Springtime Desert Excitement

How does springtime emerge in the desert?

“If a flower can emerge in the desert, you can flourish anywhere.” (Matshona Dhilwayo)

Living in sultry South Florida, I never pictured a desert flourishing with colorful fauna amid such an aridly harsh environment in my wildest dreams. Yet our Mid March visit to the Sonoran Desert in South Central Arizona, to begin the second week of our road trip, provided ample evidence that such seasonal aliveness of springtime here did in fact exist.         

For starters, two days ago, it felt very odd that this dry land would be actually pelted with heavy rainfall all morning and into late afternoon as I drove carefully from Tucson to Phoenix into a mysteriously chilly mist. But as the clouds began to clear, I vividly noticed spring signs of natural life as colorful wildflower beds lined the side of the road and  tall Saguaro cacti in the distance stood out like human statues across this desolate landscape. In addition, the recent drenching of rocky hillsides seemed to accentuate various shades of red, green, and yellow at this time. 

So many tourists vacationing in our next road trip stopover in sunny Phoenix might have opted next for a more guided experience of the surrounding desert terrain as there would be plenty of jeep ride, hot air balloon, and walking tour operators to choose from. Other visitors might have paid pricey entrance fees to visit such popular nature spots like the “Desert Botanical Gardens”,”or Tohono Chul Galleries”. 

Yet as independent minded travelers like Ruth and me tend to be, we  would instead search those upland areas close by our Air B&B location for self guided  trails away from such crowds at minimal expense. Thus you might notice in the following photo set that we indeed found the ideal spot on this St. Patrick’s Day Sunday to feel the amazing sensation of springtime desert beauty at “Dreamy Draw Natural Recreation Area” and “Phoenix Mountain Preserve.”

Stay connected to my latest road trip blogs as we travel to the mesmerizing red rock canyons of Sedona, Arizona for a three day visit starting tomorrow.