Desert Spoon ..Superbloom??..

[Silas_Sancona]

Alluded to in another thread, it seems that the wetter than average fall-spring, combined with a cooler than is typical spring has brought on some sort of mass flowering on Dasylirion wheeleri specimens planted all over this side of the general Phoenix area.   While the following pictures taken earlier are from near the Mall here in Chandler,  the same mass flowering seen here is what i am observing all over chandler and surrounding areas. 
   Living here since spring of 2016, i'd see a few flowering in neighborhoods, or commercial landscapes here and there this time of year.   This year .. i'd put a rough estimate of 9 out of every 10 specimens seen are throwing flower spikes at the moment. While i certainly wouldn't advise not paying attention to the road while driving, this "event" if you will, is easily noticed as you drive around, especially where the species is used en-masse in landscapes.

Thinking about other possible reasons for a mass bloom like this, i'd be hard pressed to believe every single specimen i'm seeing w/ flowers across town are the same age.. Weather conditions have to play some part in it.. @Tom in Tucson @TexasColdHardyPalms Any additional thoughts? anyhow, a few pictures..

Taken across from Chandler Fashion Plaza / Mall, west of Chandler Blvd and the 101. While taken in different areas of this particular shopping center, same view is common around town atm.. Pretty neat, imo.   Can see some of the Saguaro across the street in Picture #2 are flowering also.


-Nathan

[jimmyt]

Pic #1.  What are the taller specimens in the background.  Are those older sotols with spent bloom spikes or completely different plants(yucca, etc.)

 

jimmyt

[Silas_Sancona]

40 minutes ago, jimmyt said:

Pic #1.  What are the taller specimens in the background.  Are those older sotols with spent bloom spikes or completely different plants(yucca, etc.)

 

jimmyt

Older Yucca elata specimen. Surprisingly, aside from some of the newer developments, large specimens of native Yucca species are something you don't see used much in landscapes here. There is a nicely landscape street median not far from the house that contains some decent sized Y. faxoniana that flowered back in early April.

[jimmyt]

I see now.  Thanks for the info Silas! I hope mine will get that big someday!

[Silas_Sancona]

19 minutes ago, jimmyt said:

I see now.  Thanks for the info Silas! I hope mine will get that big someday!

I hear ya, have a small Y. elata myself.. keep telling it to grow faster, lol.  City of Chandler has been using Yucca pallida in some of the street median re designs they have been doing lately.  Was hoping to add a few to a project i did earlier this spring and grab a couple for my collection but a pain in the rear to find any in local nurseries.