March 21, 2008 Pat reports: March 20, I went to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. I first passed by Kitt Peak. The other day I said the poppies were past their prime. I was mistaken! They were out in full force, around 2 pm. The stretch that starts a mile or two past the entrance to Kitt Peak, coming from Tucson, and extending several miles, had vast fields of them. Once past the mountain range, other flowers made the drive worthwhile, all by itself. Repeated thick stretches of lupine were followed by other stretches of brittlebush, owl clover, desert mallow, and desert marigold. In the Monument, the showstopper was brittlebush, although I also saw lupine, tackstem, fiddlenecks, scorpionweed, poppies, fairy dusters, Esteve's pincushion, desert mallow, rock daisies, chaparral, desert marigold, and London rocket. Some of the ocotillo have leaves, and are just starting to grow buds.

March 21, 2008 Janette reports: This photo was taken on 3/18/08 at the Lost Dutchman State Park.

March 21, 2008 Jeff reports: I took these photos on March 19th at the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. The poppy bloom in this area is the best I've ever seen it anywhere in Arizona. The bloom in Northern Arizona should be spectacular this year!

March 21, 2008 Katie reports: My husband Adam took thiz photo last weekend, the 14th. This is in Parker, AZ, off of 95, turning on Shea Road and going about 15 miles into the desert. It is near Bill Williams river and accessible by high clearance vehicle. It is so beautiful out there. We saw poppies, chia, skypiolets, and chicory just to name a few. The beaver tail cactus are starting to bloom. I will try and get more landscape photos of the area. It is amazing.

March 20, 2008 KB reports: My wife, Karen, and I hiked through a different area in the Peralta Wilderness this evening 3/18/08 . We actually did find some poppy's remaining in one remote area. The lupines are still going strong as are the desert chicory, phacelia, fiddleneck, brittlebush, globe mallow, and a slew of others. The landscapes are incredible with the yellow hills mixed wiht the blue lupine

March 20, 2008 Pat reports: These are flowers of the Ephedra plant, also known as Mormon Tea because Mormons, who weren't allowed to have caffeine, made tea from this to drink. It is also the basis for the remedy Sudafed. The plant normally looks like dead green sticks; flowers and leaves are very small and not easily noticed. This is only the second time I have seen this flower.

I went to Lost Dutchman SP today (3/19/08), and it is still spectacular, though the brittlebush is just warming up. Silly Mountain (south of the Superstitions) is covered with it. I took I-10 to Phoenix, and went from there. The route is US 60 west and Arizona 88 northeast. I would love to go back in a couple of weeks and photograph again when the brittlebush is out. Noteworthy is that just north of Tucson, there was a lot of desert mallow in the median, along with a number of examples of white, pink, and lilac individuals, more than I have ever seen by far. South of Chandler for miles, the medians are almost completely covered with brittlebush. North, it's barren for awhile, and then takes up again, along with some fields of desert mallow. I didn't get any pictures of the median.

March 18, 2008 Pat reports: Saturday (March 15), I went to the Kitt Peak area. Although it looks like the poppies are past their prime, this was the best display of poppies I have seen there. Unfortunately, most of them were closed by 4:30. But where I had only seen a few patches before, there were extensive patches of poppies, on both sides of the road, with owl clover and lupines sprinkled among them. The fields are a couple miles past the road to Kitt Peak itself. Interestingly, while most of the poppies were a golden yellow, there are occasional deep orange ones scattered among them. On the way to the mountains, there were vast fields of bladderpod mustard, and as I approached, I also saw tackstem, Esteve's pincushion, brittlebush, desert mallow, desert marigold, fairy duster, bluedicks, fiddlenecks (often a large stand of them), scorpionweed, popcorn flower, and rock daisies. Often, there would be long patches of lupines right next to the road.

March 18, 2008 KB reports: I spent last evening out on Peralta Road at various places hiking around off the road. The poppy's were spent and gone. Lupines and Verbena were in full force. Owl's clover was present but not a lot. Fiddleneck was everywhere - no shortage of that this year! The following pictures are from my trip:

March 17, 2008 Ambika reports: The poppies were out in force at the Lost Dutchman State Park ( along Jacob's Crosscut trail) carpeting the foothills in color. The winter rains have carpeted the hills in verdant green - water laden cactus, lush green bushes and riot of yellow, blues, purples, oranges, reds, whites. Also noted Desert Lupines, Blue Phacelia, Blue Dicks, desert chicory,Fairy duster, Chuparosa in bloom. Brittlebush and Globe mallow are loaded with buds and should bloom in the next 2 weeks or so. A drive up Apache trail ( Route 88) to Canyon lake - flowers were out in full force along the road, carpeting the slopes in yellows and blues. Perfect temps, beautiful skies and beautiful flowers set up for a delightful afternoon in the Superstition mountains.

