www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parksites.html (Posted Friday, 3/28/2008)
The fiery red flowers of the Ocotillo are now the best show along the Cactus Forest Drive at Saguaro National Park East. Although the leaves that emerged after winter rains are fading away, tthe flower buds at the end of the spindly & spiny stems arre bursting open all along the roadside.
Cactus flowers are just beginning. At least three species of cactus -- Hedgehog, Prickly Pear, and Teddy Bear Cholla -- are now in bloom along the road, though it may take a sharp eye to spot them just yet (prickly pears and chollas look to be at least two weeks from the height of the season.)
A few of the desert's trees are also beginning to bloom: Mesquite flowers are generally not showy enough to draw much visitor attention, but the Blue Palo Verde is now showing a bright crown of yellow flowers. However, the Foothills Palo Verde, which dominates in this part of the park, has not yet begun to bloom.
Latest info: call (520) 733-5153 9 to 5 (MST) daily.
Our poppy season is over here at Picacho Peak State Park. We do still have brittle bush desert marigold, creosote, and seeing the 1st of cactus blooming. With the poppies gone, we will not be providing additional updates.
www.tucsonbotanical.org (Posted Friday, 4/11/2008)
Early-blooming spring annuals such as lupines, poppies, and scorpion-weed have largely finished blooming and are going to seed. A few stray flowers can still be found.
Many plants remain in bloom throughout the Gardens. Perennial wildflowers such as globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata), penstemon (Penstemon parryi), and verbena (Verbena goodingii) are around peak bloom. Many blooming shrubs are also near peak, including damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana), Hummingbird bush (Justicia candicans) and Sonoran water-willow (Justicia sonorae). Cactus, especially hedgehogs (Echinocereus), are blooming in the Cactus Garden.
http://www.nps.gov/sagu (Posted Friday, 5/2/2008)
In honor of the final week of this year's Wildflower Reports, we decided to answer the perennial question: "Is anything blooming in the Park?" So, we sent two of our staff for a drive around the 8-mile loop road and asked them to report every species they saw -- with the stipulation that they only report what they saw from the car, on the roadsides. Here are the 43 flowers currently in bloom along Cactus Forest Drive:
Foothills Palo Verde, Ocotillo, Engelmann Prickly Pear, Bahia, Star Thistle, Desert Zinnia, Paperflower, Velvet Mesquite, Brittlebush, Creosotebush, Desert Tobacco, Staghorn Cholla, Trixis, Fairy Duster, Rough Menodora, Caliche Globemallow, Blue Palo Verde, Desert Fleabane, Purple Mat, Desert Senna, Catclaw Acacia, Golden Aster, Wire Lettuce, Odora, Dogweed, Desert Marigold, Climbing Milkweed, Hedgehog Cactus, Parry Penstemon, Mormon Tea, Triangle-leaf Bursage, London Rocket, Miniature Wool Star, Pringle Dalea, Indigobush, New Mexico Thistle, Snake-eyes, Teddy Bear Cholla, Esteve's Pincushion, Canyon Ragweed, Desert Orchid, Desert Chicory. And last, but certainly not least, Arizona's State Flower: the Saguaro blossom!
For the casual observer the focus will be on cactus of several varieties and the continuing show of red ocotillo flowers. The prickly pear -- looking like yellow roses -- are blooming slowly but surely all along the way, as are the many-colored chollas.
The height of the Saguaro blooming season is usually reached around May 15, so visitors who don't mind the spring heat have much to look forward to at Saguaro National Park.
Latest info: call (520) 733-5153 9 to 5 (MST) daily.
http://www.nps.gov/sagu (Posted Saturday, 3/29/2008)
The Fairy Dusters are fading, but still provide splashes of roadside pink. Yellow is the predominant color with hillsides turned golden by the profusion of Brittlebush blossoms. The Gold Poppies are nearly finished, but globemallows in shades of white to lilac to tangerine are popping up everywhere. Lupines are blooming in unusual abundance, much to the delight of the Park’s desert tortoises who have been out in force to consume the lavender-blue blooms. Scorpionweed (Pahcelia), too, adds patches of blue to the scene.
Around the Red Hills Visitor Center, Lupines, Brittlebush, Desert Chicory, and Parry’s Penstemon are numerous.
The big “shows” of flowers have ebbed along Picture Rocks Road, but it is still one of the best areas in the Park for viewing a large variety of spring annuals. Lupines, Scorpionweed, Apricot Globemallow, Brittlebush, and Pincushion (Chaenactis) are abundant, especially just west of Contzen Pass.
The trails, especially the higher ones, are lined with flowers of all descriptions. The King Canyon-Sendero Esperanza-Gould Mine loop offers nearly every kind of wildflower that is in bloom.
This may be the high point of our spring wildflower season. With daily temperatures in the mid-80s and humidity in single digits, things are drying out fast and, barring any more spring rains, will soon be gone.
For information, call 520-733-5158 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (MST) daily.
www.tohonochulpark.org (Posted Friday, 4/4/2008)
Tohono Chul Park is in glorious peak bloom with clouds of penstemon flowers. Come soon, as we have perhaps only a couple more weeks of heavy wildflowers left. We expect the cactus bloom to be spectacular also. The first hedgehog cacti will open within a couple of weeks along with long-spined prickly pears. The chollas and the rest of the prickly pears will follow, combined with blue palo verdes.
In May we will have foothill palo verdes with the best bloom in years with blooming saguaros. Watch our website: www.tohonochulpark.org for updates for on the night blooming cereus event in June or July.
Updates of other areas:
Redington/San Pedro Valley- past peak for poppies, with good patches only left on north facing slopes. Peak bloom for Chaenactis, desert chicory and desert dandelion. Lupines past peak.
Reddington Pass- Near peak for fairy dusters. Mariposa lilies first flower. Scattered stands of cream cups.
Florence Highway- Near peak for globe mallows.
Apache Trail- Past peak for poppies and blue dicks. Mariposa lilies not yet blooming as of 3/27. Brittlebush past peak at lower elevations near Apache Jct.
Apache Junction - Superior- Brittlebush, poppies, phacelia past peak at low elevations. Still very nice in the mountains west of Superior as of 3/27.
Superior to Winkelman- At peak with fairy dusters, penstemons, phacelia, brittlebush and some owl clover. Poppies near Kelvin past peak. Still lots to see, especially on north facing slopes.
www.nps.gov/orpi (Posted Friday, 4/25/2008)
Not much change from last week at Organ Pipe - the flower hunter will find both cacti and trees in full bloom. Staghorn cholla, teddy bear cholla, hedgehog cacti, the first of our prickly pears and even a few early saguaro blossoms are brightening the desert mornings. Buds are developing on many more saguaro and we expect to see them flower in a few weeks. We'll keep you posted.
As for our shrubbier companions, the ocotillo are showing their bright red blossoms, the palo verde and mesquite are blooming sweet yellow, and the Mexican Jumping beans, brownish-red. Coursetia's white pea-like flowers are not as obvious from a distance, but surprisingly delicate for a shrub with such protective thorns. Yet another amazing paradox of the desert!
