Natural History Wanderings

DesertUSA had the following updates for Arizona

Round Mountain Park in Globe AZ and in the PInal Mts along Icehouse Canyon Rd on 12 Apr 2013. Lots of flowers. Sweet scented night stock covering hillsides. Lots of Doubting Mariposas and Eatons Penstemon. Beautiful hedgehog flowers. Arizona morning glory and what I think is Texas false garlic. The drive up into the Pinal mts saw Manzanita and Sugar sumac flowering everywhere. Astragalus and lupine along the road and rare find Bristlehead.

 Ventana Canyon Trail, first two miles Over 30 different flowers are in bloom along this most beautiful trail in the Tucson area. Trailhead is marked from Kolb Road northbound from Sunrise, adjacent to Ventana Canyon resort. Trail difficulty is easy to moderate. Arrive early this time of year so your upward journey is in shade and your downward journey isn’t too hot in the morning sun. Bring water, sunscreen, long pants, large brim hat, snack, and a small wildflower guidebook.
You will be looking for flowers at every step and will be rewarded most of the time, although blooms are typically in small groups or individual plants. Excuse any spelling errors for an incomplete list of what we saw today.
phacelia, lupine, larkspur, penstemon parryi, penisetum, ocotillo, sphralcea, lavender, aster, anisicanthus, popcorn, chicory, crocosoma, brittlebush, marah, gold poppy, eonothera, mimulus, fiddleneck, thistle.

See all the DesertUSA reports at Desert Wildflower Reports