15/03/2023
It was a day filled with sunshine and golden poppies and wild horses. The calendar says winter but Arizona says different. I spent a perfect spring day driving and hiking and exploring. In lots of places where I expected to find flowers, I found almost none. (Not much color at Lost Dutchman, Usery Mt. and just a little more at McDowell Mt. Park. Peak color should occur in late March.) And then in other unexpected places poppies painted the hillsides in bright hues of yellow and orange. I’ll take these kinds of days, anytime I can get them. The hotspot of the day for me was Pobrecito Recreation Area near Lake Saguaro along the Bush Highway. That’s where I found this heavenly carpet. It’s just an OHV Staging Area but the slopes to the side of the site are spectacular. There are dirt pathways leading along the edge of the hills. Please stay on trails and paths and in washes so as to not trample the plants. You do need a Tonto Forest Day Pass (or annual one) to park here. It’s $8 well spent. These are the kind of moments that patch holes in your heart and restore your soul. I’ll tell you about the horses later. But if you visit this site, keep an eye peeled because dozens were grazing less than a mile away. Don’t forget I’m giving a free presentation of “Awesome Arizona” on Thursday in Sun City West at the RH Johnson Library, 11am. I’ll also give a wildflower update on “Good Morning Arizona Friday at 7:30am.”