March 17, 2008 KB reports: I managed a quick this trip evening down to the Lower Salt River area. The clouds stole my evening light for photos but did manage these. I'm guessing the poppy's are peak about now and will gradually dimish their show. Owl's clover Lupines, Fiddleneck and others are coming on strong though.

March 17, 2008 TH reports: Went out to Bartlett Lake. Hills on the west side of the lake are covered in wildflowers. From a distance the hills are orange but up close there is a variety of colors. Even found some white poppies.

March 17, 2008 SW reports: We hiked at Lost Dutchman State Park on March 14, 2008. We hiked the following 2 trails. Blooms everywhere and they are not done yet! Prospector's View Trail: Length 0.7 miles, rated moderate. It connects Siphon Draw Trail with Treasure Loop Trail also connects with Jacob's Crosscut Trail. Jacob's Crosscut Trail: Trail runs 0.8 miles along the base of the mountain, rated easy. It connects Treasure Loop Trail with Prospector's View Trail, and continues 4.5 miles past the park area along the base of the Superstitions

March 17, 2008 Linda reports: Picture taken at Bartlett Lake. It was indeed a fabulous weekend for color in our communities!

March 17, 2008 Dave reports: Picture was taken at Lake Pleasant March 11th. The Poppie's are a little past their prime but other species are starting to bloom.

March 17, 2008 Bill reports: I took this of a busy bee working some Mountain Lupine @ Picacho Peak March 12, 2008.

March 15, 2008 Pat reports: March 13, the brittlebush are really coming into their own, on the hillsides, in the Tucson Mountains, off El Camino del Cerro. There are plenty still developing, so it will be good for awhile. On the way, in the foothills, there are fields full of tiny yellow flowers, with a patch or two of scorpionweed. In the mountains themselves, you can also see small quantities of a bunch of species: chaparral, deltoid bursage (not showy), desert mallow, fairy duster, Esteve's pincushion, bluedicks, popcorn flowers, tackstem, jewel flowers, fiddlenecks, scorpionweeds, and lupines.

March 12, 2008 Paul reports: A hike into the Superstition Wilderness from the Peralta trailhead on March 11 revealed some impressive displays of gold poppies, lupine, hyacinth, phacelia, desert chicory, and numerous other species. The brittlebush is just about to burst into bloom, while most of the annuals are probably nearing their peak. Now is the time to see the best wildflowers of 2008!

March 12, 2008 Arizonaheat reports: Far from any trail, deep in the Superstition Wilderness, we bask in the beauty and tranquility of our own personal paradise. Acres of wildflowers bursting forth from the earth, coloring the landscape like only Mother Nature can. Lush greens, oranges, reds, blues, purples, whites and pinks surround us. The cholla have a magical glow about them. The saguaros and barrel cactus sit plump and full from the nourishing life giving rains. This is what life is all about.

March 11, 2008 Marianne reports: Bartlett Lake March 11, 2008. The most widespread bloom I've ever seen! Probably a record.

March 11, 2008 Kenny reports: Overview of the Phx area....I think Bartlett lake is the overall winner this year. A mindboggling flower event especially for photographers because the displays were thick and great photo opportunities were had even a few miles before the lake. A must see. Go during the week and enjoy serenity........go on the weekend and enjoy the masses, boats, ATV's and dirtbikes !

Organpipe NM was also beautiful this weekend and the Brittlebush were the shining stars helping to accent the already green hillsides. Overall .....for species diversity, I like organpipe NM but most of the better and photo worthy dsplays are on Ajo mtn loop drive. Alamo canyon trail has great photo worthy hillsides with less flowers but more OP cactus and brittlebush and running water ! Another must see with minimal traffic throughout the park. Get there at 8am to reserve a camping spot otherwise they are gone by 9am

Steer clear of Pinal Pioneer pkwy as there are very few flowers especially those worth risking your life for on the edge of the road. Pichacho Peak was packed by 11am and flower displays were barely visable from I-10 so I'd also pass on that as well. Park link drive has 1 mile stretch with tons of globemallow (short orange flowers) on the north side.

Anyone been to Saddle mountain this weekend?? Wondering if things got better there because the brittlebush should be blooming.

March 11, 2008 Jan reports: The wildflower show going on in Western AZ near the Colorado River, which is pretty good in spots, albeit not as dramatic as 2005 was.

