Sunday March 29th, 2010

I was out at Dreamy Draw both yesterday & today hiking. About 45 minutes each afternoon. Took a few more photos which I will add here and to some future blog entries. It was very windy yesterday, with gusts of wind in the 20-35mph range, less windy today but still pretty breezy at times. Temps were about 80 degrees today, with fair skies. Yesterday was sunnier, but cooler, about 75.

The spring wildflower show is in full bloom at Dreamy Draw and there are quite a number of shutter bugs out there snapping photos of the wildflowers. This is the nicest spring I recall at Dreamy Draw in the years I've been going out there.

The first photo shows how thick some of the flora is out there; 2nd photo is another blooming cactus (for such rugged plants they sure produce some vibrant flowers!); the 3rd photo is of a blooming Ocotillo on a hilltop; and the 4th photo you gotta look kind of close, but in the Palo Verde tree is a Flycatcher species, he's in flight about middle of the photo (he jumped off of his perch right about the time I was snapping the photo) - if you click on the photo it will zoom in and you can spot it much easier. I see these birds out here quite regularly - I'm not sure if they are here year round or not, but I'm pretty sure they winter & nest here.

Sunday March 22nd, 2010

It was a very beautiful spring day @ Dreamy Draw today with temps in the upper 70's, a lot of sunshine and blue skies. During my 45-minute hike today I took a lot of photos. I've been going out to Dreamy Draw regularly for about 3 years, but I first discovered the place back in fall of 2002. This is the greenest I ever recall seeing it, and probably the most wildflowers I've seen out there as well.

The 1st photo gives you a good overview of the surrounding area, and how green everything looks! The 2nd photo shows a little desert Black-throated Sparrow in the shrub, singing. And of course some wild flowers, including sunflower shrub, poppy, a cactus flower, and I'm not sure what the purple one is.

Sunday March 14th, 2010

Today was my first day at Dreamy Draw in 2010! I usually don't visit there often during Phoenix's "winter months" December - February although I usually get out there by late February, since the weather is usually turning to spring at that time. But we had a late spring here in Phoenix this year and rain on the weekend for the past month! So this was my first opportunity to get back out there, and it did not disappoint today. The hills around there are the greenest I've ever seen them in the last 3 years I've been going out there. Some nice wildflowers out today too. Some purple Indian Paintbrush, wild sunflowers, and some others I don't know by name. Quite a few birds out and about today too, spring time means nesting!

I think I'll take my camera out there next weekend and take some new photos to show off the greenery. It's a big difference from how it will look in summer, but I like that brown look too.