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This is the Wildflower Ranger Cam for 2010. We'll keep you updated on wildflowers and cactus flowers and their peak blooming times around the state at many Arizona State Parks.
Read a story about Wildflower Hunting at State Parks on AZCentral.com 
There are a few mexican gold poppies in bloom at Lost Dutchman State Park but we do not expect a heavy increase. Some lupine, mallow, brittlebush, chicory, and chuparosa are alsoin bloom. Desert marigolds are expected to be in heavy bloom this week also. Heavy rains are needed earlier in the year to start seed germination. The heavy rains this year were a bit too late, although the desert is exceptionally green now and offers excellent hiking. Also pictured is a Roadrunner at the park. Today's pictures are courtesy Park Volunteer Stacey Butkay.
Tidy Tips (left) Gold Poppies (right)
Owl's Clover (left) & Miners Lettuce (right)
Miner's Lettuce, Wallflower, Cream Cups and Owl's Clover are all new this week at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, and visitors will find camera-ready patches of Gold Poppies in the Cactus Garden.
Author Christine Maxa (Arizona’s Best Wildflowers Hikes: The Desert) leads 11 am Saturday wildflower walks at the Arboretum March 20 and April 3, and will sign copies of her books as well. See, photograph and learn native wildflowers — both common and rare — along Arboretum trails and in the gardens with experts every Saturday this month! Wildflower tours are included with daily admission of $7.50 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12.
Cass Blodgett reports: "greenery is thickening and overtaking the 'belly
flowers' such as Red Maids. Desert Rhubarb are displaying giant foliage
and red rhubarb stems and flower stalks. Early birds to explore the park
in the morning will be treated to yellow and white Primrose blooms; arrive
ere too late you'll miss them. Mexican Poppies seem likely to peak this
week with the warming temperatures. Look for nice patches along the Main
Trail as well as scattered blooms on the Sonoran Trail. Also look for the
bright patches of yellow Bladderpod Mustard at about trail marker #23.
Pink Parry's Penstemon will start to become a big source of color this
week; Brittlebush and Desert Marigold continue to add to the bloom. An
easy to overlook (but a gem to see) patch of Cream Cups (pictured left) are blooming on
the Main Trail at marker #20, on the north side. The Arboretum sports
three species of Lupines: Coulter's, Bajada and Silver Lupine. All
produce spikes of blue and purple flowers and their bloom is starting to
show. There are a few Spiderwort blooms but many more to come all along
the first half of the Main Trail. On the upper part of the Main Trail
Bluedicks are poking out of the brush in increasing numbers and they will
grow even more numerous in the next week. Wild Heliotrope add additional
patches of violet to the upper Main Trail and the observent hiker will
notice yellow Monkey Flowers in the wet ravines.
With the temperatures in
the 80s this week the Giant Bursage will add a musky spice to the air.
See if you can figure out which of the lush greenery is producing the
scent. Mexican Redbuds are the showiest of all the desert legume trees
and there is a spectacular one blooming in in the Desert Legume garden and
a couple more on the Chihuahua Trail. The High Trail is also getting lush
— the eastern half of the trail starting to look like veritable salad
bar. There are a few gems to see along the way including a few Desert
Anemones; Eatons Penstemon are still developing and could bloom any time
and the Bluedicks are underway as well. In the coming weeks expect
Wallflower (pictured right), Red Mint, and Desert Phlox to bloom along the High Trail.
The Mexican Gold Poppies are starting to be seen throughout the entire park at Picacho Peak State Park. The poppies are scattered throughout with little in the way of large fields. At this time, we are not seeing a mix of flowers, such as the lupine and Brittle Bush. We expect the amount to increase as long as the temperatures do not reach into the 80s.
Berberis (left) & Bladderpod (right)
Goldfields (left) & Mormon Tea (right)
Cass Blodgett reports: “Desert Lupines (Lupinus sparsiflorus) and Yellow Evening Primrose (Oenothera primiveris) are starting to bloom where the Silver King Wash crosses the main trail, and a bright patch of Mexican Poppy can be found along the Main Trail at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park — including one rare white flower along with the yellow.”
