A Different Perspective

This shot required a little dirty work.  I wanted to get as low as possible so I was not only looking up at the tree but also at the flowers, the the extent that was possible without digging myself a hole.  So by lying down on the ground and getting the camera as low as I could I was able to achieve the bugs-eye-view I wanted.

Apache Lake is a series of four lakes on the Arizona Salt River that are the result of damming the river for power generation and flood control.  So although it may not be entirely “natural,” in the sense that man had a significant role in its formation, it is still a beautiful spot in a beautiful state.

The hunt for wildflowers in the desert is on.  With heavier than usual rains this winter the promise of a bumper crop of desert wildflowers has been enticing for photographers.  The various wildflower spotting sites have had reports coming in from all over Arizona of sightings of everything from Mexican Poppies to Lupine and Globemallow.  I headed east of Phoenix this past weekend along the Apache trail and although there were not carpets of wildflowers covering the landscape they are starting to pop up mostly along the roadsides.  I would anticipate in another couple of weeks we are going to see some spectacular displays far beyond the medians.

I am by no means an expert on identifying wildflowers but with the help of a guide like National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region I think I have come pretty close to getting the flowers I saw identified.  Please let me know if I have gotten any wrong.  The flower to the left is the Desert Chia (Salvia columbariae).  It almost looks like it is two flowers in one with the smaller blue flowers attached to the larger deep purple ball of spines.

Coulter’s Globemallow

Apache Lake Arizona

Apache Lake is east of Phoenix and was formed with the damming of the Salt River by the Horse Mesa Dam in 1927.  It is one of a series of 3 lakes formed by dams on the Salt River along a stretch of Highway 88 also known as the Apache Trail.  There are some prime opportunities to capture some beautiful Arizona landscape photographs along this stretch of the Apache Trail.

I am almost hesitant to let out the secret of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.  If you did not know it was there you would easily miss it.  There are no roadside signs indicating its distance from your current location or “next left.”  But if you know where to look or just stumble up on it, this area of Southern Arizona is simply amazing.  The rolling hills and vast grasslands were once private ranch land and are now managed by the Bureau of Land Management as a national conservation area.  Landscape and nature photography opportunities are abundant.

Arizona Grasslands

Historic Empire Ranch

An Arizona Landscape

Arizona Wildflower Photography is Sure to be Amazing this Spring

I may be jumping ahead of myself with this title.  The Arizona wildflowers are not blooming quiet yet in most places.  But with weekend after weekend of rain that we have had over the last few months it is a pretty good bet that there should be some fantastic displays once the warmer weather has lingered around for a while.  We are getting up into the 70s with the 80s just around the corner.  So we should be seeing the wildflowers start popping up any time now.  April and maybe even May are sure to have some great wildflower photograph opportunities.

Here are some resources to keep an eye on to make sure you do not miss out of the wildflowers in Arizona this spring as well as a few spots around that state that I have seen great displays in years past.

Wildflower Resources

1. A great source for all things desert the Desert Botanical Garden’s Wildflower Info Site features regular reports from around the state on wildflower sitings.
2. Check out desertusa.com’s Desert Wildflower Reports 2010 for more regular wildflower reports and updates from around the Phoenix area.
3. An excellent resource for most everything Arizona related, Arizona Highways has a statewide Arizona Wildflower Guide that lists spots throughout Arizona to spot and photograph this spring’s blooms.

Arizona Wildflower Spots of Note

1. In Southern Arizona I have found wildflowers as far as the eye can see in the Saguaro National Park West (although the East park is sure to have similar displays).
2. In the Phoenix area South Mountain Park & Preserve is a great spot right within the city to spot several desert wildflower varieties.
3. Not too far from South Mountain the Desert Botanical Garden’s Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Trail brings flowers from all over the state to one spot.  This is a great first stop on your hunt to familiarize yourself with all the varieties and their names.
4. East of Phoenix Usery Mountain Regional Park has had a lot to offer in years past and is sure to not disappoint this spring.