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ModernJeepers Explore a Once in a Lifetime Wildflower “SuperBloom” ModernJeepers Explore a Once in a Lifetime Wildflower “SuperBloom”
Special to ModernJeeper by Chuck Brinkley, Golden Shores Off Roaders. The Editors As the national news was focusing on the Poppy phenomena in Southern... ModernJeepers Explore a Once in a Lifetime Wildflower “SuperBloom”

Special to ModernJeeper by Chuck Brinkley, Golden Shores Off Roaders.

The Editors


As the national news was focusing on the Poppy phenomena in Southern California, ModernJeepers in western Mohave County, Arizona along the Colorado River were experiencing a once in a lifetime wildflower bloom.

It started with the area receiving the right amount of precipitation at the right time. Most super bloom conditions means the rainfall in the desert during November and December preceding the spring bloom was spot on.  The right amount of rain at the right time to germinate the seeds lying dormant.

Poppy bloom in AZ

Low down in the river valley the hills turned green with new growth in late January and by mid-February those same hills began to turn the bright yellow of Golden Evening Primrose and the deep purple of Scorpion Weed (Blue Phacelia). In the bottoms, washes and ancient sand bars of the flood plain Lupine, Sand Verbena, desert Evening Primrose, Jimson Weed, Desert Lilies and many other species began to reach towards the sun.

While the bloom in the low Desert was beginning to come full, a bit higher up in the Black and Mohave Mountains the Arizona, California and Mexican Poppies were all growing nicely and starting to bloom.

By mid to late March the Poppies were blooming along with Lupine, Desert Salvia, Pincushions, Desert Asters and the list goes on. I believe this ModernJeeper has noticed at least 40 different species so far this spring.

As we move in to April, the Poppy bloom is in its full glory. Moving through April we will see the low Desert annuals and the higher desert Poppy bloom start to be fade and be replaced by the bloom of the perennials of the area such as, Greasewoods, Brittle Brush, Desert Lavender, Globe Mallow, Indigo, Yuccas, Joshua Trees and a host of others along with many types of Cactus’ that are just starting to bloom.

Just sitting in your Jeep with the windows down (or top off) the wildflower smells were truly tantalizing.  Drifting flavors of flowers were a treat to the old nose.

Like a bouquet in a flower shop

By the end of April the Palo Verde trees will start to come in to full bloom that will last towards the end of May when the last of the low Desert species should produce one more show as the bright blue flowers of the Smoke Bushes come in.

There might still be time to see this year’s incredible bloom as it moves its way up in to the Hualapai and Peacock mountains of Mohave County where a another whole world of varieties will be getting ready to go on display.

Enjoy the pics.

Prickly Poppy

 

 

 

Desert Chicory

 

 

Saguaro Cactus of AZ

 

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Del Albright Ambassador

Internationally published author; WorldWide ModernJeeper Abassador and 2014 Inductee of the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. Del has been involved in the Jeeping Lifestyle for longer then most of us can count. His educational and mentorship programs have helped developed warfighters in the ongoing battle to keep Public Lands Open to the Public.

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