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March 2012

Table of Contents

Features

WILDFLOWERS 2012
Of the many portfolios we do every year, this one is among the most popular. Part of that is the photography, but the allure is magnified by the fact that wildflowers are so unlikely in a harsh desert environment. There's wonderment in our collection, but if you really want to see the lupines and larkspurs, flip to page 30 and check out some of our favorite wildflower hikes and scenic drives.

IN SEARCH OF GLEN CANYON
Lake Powell has had its ups and downs over the past
10 years, revealing long-lost environmental treasures at the reservoir's lowest levels, and then reburying them as the water rises up again. Regardless of volume, these riches are always available, in one form or another, but getting to them isn't always easy.
By Annette McGivney
Photographs by James Kay

LAVENDER FIELDS FOREVER
Mike Teeple didn't set out to become the Emeril Lagasse of lavender plants. He just wanted a few ornamental shrubs for his fruit orchard. So much for that. With 35,000 plants in the ground, the man behind Red Rock Farms is now a resident expert on the aromatic evergreen, and his business has gone into mass production.
By Kathy Montgomery
Photographs by Richard Maack

OUR WILDEST STREAMS
In Arizona, most creeks run dry most of the year. It's an arid state. In the springtime, however, many of those streams come to life, and some of the wildest even create waterfalls. Seven Falls and Tanque Verde Falls are two of the most impressive.
An Essay by Lawrence Cheek
Photographs by Randy Prentice

Departments

Contributors 

Letters to the Editor

The Journal 
People, places and things from around the state, including the debut of our hometown of the month, a great hotel in Casa Grande that's loaded with baseball history, and the man who helped transform 400 acres of weeds and hobo camps into a vibrant wetlands area.

Scenic Drive
Florence-Kelvin Highway: The Sonoran Desert comprises 22.3 million acres. It's big, and there are a lot of ways to see it. One of the best is along this scenic route.

Hike of the Month
Second Water Trail: Hyacinths, anemones, Mexican goldpoppies, desert lupines ... this time of year, wildflowers take center stage along this spectacular hike.

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