Flowers of Sedona at Palatki

Flowers of Sedona at Palatki

Many of the flowers found in the Sedona area appear at the Palatki Heritage Site, located 13 miles northwest of Sedona on Forest Road 795 off Forest Road 525. This article will describe a few of the flowers common to Palatki and the wider Sedona area.

With spring flowers in full bloom at this writing, a trip to Palatki will give you the chance to see many of the common flowers of our area as well as a view into the history of native Americans and early settlers of the area. Just a reminder that reservations for visiting Palatki are highly recommended at all times of the year, especially during the spring and fall seasons. (Call (928) 282-3854 for reservations).

At the Palatki parking lot in the early spring, a large pear tree (Pyrus sp.) flaunts its white flowers, making an impressive greeting to the site. This tree is one of the survivors of the 2,000 trees planted in the 1920’s by the initial Palatki homesteader, Charles Willard. Also surviving are several apple (Malus pumila) and persimmon (Diospyros sp.) trees that still bloom and produce fruit.

On the walk to the visitor’s center, a grove of unusual trees can be seen on the right. The trees have relatively straight, pointed, almost black trunks and upon closer examination, have sharp spines on the trunk and branches. These trees are jujube trees (Ziziphus jujube) planted by Willard and most likely are Asian in origin. The pit-containing fruit ripens in the fall from a green oval shape to a round reddish color and the dried fruit tastes like a cross between an apple and a date. Incidentally, the light yet strong walking canes on loan to visitors at Palatki are from the jujube trees and are made by the volunteers on site.

Once at the visitor center, several large trees provide shade to the building. These trees include two Arizona cyprus trees (Cupressus arizonica) easily recognized by the ball-bearing like seed cones that tend to stay on the trees for many years. On the east side of the visitor’s center are three large pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) also planted by Willard. These trees still produce pecans (if you can get them before the jays and squirrels do).

On the way to the cliff dwelling sight, the remains of the Willard workshop and barn are visible. In the foreground are the familiar poisonous yellow to black cherry tomato like berries of the silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) on dried stalks. In the late spring, the live plants produce a violet flower with a yellow center that resembles the familiar edible tomato, also in the nightshade family. Look closely at the stems and see the sharp spines that give this noxious weed the common name of horse nettle.

In the drainage ditch nearby, is a sacred datura (Datura wrightii). Later in the spring, this relatively large flowering plant produces 5-6 inch long white flowers that eventually turn into a spiked, seed shell one to two inches in diameter. Also known as thornapple from the seed pod shape, this very poisonous plant is known to be used by spirit leaders to induce an altered state. (FYI, the side effect of the altered state is up to four days of eye pupil dilation - now you know why a cave is desired by spirit leaders.)

Just ahead, is a grove of relatively large velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina). This arboreal legume is one of the later plants in spring to leaf out and blooms with long fuzzy blossoms called catkins. In the fall, these turn into edible beans. Further down the path on either side are numerous catclaw (Mimosa aculeaticarpa and Acacia greggii). A good look at the stems of these plants tells the visitor to stay on the path to avoid using the common name for these plants, the "wait-a-minute bush".

Also along the path to the Palatki cliff dwelling two varieties of yucca are found, the broader leafed banana yucca (Yucca baccata) and the narrow leafed soaptree yucca (Yucca elata). Banana yucca is so named because the flowers resemble a bunch of bananas. Soaptree yucca is so named because it can grow over ten feet tall (treelike) and a water extract of the roots produces a soap. Both species were used by native Americans as a fiber source.

There are many more flowering plants to see at the Palatki Heritage Site including barberry (Mahonia haematocarpa), Mormon tea (Ephedra viridis), cliffrose (Purshia stansburiana), Colorado 4 o’clock (Mirabilis multiflora), and several species of penstemon. Take the opportunity to see the flowers and the well preserved dwelling and amazing pictographs.

Serving Sedona, written this week by Bob Beltz, Sedona Friends of the Forest volunteer and Palatki docent, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.