Natural History Wanderings

Desert Wildflower Reports – DesertUSA has a number of new Arizona Wildflower updates

April 6, 2013 Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park Reports: The season’s first Mariposa Lilies are blooming in the South American collections behind the ‘Quincho’ pole-barn shade structure just above Ayer Lake. Mariposas are just one of dozens of wildflower varieties you’ll see on either 11am guided wildflower walk this weekend.

Bartlet Lake on Thursday, April 4th. This photo was along Barlet Dam Road just before reaching the marina at the South Cove area. All of the wildflowers were outstanding. We saw mostly brittlebush and globe mallow but lots of hedgehog cactus were opening everywhere in the desert along with desert marigolds, poppies, lupine, ocotillo and yucca. A sight to behold!!!

April 6, 2013 Saguaro National Park East reports: 58 wildflower species are now in bloom at Saguaro National Park East. The blooming of perennial shrubs and cacti has begun! The most conspicuous shrubs are yellow Brittlebush and red Ocotillo, found throughout the park. Look here and there for the less common pink Rock Hibiscus and the magenta Indigobush. All of these can be found along the scenic loop drive. Reports from the trails include the first cactus flowers — the brilliant red-purple flowers of the Hedgehog Cactus. At least one Saguaro blossom has been reported, but the blooming season for the giant cactus is still a month away!

April 6, 2013 Tucson Botanical Gardens reports: There are some very beautiful blooming plants this week at Tucson Botanical Gardens. Paperbag bush (Salazaria mexicana) is an attractive but inconspicuous plant much of the year when not in bloom, but in the springtime it is a beauty! The silvery foliage really sets off the deep purple flowers, combined with bladder-like structures that give the plant its common name. Euphorbias also have distinct and unique blooms and many of them are coming into flower.

See photos and all of their reports at: Desert Wildflower Reports – DesertUSA