Arizona Super Bloom 2023
As the winter came to a close here in Arizona, there was a buzz of excitement in the air. Rumors were spreading of an incredible event about to occur - a super bloom of wildflowers in Arizona and the Southwest USA. It was said that the long, wet winter had brought the perfect conditions for a spectacular display of vibrant colors and scents to the desert landscape.
Word quickly spread, and soon people from all over the state (and even outside the state) were planning their trips here to witness this fairly rare natural wonder. The anticipation was palpable as the first reports of the wildflower super bloom in Arizona began to emerge in the news and social media posts. Fields of vibrant purple lupines, golden poppies, and delicate desert marigolds were blooming in the most unexpected places, transforming the AZ desert into a sea of color.
During this time, early March to mid-April, I made several photography trips myself to the Tonto National Forest off Highway 87 and onto the Bush Highway towards Saguaro Lake. I found most of Bush Highway lined with vibrant wildflowers including a few valleys absolutely filled with them. As a resident of Arizona for 25 years, this was absolutely the most explosive wildflower bloom I had ever experienced and personally shot as a photographer.
However, during these visits to the Tonto National Forest I was not alone. Hordes of Spring break tourists and nature lovers from all over the Phoenix area and beyond descended on this area to experience the beauty of the wildflowers for themselves. Both sides of the highway in spots was lined with vehicles and the trails off the highway leading in to the desert were filled with people, cameras in hand, marveling at the stunning displays of nature.
Unfortunately, I learned there were several serious car and truck accidents because of careless behavior and the unusual amount of traffic on this 2 lane highway that has no paved shoulder lanes. In another twist, a lot of the famous Salt River Wild Horses were grazing in this vicinity because of the bounty of spring wildflowers and fresh grass available. This dynamic unfortunately contributed to more of the reckless behavior of some visitors who were pulling over quickly to take photos of these beautiful animals.
Photography Tips:
As far as photography tips, I was shooting with a number of prime lenses on my Canon EOSR mirrorless camera including a 16 mm wide angle and the venerable 50 mm or “nifty fifty”. I found some of my favorite shots came from when I got in an elevated position on a ridgeline for example. And of course, the macro shots of the poppies and lupines always look great as you can see below. I found the best time to shoot for me was in the morning between 7 30 and 10am.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the Arizona super bloom of 2023 started to fade quickly by early April. The flowers withered and the desert returned to its usual shades of brown and green. But for those who had witnessed the wildflowers in all their glory, the memory should last a lifetime. The super bloom of 2023 would be remembered as a magical time when the desert landscape was transformed into a riot of color and scent, reminding us all of the beauty and power of nature.
2024 Prediction: See my prediction here whether will see an Arizona wildflower super bloom in 2024?
Below are a few of my favorite wildflower landscape images I captured. Please click on the images to see full size high resolution versions that are available for sale. Please contact me or comment below if you have any questions . All Images are Copyrighted
Lavender Lupine and Gold Mexican poppies.
A valley bottom in the Tonto National Forest filled with Wildflowers.
Two wild horses grazing in field of Spring Wildflowers in 2023
A Hillside in the Tonto National forest covered with wildflowers, Spring 2023.
Desert landscape filled with blooming wildflowers, Spring 2023.
Expansive view of wildflowers blooming in the Arizona desert in the Tonto National Forest.
A field of lavender lupine blooming.