“Other Lupine blooms are just getting started along the Main Trail from the Cactus Garden all along the trail up towards the Picket Post Mansion viewpoint. A small display of Cream Cups (a less frequently seen desert poppy, Platystemon californicus) and a couple vivid yellow patches of Bladderpod Mustards can also be seen along the Main Trial through the Cactus Garden. Desert Marigold and Brittlebush are blooming throughout the park. Above Ayer Lake, patches of Bluedicks (pictured at left) (also known as Covena, Wild Hyacinth - Dichelostemma pulchellum) the most numerous and common of the desert lilies) are starting to bloom in numbers. The first, of hopefully many, Purple Bladderpods are blooming along the upper Main Trail near the Aye Lake overview — these have a deceptive name, the flower clusters are actually white.”
“Also, at left of the Main Trail as you walk uphill towards the mansion watch for the shallow, moist depression which has lots of non-native and invasive Henbit (clasping leaves, square stems of a mint-family plants - and with pretty purple flowers) and also a few, small, early Yellow Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) getting started. I almost forgot to mention the Redmaids — you’ll see this tiny, close-to-the-ground speading flowers throughout the Arboretum. A nice patch of Wild Heliotrope (violet blue flowers) with a few Mustard Primroses (pictured at right) mixed in are waiting just before the descent down to Queen Creek, and you can’t miss the sprawling vines of robust Wild Cucumber (Marah gilensis) which are climbing over jojoba and other shrubs along the creek — Marah plants are also below the visitor center and in most other collections throughout BTASP as well. They’re flowering now, look for tendrils of off-white “starfish-shaped” flowers.”
“Along the high trail the first Wallflower was in bloom last week, with more sure to come from March 12-19. Look up the rocky cliffs at the east section of the High Trail (the suspension bridge side) for Firecracker Penstemon (Eatonii) which should start blooming this week. BTASP’s High Trail is not wheelchair-accessible, but is an excellent place to look for wet patches of bright green mosses, desert ferns and Liverworts along with thick patches of Miners Lettuce and Bedstraw. Later in March (maybe even towards mid-April) the High Trail will have Red Mint, Desert Phlox and yellow bush penstemon.”
Picacho Peak State Park is still very green from the recent rains, but no wildflowers. With the late rains, it is uncertain if there will be ample time for the Mexican Gold Poppies and Lupine to grow throughout the park. At the park this coming weekend, March 13 & 14, is the annual Civil War in the Southwest event, learn more and watch a video .
Brittlebush (left) & Dayflower (right)
Globemallow (left) & Gold Poppies (right)
At Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park the Gold Poppy patches are thicker this week. The first Western Dayflower was photographed Wednesday, and unusual mallow species such as Abutilon palmeri are beginning to show. For the coming week wildflowers will be small and widely spaced; no “carpets of color” to report this early in the season, but there are at least two dozen species in bloom. The weekend of March 6 and 7 offers a great opportunity to explore the close-up setting on your camera.
Wildflower tour guide Cass Blodgett says drivers can expect to see roadside Goldpoppies, lupine and Parry's Penstemon bordering highway 60 from Florence Junction to the base of Gonzalez Pass — the final 15 minutes worth of your drive as you approach the Arboretum. Once at BTA the most common flowers are Red Maids, Pepperweed and Amsinckia. Mexican Goldpoppies can be seen and photographed in the Cactus Garden, along with Brittlebush, Desert Marigold, Apricot Globemallow and Wild Rhubarb. As of Wednesday there was one prominent blue Western Dayflower along the main trail in the cactus garden, and one lone Penstemon subulata. Watch for Bluedicks, Mormon Tea and and Fleabane Daisy as you continues above Ayer Lake.
On March 6 & 13 at 11 am, join Arizona State Parks Volunteer (and Arizona Native Plants Society) member Cass Blodgett for a Saturday morning guided wildflower walk; his tours continue each Saturday in March and are a chance to learn native wildflowers — both common and rare — along Arboretum trails and in the gardens.
