Western Wildflowers ..Spring 2023

[Silas_Sancona]

After an unexpectedly wet winter for many areas of the west this year,  spring natives should be spectacular over the coming weeks / months.

Starting this thread ahead of time so that all may have time to plan a trip somewhere to see one of the many great things about living in the Western U.S..



While seemingly early, parts of Anza Borrego are already seeing "spring" color due in part to rains that fell in October/ early November. https://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html


With the extra rainfall that has fallen across the deserts of CA since then, anticipate that the main show should be great.  Also anticipate this will be one of those years not to be missed across most of the state itself.

Since we've done alright this winter also, spring displays should lean better than average here in central AZ and adjacent states this year,  esp. up in the foothills / mountains north and east of Phoenix.

Get out, take some pictures,  and enjoy..

**Reminder, when posting, post both the common and correct scientific plant names, next to the pictures of each species observed.** 

Desert USA's Wildflower Reports  are a great online reference as to which areas are in their prime as we head into and through the spring.

[Patrick]

Great idea! I bet there will be a lot of action out in the CA desert this year...

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Patrick said:

Great idea! I bet there will be a lot of action out in the CA desert this year...

Deserts wil be good.. Expect all of the state to be quite a sight as well.   We'll  see who actually  gets off their butts and out getting some pictures, lol. 

 Have lots of miles penciled in over the next few months here for sure.  Very early to think about,  but crosing my fingers for one more good summer this year.  Would be the icing on the cake since having both is very uncommon.  Usually are gifted with one or the other.  

[Hillizard]

California Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia californica) is a native and not as showy as the more tropical species. It's the main food source for pipevine swallowtail butterflies (Battus philenor) larvae: https://baynature.org/article/dutchmans-pipe-is-the-only-pipevine-native-to-california/ The flowers of this vine 'enlist' flies in their pollination process.

This plant took three years to get established and start blooming. It's growing in my backyard on the stems of a Tecoma, which shades it from hot summer sun. No sign yet of pipevine swallowtails, but I remain hopeful!🙂

[Hillizard]

Posted in wrong section. Will repost in more appropriate🙄 section.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

Start of the 2023 spring season color in the desert..


While everything is green, overall,  a bit surprised to see how short some of the native annual stuff is considering the rain we'd received back in December.  Could be this area of the valley ( S.E. end of the San Tan Mountains ) didn't get quite as rainfall much as other areas.. Will be interesting to compare different areas later.  Regardless, not a ton of color out here yet, but enough..

Brittlebush w/ the Northeastern face of the Malpias Hills in the background.



Main show on the slopes / in and near washes atm is Gordon's Bladderpod, ( Physaria gordonii ) one of 2 or 3 Physaria  species native to the area..









One and only Coulter's Lupine ( Lupinus sparsiflorus ) encountered in flower.. Other specimens encountered about 2 weeks away from flowering.





Phacelia species ..probably P. distans  about a week from flowering.

[Silas_Sancona]

3 hours of Sniffing around the Telegraph Hill section of South Mountain ( South Mountain County Park )

Despite all the rain we'd received back in Dec / Jan., surprised at how dry it looks out here.. Plenty of color on some hillsides, but not near as much as there was the last time i was out here after the last " wet winter" ...19? 0r 20??..

Even up on the ridge / north facing slopes tucked between it and another to the west, some splashes of color on near and more distant slopes, but definitely subdued compared to the last time up there.. 

Some other stuff, for another thread, as well.

Main things on display atm is Notch Leaf Phacelia, Phacelia crenulata, Mex. Gold Poppies, Eschscholzia californica var. mexicana,  and Coulter's Lupine, Lupinus sparsiflorus.  Some Bladderpod, AZ. Lupine, ..other stuff scattered about as well.

Notch leaf Phacelia :  Note in one of the photos, some the Echinocereus out there are already putting on flower buds behind the Phacelia...













Possibly Phacelia distins, but color seems too dark ( Flowers of that species are usually an obvious light Blue ) Surprised to have not seen much -if any- of that species. Is usually very common above the flats on the hilltops.






Mex. Gold Poppies :



















Coulter's Lupine :











AZ. Lupine, Lupinus arizonicus :





One of several plants called "Sun Cups". Not 100% sure which Genus, but possibly something in Chylismia..  Just starting to flower in some spots on the flats.



