Wildflowers of Arizona

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Wildflowers of Arizona

Click below fo access our on-line store and product introductory information . . . It also includes 5 built-in wildflower slideshows.

This site introduces our Wildflowers of Arizona & Wildflowers of the Sonoran Desert wildflower identification products and provides many of our hiking notes with photos. Welcome to the ‘Wildflowers of Arizona’ and ‘Wildflowers of the Sonoran Desert’ official page! It provides an introduction to these products, a link to our website with more detailed information ( http://www.phoenixwildflowers.com ), a lot of our Arizona hiking notes, and ordering information. Today’s digital photography and computers support the economical use of large, digital, high-resolution color images, data bases and search engines to help with wildflower classification. Designed for the amateur enthusiast, 'Wildflowers of Arizona' provides a unique combination of computer-based digital imagery and automated classification tools for your home computer. It features an easy to use WildflowerFinder™ Search Tool designed to help in the identification of 570 Arizona wildflower species, in the process, drawing upon over 3150 large JPG photographic images (1920 x 1440 pixel), for many spectacular and beautiful wildflowers in our state that tend to catch the eye. All flower images were photographed within roughly 100 miles or so (a typical day trip) of Phoenix, Arizona, at hundreds of locations; north, south, east and west of the valley. Many specimens were spotted right alongside roadways, and many more while hiking. All photos, all originals taken by the author, were taken with either 5 or 10 megapixel CANON PowerShot digital cameras. With few exceptions each image is between 500KB and 1500KB in size. Purchasers are sub-licensed to have prints made for their own personal use (non-commercial) and enjoyment. Inquiries by commercial interests are always welcome. A similar legacy product, available in several versions for the past 8 years, and primarily focused on the Sonoran Desert (below 3500' elevation), titled 'Wildflowers of the Sonoran Desert,' organized in much the same fashion as 'Wildflowers of Arizona,' remains available; featuring over 1528 images, nearly all 1600 x 1200 pixel in size, covering 325 species. With either product, we know you will enjoy our many images of our beautiful Arizona wildflowers and scenery!

05/09/2026

Wildflower Report 755b - Part 2 - New River July August Legacy Photos - FL905 / 4 Sept. 2026

Hello Everybody,

As our recent New River weather has continued with highs mostly above 100F for many consecutive weeks, it’s been a long time since we’ve hiked here in the low desert, on the edge of the TNF (Tonto National Forest). Turned out back in July and August, when it was even hotter on average, we continued photographing attractive blooming wild “yard specimens” that bloomed despite the higher temperatures, and saved the photos for possible use.

This message shows some of what we photographed in our New River, Arizona yard last July and August following our frequent mid-summer travels. While it was quite hot, slipping outside now and then for 5 - 10 minutes to photograph new blooms was not a problem.

Photos for three “critters”(also included) when it was about 108F outside, were taken through one of our windows. The Bird’s open beaks were probably part of their efforts to cool off.

PHOTO LEGENDS LIST & INFO: Twenty five photos are attached:

1 Rattlesnake W**d

2 Rattlesnake W**d Flowers Closeup

3 Desert Senna Shrub

4 Desert Senna Flower Closeup

5 Pincushion Cactus (AKA: Fishhook Cactus)

6 Pincushion Cactus Flower Closeup

7 Prickly Pear Flower

8 Prickly Pear Flower Attached To Pad Side.

9 White Ratany Flower

10 Desert Straw Flower (AKA: Brownplume Wirelettuce)

11 Alkali Jimmyweed (AKA: Alkali Goldenbush)

12 Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni)

13 Fishhook Barrel Cactus Flower Closeup.

14 California Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus)

15 California Barrel Cactus Flowers Closeup.

16 Prickly Pear Flower Attached To Pad Edge.

17 Rabbit In The Shade Of Our Home, ~108 F.

18 Roadrunner In The Shade Of Our Home, ~108 F.

19 American Kestrel In The Shade Of Our Home, ~108 F. It’s the smallest of the Falcon species.

20 Kestrel Side View Reveals More Coloring.

21 Sacred Datura Plant. Attractive flowers, but all plant parts are deadly poisonous for humans.

22 Sacred Datura Flower Closeup.

23 Desert Christmas Cactus. (AKA: Christmas Cholla Plant)

24 Desert Christmas Cactus Flowers And Foliage.

25 Desert Christmas Cactus Flower Closeup.

SEASONAL NOTE: Hot Summer.

STATISTICS:

Elevation: ~2430’

More beauty in the great outdoors!

Our On-Line Store:

For information related to our on-line store, wildflower identification aids, framed photographs, matted photos and more, contact Paul by email, at [email protected].

