The San Pedro River and San Pedro House are a short drive from my mom’s home in Sierra Vista. On the early morning I visited, a couple dozen birders were also roaming about. High Country News recently reported on the San Pedro, saying this last free river of the Southwest is facing new dangers from development and the ground wells it would bring. When I visit again next month I’ll return and see if the monsoon season has left its mark yet. Someday I hope to see this river rushing. I hope the San Pedro’s neighbors and stewards help save it from extinction.

The path leads from San Pedro House to the San Pedro River, which winds around these cottonwoods.

The path leads from San Pedro House to the San Pedro River, which winds around these cottonwoods.

Animal and plant identification has never been my strong suit.  Who knows the name of this flower? Is it a prickly poppy?

Animal and plant identification has never been my strong suit. Who knows the name of this flower?

Or this?  It looks like a callalliy.

Or this? It looks like a calla lily. Thanks Ann Stone for identifying it as datura.

Or this?

Or this?

This time of year, the river looks more like an irrigation ditch.

This time of year, the river looks more like an irrigation ditch.

This driftwood will be underwater once the monsoons come.

This driftwood will be underwater once the monsoons come.

This reminds me of the yarrow in northern Cali.

This reminds me of the yarrow in northern Cali.

Melon? Squash?  Wild Gourd?

Melon? Squash? Wild?

The water appears stagnant at places like these.

The water appears stagnant at places like these.

The wispy June San Pedro.

The wispy June San Pedro.

Here you can see a hint of current.

Here you can see a hint of current.

Reduced to a trickle, still full of life.

Reduced to a trickle, still full of life.

Not an appealing dipping pool....

Not an appealing dipping pool….

Sunshine through the cottonwoods....

Sunshine through the cottonwoods….

Add to this image a cacophony of bird calls.

Add to this image a cacophony of bird calls.

SPR17

SPR18

The short walk back to San Pedro House....

The short walk back to San Pedro House….