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Macro Flower by Rim Vidziunas
“Wild Cucumber” by Pat Gougelman
Drought brought a disappointing desert wildflower season, but irrigated gardens at Boyce Thompson Arboretum mean you can still enjoy floral color and variety along the paths – and some endemic perennials such as Wild Cucumber and Rhyolite Bush blossomed early and strong this year, despite dry conditions. Flower fans have already reported clumps of golden wallflower along BTA’s High Trail, desert wishbone (a white-flowered sibling of the Four O’Clock family) on the switchbacks below Picketpost Mansion – and the exotically shaped Watson’s Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia watsonii) flowering throughout the grounds. Don’t expect those breathtaking magazine-cover ‘carpets of color’ this spring, but attend a guided wildflower walk for great opportunities to see, photograph and learn to ID charismatic little wildflowers. Walks are included with daily admission of $10 and start with a ‘back-to-back’ weekend of One O’Clock guided tours March 1-2 with the Saturday walk guided by Pat Pingel, and Sunday’s tour with Cass Blodgett (he’s co-president of Arizona Native Plants Society’s Phoenix Chapter). Saturday walks with Pat are March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; Cass will be here Sundays March 2, 16 and 30. Wildflower walks move to 10 a.m. April 5, 12, 19, 26 – plus two Sunday walks with Cass April 13 and 27 also at 10 a.m.
Coming Events:
* March 1 — Bird Walk at 8:30 a.m.
* March 1 — Superstition Master Gardeners ‘Hello Spring’ workshop 11 a.m.
* March 3 — Gallery Installation – Rim Vidziunas Photography
* March 1 — BTA Book Club ‘The Truth About Geronimo’ 1 p.m.
* March 2 — History Walk 10 a.m.
* March 7 — Spring Plant Sale ‘BTA-Members-Only’ Preview Friday
* March 8-23 — Spring Plant Sale open to the Public
* March 8 — Wood Carving and Wood Art exhibits 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
* March 8 — Edible and Medicinal Desert Plants guided walk 1:30 p.m.
* March 9 — Bird Walk 8:30 a.m.
* March 9 — ‘Abstract photography’ class with Lisa Langell 1-4 p.m. ($30-$40)
* March 9 — Plants of the Bible Land Sunday walk at 1:30 p.m.
* March 12 — Basic Digital Photo ‘Work Flow’ Class with Rim Vidziunas 2-4 p.m. ($20-$30)
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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