All the best,

Paul & Nancy Santori, Wildflowers of Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------
Paul Santori Sr. © 2026 All Rights Reserved

30/08/2026

Wildflower Report 755a - Part 1 - April New River Legacy Photos - FL905 / April 2026

Hello Everybody,

As our recent New River weather has continued with highs mostly above 100F for many consecutive weeks, it’s been a long time since we’ve hiked here in the low desert, on the edge of the TNF (Tonto National Forest). Turns out back in April, when it was already unseasonably hot on a daily basis, we started photographing attractive blooming wild “yard specimens” that bloomed despite the higher temperatures, and saved the photos for possible future use.

This message shows some of what we photographed last April/May. In contrast to the problems and risks of hot weather hiking, it isn’t a problem for us to slip outside for 10 minutes to photograph a new species bloom in our yard. These are desert plants, adapted to this environment. The wild plants covered in this “Part 1” message bloomed in the April/May 2026 period, in our New River, Arizona yard.

We collected more yard photos in July & August, following our frequent mid-summer travels. Some of those photos will be provided in a follow up “Part 2” message we plan to send within a week following this message.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Twenty photos are attached to this message:

1 Little Leaf Palo Verde Tree.

2 Little Leaf Palo Verde Flowers Closeup. Note the white Banner Petal on each flower.

3 An Area Photo Showing Many Distant Trees Of Similar Size. They are very plentiful In the New River Area And TNF to the north.

4 White Ratany Shrub In Full Bloom.

5 White Ratany Flowers Closeup.

6 A White Ratany Seed Pod. Note the small barbs at the tip of each spine.

7 Prickly Pear Cactus Flower Closeup.

8 An Odora Plant With Flowers And Seed Plumes.

9 An Odora Flower Closeup.

10 A White Stem Paperflower Plant. Probably benefiting from an irrigation dripper.

11 White Stem Paperflower Flowers With A Butterfly.

12 Sweetbush Plant.

13 Sweetbush Plant With A Butterfly. Maybe also benefiting from an irrigation dripper.

14 Desert Senna Plant.

15 Desert Senna Flowers.

16 A Gambel’s Quail.

17 Woolly Bluestar Flowers Closeup.

18 Tarantula Hawk Wasp Feeding On A Milkweed Plant.

19 Pink Hedgehog Cactus Plant.

20 Pink Hedgehog Flower.

SEASONAL NOTE: Spring

STATISTICS:

Elevation: ~2430’

Hike Links: none.

Our On-Line Store:

For information related to our on-line store, wildflower identification aids, framed photographs, matted photos and more, contact Paul by email, at [email protected].

More beautiful time in the great outdoors!

All the best,

Paul & Nancy Santori, Wildflowers of Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------
Paul Santori Sr. © 2026 All Rights Reserved

25/08/2026

Wildflower Report 754b - nolinks - Part 2 - Flagstaff Four Day Visit - FL904 / Aug. 11-14, 2026

Hello Everybody,

With another welcome break in Flagstaff’s Hot Weather last week we returned there last Tuesday thru Friday morning to visit relatives and for more hiking. Primary hiking locations included:

1. Tuesday - Short plant survey visit to Shultz Creek area at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road (area just inside the road gate).
2. Wednesday - A 5 mi. out & back hike at Sandy’s and Walnut Canyons.
3 Thursday - Quick morning visit to Campbell Mesa and evening short hike at Sunset Crater National Monument.
4. Friday - Short Hikes at Wupatki National Monument then returned to New River.

Nice plant specimens were found at all locations. Many species were spotted at multiple locations. With all we photographed, we divided our report into two parts, and this message provides the second half of the report, Part 2.

All trails we hiked were in good condition; bugs bothered some members.

PICTURES, PART 2: 15 More Walnut Canyon photos, plus Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument photos, a couple Hwy89 roadside photos, plus our Hike GPS tracks for Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument Visits.

