The beautiful Arizona desert.

We’re on Wildflower Watch 2010 here in Arizona. We’ve had more rain since January 1st than what we received in all of 2009, which is going to make for some spectacular wildflower scenery in the next couple of weeks. I shall trek out with my camera and report back here with our experience, but for now I thought I would post a handful of locations to be on the lookout for, in case you’d like to go see the wildflower display yourself.

1. Lost Dutchman State Park – Apache Junction. Located in the Sonoran Desert, this park has a network of trails that take you through the Superstition Mountains for some exceptional views of the valley below. Wildlife, and wildflowers, are abundant. Watch where you step so you don’t surprise a snoozing rattlesnake! If you’re planning on checking out this park, though, you’d better go quick! The Lost Dutchman is slated to be closed on June 3rd, along with thirteen other Arizona State Parks. I’ll be posting an article about this later on in the week. Suffice to say, we Arizonans are pretty ticked off about the whole thing.

Saguaro National Monument, Tucson, Arizona

2. The Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, located in Superior, is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. It is managed in cooperation with Arizona State University and provides regularly scheduled wildflower walks throughout March and April. Desert plants dominate the scenery, with towering trees (they hold an annual tree climbing contest, even!), various species of cacti, mountain cliffs, forests, lakes, canyons, specialty gardens and more. There are also plenty of opportunities to view local wildlife in their natural habitat.

3. The San Domingo Wash near Morristown is a fascinating look back into Arizona’s rich mining history. It can be a challenge to find this area – much of it is offroad – so here is some detailed directions to help you out. There is a network of old abandoned mines and mills (visitors are encouraged to be extremely cautious as many of the buildings and shafts are not inspected for safety). Grave sites dot the area and remind us of the grueling lifestyle the workers endured in order to make a living. The San Domingo Wash is also a popular location for amateur “placer” gold discovery.

A Fairy Duster in the Arizona Desert.

4. Saguaro National Park in Tucson boasts over 165 miles of hiking trails, weaving among the largest concentration of saguaro cacti in the world. In a few weeks the wildflowers along the desert floor, as well as the blooms of the cacti themselves, will be at their peak. Common wildlife include the coyote, Gambel’s quail, and desert tortoise, all of which are a delight to view in their natural habitat.

5. Just drive. Drive anywhere along the desert highways, biways, and local road systems. Head off towards the mountains, where the varying elevations will afford you with a variety of visual treats. Explore the dirt roads of the backcountry, and stop wherever there’s a handy turnoff and go trekking into the desert. There are some very important things to be aware of, though. Wear hiking boots or other sturdy footwear, and long pants – much of the flora in Arizona thorny, and there are also such concerns as snakes and scorpions and other biting and stinging beasties. WATCH WHERE YOU STEP, NEVER turn over rocks or stick your hand into a place you can’t see into, and if you do happen upon a venomous creature, BACK SLOWLY AWAY and DO NOT antagonize it. Do NOT remove any of the plants or cacti you come across – in many instances, disturbing the plantlife is illegal. Bring plenty of water – it may be the cool season in the desert, but the sun is still strong and dehydration is still a danger. Tell people where you are going – breakdowns occur all the time, and it’s also very easy to get turned around and lost in the desert and mountains of Arizona. If you follow these tips and use your common sense, you can spend a beautiful day enjoying everything the desert has to offer.

Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- “Beautiful Arizona” by Eflon on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Camera 538″ by Blujns on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Fairy Duster” by Diane AZ on Flickr Creative Commons.