Archive All Issues March 2006

A Crescendo of Color

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Photographers revel in the response of desert annuals to a wet year after a decade of drought.

Featured in the March 2006 Issue of Arizona Highways

Superstition Mountains Mexican goldpoppies and lupines drape the slopes of the Superstitions, east of Phoenix, in one of the best wildflower displays in the state.
Superstition Mountains Mexican goldpoppies and lupines drape the slopes of the Superstitions, east of Phoenix, in one of the best wildflower displays in the state.

WINTER'S WET OVERTURE YIELDS A FLOURISH OF FLOWERS

After nearly a decade of drought, the long-suffering seeds concealed in the hard ground of the Sonoran Desert seized their moment in a joyful symphony of red, violet, blue and yellow orchestrated by Mexican goldpoppies, globemallows, verbena and owl clover. Last spring, our photographers scattered to record the month-by-month movements of nature's masterpiece. We can only hope this month will bring an encore despite a dry winter.

OOFCOLOR

The Sonoran Desert has more plant varieties than any other desert on Earth. It shows during a good wildflower season, determined chiefly by fall and winter rain, but also by factors like temperature and wind. GEORGE STOCKING To order a print of this photograph, see page 1.