1 Rocky Mountain Bee Flower Plants. This two or more acre lot, just south of the Chevron Filling Station, at Campbell Ave. & Hwy 89, is absolutely loaded with flowering Bee Flower plants!
2 Rubber Rabbitbrush Plants In Sandys / Walnut Canyon.
3 Rubber Rabbitbrush Flower Closeup.
4 King’s Lupine Plant.
5 Approaching The Right Turn In The Main Trail To Caves Followed By A Narrow Mile of Preserve In Walnut Canyon.
6 The Scene After The Right Turn. A good sized cave is visible in the cliff face down by the two white rocks, and Fisher Point is in view up on top of the left rock cliff, accessible via another trail.
7 Curlycup Gumweed Plant.
8 Silverleaf Scorpionweed Plant.
9 Fernbush Plant.
10 Down In The Narrow Reserve Canyon Now, These Are Cutleaf Coneflowers.
11 Cutleaf Coneflowers Closeup.
12 Richardson Geranium Flowers.
13 A Primrose Mixed In With Fairly Thick Grass,
14 Poison Milkweed Plant.
15 Pale Evening Primrose. Next we turned around and headed back to the Sandy Canyon trailhead.
16 We Think It’s A Prairie Dog. Photo taken with 150 Zoom lens, photographed near the Campbell Mesa Trailhead Parking Area.
17 Next Stop, Sunset Crater Volcano Nat’l Monument. This is a photo of the Visitor Center. It closes at 4:30 PM but the park and trails are open 24 hours. There is a charge, if one does not have a LIFETIME SENIOR or other official pass, payable through the self-pay kiosk when no attendant is there.
18 A View Of A Wall Of The Crater On The Left, from the concrete part of the “Lava Flow” Trail. Note the very different terrain in the area. Our 1st attached Hike GPS Track shows how we drove there, from Hwy 89. The road continues east and north through Wupatki National Monument making a 38 mile loop back to Hwy. 89.
19 A Stairway Down To the Lava Field Cinder Trail.
20 Typical lava field scene.
21 Lacy Phacelia Plant.
22 Apache Plume Flower. We were surprised by the numerous Apache Plume shrubs in this desolate terrain.
23 An Attractive Display Of Apache Plumes In The Sunlight
24 Red Beard-Lip Beardtongue Penstemon Flowers.
25 Pink Beard-Lip Beardtongue Penstemon Plants.
26 Pink Beard-Lip Beardtongue Penstemon Flowers.
27 Hop Bush With Female Hop Flowers (cones). This species is grown for use in flavoring beer.
28 Next Stop Was The Wupatki National Monument. Our time was limited so we drove the 38 mile access loop backwards to visit a couple closest Pueblo Archaeological ruins. This site is named the Citadel. Interesting history placards are on site. We explored the site for 0.3 miles.
29 We Also Hiked 0.8 mi. Near The Lomaki Ruins. We think this photo probably shows walls and features reconstructed by archaeologists. There is said to be evidence of humans presence in the area as far back as 10,000 years.
30 Woolly Paperflower Plant. The bright yellow is really showy in this landscape!
31 Woolly Paperflower Flower Closeup. The flowers feature fancy 3-lobbed, 3-Petal Flowers.
32 Prostrate Vervain. Also photographed just south of the Chevron Filling Station, at Campbell Ave. & Hwy 89, Between the Rocky Mt. Bee Plants and the road.
33 Hike GPS Track (red) and access to Sunset Crater Volcano Nat’l Monument.
34 Hike GPS Track (red) and access to Wupatki Nat’l Monument.

PART 2 FLAGSTAFF SPECIES LIST:

Sandy’s and Walnut Canyon Cont’d ( Part 2 Species)
50 Calliopsis or Golden Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria)
51 Rubber Rabbitbrush
52 King’s Lupine
53 Penstemon
54 Little Leaf Globe Mallow
55 Elderberry
56 Curlycup Gumweed
57 Silverleaf Scorpionweed
58 Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)
59 Cutleaf Coneflower
60 Richardson’s Geranium
61 Evening Primrose
62 Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)
63 Poison Milkweed (Asclepias subverticillata)
64 “The pale evening-primrose” (Oenothera pallida)
Sunset Crater:
65 Slimleaf plainsmustard (Schoenocrambe linearifolia)
66 Arizona Firecracker (Ipomopsis arizonica)
67 Lacy Phacelia
68 Apache Plume
69 Senecio Genus Plant
70 Red Beard-Lip Beardtongue)(Penstemon barbatus)
71 Pink Beardtongue (Penstemon clutei
72 Hop (Humulus lupulus) Female Hop Flowers (Cones)
Wupatki Nat’l Monument Visit:
73 Sacred Datura
74 Broom Snakeweed
75 Silver Leaf Nightshade
76 Woolly paperflower,(Psilostrophe tagetina). (Bright Yellow Flowers, Fancy 3-Lobbed-Petals , 3-Petal Flowers).
77 Globemallow (Sphaeralcea hastulata)
Hwy 89 Roadside: (near Campbell Ave & Hwy 89)
78 Two Acres Or More - Rocky Mt Bee Plant.
79 Prostrate Vervain (Verbena bracteata)

SEASONAL NOTE: Summer

LOCAL CONDITIONS:
Temperatures: 60’s - 70’s F
Mostly cloudy, a little rain at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road Wednesday evening.

BUGS, CRITTERS & THINGS: Assorted birds, Prairie Dogs (We Think), Avoided Poison Ivy While leaving Sandys Canyon.

