Jan 16, 2010 DUSA reports: The rain is coming next week, it could be a big storm.

xApr. 24, 2009 Jim reports: I hiked in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Pontatoc Trail on 4/24/09. Ocotillo were blooming profusely . Saguaro were also blooming. I also saw flowers on baby bonnets, Palo verde, acacia, desert honeysuckle, desert lavender, globe mallow, fleabane, Goodding’s Verbena, thistle (pictured), Engelmann’s prickly pear, cholla cactus, velvet mesquite (28) and more!

Apr. 4, 2009 Annee reports: I often hike the Southerland Trail at Catalina State Park. Although, last year's wildflowers were spectacuar, especially the poppy, it has been equally wonderful this year with the lupine, chicory, poppy, faerie duster. desert lavender, blue dicks, owl clover, fleabane, hopbush (my favorite) and now the mariposa. And, even though we haven’t had rain, they seem to be lasting much longer. I took these pictures on the Southerland Trail. This is the only place I have seen the yellow mariposa (which are supposed to be quite rare)

April 3, 2009 Paul reports: Globe AZ the Toll Road, or #200 Trail, in the Pinal Mountain foothills was a pleasant hike Thursday morning. No carpets of color, but lots of cool stuff, including Cream Cups (Platystemon californicus), Rabbit Thorn (Lycium pallidum), funky "Antelope Horns" milkwee (Asclepias asperula) and also one of my favorite Sonoran desert wildflowers... ch-ch-ch-chia! Also known as Salvia columbariae, they're still flowering, and haven't set seed yet. There was also Wallflower, astragalus, wild carrot, verbena... and lots of butterflies: Buckeyes, Skipperlings, Spring Azures, etc. Birds, too: I heard my first Scott's Oriole of 2009 Thursday and Black-chinned Sparrows were also singing.

The city of Globe is about two hours north of Tucson or equidistant and East of Phoenix -- If you drive to Globe this week to check out wildflowers in the Pinal mountain foothills, its also worth hiking the developed trails at the Round Mountain Park, which is close to downtown Globe (turn at the Country Kitchen Restaurant near the crossroads of highways 60/70). This year Round Mountain park has the biggest bloom I've ever seen there of Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) and there are also desert onions, Penstemon barbatus and more all easily photographed right alongside the trails. Watch for Larkspur on the East Trail; i saw small plants here about a week ago -- they should bloom by the second week of April. Hedgehog cacti are blooming vivid magenta on the east trail this week, too.

March 30, 2009 Sara reports: - My husband and I hiked the Sweetwater Trail in Saguaro Nat'l Park - Tucson Mountain District (at the end of Camino del Cerro) yesterday and the ocotillo is almost in full bloom...gorgeous! Also saw lots of orange globemallow and a few strawberry hedgehog cactus. Looks like the prickly pear will be blooming in a week or two. We can't wait to go back and see them!

 

Mar. 26, 2009 Jim reports: I hiked in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Sutherland Trail, on March 25. Saw blooming lupine, penstemon, blue dicks, desert fairy duster, desert honeysuckle, mallow, fleabane, thistle, ocotillo, owl's clover and more. Hopbush seed pods beautiful. Rattlesnakes are out.

Mar. 22, 2009 Jim reports: I hiked in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Esperero Canyon Trail today (3/22/09). Saw blooming lupine, penstemon, poppy, blue dicks, brittlebush, creosote bush, desert fairy duster, desert honeysuckle, mallow, desert marigold, fleabane, verbena, hedgehog cactus, hopbush, thistle, ocotillo, scarlet sage, primrose, and much more. Beautiful!

Mar. 20, 2009 Jay reports: These photos were taken on the Shantz Trail (western portion) in Saguaro National Park - East (Tucson) on the morning of March 19. There was also plenty of creosote bush blooming and some brittlebush. Some of the ocotillos have buds and are about to blossom.