The desert is flowering and streams are full

 

Tucson's wildflowers are going wild, especially in my friend Sandy's yard, above. She didn't plant a single one of these poppies, but a few years ago they started popping up in her yard. Every spring she gets more, and this year they're practically a solid gold carpet! There aren't any in my neighborhood, sadly, and when I planted seeds they never came up.

But on my desert hikes I'm seeing plenty of gold flowers. I'm not sure what this bush is -- maybe brittlebush -- but there are clusters of poppies sprinkled along the trails among the saguaros.

These are on my favorite trail, Canyon Loop in Catalina State Park, which I've been told is featured in this month's Arizona Highways. I'll have to pick up a copy.

 

There are also some purple flowers. I think this is lupine.

And our recent rains and snow melt from the mountains have filled the streams and washes. Someone made a little pool beside this stream along Canyon Loop. Barb and I hiked it yesterday and had to wade through icy cold water at about four spots, but we didn't mind it because the weather was warm and sunny. This was my 18th hike since my birthday on my challenge to do 70 hikes for my 70 years.

Instead of hiking today, I spent a lazy Sunday morning outside with the New York Times and iced tea.

Have a colorful day