STATISTICS:
1 Sandy’s and Walnut Canyon Hike: ~5 mi. R.T.
2 Starting Elevation: (jeep) ~6850’
3 Max. Elevation: ~6850’
4 Min. Elevation: ~6500’
5 Total Ascent: ~400’

6 Sunset Crater area Elevation: ~7,000’
7 Lava Flow Trail: ~1.1 mi.
8 Wupatki National Monument area elevation: ~5400’ (mostly prairie)
9 Citadel ruin hike: ~0.3 mi.
10 Lomaki ruin hike: ~0.8 mi.

Hike Links:
For hike Links to Walnut Canyon plus Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument, contact Paul by email, at [email protected], or check on-line.

Our On-Line Store:
For information related to our on-line store, wildflower identification aids, framed photographs, matted photos and more, contact Paul by email, at [email protected].

More beautiful days in the great outdoors!

All the best,

Paul & Nancy Santori, Wildflowers of Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------
Paul Santori Sr. © 2026 All Rights Reserved

22/08/2026

Wildflower Report 754a - Part 1 - Flagstaff Four Day Visit - FL904 / Aug. 11-14, 2026

Hello Everybody,

With another welcome break in Flagstaff’s Hot Weather last week we returned last Tuesday thru Friday morning to visit relatives and for more hiking.

Primary hiking locations included:

1. Tuesday - Short plant survey visit to Shultz Creek area at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road (area just inside the road gate).
2. Wednesday - A 5 mi. out & back hike at Sandy’s and Walnut Canyons.
3 Thursday - Quick morning visit to Campbell Mesa and evening short hike at Sunset Crater National Monument.
4. Friday - Short Hikes at Wupatki National Monument then returned to New River.
Nice specimens were found at all locations. Many species were spotted at multiple locations. With all we photographed, we’ve divided our report into two parts, and this message is Part 1. Our Part 2 will follow within about a week.

All trails we hiked were in good condition; bugs bothered some members.

PICTURES, Part 1: 35 Photos plus our Hike GPS track for our 5 mile Sandy and Walnut Canyon hike.
1 Torrey’s Crag Lily Plant. It’s a diminutive species we don’t often see. (Locations marked as ‘TCL’ in the GPS track.)
2 Torrey’s Crag Lily Flowers Closeup.
3 Purple Geranium Flower.
4 A Robust Skyrocket Plant.
5 Purple Locoweed Flowers Closeup.
6 Cutleaf Ironplant.
7 Long-Leaf False Goldeneye Plant.
8 Heliomeris multiflora Flower.
9 Wavy-Leaf Thistle Plant.
10 Groundcover Milkvetch.
11 Sandys Canyon Trailhead View.
12 Scarlet Cinquefoil Plant.
13 Scarlet Cinquefoil Flower Closeup.
14 Hillside Vervain Plants.
15 Hillside Vervain Flowers Closeup.
16 False Sunflower.
17 Hoary Alyssum Flowers Closeup.
18 Mountain American-Aster Plants.
19 Mountain American-Aster Flowers Closeup.
20 Shrubby Cinquefoil Plant.
21 Shrubby Cinquefoil Flower Closeup.
22 Checker Mallow Flowers Closeup.
23 Wild Bergamot.
24 Red Root Buckwheat.
25 Red Root Buckwheat Flowers Closeup.
26 Colorado Rubberweed.
27 Woodland Pinedrop Plants.
28 Paintbrush Plants.
29 Field Bindweed.
30 Tiny Big Bear Valley Sandwort Flowers.
31 Big Bear Valley Sandwort Flowers Closeup.
32 Calliopsis AKA. Golden Tickseed Flower.
33 Red Columbine Flower Upside Down. Photo By Our Son.
34 Red Columbine Hanging Off the Side Of A Cliff.
35 Beautiful Trail Scene, Probably Mt Agassiz Peak In The Distance.
36 Walnut Canyon Hike GPS Track.

SPECIES, Part 1:
Shultz Creek Trail (just past Entrance gate):
1 Common Mullein
2 Purple Geranium Group
3 Tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum L.)
4 Skyrocket
5 Fleabane
6 Purple Locoweed
7 Cinquefoil
8 Shrubby Deervetch
9 Dalmation Toadflax
10 Cutleaf Ironplant (Xanthisma genus)
11 Long-Leaf False Goldeneye (Heliomeris longifolia)
12 Heliomeris multiflora
13 Wavy-Leaf Thistle
14 Dandelion
15 Manyflowered Gromwell
16 Groundcover Milkvetch (Astragalus humistratus)