..Erodium sp., Likely E. texanum, Texas Stork's Bill.. Most of the Crane's / Stork's Bills are weedy introduced plants from the Mediterranean but this one is native. Occurs here and there on hot, gravely slopes, but is never overly prevalent.



Desert Plantain ( Plantago ovata. ) ..Believe we have a couple natives, but most sp. encountered in AZ are introduced sp. from other parts of the world. A source of Psyllium Fiber.



Globemallow ( Sphaeralcea ) sps...  First is S. coulteri, a first encounter of this particular species..  Second is the orange flowered form of the common, S. ambigua,  Apricot / Desert Globemallow. There was a pink flowered specimen nearby, but didn't see it until pulling out of the parking lot.







Dudleya saxosa.. Panamint Liveforever / Dudleya  I'd encountered a couple specimens of these up here a few years ago. this was the only one i noticed this time.. One of those plants that occurs in both S.Cal. and Central AZ. More common in the mountains east of Phoenix, than here / in other mountain islands on the west / south side of town.





Not flowering, but worthy inclusions, since the idea of both occurring in a place that gets very little rain, and can see temperatures over 130F+ ( ground level ) for several months would seem a big contradiction to those not well versed in arid-environment ecology / evolution..

Anytime i come across a steep, shaded rock face, especially if north facing or shaded, ...esp. if near / in a wash,  i'll carefully examine it, even from a distance, for ferns..  Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes there isn't anything growing in what might look like an ideal spot.  Lucked out finding these Star Cloaks ( Nothlaena standleyi ) tucked under a ledge along a wash that is shaded by some short Ironwoods ( Olneya tesota ).  Seedling plant on the left is probably a Phacelia.   Some Cyanobacterial crust on the Granite above right of the Star Cloak.




More Star Cloaks in a different spot, ..more where i'd expect to find any, if present here. Don't remember seeing any last time.  ( North facing side of a rock ledge, up on top of the ridge where cooler / exposed to breezes. )



Gold colored undersides of a Frond.



One of our native Spike Mosses, Selaginella sp. Pretty sure it is S. arizonica.

[Silas_Sancona]

Spring flowering stuff from out east of Florence / along the way back today.. As seems to be the case each time i visit that area, encountered a few things i hadn't observed out there in the past..

Acmispon rigidus,



Eriogonum fasciculatum v. flavoviride, ( Sonoran Desert California Buckwheat )



Calliandra eriophylla,





Oenothera sp.





Anemone tuberosa, first observations of plants in flower.. and in a different area then where i noted some a few years ago.  Always blows my mind seeing these growing next to Hedgehog Cacti ( Echinocereus ) and Saguaro.











Another "previously not encountered in the past" encounter here today.. Largeflower Onion, Allium macropetalum.  Nearest iNat observations of the species are from several miles to the north, up in the hills above the Gila River.  Like many Wild Onion sps. bulbs of this sp. are supposedly edible, but need to do more research.



Lupinus coccinnus





Chia, Same plant marketed for growing " Chia Pets "



Fiddleneck



Just another episode of  " that NO-ID DYC " ( Danm Yellow Composite )



Roadside Lupinus sparsiflorus







Desert / Apricot Globemallow, probably S. ambigua



Desert Marigold ( Easy to ID DYC, haha )





Ehpedra sp.





Noted several areas near Florence where Bladderpod ( Fendler's or Gordon's ) were covering the ground below Creosote Bush flats in carpets of gold.





Extensive enough this year that you can see patches of the stuff growing on hillsides from a distance also.



Taking a detour on the way back, seeing how close i could get to the section of the San Tan Mountains that sit inside the Gila River Indian Community,  lots ( ..and lots ) of Coulter's Globemallow carpeting areas below the hills right now.









Coulter's Globemallow and Bladderpod carpeting the desert in this area.



 

Edited March 8 by Silas_Sancona
edit

[Silas_Sancona]

After picking up a few things, more enjoying this year's super bloom.. this time on the way to.. and back from Tucson.. have to say, while past wet winter years have been great, this year seems supercharged.. For as dry and sad looking as the desert can look some years, amazing what some rainfall does, both in summer and winter.

