Natural History Wanderings

DesertUSA reports

White Tanks Regional Park on 2-4-17 (Black Rock Trail): Nearly a dozen spring annuals are blooming along the trail with Mexican Gold Poppy (Eschscholzia californica mexicana) and Arizona Fiesta Flower (Pholistoma auritum arizonicum) grabbing the most attention.

Other early spring annuals blooming include two species of Eucrypta (E. micrantha and E. chrysanthemifolia), both common species of Fiddlenecks (Amsinckia tesselata and A. mensiezii), Redstem Filaree (Erodium cicutarium), Yellow Blanket (Lesquerella gordonii), and a couple species of Cryptantha.

Also, three different species of Desert Thorn (Lycium andersonii, L. berlandieri, and L. exsertum) are blooming, mostly near washes. The spring bloom is just starting and looks promising with areas of the desert carpeted with leaves of Poppies, Lupines, and many other spring annuals.

See photos at Desert Wildflower reports for Phoenix and Northern Arizona Area – DesertUSA