SANDYS CANYON TRAIL:
17 Common Yarrow
18 Toadflax Penstemon
19 Scarlet Cinquefoil (Potentilla thurberi)
20 Hillside Vervain
21 False Sunflower (Heliopsis beliantboides)
22 Evening Primrose
23 Hoary Alyssum
24 Vicia Americana
25 Common Yarrow
26 Torrey’s Crag Lily (Echeandia flavescent)
27 Symphyotrichum sp., Mountain American-Aster
28 Lupine
29 Beardlip Penstemon
30 Shrubby Cinquefoil
31 Peavine
32 Checker Mallow
33 Arizona Thistle
34 Long-Leaf Cologania (Cologania angustifolia)
35 Black Medic
36 Goldenrod sp.
37 Wild Bergamot
38 Red Root Buckwheat
39 Purple Geranium
40 Globemallow
41 Colorado Rubberweed (Hymenoxys rusbyi)
42 Woodland Pinedrop (not active flowers)
43 Paintbrush (Castilleja)
44 Field Bindweed
45 Lewis Flax
46 Blue Flax
47 Scarlet Gaura
48 Big Bear Valley Sandwort (Eremogone ursine)
49 Red Columbine
End of Part 1 Species List.

SEASONAL NOTE: Summer

LOCAL CONDITIONS:
Temperatures: 60’s - 70’s F
Mostly cloudy, a little rain at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road Wednesday evening.

BUGS, CRITTERS & THINGS: A Couple Beetles, assorted birds, poison ivy plants frequently alongside the trail descending into Sandys Canyon, several hikers.

STATISTICS:
1 Total Distance (hike - 5 mi. R.T.)
2 Starting Elevation: (jeep) 6850’
3 Max. Elevation: 6850’
4 Min. Elevation: 6500’
5 Total Ascent: 400’

Another beautiful day in the great outdoors!

* * *
For information related to our on-line store, wildflower identification aids, framed photographs, matted photos and more, contact Paul by email, at [email protected].

All the best,

Paul & Nancy Santori, Wildflowers of Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------
Paul Santori Sr. © 2026 All Rights Reserved

21/08/2026

Wildflower Report 754 - Flagstaff Four Day Visit - FL904 / Aug. 11-14, 2026 - Part 2

Hello Everybody,

With another welcome break in Flagstaff’s Hot Weather last week we returned last Tuesday thru Friday morning to visit relatives and for more hiking. Primary hiking locations included:

1. Tuesday - Short plant survey visit to Shultz Creek area at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road (area just inside the road gate).

2. Wednesday - A 5 mi. out & back hike at Sandy’s and Walnut Canyons.

3 Thursday - Quick morning visit to Campbell Mesa and evening short hike at Sunset Crater National Monument.

4. Friday - Short Hikes at Wupatki National Monument then returned to New River.

Nice plant specimens were found at all locations. Many species were spotted at multiple locations. With all we photographed, we divided our report into two parts, and this message provides the second half of the report, Part 2.

All trails we hiked were in good condition; bugs bothered some members.

PART 2 Flagstaff Photo Legends & Info: Information for 32 More photos, plus our Hike GPS tracks for our Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument visits are included along with the attached photos.

PART 2 FLAGSTAFF SPECIES LIST:

Sandy’s and Walnut Canyon Cont’d ( Part 2- Additional Species to Part 1 list)

50 Calliopsis or Golden Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria)

51 Rubber Rabbitbrush

52 King’s Lupine

53 Penstemon

54 Little Leaf Globe Mallow

55 Elderberry

56 Curlycup Gumweed

57 Silverleaf Scorpionweed

58 Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)

59 Cutleaf Coneflower

60 Richardson’s Geranium

61 Evening Primrose

62 Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)

63 Poison Milkweed (Asclepias subverticillata)

64 “The pale evening-primrose” (Oenothera pallida)

65 Slimleaf plainsmustard (Schoenocrambe linearifolia)

66 Arizona Firecracker (Ipomopsis arizonica)

67 Lacy Phacelia

68 Apache Plume

69 Senecio Genus

70 Red Beard-Lip Beardtongue)(Penstemon barbatus)

71 Pink Beardtongue (Penstemon clutei

72 Hop (Humulus lupulus) Female Hop Flowers (Cones)

Wupatki Nat’l Monument Visit:

73 Sacred Datura

74 Broom Snakeweed

75 Silver Leaf Nightshade

76 Woolly paperflower,(Psilostrophe tagetina). (Bright Yellow Flowers, Fancy 3-Lobbed-Petals , 3-Petal Flowers).

77 Globemallow (Sphaeralcea hastulata)

Alongside Hwy 89: (near Campbell Ave & Hwy 89)

78 Two Acres Or More - Rocky Mt Bee Plant.

79 Prostrate Vervain (Verbena bracteata)

SEASONAL NOTE: Summer

LOCAL CONDITIONS:

Temperatures: 60’s - 70’s F

Mostly cloudy, a little rain at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road Wednesday evening.

BUGS, CRITTERS & THINGS: Assorted birds, Prairie Dogs (We Think), Avoided Poison Ivy While leaving Sandys Canyon.