Unfortunately, in the case of these shots, a majority of the " Yellow" flowering plants are invasive Stinknet / Globe Chamomile. Might look pretty to some, but this quick spreading winter Annual can cause big problems once it dries out. Also can cause allergy issues / contact reactions when handled. 









This is different from the native Bladderpod which is still lighting up a few areas..



Lupinus sparsiflorus peaking pretty much everywhere atm.. Along both the U.S. 79, between Florence and a few miles north of Oracle Junction, and a roughly 6-8 mile stretch of Park Link RD ( Goes from near Picacho to where intersects the 79 ) both sides of the road are bathed in robes of blue violet for about as far as the eye can see..











Palo Verde branch doing it's best Palm frond impression, lol.














Some stuff seen while stopping at a specific spot along Park Link:

Bladderpod



Bajada Lupine



Onethera sp.



Spreading Woollystar, Eriastrum diffusum





...As if the Lupine isn'tn't spread around enough color,  Coulter's Globemallow is setting large areas of the desert ablaze atm.













.........







 

[Silas_Sancona]

Oak Flat Spring Color ..And a few things seen while walking to the gas station later on, lol..

Arctostaphylos pungens, Pointleaf Manzanita





Cercocarpus ( Mountain Mahogany ) sp..  Not settled on exactly which one though.





Gooddings Verbena









Globemallow ..not sure sp. which though.. Jusstt starting their season up here. Other sp(s) further down the hill toward / west of Superior are full of color atm.











Locoweed ( Genus Astragalis, ..pretty sure anyway ) #1. First observations of this Genus here in Arizona. Not sure which species.







Purple False Gilia,  Allophyllum gilioides.. Part of a disjunct population of the species that occurs in the foothills of Cen. AZ.  Main center of distribution is California. Another first encounter.





Seep Monkeyflower





Blue Dicks, Wild / Desert Hyacinth, Dipterostemon capitatus, ***Formally Dichelostemma pulchella *** ( new Taxon is an new one to me )  Those who are quite familiar w/ the species have seen more than their fare share of standard blue-flowered specimens..  How 'bout stumbling upon a completely Alba form..  Pretty neat find.








Gilia sp.. Possibly Lesser YellowThroat, but not completely sure..  Both the standard, blue-ish violet, and white-flowered forms.








Western Wallflower ..First encounter of these here in AZ..









Growing next to the Wallflower, another Mustard-family native.. After lots of searching / comparing finite details, closest possible ID for this one is LyreLeaf  Rockcress, Arabidopsis lyrata, which is more typically found in the N.E. U.S., and sub-Arctic regions in the N. hemisphere, though it occurs sporadically here and there in the mountains of the western / Southwest.





NOID / DYC  bushy/ grassy-looking  Damm Yellow Composite Thingy   ..That smells like Cat Pee   ..Yummy, LOL.. 🙃🤣



Have probably seen specific, selected forms of this plant in the garden center.. This however is one of the tougher wild forms.. Westerm Mugwort / Silver Wormwood, Artemisia ludoviciana.  Eye catching silvery foliage, and a nice ..but not too strong.. scent to the foliage ( ..Compared to some other Artemisia - Genus Sagebrushes )




Fragrant Sumac ..Or  Skunkbush ( look similar / Both sp. supposedly occur up here. Foliage on both is kind of stinky, ..Skunkbush more so.  )





...............




 

[Silas_Sancona]

.....

Excellent photographic example of Shrubby Deer vetch, seated next to Dasylirion wheeleri.







Spreading Fleabane..





Native Thistle sp.






Bigelow's Bristlehead, Carphochaete bigelovii



Penstemon pseudospectabilis.. Like some other Penstemon sps., this species exhibits variation in the amounts of Betalain pigment present in the foliage / stems. Some individuals are solid green, while others, such as those pictured, easily catch one's attention as you pass by.  Much more common than i'd observed on past visits and just starting their flowering cycle.


















Locoweed #2 observed after climbing down a hill on my way to a gas station after the tire went flat.. Not sure which sp, but different from the other observed up top at the Flat. There are two Genus of plants that are commonly called "Locoweed / Milkvetches"  Astragalus and Oxytropis..  Astragalus  is the only " Locoweed" Genus which occurs in lower elevation areas of the Southwest. Oxytropis generally replaces Astragalus at middle and higher elevation regions of the mountains. Lots of really cool species in both Genus, even if foliage/flowers/ seedpods/ roots of both are very toxic if ingested.





