Natural History Wanderings

Boyce Thompson Arboretum has a new report for flowers in bloom in and areas around the arboretum. Here are some of the highlights

Superior, AZ: Would you believe the first elderberries are already in bloom, with clusters of white flowers? New arrivals to Arizona are surprised to learn that elderberry is a native plant, in fact robust examples of Sambucus mexicana can be seen at Boyce Thompson Arboretum if you’re standing at the southeast corner of the Picnic Area parking lot: look for white ‘lace doilies’ of flower clusters to the east, along and above the service road; and also on the bank of Silver King Wash as you cross the white bridge into the eucalyptus forest.

Elderberry is just the most recent wildflower we’ve noticed – among dozens in bloom as March begins. This won’t be a year of breathtaking color in our surrounding desert, but irrigated gardens here at BTA mean we can boast variety along our paths – with charismatic endemics such as wild cucumber, desert wishbone, golden wallflower -– and the exotically-shaped Watson’s Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia watsonii) which has a back-story as compelling as its unusual shape.

Attend a guided wildflower walk to see, photograph and learn to ID colorful, interesting wildflowers. Walks begin with a ‘back-to-back weekend’ of One O’Clock guided flower tours March 1-2. Saturday walks are guided by Pat Pingel, Sunday tours by Cass Blodgett – he’s co-president of Arizona Native Plants Society’s Phoenix Chapter. Saturday walks continue March 8, 15, 22 and 29; Cass will be here Sundays March 16 & 30. Wildflower walks move to 10am April 5, 12, 19, 26 – plus two Sunday walks with Cass April 13 and 27 also at 10am.

What else will you see in bloom around the trails? Watch for fetid marigold in trailside planters, London rocket and henbit.Western dayflower, Parry’s penstemon (and one rare Penstemon subulata, too) in the Cactus Garden; medicinal-smelling odora (known as “Yerba de Venado” en espanol) trailside from the Cactus Garden all the way towards Picketpost Mansion, canyon lupine, desert marigold, and “onion-y looking” bluedicks (see these along the main trail above Ayer Lake, mostly). Another fun native plant to learn is Mormon tea, flowering strong this week along the main trail from Aye Lake uphill – and along the high trail, too. Its worth bringing a magnifying glass (or look through your binoculars backwards, using ’em like a microscope) for a closeup look at these pine-cone-shaped flowers

Speaking of the high trail, its well worth walking this scenic half-mile to see clumps of bright golden wallflower along with purple bladderpod.

This week at the Arboretum watch for hot-pink Parry’s Penstemon – and now going into its third straight month and still blooming strong, Wild cucumber (Marah gilensis) remains BTA’s one of most interesting and dramatic endemic plants, with “Jack And 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 throughoutthe 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. And BTA’sSpring Plant Sale goes into the second week – with great savings on a wide variety of flowering plants, shrubs, trees, cacti and succulents.

Watch for patches of blue phacelia along the main trail, below Picketpost Mansion; or walk the high trail to see yellow wallflower. There are still a few flowers on our endemic rhyolite bush (ragged rock flower).

One of the Arboretum’s most interesting and native early-blooming native shrubs is rhyolite bush (AKA Crossosoma bigelovii, or ragged rock flower); most have already peaked, but watch for these trailside above Ayer Lake, along the “switchbacks” below Picketpost Mansion, and also in the Queen Creek riparian corridor.

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

BTA’s “first of season” Aristolochia watsonii began blooming last week. This charismatic little plant is easily overlooked, but worth seeking: watch for the one that’s blooming as you walk through the main trail’s narrowest section: inside “the catwalk” where the trail narrows and ischain-link-fenced above queen creek (about 50-yards east of the suspension bridge). One of these unusual Pipevine flowers was open last week, and several more buds were poised to welcome little pollinators.

Here are a few other plants to watch for: miner’s lettuce is growing strong along the high trail; still just seedlings, and not flowering yet — but patches are thick and robust. And Mormon tea is flowering along the main trail from ayer lake uphill. Its worth bringing a magnifying glass (or invert your binoculars!) for a closeup look at these pine-cone-shaped flowers

EAST OF THE ARBORETUM — QUEEN CREEK CANYON

Drivers who continue past theArboretum and superior, proceeding another two miles up into Queen Creek Canyon on highway 60 can be rewarded with views of vigorousTufted Evening primrose, Firecracker Penstemon, Deer Vetch — and the unusual greenish-yellow flowering euphorbia known as Woodland Spurge. Watch for Stachys Coccinea (Red Mint, shown in the photo at left);

PEACHVILLE MOUNTAIN POPPIES? NOT THIS YEAR

to see full article including tour information, photography classes, photos and links videos go to: Wildflowers at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.