I've been noticing all the rain that AZ is getting. I would suspect that would greatly magnify the normal spring bloom. Does anyone know if I'm right? What is usually the peak time one would want to be there?
Thanks for your info!
Yep, we had a spell of unusually warm weather and that tricked a lot of the mexican gold poppies in some areas to bloom a month early, so there are a lot out already. And as usual, the poppies are in full bloom along side the roads (I think the roads hold in heat and fool them).
If it rains today we'll set our record for most consecutive days with rain at 9 days! However, the rains that make most of our flowers bloom are the winter rains in Dec and Jan. We had a few good rains then, and with all our recent rain the desert right now is like a carpet of grass! I went out to my favaorite mountain last week when it was raining:
//photobucket.com/albums/v312/Louddog/Arizona%20Landscape/Siphon%20Draw%20-%20Rainy%20Day/ Check out the last two pictures. That is the desert! In 3-4 weeks that will all be mexican gold poppies!!! Mixed in with the poppies we usually see some small purple flowers that I'm not sure of the name of (anyone?).
The ocotllo (red) Prickly pear (yellow) and hedge hog (purple) should be amazing too. The desert will be a rainbow of colors!
Yes, you are right. They are predicting the best wildflower displays in the past 70 years for California,Nevada and Arizona deserts. They are already blooming in areas like Death Valley and Anza Burego in California and will continue with different species for the next couple of months.
Check this link for reports etc. on wildflower displays in the desert states including Arizona.
DesertUSA
That was the Siphon Draw trail in the Superstion Wilderness. The Trail starts in Lost Dutchman's State Park. It's about an hour east of Phoenix. The water falls and flowing wash is not normal.
Paige is right... it is expected to be one of the best displays in years. That webpage is updated frequently with wildflower information and pictures. I'm planning to get out and take wildflowers and will post some when I do.
The season is expected to start and peak early.
David... It will be worth the trip. Anyone interested in organizing a wildflower photo safari?
I see that we bot got one of the same waterfall. All my images were taken right around your first one. By the time I got up there and waited out the rain it was too late for me to go any further.
I like your photos better then mine. I got an early start and had a nice gap in the rain. I hiked up and down in the rain, with just enough gap to get some pictures.
This spring is going to be amazing!
I secured permits for Havasupai in early April, I'm hoping our wet El Nino winter has the same effect up there!
