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It's looking bleak for the desert ranges where I enjoy them most... BYOW

The Autumn Foliage Reports on the home page should automatically switch to Spring Wildflower Reports on Jan 1st.

We should start a thread predicting which awesome area will be burnt to the ground this year.

joe bartels wrote:http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?ID=39
Talk is cheap, stick with Hike Arizona

...oops...

Hopefully with the last band of showers we'll start seeing wildflowers in the deserts in about two weeks if the temps hold below the 80s. Currently there's also a 50% chance of rain on Sat too.

I can hardly wait...

Alright, ya'll. I expect to hear some reports after you folks go hiking this weekend! Of course it doesn't really matter. The flowers will be what they are. Good or non-existant when I arrive. I'll take what I get! But I'd still like to hear what you're seeing!

i saw what appeared to be african daisys growing wild along tatum this past w/e. hmm.. now where's those gold poppies?

Ocotillos are blooming along the new trail we built yesterday in Saguaro NP East, and I saw some fairy dusters in town with blooms. I have also seen Desert Marigolds around town.

Saw Lupines along the Beeline between Gilbert and Shea last night... But just next to the pavement...

Not sure what's happening around the rest of the valley deserts but the White Tanks have been pounded repeatedly off and on for the last two hours

Noticed random African Daisies on the way to the preserves today. Granted it was in the city but the church around 20th st and Lincoln has a thick and healthy poppy display.

We saw very few if any on the Climb to Conquer Cancer yesterday, and if there is going to be a season, this is often the time for it.

Had an old timer once tell me when the desert gets lots of rain it's either a grass year or a flower year. I'm betting it's a grass year but hoping I'm wrong. Saw a few poppies this weekend.

Yesterday we saw some Lupine along the Old Dutchman as it comes down to the Peralta TH from the east.

I saw a few poppies sprouting along the crosscut trail today. Very, very isolated, though.

Poppies are opening up along Oracle Road (State Route 77) near Oracle Junction this weekend...could be a good sign...

The photos coming in are starting show signs of taller grasses Hopefully it won't be widespread.

Even with few wildflowers the repeated rains are really something this year! Maybe I'll pull a rusty and rename the thread 2010 Waterfall Season

Poppies starting at the Kings Canyon trail head in SNP - West as of this morning!

Black Mesa from Spur Cross trail looked very grass-y

Not enough rain in October and November for the best desert display. We should have a good White Mtns. season, late August thru Sept is best time, although midsummer can be ok.

Contrary to odd popular belief... Oct to mid Nov is too early. Late Nov & Dec yes but before that doesn't really factor in unless you're hoping for early December wildflowers. I have been tracking them for ten years now and the earliest we've ever seen wide spread cover is early January not pre-Christmas. We have seen late December results but not wide spread color that some only associate as worthy.

Definitely too late this season for full spread coverage but there have been notable sightings
The rare water shows are more of interest this year

Well, I'm back from my long weekend to AZ. Organ Pipe Cactus NM was awesome! I saw a few poppies, but I guess there just weren't many there. But I saw a few!