2001 Spring Wildflower Report for Southern Arizona

Pinal Pioneer Parkway, February 22, 2001. Part of the "scenic route" between Tucson and Phoenix, the parkway goes through a lush desert valley between Oracle and Florence, a desert upland area rich in large cacti and shrubs. The valley was covered with flowers but you had to look closely. Most prominent was the fiddleneck with its tiny orange flowers and filaree with small lavender flowers. Also, occasional bright splashes of gold poppies, (left) and orange desert globemallows. Some nice patches of blue lupine along the roadside. (Definitions below.)

Saguaro National Park (West), February 21, 2001. We covered the park's popular loop trail which starts on the valley floor at 2600 feet, goes up King's Canyon, and ascends to the crest of the Tucson Mountains, Wasson Peak at 4687 feet. While there were many varieties of flowers showing, the most prominent were again the brittlebush (yellow, photo at top of page) and the Mexican gold poppies. The brittlebush was slightly past its peak. Many nice patches of blue lupine (right) especially in the Amole Peak area, but not especially photogenic since they were generally not packed tightly. The plentiful blue phacelia were also difficut to photo. (Definitions below.)

The best displays continue to be on the steep hillsides above 3000 feet elevation. Many slopes were carpeted orange with poppies. Spectacular areas included the King's Canyon Trail, just below the junction with the Sweetwater Trail. Also, the Hugh Norris Trail in the Amole Peak area. Displays were more sporadic in the washes and lower canyon areas.

Some new varieties observed and identified for the first time this season:

• Desert Popcorn. Clusters of tiny bright white flowers generally alongside the trail.
• Twist flower (silverbells). Small white bell-shaped flowers on a long stem.

Romero Canyon, February 20, 2001. The Romero Canyon Trail starts in the lowlands of Catalina State Park, north of Tucson, then climbs into the Coronado National Forest, eventually reaching the cool forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains high above the city. The trail climbs up the steep north wall of the canyon, then leaves the canyon and goes over a ridge before reaching the Romero Pools at 3600 feet. This section of the canyon wall is upland desert above 3000 feet elevation, rich in cacti such as saguaro and prickly pear. And it is also where the outstanding wildflower displays were found.

While we observed numerous varieties of flowers, the most prominent continued to be the yellow brittlebush and the Mexican gold poppies. There were also substantial displays of blue phacelia which often mixed beautifully (left) with the poppies. The wildflowers combined with the cacti made an outstanding display in this rugged canyon setting.

The lowlands in Catalina State Park showed most of the wildflowers listed below but displays were generally quite sparse.

Some new varieties observed and identified for the first time this season:

• Fairy Duster. A purpleish flower with numerous hairy stamens, giving it a feathery look hence the name.
• Parry Penstemon (Beardtongue). Clusters of bright pink bell-shaped flowers on a long flower spike.

Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens, February 19, 2001. The desert around the botanical gardens was quite dry, and the only wildflowers observed were those being cultivated. The DBG plans to open a new exhibit to the public on March 11, 2001, called "The Wildflower Trail". It will undoubtedly be impressive even if the wildflowers are cultivated.

At right, a pretty display of African daisies.

Cave Creek Recreation Area, February 18, 2001. We are seeing one of the best wildflower seasons in many years building to a climax. Most showy are the gold poppy fields which carpet the hillsides in many areas. The south-facing hills adjacent to the park road are covered with brittlebush in bloom (yellow flowers). Many other varieties of wildflowers may be seen but are less profuse. Again, most of the displays are on the hillsides with little activity in the washes or valley floors.

There is still much greenery everywhere but the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is suggesting the season is peaking early due to the early fall rains, and that the displays will soon start to diminish.

[Photos: above left, a smattering of poppies (gold), lupine (blue), and owl clover (purple) with teddy bear cholla in the background; above right, poppies and filaree; below, poppies carpet a hillside.]

Here are the wildflowers we observed at the recreation area, twenty miles north of Phoenix, Arizona. These are also common to most of the desert areas of southern Arizona:

• Poppies. This most spectacular desert wildflower ranges from yellow to bright gold, about 1 1/2" across. It grows in huge patches when conditions are right. Most common here is the Mexican Gold Poppy (4 petals). Less common is the Arizona Poppy (5 petals) which is yellow with a crimson center.
• Brittlebush. A shrub which may be two to three feet high and wide. During a good spring the brittlebush can be loaded with bright yellow flowers 1" across. Hillsides can often be colored yellow with blooming brittlebush.
• Filaree. A small (1/2") five-lobed lavender flower, the filaree offered the most prominent displays following the poppies and brittlebrush. Its small size and mild color make it difficult to photo.
• Blue Phacelia. A small blue flower which clusters atop a 6-12 inch stalk, the phacelia mixed most often with the filaree.
• Lupine. The bright blue lupine is one of the most common and beautiful desert wildflowers. This year the lupine here is scattered rather than packed tightly together, making them less photogenic.
• Desert Globemallow. There were some nice displays of this desert shrub with bright orange flowers along the park access road.
• Chuparosa. This desert shrub with bright red tubular flowers was observed in a couple of places.
• Desert Chicory. This white, multi- petaled flower, about 1" to 1 1/2" across, was scattered on some hillsides, sometimes mixing with the poppies.
• Amsinkia (Fiddleneck). A 12" to 18" stalk features bright orange but tiny (1/4") flowers. Seen often in wash areas.
• Owl Clover. A bright purple, brushy wildflower (actually many tiny buds on a stalk), the owl clover was seen in a few scattered areas. It often mixes with lupine. A hillside carpeted with owl clover is one of the greatest sights of the desert. Sadly, it is also extremely rare. (See the lead photo in our Once in a Century... story.)

Phoenix Mountain Reserve, February 11, 2001. The wildflower season is off to an early and beautiful start. Most prominent are patches of Mexican poppies (yellow-orange). Brittlebrush (yellow) is in bloom on some hillsides and alongside some trails. Dense patches of beautiful lupine (purple) in a few spots. Also, some ocotillos blooming (red). Most of the activity was on the hillsides. Less activity on the desert floor and in the washes. However the ground is covered everywhere with grassses and shrubs, giving the desert a very green look. This would indicate more good things to come.

2001 Spring Wildflower Report for Southern Arizona, Part 1