china and areas in india, has minor medicinal value (wikipedia), but down here even though not very well documented, if at all, the native species bark is used in mexio for issues dealing with prostate

USNEA - OLD MAN'S BEARD
* a lichen that grows in the tops of trees, and rarely in herb books, although widely known and valued. used as an immune stystem tonic for a general boost, and for prevention over long term use. very good for sinus and respiratory infections, sore throat, cold and flu symptoms, pneumonia, strep, bronchitis, and most chronic conditions of  immune deficiancy.(jessica godino)

un plant related...i always wanted to find something inside the bark of a tree. like someone left something hanging on a branch so long ago that the tree had grown around it, encasing it in the inner layers of the bark forever. well, i found something similar. an iron nail. not as exciting as a necklace or jewel, but exciting none the less. this tree was one that burned from the inside leaving a shell of the thick middle layer. several trees had splayed open from the heat, like a hot scalpel had sliced them open. this couldn't have been made a gift any more perfect. it had splayed in the perfect place to reveal it's secret. two inches think in the bark. an iron nail. like i said, not as exciting as an antique necklace, but the concept was right on.

not a disappointing trip in the least. since the roads were closed higher up on the mountains we were not allowed access to the area called the monument, where the fire had done the most damage, obliterating the high altitude junipers. i had wanted to visit the chiricahuas upon arriving in bisbee, and kept putting it off. now, after the fires, i'll never be able to see how it once was (read about it at national park service). another trip is pending in order to go all the way to the top.

rounding out of the mountains and into the valley, exhausted from the day's adventures wondering around the hillsides, passing road blocks that didn't seem too dangerous, and discovering the new life beginnings of the chiricahuas, we were blessed yet again by the beauty of our Mother.

fields of coral colored mesquite beans and yellow-green feathery leaves against a background of darkening thunder clouds that have a uniqueness about them when seen in the desert, followed by rainbows and sunsets