Northern Arizona Stewards and Volunteers
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pappabeary.bsky.social
Northern Arizona Stewards and Volunteers
@pappabeary.bsky.social
230 followers 280 following 110 posts
Respecting those who passed, being present today and envisioning a healthy future
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pappabeary.bsky.social
Lovely spell!
October 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
pappabeary.bsky.social
It’s a good day to thin out weeds, but a bad time to mistake an ethnobotanical for a weed. Pull, or not?
Dalmatian toadflax, Picture Canyon Open Space. Invasive weed. Two weeks after first appearing, its rosettes are rapidly growing larger. Nearby native plants are present, but growth is stunted by soil degredation and competition for snowmelt. Dalmation toadflax, Picture Canyon Open Space. Each rosette becomes a tall stem of pale yellow yellow flowers and soon releases seeds that quickly form new colonies. Picture Canyon native plant
April 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
pappabeary.bsky.social
We completely respect the laid back tolerance that locals in #Flagstaff have mastered, but we gotta quickly mention there are two very hard no’s.

One is blocking an intersection on red, even if entered on green! The second is not cleaning up after a trail stop.
A small bag containing dog poop was carefully tied up and placed within view of the Walnut Canyon NM rim trail, very likely to retrieve on the way back. The trail is a partial loop, that doesn’t backtrack. Instead, days, months or years passed, and dozens of small rodents have begun chewing the plastic bag and contents, distributing microplastic and biohazardous wastes into the food chain. Responsible dog owners don’t do this. Virtually all dog owners are responsible. Some dog owners take responsibility for less responsible owners, too. It’s both ethical and a good strategy to keep pets welcome in public spaces. Toilet paper has been discarded by unprepared visitors in the branches of a juniper tree along the Tom Moody Loop, in Flagstaff’s Picture Canyon Cultural Preserve. We sympathize that nature often calls urgently, but not the utter lack of preparation, by a few visitors and by the City of Flagstaff that invites them and loves their sales taxes. Although fecal matter is ‘organic’ and ‘biodegradable’ it is disgusting, creates a foul smelling eyesore and can spread disease between species. If you can’t take it, please use a stick to bury it about 6-10 inches below topsoil. Urine is mildly beneficial to plants in the area. Please do not discard contaminated clothing used to wipe in the woods, it’s too gross to describe. Best practice for cleaning up discarded toilet waste is to wear disposable gloves, next best is washable gloves, next best is bare hands promptly washed with a antibacterial sanitizer. A small kitchen trash bag can hold filthy clothing.
March 24, 2025 at 1:57 AM
pappabeary.bsky.social
Early Spring is the ideal time to remove toxic weeds and give ethnobotanicals some extra care. The two photos show two species that are sometimes confused for the other when they are both about the same location, size and color. Answers in ALT.
Dalmatian toadflax, Picture Canyon Cultural Preserve. When only the flowering stalk of this invasive weed is removed numerous stalks will erupt from its tenacious root. It’s a pretty flower, but it’s roots upset the health of the soil to the detriment of many competitors. They tend to grow where people have disturbed the topsoil, such as a construction site, forest road or even busy foot trails. The darker, smaller rosettes that appear in early Spring are each new stalks, about 8 on each incorrectly tended plant shown in this close-up. It’s much easier to pull this plant now, than later in the season after all these new flower stalks send out long noxious roots. Picture Canyon Cultural Preserve. This ferny leafed Skyrocket is a delightful staple of local high elevation flower seed mixes, and so lovely to see swaying in a summer’s breeze as hummingbirds sample its nectar. There are multiple cultural uses of the plant, notably as a wool dye.
March 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM
pappabeary.bsky.social
Restoring cleanliness to places others disrespect is a compassionate act of resistance that returns joy to places we love, and in doing so brings love to ourselves and those around us.

#Flagstaff #ArizonaNationalScenicTrail #Coconino
#FUTS
@flag-trash-pandas.bsky.social
❤️‍🩹 Hey wait a sec, did you say you enjoy keeping your place tidy? 💝 Yeah I can’t believe it, we both like people, running and get along best with neat freaks! ❤️‍🩹 There’s a sunny meadow ahead that has some glass we could collect, maybe catch our breath and drop a few layers..? 💝 Sure, you’ll enjoy a snack or two I always keep handy… 😍🥰 Photo credit: @flag-trash-pandas.bsky.social
February 16, 2025 at 7:19 PM
pappabeary.bsky.social
Hey all, just wanted to mention that we BLOCK follower accounts that greenwash products or services off our work, have nothing worthwhile posted or simply look boring. If you think we goofed PM us. We only want to thin out the weeds to keep this space healthy, okay?
February 14, 2025 at 9:50 PM
pappabeary.bsky.social
We honor all places where the sacred dwells and blesses our songs
January 22, 2025 at 11:56 PM
pappabeary.bsky.social
UVa’s Witch Hazel Council Ring is an inspiring example of a concept I’ve been envisioning as a solemn yet inspiring community grieving place.The sign (pictured) explains its significance and symbolism.
November 22, 2024 at 8:24 PM