Althought the desert at Lost Dutchman State Park is exceptionaly green this year from heavy winter rains, flowers are still a bit sparse. Do not expect a profuse bloom of poppies this year, although there are some currently blooming but they are small in size. Another few weeks may hold some promise.
Picacho Peak State Park has received over 6" of rain since September of '09. However, it has all came in late January. Typically, the rains need to start in the fall. With the late rains, it is uncertain if there will be ample time for the Mexican Gold Poppies and Lupine to grow throughout the park. To date, the park is greening up very nicely, with a blanket of green ground cover on the desert floor.
Bluedicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum) left & Manzanita (Arcostaphylos pringlei) right
Ragged Rock Flower (aka Rhyolite Bush, Crossosoma bigelovii) left & Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) right
Flowers appeared at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park the 3rd week of February — as of this report there are at least two dozen different species in bloom, but flowers are mostly small and widely spaced. No "carpets of color" to report quite this early in the season.
This weekend, Feb. 27-28, offers a great opportunity to explore the macro setting on your camera, though, and to enjoy signs of Spring: early wildflowers are adding color along the trails, and the first returning migrant Turkey Vulture was reported last week!
Arizona State Parks Volunteer Wildflower tour guide Cass Blodgett scouted the trails and gardens ahead of his March series of Saturday 11:00 am wildflower walks. Cass reports highway 60 towards the Arboretum has Goldpoppies along highway 60 around Florence Junction and Parry's Penstemon at the base of Gonzalez Pass. At the Arboretum he found Red Maids blooming along with Pepperweed and various native mustards. A few Goldpoppies can be found in the Cactus Garden, with Bladderpod imminent. Cass says the most observant flower-seekers will find a treasure in the tiny, moist “canyon-ette” about 50 yards uphill from Ayer Lake on the main trail where Bluedicks and Fleabane Daisy are blooming together. Look a few yards deeper into this seep and you see a beautiful Blue Toadflax in bloom. Another five minutes walk uphill along the Main Trail, Cass reports Larkspur shoots are emerging near the Picketpost Mansion overlook, then watch for Desert Mallow and Superstition Mallow blooming along the "Switchbacks" as you drop down towards Queen Creek. Marah gilensis (or “Wild Cucumber”) vines are thick and robust along the creek, climbing over jojoba and other shrubs -- and flowering strong this week with their tendrils of tiny, white, star-shaped blossoms. In this same area look for Rhyolite bush (also known as Ragged Rock Flower, or Crossosoma bigelovii) at the base of volcanic cliffs immediately to the right as you walk west after dropping from the “Switchbacks” down into Queen Creek Canyon.
Planning a drive east towards Globe? Watch for Deer Vetch flowering in Queen Creek Canyon, and lovely pink-and-white Manzanita flowers along highway 60 near the Oak Flat campground. No roadside Goldpoppies in Claypool, yet.
Check out the 2009 Ranger Cam
Check out the 2008 Ranger Cam
State Park Rangers use digital cameras to capture the weekly changes in the desert as the ground starts to warm and the flowers germinate.
To take your own photographs, rangers recommend a piece of black velvet for photo backgrounds. Wildflower books are available with brochures and maps in rural areas at all the State Parks. For more information on Arizona’s State Parks’ wildflowers call the hotline at (602) 542-4988 or track the blooms on the RANGER CAM at AZStateParks.com/rangercam.
The Native Plant laws that protect plants everywhere in Arizona require that you not harm the plants. This includes digging them up, shooting them, stealing skeletons, collecting the seeds or picking the flowers. About 30 different plants and almost all cacti are on the Native Plant protected lists. There are civil penalties and fines ranging up to $2500 and 6 months in jail for violating these laws. In State and National Parks the laws are even more specific. You can't collect plants, harm plants or animals, pick up any type of plant skeletons, collect wood, or pick up archaeological or historical objects or even take rocks from the Parks.
Check out the 2009 Ranger Cam
Check out the 2008 Ranger Cam
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