Step into the Garden’s most colorful season! With recent rains as spring approaches, the desert wakes up in a burst of colors and the trails come alive with the first bloom of the season. Cactus flowers, wildflowers and fresh spring growth transform the Garden’s five trails into a vibrant landscape, offering you a rare chance to see the desert at its most spectacular. Bring your camera and capture the season’s beauty! Whether you’re chasing your daily step goal and craving a refreshing dose of desert beauty, the Garden is the perfect place to stretch your legs, explore and see the bloom. You’ll find endless opportunities to wander, discover and soak in the scenery.
Keep an eye out for the desert annuals along the Harriet K. Maxwell Wildflower Trail, such as:
- Owl’s clover
- Desert bluebells
- Baby arroyo lupine
- Rock daisies
- Blue eyes
Don’t miss the rare Arizona Jewelflower (Streptanthus carinatus) found in the bee garden. This desert annual is significant as a larval food source for orange tip butterflies and serves as a nectar provider for various native bees, and is found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Northern Mexico. It has four sepals, and is wider at the base which creates a bell-shaped calyx.
Additionally, you can expect to see other perennials, including:
- Parry’s penstemon
- Fleabane
- Globemallow
- Desert marigolds
- Red salvia
When you’ve hit your step goals or simply feel ready for a relaxing break, stop by the Patio Café for a Press Coffee cold brew, a prickly pear tea or a refreshing lemonade. And don’t forget, members get early morning access at 7 a.m. on Wendesdays and Sundays when the air is cooler and the light is crisp. We’ll see you on the trails!
