Weeds of Douglas 2013: a comprehensive pictoral survey following the record summer rains

You probably don’t believe that I went all the way to Douglas yesterday to see weeds from excessive, once-in-a -hundred years, record-breaking summer rains (16 plus inches).  I think you’ll find my activities in this matter quite interesting.  First, the documentation:

11:11 AM. The Douglas Visitor's Center, Douglas, Arizona.
11:11 AM. The Douglas Visitor’s Center, Douglas, Arizona, fronted with manicured, non-native plants and grasses.  Quite nice, really.

I thought I would do a comprehensive survey, radiating outward from the VC in all directions as far as I could go, even if it took several hours. But after that thought,  I decided to just go across the street into a vacant lot right there in front of me, and shoot some weeds there; maybe that would be enough.  It was getting pretty warm.

11:15 AM. Weeds in a vacant lot across from the Douglas VC. Took a few minutes after the prior photo. But, while the weeds were nice, they didn't "pop" enough for a news and survey report about the effect of a lot of rain, so I looked around for better angles and bigger weeds. I think you'll find I was successful.
11:15 AM. Weeds in a vacant lot across from the Douglas VC. Took a few minutes after the prior photo. But, while the weeds were nice, they didn’t “pop” enough for a news and survey report about the effect of a lot of rain, so I looked around for better angles and bigger weeds. I think you’ll find I was successful.  The plastic cup is for perspective.
Looking back at a sidewalk along the SAME vacant lot. Much more dramatic. However for the best/biggest weed displays, you need areas where the water puddles some.
Looking back at a sidewalk along the SAME vacant lot as above. Much more dramatic. However for the best/biggest weed displays, you need areas where the water puddles some. And I found that by going just a little farther.

 

11:18 AM. A low spot at the end of the SAME street showing how the excessive rains led to massive weeds. What appears to be oat or wheat stalks ten feet high with heads protrude in the background, maybe ten feet high!
11:18 AM. A low spot at the end of the SAME where the vacant lot was street showing how the excessive rains in Douglas led to massive weeds. What appears to be oat or wheat stalks ten feet high with heads protrude in the background. Where’s my camera crew?!  I could be standing in front of this scene giving a report!
11:27 AM. The best is always last, it seems. It finishing up my comprehensive survey of Douglas 2013 weeds, this metaphor for life and all the different pathways we could take, and perspective on how high the weeds were where the water collected some. It doesn't get better than this.
11:27 AM. The best is always last, it seems. In finishing up my comprehensive survey of Douglas 2013 weeds, this metaphor for life and all the different pathways we could take, and at the same time, a perspective on how high the weeds were where the water collected some. It doesn’t get better than this. I stared at this sign for many minutes, wondering if I should have gone into weather after all, maybe done something else to the right. But what would it have been?

 

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On the way to Douglas from little Catalina, I passed through the tourist mecca of Old Bisbee. A sign called out as I approached it, “Scenic View”, and I am kind of a sucker for those. Thought I’d check it out.

10:34 AM. Scenic view sign right next to Old Bisbee, in case you didn't believe me that there was one.
10:34 AM. Scenic view sign right next to Old Bisbee, in case you didn’t believe me that there was one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I walked over to see what it was:

10:35 AM. The "scenic view" was this giant hole, an old mine, that reached all the way down to the water table, and a small lake was forming. Pretty interesting I guess, a lot of money was made here, but I'd be concerned about the water I was drinking if I was a Bisbee-ite.
10:35 AM. The “scenic view” was this giant hole, an old mine, that apparently reached all the way down to the water table, or maybe initially clean rainwater had formed a small lake.   Scenic?  I guess it shows we can dig huge holes, make a LOT of money, and leave a big mess.  Hmmmm.  Too, I’d be concerned about the water I was drinking if I was a Bisbee-ite. Of course, maybe this water flows underground and downstream from Bisbee, for others to drink…so maybe it’s OK for Bisbee-ans.  Sure glad we don’t do that anymore!

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Being a CM, I should report on the clouds of the day, Altocumulus ones:

12:08 PM. On the way to Benson, this line of Altocumulus floccus with tiny Ac lenticulars around, too. The shadows the clouds were causing made it a real nice scene.
12:08 PM. On the way to Benson, this line of Altocumulus floccus with tiny Ac lenticulars around, too. The shadows the clouds were causing made it a real nice scene.
2:24 PM, near the J-Six Ranch turnoff of I-10, this pretty "front row" of Altocumulus castellanus, in effect, miniature Cumulus clouds.
2:24 PM, near the J-Six Ranch turnoff of I-10, this pretty “front row” of Altocumulus castellanus, in effect, miniature Cumulus clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not much weather ahead except breezes and temperature changes, hardly anything for a CM. Maybe a lenticular with the winds aloft getting so trough with our incoming trough. Will be watching.

The End.

By Art Rangno

Retiree from a group specializing in airborne measurements of clouds and aerosols at the University of Washington (Cloud and Aerosol Research Group). The projects in which I participated were in many countries; from the Arctic to Brazil, from the Marshall Islands to South Africa.