STATISTICS:

1 Total Distance Sandy’s and Walnut Cyn.) 5 mi. R.T.

2 Starting Elevation: (jeep) ~6850’

3 Max. Elevation: ~6850’

4 Min. Elevation: ~6500’

5 Total Ascent: ~400’

6 Sunset Crater area Elevation: ~7,000’

7 Lava Flow Trail: ~1.1 mi.

8 Wupatki National Monument area elevation: ~5400’ (mostly prairie)

9 Citadel ruin hike: ~0.3 mi.

10 Lomaki ruin hike: ~0.8 mi.

Another beautiful day in the great outdoors!

Here are three fine National Monument hike links for those that would like to learn more:

https://npplan.com/parks-by-state/arizona-national-parks/sunset-crater-volcano-national-monument-park-at-a-glance/sunset-crater-volcano-national-monument-hiking-trails/sunset-crater-volcano-national-monument-lava-flow-trail/

https://www.nps.gov/sucr/planyourvisit/hikes-and-trails.htm

https://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm

* * *

Visit our on-line store, at:

https://ps-enterprises.square.site/

* * *
Detailed information and excerpts from our wildflower identification products, and customer support information, is posted at:
http://www.phoenixwildflowers.com/index.htm

* * *

Following is the link to our FACEBOOK site, which has been updated with information on our latest product ‘WILDFLOWERS OF ARIZONA,’ lists hike reports (with photos), for our last 120+ hikes:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wildflowers-of-Arizona/94940691403

* * *

All the best,

Paul & Nancy Santori, Wildflowers of Arizona

-----------------------------------------------------------
Paul Santori Sr. © 2026 All Rights Reserved

17/08/2026

Wildflower Report 754a - Part 1 - no-links - Flagstaff Four Day Visit - FL904 / Aug. 11-14, 2026

Hello Everybody,

With another welcome break in Flagstaff’s Hot Weather last week we returned last Tuesday thru Friday morning to visit relatives and for more hiking.

Primary hiking locations included:

1. Tuesday - Short plant survey visit to Shultz Creek area at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road (area just inside the road gate).
2. Wednesday - A 5 mi. out & back hike at Sandy’s and Walnut Canyons.
3 Thursday - Quick morning visit to Campbell Mesa and evening short hike at Sunset Crater National Monument.
4. Friday - Short Hikes at Wupatki National Monument then returned to New River.
Nice specimens were found at all locations. Many species were spotted at multiple locations. With all we photographed, we’ve divided our report into two parts, and this message is Part 1. Our Part 2 will follow within about a week.

All trails we hiked were in good condition; bugs bothered some members.

PICTURES, Part 1: 35 Photos plus our Hike GPS track for our 5 mile Sandy and Walnut Canyon hike.
1 Torrey’s Crag Lily Plant. It’s a diminutive species we don’t often see. (Locations marked as ‘TCL’ in the GPS track.)
2 Torrey’s Crag Lily Flowers Closeup.
3 Purple Geranium Flower.
4 A Robust Skyrocket Plant.
5 Purple Locoweed Flowers Closeup.
6 Cutleaf Ironplant.
7 Long-Leaf False Goldeneye Plant.
8 Heliomeris multiflora Flower.
9 Wavy-Leaf Thistle Plant.
10 Groundcover Milkvetch.
11 Sandys Canyon Trailhead View.
12 Scarlet Cinquefoil Plant.
13 Scarlet Cinquefoil Flower Closeup.
14 Hillside Vervain Plants.
15 Hillside Vervain Flowers Closeup.
16 False Sunflower.
17 Hoary Alyssum Flowers Closeup.
18 Mountain American-Aster Plants.
19 Mountain American-Aster Flowers Closeup.
20 Shrubby Cinquefoil Plant.
21 Shrubby Cinquefoil Flower Closeup.
22 Checker Mallow Flowers Closeup.
23 Wild Bergamot.
24 Red Root Buckwheat.
25 Red Root Buckwheat Flowers Closeup.
26 Colorado Rubberweed.
27 Woodland Pinedrop Plants.
28 Paintbrush Plants.
29 Field Bindweed.
30 Tiny Big Bear Valley Sandwort Flowers.
31 Big Bear Valley Sandwort Flowers Closeup.
32 Calliopsis AKA. Golden Tickseed Flower.
33 Red Columbine Flower Upside Down.
34 Red Columbine Hanging Off the Side Of A Cliff.
35 Beautiful Trail Scene, Probably Mt Agassiz Peak In The Distance.
36 Walnut Canyon Hike GPS Track.

