A quick hike with the group I sometimes refer to as the "country club ladies." I hike with them occasionally. The red-osier dogwood has started to bloom, and the area has really greened up since last week. My small Sony Cybershot is never reliable on close-ups, unfortunately.

According to a book, Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands, by Francis H. Elmore, red-osier dogwood was one of several plants referred to as "kinnikinnick" by pioneers and Indians (of the Eastern part of the continent) and its leaves and inner bark, when smoked, may have a narcotic effect, but could also be harmful. "Kinnikinnick" is the general term used when referring to plants that were smoked by the Indians. (And NOT hemp, since it is not native to North America!)

The creek has gone down enough to easily cross, but as Arizona creeks go, it is still running really well. It never does dry up as far as I know.