Globemallow and Penstemon parryi observed on my unscheduled "Sunday Walk", haha..











A few other shots on the way up the hill earlier in the day.. Had planned to hit a few other spots on the way back down from Oak Flat but ...obviously those plans got scrapped.  Regardless, lots ..and lots of color out in the desert right now.  We'll see if i can get back out there before everything shuts down for the spring.

[Silas_Sancona]

With the tires did, ( ..and the battery, it died too between getting both tires, lol April.👎 ) Back on the road..

While the late Spring blast furnace continues cooking everything to a golden brown crisp down low, slightly higher up, where late- May heat hasn't reached just yet, native stuff continues the show until the rains arrive ..err, actual monsoon- spurred rainfall arrives.   That said, had an unexpected encounter with  " a devil " just as the weather plays a wild card..



Chaparral Honeysuckle, Lonicera interrupta









Red Four-O'-Clock, Mirabilis coccinea.. That makes 2 of 3 sps that occur in the area observed up there.. Two forms of this species.. A vivid Magenta, and the more typical bright Carmine-Red



















Wollystar sp. ( Eriastrum ) Possibly Desert Wollystar, Eriastrum eremicum.





Apache Plume,  Fallugia paradoxa












Perityle sp..  Just hangin out up here, under a dead Oak, watching over everything..










Rough Menodora,  Menodora scabra







Little-Leaf Rhatany, Krameria erecta










While the main show is done, still plenty of Desert Penstemon, Penstemon pseudospectabalis in flower.





Hollyleaf Redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia



Narrow-Leaved Yerba Santa, Eriodictylon  angustifolium







Not flowering, but Cercocarpus ( Mountain Mahogany ) looking quite lush atm. ..Possibly Birchleaf..  Alderleaf occurs nearby as well.





Funastrum cynanchoides



Mojave Desert California Buckwheat,  Eriogonum fasciculatum v. polifolium



..And the Devil..  ...Devilish Blonde that is.  While i've seen plants in the " just starting to sprout for the summer " life cycle stage,  encountering a specimen that is already flowering this early, is a bit less common. Only specimen i noted doing so in this area ( ..and only the second plant encountered doing -anything- yet  up there )

Desert Unicorn Plant, Perennial / Yellow Devil's Claw, Proboscidea althaeifolia..













Ironic that my favorite blonde and i meet the same week the weather decided to provide a respectable dose of Monsoon like conditions..  Hopefully it won't be long before the other blonde devils awaken from their dry season nap to hook me, and other admirers in again.


Staying on the subject of Summer for a sec, just finished sowing Wild / Native Sunflowers, and Orange / Yellow Cosmos in a couple of the cutout beds along the back wall. Planning on getting more Wild Sunflower / other Cosmos seed down out front tomorrow.. More " Exotic " Sunflowers will get sown in another 3 weeks..    Tis' the Season...

[Silas_Sancona]

While most of the " Spring season " things have long since gone dormant for the year, still some " Late Season ' things from the Flat which help bridge the gap between the two major seasons here ( Winter / Spring, & Monsoon end of Summer / Autumn )


As nasty as getting snagged by / trying to pass through patches of this plant is, the flowers are interesting at least.. Powerfully fragrant as well, something i hadn't anticipated. For a few moments at least, when there was a breeze blowing over a patch of it nearby, i'd thought there might be a few other hikers nearby,  ..The kind that might wear alluring perfume,  haha.

Catclaw Mimosa, Mimosa aculeaticarpa.. Nasty to rub up against, Scent brings back memories..







Unlike the menace cat claw can be, these are thorn-less.. Praire Acacia, Acaciella angustissima








Colorado Four-o'- Clock, Mirabilis multiflora..  That is now 3 ..or 4..  Mirabilis  species observed out there..  Was able to collect some seed off some Mirabilis coccinea ( Red Four-o'- Clock ) to trial though re-locating plants was a challenge since most had either gone to seed, and/or  had been mowed down by native grazers since last month's check in..












