Desert Wildflowers — Image by kenne
— Georgia O’Keeffe
A couple of weeks ago some of us did our annual King Canyon trail hike to observe the wildflowers, which in the past was part of our hike on up to Wasson Peak. However, this year the plan was not to go all the way to the Peak. I hate to admit it, but time is beginning to catch up with us. So, the best I can do is to revisit a posting from six years ago. My days of cheating time might be running out.
— kenne
Kings Canyon Trail — Images by kenne
Wildflower Slideshow by kenne
Panorama of Wasson Peak Near The Top
SCVN guided hike to Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon trail, which is about a seven mile (roundtrip) hike and elevation gain of 1,900 ft.
Some of our hikers made only the Kings Canyon trail to the first saddle since we were experiencing unusually warm record-setting temperatures (the mid-90’s).
Panorama of the Santa Catalina Mountains from the Sweetwater Trail in the Tucson Mountains (March 15, 2019)
— Images by kenne
— kenne
Phacelia crenulata Sonoran Desert Wildflower (March 15, 2019) — Image by kenne
The Phacelia crenulata is one of many very small (1/2 inch wide and have 5 round lobes) wildflowers that are common across the Sonoran Desert on rocky slopes and near washes. This image was taken along the Sweetwater trail in the Tucson Mountains, west of Tucson.
— kenne
Top of Wasson Peak In the Tucson Mountains — Image by kenne
— kenne
Gordon’s bladderpod (Physaria gordonii) — Images by kenne
Gordon’s bladderpod is an early blooming desert wildflower belong to the mustard family. With the help of more than normal winter rains, you can find them many places in the Sonoran Desert. Their bright yellow blossoms provide a lot of color to the spring desert landscape.
— kenne
Heavy Rains Down A Giant Saguaro Cactus — Image by kenne
As the trail entered the Kings Canyon Wash we were confronted by a giant saguaro that had fallen across the trail; another lay close by. Both were healthy giants that could have been blown over by strong winds, but the area recently experienced a lot of rain causing a flash flood. Another suspect is that the downed cactus were the result of a microburst an intense small-scale downdraft produced by a storm or rain shower.
— kenne