SPECIES, Part 1:
Shultz Creek Trail (just past Entrance gate):
1 Common Mullein
2 Purple Geranium Group
3 Tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum L.)
4 Skyrocket
5 Fleabane
6 Purple Locoweed
7 Cinquefoil
8 Shrubby Deervetch
9 Dalmation Toadflax
10 Cutleaf Ironplant (Xanthisma genus)
11 Long-Leaf False Goldeneye (Heliomeris longifolia)
12 Heliomeris multiflora
13 Wavy-Leaf Thistle
14 Dandelion
15 Manyflowered Gromwell
16 Groundcover Milkvetch (Astragalus humistratus)

SANDYS CANYON TRAIL:
17 Common Yarrow
18 Toadflax Penstemon
19 Scarlet Cinquefoil (Potentilla thurberi)
20 Hillside Vervain
21 False Sunflower (Heliopsis beliantboides)
22 Evening Primrose
23 Hoary Alyssum
24 Vicia Americana
25 Common Yarrow
26 Torrey’s Crag Lily (Echeandia flavescent)
27 Symphyotrichum sp., Mountain American-Aster
28 Lupine
29 Beardlip Penstemon
30 Shrubby Cinquefoil
31 Peavine
32 Checker Mallow
33 Arizona Thistle
34 Long-Leaf Cologania (Cologania angustifolia)
35 Black Medic
36 Goldenrod sp.
37 Wild Bergamot
38 Red Root Buckwheat
39 Purple Geranium
40 Globemallow
41 Colorado Rubberweed (Hymenoxys rusbyi)
42 Woodland Pinedrop (not active flowers)
43 Paintbrush (Castilleja)
44 Field Bindweed
45 Lewis Flax
46 Blue Flax
47 Scarlet Gaura
48 Big Bear Valley Sandwort (Eremogone ursine)
49 Red Columbine
End of Part 1 Species List.

SEASONAL NOTE: Summer

LOCAL CONDITIONS:
Temperatures: 60’s - 70’s F
Mostly cloudy, a little rain at the west-most beginning of Shultz Pass Road Wednesday evening.

BUGS, CRITTERS & THINGS: A Couple Beetles, assorted birds, poison ivy plants frequently alongside the trail descending into Sandys Canyon, several hikers.

STATISTICS:
1 Total Distance (hike - 5 mi. R.T.)
2 Starting Elevation: (jeep) 6850’
3 Max. Elevation: 6850’
4 Min. Elevation: 6500’
5 Total Ascent: 400’

Another beautiful day in the great outdoors!

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For information related to our on-line store, wildflower identification aids, framed photographs, matted photos and more, contact Paul by email, at [email protected].

All the best,

Paul & Nancy Santori, Wildflowers of Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------
Paul Santori Sr. © 2026 All Rights Reserved

09/08/2026

Wildflower Report 753 - Flagstaff Area Hiking - FL903 / 080426

Hello Everybody,

With a welcome break in Flagstaff’s Hot Weather last week we visited there last Thursday and Friday for a look at trails we like to frequent and for a look at how the area wildflowers are doing. Activity included visits to:

THURSDAY:

1 Shultz Pass (drove up from Hwy 89 to Schultz Tank). It looked full of water.

2 Short hike at Campbell Mesa.

3 “Shorter “ hike at Picture Canyon (near dusk).

FRIDAY:

1 Explored Forest Service Roads Near Locket Meadow. Former road access to the meadow we were familiar with is now officially closed until November 20, 2026. No alternative access found.

2 Abineau Trail Hike (Part of the Abineau / Pipeline / Bearjaw Loop Trail). Nice somewhat strenuous trail up the mountain, mostly in a wildlife preserve, cut a little short high up by thunder and lightning!

Nice specimens found at all locations. Typically many species were spotted at multiple locations, except for the Mexican Hat, only seen at Picture Canyon, near water. We also spotted deer 5 times.

PICTURES: 33 Photos plus Thursday’s & Friday’s Hike GPS tracks.

LEGENDS & INFO:
A CAMPBELL MESA HIKING:

1 Flowering Bee Flower Display.

2 A Group Of Bee Flower Plants. Some Displays Like This Run 50’ In Length!

3 A Closer Look At Individual Flower Structures.

4 A Bee At Work!

5 A Field Loaded With Colorado Rubberweed Plants.

6 A Closer Look At The Colorado Rubberweed Flowers And Foliage.

7 An Invasive Dalmation Toadflax Plant. Note the distinctive yellow spurs on each flower.

8 Purple Locoweed Plant. These are commonly seen in the mountains near Flagstaff.

9 Scarlet Gilia - commonly called Skyrocket. See the distinctive lighter colored flecks on the petals.

10 This Campbell Mesa Trailhead Kiosk Serves Several Loop Trails On The Mesa. It’s maybe an eighth of a mile up the hill and road from the parking area.