Black Mountains west of Yucca, Arizona, taken March 10. This area is part of the Warm Springs Wilderness and will require about two miles of moderate hiking each way to reach from the town of Yucca. People can park near the train tracks and water tower to the west of town, or even drive through the closed (but unlocked) cattle gate near the water tower and park in the large Sacramento Wash channel to eliminate an extra mile or so of hiking.

The poppy and Gordon’s bladderpod mustard display is on the bajadas below the cliffs of the east side of Black Mesa, and patches of other flowers can be seen along the way. Binoculars will help scope out where to go, although the patches of poppy color are visible from town about three miles away. It’s a true wilderness area with no crowds and no visitors at all, more or less pristine in most regards, and with a notably colorful display well worth the effort, as the photos show.

If this is too much hiking for people, the western side of the Black Mountains along Historic Route 66 near Oatman is probably pretty good, although I have not driven that stretch of highway this year yet to check for certain. I do know that there are a good number of suncup evening primroses, brittlebush, and other flowers visible from AZ Hwy 68 between Golden Valley and Bullhead City on the bajada slopes above Bullhead City. Odds are good that the NV Hwy 163 heading west out of Laughlin is also similarly nice.

The second area is the Copper Basin Dunes ORV Area, about 10 miles north of Parker, AZ on the California side of the Colorado River, taken March 7. This small area of dunes is awash with moderately thick carpets of pink sand verbena and some white dune and brown-eyed evening primroses, alongside a scattering of other wildflowers as well. There are literally hundreds, and possibly several thousand Ajo lilies (desert lilies) in full bloom as well. Although trafficked by off-road vehicles, the flowers are pretty nice in some of the less-traveled areas farther back.

This area is being invaded by the noxious Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii) and will possibly be overrun in the next few years if nothing is done to control the invasion. It’s not uncontrollable yet, and I am hoping to organize a team of volunteer weed-pullers to stomp on this problem before the Copper Basin Dunes go the same way that the nearby Bouse Dunes and the Cactus Plain across the river in Arizona have gone. Those areas used to have phenomenal displays of verbena and dune primroses and lupines, but within the past ten years the area is 100% overrun with Sahara mustards to the near complete exclusion of anything else. Little blooms there anymore other than the dull, ugly mustards.

March 11, 2008 Jennifer reports: Photo taken March 10, 2008 at Bulldog Canyon near Apache Junction, Az.

March 11, 2008 KB reports: As my wife and I returned from a fishing trip to Saguaro Lake this afternoon I had this awful gut wrenching feeling that we should have gone out hiking and shooting (camera) in the area instead. The Arizona poppy's, lupines, owls clover, and globe mallow were ripe for the shooting. We were disappointed with Picacho Peak yesterday and wish we had stayed closer to home for the more showy display of wildflower colors. This is truly a wonderful time for photographers.
We did manage a few pics on the way home for you though. This photo taken about 5pm (3/10) very near to Saguaro Lake.

March 11, 2008 Rick reports: Photos Lost Dutchman State Park on Monday, the 10th.

March 9, 2008 Charlie reports: Was at Picacho Peak state park. I think reports of the bloom here are overrated, we have seen much, much better here. The bloom is patchy but there are some nice picture opportunities.

March 9, 2008 Pat reports: I hit four places over the weekend. Picacho Peak is past its prime. There are still patches of poppies and lupines. There is one patch of pink lupine close to the trailer campground about halfway down the road. Friday I also visited South Mountain near Phoenix. It's a wonderful hike into there on a weekday when it's closed to traffic, and the light was magic. There are patches of poppies, with dead trees for interest.

Saturday, March 8, I went to Lake Pleasant. That is a must-see! The hillsides were COVERED with poppies, and mixed in were scorpionweed, fiddlenecks, owl clover, lupines, and bluedicks. Take the Maricopa County road all the way to the end. You can see that these poppy hillsides extend a long ways toward the rugged mountains in the distance. See Kenny's report on March 4 for more details.

I also took the road to the commercial marina. There are fields of tiny yellow flowers I don't recognize. Finally, I went to the Waterfall Canyon trail in the White Tank Mountains. There were large patches of scorpionweed, and some hillsides were covered with clumps of brittlebush in full bloom. Wait a few days to see brittlebush in the canyons; they're coming. There were also patches of fiddlenecks, which aren't so showy, but make a good picture if you shoot into the sun. Also there was a single patch of owl clover, probably in the same place as in 2005, and a few patches of poppies, and there were scattered examples of bluedicks, white tackflower, London rocket, desert mallow, and patches of lupines (especially along roadways). There were several species I don't recognize.

March 7, 2008 Charles reports: Usery Mountain Park in northeast Mesa has quite a display of wildflowers. Near the top of the mountain, the poppies are visible for a mile or two outside of the park. The Wind Cave Trail starts out slowly with flower displays, but you will not be disappointed as you climb higher. In addition to the poppies there are several concentrated displays of lupines and the blue heliotrope(Phacelia) alone and mixed with the poppies.

