Superstition Mountains, Superstitions Mountain State Park, Arizona.
A few people have asked me about the wildflower conditions in Arizona this year. It is better then California, but it still isn’t very good. But there is a bit of good news, but more on that later.
As we drove across the desert areas of California a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t even see wildflowers along the edges of the highway – a place you can almost always count on some color thanks to the concentrated water run-off. Almost from the moment we past into Arizona we started seeing wildflowers, but unfortunately, they are largely found on the shoulder of the roadways.
There are a few flowers here and there especially in washes. But, in areas where some years you could find thick fields of poppies, you might see a few dozen. On hillsides that can be solid yellow with brittlebush, this year there are just a few patches. One of the best places I have seen for brittlebush is on the hillsides of the Superstition Mountains. Unfortunately even many of those blooms are cooked, and you have to really search to find some decent looking plants. So far I haven’t seen a place that I would say is a must visit.
So what is the good news? I have been seeing lots of cactus beginning to bloom and the large rainstorm that past through this area certainly can’t hurt – I think Fort McDowell received 3/4 of a inch about a week ago. For exercise I have been mountain biking in McDowell Mountain Regional Park and over the past week I have seen a increase in the number of blooming cactus. The same is true for areas of Tonto National Forest. I found the above bloom last night at the Superstition Mountains – here blooming cactus was harder to find, as this was the only one I spotted. But for flower fans, the beginning cactus bloom in some areas should be welcome news.
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Have you checked out the Oro Valley near the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson? Brittlebrush was everywhere on our visit last month.
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I haven’t. Were they on the hills or along the road? They are probably toast now.
All around. We also noticed lots of tiny lupine and other flowers as we were driving. You are probably right about the timing.
Awesome depth of field, Ron. I wanted to reach out and touch the cactus but am sure I would have felt the prick!
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I think you would have Noella 🙂 Thanks!
Wow! Great place and very good photos.
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Thank you.
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Well done, Ron! Yes, sadly this is a challenging year for wildflowers but in some ways I’m glad because I’m tied up with other projects and I’d hate to think I was missing it!! But slim pickins for sure from others I’ve talked with. But your image here is proof that you only need ‘one’ to make a great picture. love the light on it. happy travels.
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Thanks Brenda – great to hear from you!
So true, it often only take one, or a small clump of color.
I know what you mean about missing out – I have found myself relieved to see clouds moving in to block aurora when I needed to get work done. 🙂
Thanks!