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March 8, 2012, Mary reports: Traveling north from Florence, Az to Florence Junction on Hwy 79 we found lupines and desert marigold in large numbers. There are some pink, white and orange mallows, also brittlebush and a few scattered Arizona poppies along the way that provide subject matter for pictures.

Driving east on Hwy 60 from Florence Junction toward Superior, we were surprised by desert penstemon, thick on both sides of the highway and in the broad median for several miles, a real treat. Desert marigold and brittlebush in various places, in addition to the penstemon, allowed some interesting photographs.

March 7, 2012, Doug reports: On the basis of reports on this site two friends and I traveled from the Sedona area to photograph the poppies at Peridot Mesa on Monday and Tuesday of this week. They were spectacular. Although some smaller areas were past prime most of the areas were still great and there are still many buds yet to open. In addition to poppies, owl's clover is just starting to come up, many small lupines are starting to appear, and there were occasional fiddlenecks, filaree, and desert chickory.

We also stopped at Bartlett Lake on the way home but nothing to speak of is going on there. Flowers are stunted and scattered and Bartlett Lake is very low. Too little rain.

March 6, 2012, Rebecca reports: Bartlett Lake Good news and bad. It was a great day for crawling around and shooting flower portraits, as there was a wide variety of blooms. The displays were pretty spread out, though.

In addition to poppies, including the albinos, there were Scorpionweed, Owl Clover, Chuparosa, Blue Eyes, Fiddlenecks, Desert Marigold, Fairy Duster, and the tiny Turtleback (Desert Velvet). The Brittlebush was about halfway to peak, and primarily in the disturbed areas.

March 5, 2012, Peter reports: Peridot Mesa March 3rd

March 5, 2012, Donna reports: I returned to the Black Hills Back Country Byway NE of Safford. Yesterday the blooms were awesome and the scenery even better. It seems like the afternoon sun may be the best for photography here, but I have not been there for early morning.

Saturday I spent more than 6 hours at Peridot Mesa. One thing I noticed is that the Peridot Poppies are more yellow and more even in color, while the Black Hills poppies have an orange center, fading to gold at the petal's edges.

Attached photos show some of the flowers and scenery I found at the Black Hills. Some are accessible by rock scrambling.

Starting at the south end of the gravel road, the ecosytem includes more steep terrain, lots of prickly pear and Ocotillo, while the north end smooths out to a wider, flatter road. Less cacti and more creosote bushes at the north end. A high clearance vehicle is recommended but my rental car made it undamaged.

 

March 5, 2012, Paul at Boyce Thompson Arboretum reports: Mexican Goldpoppies are waning in the easy-to-reach foothills along Silver King Mine road and below Peachville Mountain four miles north of Superior -- and hikers in good condition can reach a mountainside bloom covering the upper western half of Peachville, or hike the Arizona Trail below Montana Mountain to access southeast facing hillsides there which appear to be at peak. Silver King Mine Road remains a fun spot for closeups and "friends in Spring flowers" portraits - here's a profile of a blooming Chia (Salvia columbariae) along the road along with chicory, phacelia, bluedicks, berberis, dodder and other March flowers - and a portrait of Arboretum volunteers Sandra & Chaco, who were enthused to accompany me out there for a quick Sunday morning scouting trip for this report.

March 4, 2012, Yvonne reports: We went to Superior and took Rt. 177 all the way to Winkleman which was good. We then took the Rt. 77 loop back to Globe which was amazing. The slopped side of the road was filled with Barry Beardtongue, Poppies and Lupine that I could not photograph because it was too late in the day and they were in the shade. But they were awesome and I plan to go back! Lots of hillsides of yellow poppies everywhere. The flowers are there this year – they just are not easy to find!

March 3, 2012, Paul reports: Looking for landscape "carpets of color" photos? As of Friday, Peridot Mesa on the San Carlos Apache Reservation 20 minutes drive east of Globe remains a prime spot. Goldpoppies have faded from some upper ridges of the mesa, but interior slopes of the south-facing 'amphitheater' that you see while driving along Highway 70 are more thoroughly filled with poppies at their peak this week. Friday afternoon was too breezy for optimal photos, but even these - with the flowers half-closed - show the scale of massive goldpoppy blooms here. Peridot Mesa is arguably the most accessible place flower photographers can find if driving from Phoenix or Tucson. You're on highway 70 to within less than a mile of the mesa, you can see the color easily from hwy 70, and the dirt road leading up and over the mesa is suitable for just about any vehicle driven slowly and carefully. No 4WD or high clearance needed. It also bears repeating that you need a $10 recreation permit to explore and photograph flowers on the Apache reservation. Buy yours in Globe at the Circle K or Fast Stop convenience stores (both are near the highway60/70 crossroads); or at the Basha's Grocery Store on the reservation -- conveniently, just two miles east of Peridot Mesa.

DIRECTIONS: from Globe take hwy 70 east for about 20 minutes. Slow down at milepost #268 and watch at left for an unmarked dirt road recognizable by two 'Capital H-shaped' white metal poles bracketing each side of a cattleguard. Turn here and head north; after 1/4 mile or so the road splits at a large white sign; bear right and drive towards the hillsides of color. Other flowers to watch for: amsinckia, phacelia, bluedicks, owl's clover. Peak color should continue for another week - for an update call Harold, Savina or other San Carlos Apache Recreation & Wildlife Department staff at 928.475.2344.

March 2, 2012, Paul reports: Checked out a rumor of big poppy blooms on remote foothills southwest of the pinal mountains near Globe, behind Pinto Valley. Found some decent poppy color - but not as worthwhile for landscape photography as peridot mesa (see prior posts below) or montana mountain and happy camp road near superior. Poppies are there, but in hundreds of acres rather than thousands - and it takes 10 miles of Forest Service dirt road to access. Sections through pinto creek are rocky & rough.

Great scenery though! Did get a few 'First Of Season' (for me, at least) JPGs to post - including robust red paintbrush along FR639, astragalus (aka locoweed, milkvetch) and clumps of pale green flowering Euphorbia lurida (Woodland Spurge). Lots of bright, yellow deer vetch, too (Lotus rigidus); lupine and cryptantha. Mahonia shrubs (aka berberis, barberry, algerita) are starting to flower and offer one of the most pungent & sweet smells of spring in the sonoran desert.

March 2, 2012, Sam reports: Got some more wildflower shots at Bartlett Lake last Sunday. Here they come!

 

More on Page 3

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We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone. iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.

Photos tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography and wildflowers photos.

 

For other state reports click on link below

Wildflower Field Guide

Mojave Desert Wildflowers book 200 color photos

Other DesertUSA Resources
Desert Plants
Wildflower Information & Hotlines
When Will The Wildflowers Bloom?
Wildflower Intro. Packages
Books on Cacti, Wildflowers, & Other Flora