March 6, 2008 Val reports: These photos were taken Nov 1st along the Beeling Highway East of Phoenix. They were taken between Gilbert road and Saguaro Lake turnoff. The poppies were found mostly between Ft. McDowell and the Sugauro Lake turnoff.

March 6, 2008 Connie reports: Tohono Chul Park in Tucson. I know they're having a wildflower walk today there. This promises to be an abundant wildflower season in Tucson!

March 4, 2008 Bruce reports: I did not image when I drove to Picacho Peak it would be so gorgeous; it was way beyond what I expected. I don’t think I could do it justice.

March 4, 2008 Kenny reports: Wildflower report from highway 74 / Lake Pleasant rd. area. I believe this area is about to peak as owls clover, lupine and poppies can all be seen together. Numerous other species are present and the hillsides around hwy 74 can be seen from miles away. Some owls clover patches are present on the south side of 74 in the drainage depressions so look closely. There are a few roadside (74) displays which are worth a stop and a few that may require a 10 minute walk. The lake Pleasant rd hillside is quite popular and looks nice but the display that had it all together was actually 5 miles or so east of that turnoff on the south side of the road. A nice hillside with a pull out and a colorful display.

Most times, a display cannot be judged until you walk up on it because all you see are the yellow poppies. The other species tend to disappear when viewed from a distance so take the walk and be amazed! A brief updatye on my last saddle mountain report: after reviewing my photo's, I would recommend that location if you live close but not sure I'd drive out from Phoenix for it. The 2 poppy fields are beautiful and picturesque but left me wanting more after 30 minutes. Hopefully another week may have other species there blooming because the location is spectacular when it's right.

March 4, 2008 Sally reports: While the poppies and lupine were not prolific at Lost Dutchman, the deep greenery of the undergrowth made a fine landscape. Jacobs crossing has the best flower viewing currently. With the continued good weather this upcoming weekend should have fuller flowering of all colors of wildflowers.

March 4, 2008 Bob reports: The west side of Bartlett lake, Arizona on 3/1/08

March 2, 2008 Deb reports: Bartlett Lake, AZ on February 29th, 2008.

March 2, 2008 Cathy reports: The poppies along the 100 trail in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve are at or close to their peak bloom in the area south of the North Mountain Visitor's Center off of 7th Street. There are entire south facing hillsides covered with Phacelia distans - as shown in this photograph - along the 100 trail traveling south toward Shaw Butte. On the hillside adjacent to the visitor's center there is a incredible display of Lesquerella gordonii Common Name: Gordon's Bladderpod, Bladderpod and higher up on the hill is a carpet of Phacelia distans.

The poppies are very to see and enjoy at Dreamy Draw Park in Phoenix as well. The lupine blooms are still developing at both sites. I saw quite a few Dichelostemma or Desert Hyacinth starting to open at Dreamy Draw on Thursday when I was there.

March 2, 2008 Kenny reports: Here's a report from points west of Phoenix and should save people some driving. The wildflower bloom seems to be half of the mind boggling display we had in 2005 so far and that bloom hit it's peak in mid to late Feb. The Harquahala's have a few patches of poppies on the main trail and thats about it. The east facing slopes along eagle eye rd. look nice but may be difficult to get to without a quad and some good hiking shoes.

Saddle mountain has 2 patches of poppies in a small valley south of Salome rd. If your looking for 2005......save your gas unless another side of the mountain is better. The owls clover that was so plentiful from the Lake Pleasant area to the Harq's to Saddle mountain is almost nonexistant so far this year and overall, it looks to be pretty quiet out there and I doubt there will be the large thick patches of Owl's Clover we had in 2005 A few sprouts here and there were about it so decide wisely if you are heading west of Phoenix. The Brittlebush have yet to bloom at Saddle mountain and that will add some nice color so maybe there's a little left in coming weeks. Anyone remember I-10 back in 2005 when it looked as if it were paved in gold from all of the brittlebush?

There are almost no wildflowers on 93 from Wickenberg north to Bagdad. So disregard a AZ Central web article mentioning that road . I believe they were speaking historically of where wildflowers bloom not where they are blooming now.

74 east of Lake Pleasant rd has nice roadside poppy displays but even they are not of the grand scale as in 2005 .

Maricopa rd has a beautiful thin stretch of poppies on both sides of the road from I-10 to Maricopa. I did manage to snap some nice images but save your gas if your heading west of Phoenix unless things magically go off in coming days. I believe the good show is right in our backyard!