Natural History Wanderings

Wildflowers at Boyce Thompson Arboretum has a new post for “What’s in bloom this week?” at the arboretum:

A more concise answer would be to the question “what’s not?” Cass Blodgett reported these following his walk last weekend: Texas Mountain Laurel, Spreading Fleabane, Desert Marigold, Fetid Marigold, Parry’s Penstemon, Globemallow, Desert Rhubarb, Mexican Poppy, Fiddleneck, Popcorn Flower, Claret Cup Cactus, Phacelia, Evening Primrose, Desert Chicory,Purple Bladderpod, Mormon Tea, Desert Lupine, Bajada Lupine, Goodings Verbena, Western Spiderwort, Hackberry Penstemon, Desert Zinnia, Brittlebush, Firecracker Penstemon, Yellow Throat Gilia, Desert Wishbone Bush, Bluedicks, Desert Tobbaco, Blackfoot Daisy, Rattlesnake Weed, Redmaids, Desert Anemone, Western Wallflower, Owl’s Clover, Fairy Duster, Succulent Lupine, Wild Cucumber, Gila Rock Daisy, Brickellia, Ragged Rock Flower, Miner’s Lettuce, Perennial Rockcress, Texas Betony, Red Barberry, Desert Phlox, Desert Spiny Phlox, Jojoba, Creosote Bush, Little Leaf Sumac, (and, ‘Coming Soon:’ Parish Larkspur, Mariposa Lily, Ocotillo, Yellow Bush Penstemon, Poreleaf & Hedgehog Cactus.

You’ll see three shades of Globemallow this week (orange, white and pink) along the Main Trail in the Cactus Garden, with Western Dayflower (AKA “Spiderwort”) robust and ready to accent the Cactus Garden with camera-ready blue blossoms. Learn to ID wildflowers on the walk Sunday at 11am guided by Cass Blodgett (co-president of the Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Native Plants Society); weekly wildflower walks are included with daily admission of $9, and these continue April 7, 13, 21 & 27. Flower color begins 20-minutes west as you drive towards BTA – don’t miss Highway 60’s impressive roadside flower show through Gold Canyon and Florence Junction where robust lupines and bluedicks, phacelia, globemallow, goldpoppies & desert marigold border the scenic highway.

This week at the Arboretum watch for hot-pink Parry’s Penstemon – and at least four varieties of lupine in bloom (fuzzy little low-to-the-ground Bajada Lupine dominate thecactus garden). Now going into its 4th straight week and still blooming strong, Wild cucumber (Marah gilensis) remains BTA’s most interesting and dramatic endemic plant: with “Jack & The Beanstalk” vines that have climbed their way as high as 12-feet through native jojoba, mesquite and other trees in locations throughout the grounds. Watch for clusters of tiny, off-white, starfish-shaped flowers on these thriving green vines.

Other flowers throughout the park include fetid marigold (yellow); wild rhubarb (green); London rocket (gold) and henbit (purple); as well as bluedicks and Mormon tea (along the main trail from Ayer Lake uphill). Walk the short trail that leadsd behind the Palm Grove to smell the jasmine-sweet and unique perfume of berberis shrubs there.