Unexpected surprise:  Beardlip Penstemon, Penstemon barbatus.  One of the Summer-flowering sps that is normally found at somewhat cooler middle and higher altitudes in the Mountains in AZ, N.M., W. TX, and Mexico ...To about Oaxaca. 

Have a pair planted to trial here ( in shade, on regular water / drip < 1/2 to 1 hour = once or 2x's / week this time of year ) and they seem to be hanging tough, though they haven't grown a ton. 

While Oak Flat / surrounding areas are higher than the valley, i wasn't sure if the altitude was " high enough " ..overall environment ideal to find any there. Hadn't noticed any during any of the past visits.   Surprise.. Found at least two, widely separated specimens growing in the shade of Emory Oak and Point Leaf Manzanita. 

...Yep, " Fuzz " on the lower lip of the flowers, how the the opening of them is angled are distinct for the species..  Only other Red-Flowered Penstemon which could be found here would be Eaton's / Firecracker, and Hackberry Penstemons  and both flower in early /mid spring, and are completely tubular ...the flower structure.. No fuzz on any of the flower parts, slanted opening of the flowers themselves. 

Bridges' Penstemon, a similar - looking species,  which also occurs across the mountains of S. Cal / Central and Southern Sierra,  may also grow nearby but flowers lack the Fuzzy " Beard " on them.  A couple other red flowered, summer flowering sps are more restricted to areas within New Mexico, far S. AZ and Mexico ...and/or extreme W/ TX.

Serves as a good reason that when evaluating the flora of a particular area, pays to visit -as often as possible-,  just to see what unexpected things might turn up.

Aye' there guy...  got some pollen in ya Beard.. Might wanna clean ya' self up a bit ..
























More Perityle ..somethin'.. ( They're are many, and it can be a bit of a pain trying to figure which is which sometimes. Qualifies as a DYC = " Dang " Yellow Composite )

...just hangin,'  ..hangin there on a rh'aak  ..or in the crack of one..  So, how do they " stick " to near vertical / vertical Rock surfaces.. Spidy sense?, Alien intelligence?  Naah..  Seeds evolved a neat little trick that allows them to stick to the surface of stone, while they germinate / begin to establish themselves..  Yes, if you have similar conditions, and can collect seed, you can get them to grow on rock surfaces in a garden too.  Sly little buggers..
 

[Hillizard]

On 5/20/2023 at 7:24 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

With the tires did, ( ..and the battery, it died too between getting both tires, lol April.👎 ) Back on the road..

While the late Spring blast furnace continues cooking everything to a golden brown crisp down low, slightly higher up, where late- May heat hasn't reached just yet, native stuff continues the show until the rains arrive ..err, actual monsoon- spurred rainfall arrives.   That said, had an unexpected encounter with  " a devil " just as the weather plays a wild card..



Chaparral Honeysuckle, Lonicera interrupta









Red Four-O'-Clock, Mirabilis coccinea.. That makes 2 of 3 sps that occur in the area observed up there.. Two forms of this species.. A vivid Magenta, and the more typical bright Carmine-Red







😉











Wollystar sp. ( Eriastrum ) Possibly Desert Wollystar, Eriastrum eremicum.





Apache Plume,  Fallugia paradoxa












Perityle sp..  Just hangin out up here, under a dead Oak, watching over everything..










Rough Menodora,  Menodora scabra







Little-Leaf Rhatany, Krameria erecta










While the main show is done, still plenty of Desert Penstemon, Penstemon pseudospectabalis in flower.





Hollyleaf Redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia



Narrow-Leaved Yerba Santa, Eriodictylon  angustifolium







Not flowering, but Cercocarpus ( Mountain Mahogany ) looking quite lush atm. ..Possibly Birchleaf..  Alderleaf occurs nearby as well.





Funastrum cynanchoides




Nathan: It's great to see how some of these species grow and bloom in their natural habitats versus what they look like in my tiny front yard!






I

 

[Silas_Sancona]

15 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

 

It is..

That said, even in the tiny-est of yard space, there's a lot of neat options to fill the gaps between other stuff / niches -in the yard- that are tough as nails, and won't require much -if any- extra care, once established .. ..Generally anyway.

Completely get what you're saying though ..We all could use a bigger patch of land to play with...

[amh]

Some late spring monarda blooms in the back pasture.