Phoenix Area Wildflower Current Conditions

Ron Niebrugge Arizona, Phoenix, Photos, Travel 6 Comments

Phoenix Area Wildflower Current Conditions

We have traveled all the way to Globe, and I must say the best wildflowers in the Phoenix area are in McDowell Mountain Regional Park, and out at Saguaro Lake.  Granted, there are a lot of areas left for us to explore, I’m sure there are other jewels, but you can’t go wrong with these two locations.

 I love the rich colors and textures in the landscape right now.  This photo is from McDowell.  I hope to post a photo from Saguaro Lake tomorrow.

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Mountain Biking

Ron Niebrugge Arizona, Phoenix, Photos, Travel 9 Comments

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking on the Competitive Trails in McDowell Mountain Regional Park, near Phoenix, Arizona.

I have tried shooting from my bike while using a slow shutter speed before, with poor results.  I think having the trail lined with bright, colorful poppies really helped this attempt.  These trails are really fun!

Here are more mountain biking photos.

Chuparosa or Hummingbird-Bush

Ron Niebrugge Arizona, Phoenix, Photos, Travel 3 Comments

Chuparosa or Hummingbird-Bush with a Saguaro

Chuparosa or Hummingbird-Bush with a Saguaro Cactus, in McDowell Mountain Regional Park, near Phoenix, Arizona.

We had an exciting experience today – saw a Desert Tortoise while mountain biking!  The Desert Tortoise spends 95% of its life in a burrow, so it is really exciting to see one.  I rode back to my truck and grabbed my camera, but much to my surprise, we were unable to find it again!  How can a turtle disappear so fast – I guess that is how it beat the hare.  🙂  So unfortunately, you get a picture of wildflowers today instead of a tortoise – maybe we will find him tomorrow.

McDowell Mountain Regional Park Wildflowers

Ron Niebrugge Arizona, Phoenix, Photos, Travel 11 Comments

McDowell Mountain Regional Park Wildflowers

Wildflowers at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, not far from Phoenix, Arizona.

Petal peepers in the Phoenix area won’t be disappointed in this years wildflowers!  We were here last year – wow, this looks like an entirely different place!  All the green plant life alone is a shocker.  There are a wide variety of flowers colorful flowers to be found, a real treat!

The bright colored flowers in the foreground are Purple Owl’s Clover.  In the mid-ground is a great patch of poppies, unfortunately they closed up before sunset.  You can see the Four Peaks off in the distance, and way off in the distance is a near full moon.

This was another time that a graduated neutral density filter came in handy!

We now have a section of McDowell Mountain Regional Park photos.

Saguaro National Park Wildflowers, Current Conditions 2008

Ron Niebrugge Arizona, Photos 2 Comments

Saguaro National Park Wildflowers

The is from the West District of Saguaro National Park, Arizona.

The wildflowers are looking great here right now!  Lots of Brittlebush, Lupine and many other wildflowers.  I have never seen this National Park with wildflowers – what a treat!

  The West District is further along then the East District right now, but the East side looks really nice as well.  One of the best areas is between the Desert Museum and the Visitor Center.  This photo was captured near the top of one of the hills in the area.  Once I found this composition, we sat and waited about an hour and a half for last light – what a great place to sit and watch.

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Ron Niebrugge Arizona, Photos, Travel 7 Comments

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona.

There are two Saguaro National Parks, Saguaro West and Saguaro East, the East is also known as the Rincon Mountain District.  The two are not very close together, they are on opposite sides of Tucson – I will let you guess the direction :).  This photo is from the East District.  I hear the West has better wildflowers right now, I’m going to check it out tomorrow.  Gotta say, the East had way more color then I have even seen in my few visits – it was looking great. 

It will be nice to have more Saguaro National Park photos.

Borrego Palm Canyon

Ron Niebrugge Anza-Borrego, California, Photos, Travel 3 Comments

Borrego Palm Canyon

Borrego Palm Canyon, Anza-Borrego.

This was from a beautiful Monday morning – it was completely calm!  Nice treat after the weekend storm that ironically originated in Alaska.

We had a great month in Anza-Borrego, it was fascinating watching the transformation of the desert as the wildflowers bloomed.  We were very fortunate to visit during one of Borrego’s famous wildflower years. 

Right now we are in Tucson, Arizona for a couple of days to take care of some business, then we are spending a month outside of Phoenix, Arizona for more photography.