11 An Attractive Paintbrush Plant. Very tiny flowers may be seen at the end of green small green structures.

12 Hillside Vervain Flowers.

B PICTURE CANYON HIKING:

13 An Attractive Placard At The Start Of Very Nice Loop Hike.

14 A Mexican Hat! While many of the species were photographed at more than one stop, this species was only seen near the Picture Canyon water works.

15 Probably Western American-Aster. Very attractive display!

16 A Closer Look At The Flowers.

17 Horehound Flowers.

18 Tules! These large aquatic sedge plants root in shallow water or mud up to 2’ deep. The remainder of the plant is upright above the water. Ever hear someone say they were “out in the Tules?” (Implies “Out in the Boondocks!”)

C LOCKET MEADOW EXPLORING (JEEP):

19 Locket Meadow, The Campground, Trails, And The Inner Basin (Caldera) Are All Located Just Beyond This Mountain View photo. Recovery of the area’s former beauty will take decades!

20 A Young Apache Plume Shrub.

21 An Apache Plume Flower.

22 An Apache Plume Up Close.

23 Evening Primrose Flowers, Late Closing.

24 Lupine Plants On A Sunlit Hillside.

25 Aspen Fleabane.

26 Blue Flax Flower Close up.

27 View Of Mountain Terrain Outside The Burn Area. This may be the area with of the Abineau/Bearjaw Trails we would visit next.

D ABINEAU TRAIL HIKE:

28 Last Sign And Turn On The Road To The Abineau/Bearjaw Trails Parking Area.

29 The Abineau/Bearjaw Trails Parking Area. Elevation About 8,500 ft.

30 Abineau/Bearjaw Trail Head.

31 Richardson Geranium Flower.

32 An Abineau Trail Scene High Up In This Wilderness Preserve (minimal trail upkeep). The higher the elevation on the Abineau Trail, the steeper the ascent. On the way to 10,335 ft., upon reaching about 9,700 ft., a dark cloud had appeared, and brought us thunder plus a couple lightning flashes seemingly overhead, so we quickly changed our plans and began our descent! It’s dangerous to be high on a mountain with thunder and lightning strikes present!

E OTHER:

33 Deer Spotted Along The Way. (Near Schultz Tank Area).

34 GPSTrack 1 Campbell Mesa TH & Picture Canyon (red).

35 GPSTrack 2 Locket Meadow & Abineau/Bearjaw (red).

SPECIES (From all locations):

1 Red Elderberry Bush, with buds, 7 leaf segments.

2 Beardlip Penstemon

3 Lupine

4 Bee Plant

5 Common Mullein

6 Colorado Rubberweed (Hymenoxys rusbyi)

7 Shrubby Deer Vetch

8 Dalmation Toadflax

9 Evening Primrose

10 Kindling W**d (Broom Snakeweed) (Gutierrezia sarothrae)

11 Purple Locoweed

12 Many-Flowered Gilia

13 Skyrocket

14 Yellow Sweet Clover.

15 Ground Hugger - Small White Flowers.

16 Indian Paintbrush

17 New Mexico Vervain

18 Pale Blue Penstemon

19 A Milkweed (Maybe Poison)

20 American Yellow Rocket

21 Field Bindweed

22 Mexican Hat

23 Western American-Aster

24 Sunflower

25 Pine Drop

26 Very small white 4-petal flowers, linear leaves

27 Horehound

28 Scarlet Gaura

29 Tules - sedge family

30 Apache Plume

31 Evening Primrose

32 Aspen Fleabane

33 Blue Flax

34 Lite Blue Penstemons

35 Crossflower

36 Mountain Parsley

37 Richardson Geranium

38 Golden Columbine

39 Meadow Rue

40 Mt. Albert Goldenrod (Solidago simplex)

41 Sneezeweed

42 Groundsel

43 Common Yarrow

SEASONAL NOTE: Summer

LOCAL CONDITIONS: Rainy on Thursday, hot and humid Friday.

BUGS, CRITTERS & THINGS: Deer, birds, squirrels, a rabbit.

STATISTICS:

1 Abineau Hike Distance: 4.1 mi

2 Trailhead Elev: 8,500’

3 Total Ascent: 1,200’

More beautiful days in the great outdoors!

* * *

Visit our on-line store, at:

https://ps-enterprises.square.site/

* * *
Detailed information and excerpts from our wildflower identification products, and customer support information, is posted at:
http://www.phoenixwildflowers.com/index.htm

* * *

Following is the link to our FACEBOOK site, which has been updated with information on our latest product ‘WILDFLOWERS OF ARIZONA,’ lists hike reports (with photos), for our last 120+ hikes:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wildflowers-of-Arizona/94940691403

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All the best,

Paul & Nancy Santori, Wildflowers of Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------
Paul Santori Sr. © 2026 All Rights Reserved

Address

85027, 85087

Website

http://www.phoenixwildflowers.com/index.htm, https://squareup.com/market/ps-enterprises

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