Mike in the Wild

A return visit to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix I made a Sunday morning visit to our world-class desert plant museum and education center. With wildflower season peaking in the local deserts, it was an opportunity to see spectacular blooms of a wider variety of other plants, succulents and cacti.  The star blooms seemed to be on the palo verde, which is Arizona's state tree.  Crisp, blue skies were a beautiful background for their yellow blossoms.  And it was the first time I was able to visit the brand new butterfly pavilion, exhibiting hundreds of live native species. An explosion of prickly pear cactus blooms. Blooms on a type of hedgehog cactus. Palo verde tree and its blooms. Its green bark helps you quickly identify the tree when it's not blooming. Palo verde blooms against the blue sky. Additional blooms. While Washington, DC's cherry trees are blooming pink right now, AZ's palo verde trees are blooming yellow. Thi...

After almost a week of near-record heat, I took a hike back into the neighboring park to see the effect on the blooms and landscape. It wasn't a difficult choice of excursions, as the trails of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve are an easy walk from my community. And even on a hot day, the morning weather is still perfect.  While I accessed the mountains the same way, I took a different route on the hike, exploring higher in the park.  But I didn't venture as high as Piestewa Peak, the 2,600 foot signature feature of the preserve. It's a steep 1,200 foot ascent from its trailhead and is more of an aerobic work-out than a nature walk. Nonetheless I covered more than six miles, enjoying new views and discoveries.  While Mexican gold poppies have definitely peaked in this area, there are other new blooms and the loud cacophony of birds reminding us it is indeed Spring in the desert. Starting at the very last parking area, I made a circle on the north loop of  Trail ...

The Salt River flows through the heart of the Valley, supplying much of our drinking water. It starts high in the rim country and the White Mountains, collecting rain water and snow melt into a series of lakes and reservoirs.  But below its lowest lake, Saguaro Lake, it runs free and unimpeded for a number of miles before it's dammed and diverted to a network of canals that water a thirsty metropolis.  This lower Salt River is a lush and verdant riparian system that supports both sportsmen and wildlife.  And it's only a thirty-five minute drive east from central Phoenix, promising a wonder of unique and beautiful desert landscapes. Just below Saguaro Lake starts the beautiful lower Salt River. A view almost 14 miles downriver before most of the water is diverted to canals below Granite Reef Dam. There is some unique birding in the area, with a combination of water and desert dwellers in close proximity.  This is a greater yellowlegs, maybe the first ...