The first time I stepped off the bus in Arizona, I was greeted by some spectacular landscaping. Though the desert was much hotter then where I had come from and I was dressed way to warm, I couldn’t help but notice the wide array of floral designs that were all around me. One of my greatest loves or past time is landscaping. I remember how the local people stared at me for I was truly out of place. I was as much an oddity to them as they were to me.

I have studied plants for many years in search of medicines that can be helpful for those that have lost faith or just slipped through the cracks of modern medicine. So you can imagine my excitement to see so many kinds of plants. Today I would like to share some pictures with all that are interested. I will endeavour to give a brief description of each plant.

Saguaro Cactus

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The Saguaro Cactus can be seen as it blooms on the desert; its purple blooms add a truly remarkable beauty to the desert and the lush green foliage that surround it. When it’s combined with the mountains in the background it is very spectacular and just for a brief moment you may feel your heat flutter as it may take your breathe away.

Mariposa Desert Lily

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This is another very beautiful flower and it’s called Mariposa desert lily. This plant is also referred to as the Star Tulip of Mariposa Tulip. It ranges from the Mojave and Sonoran desert of South-eastern California to Western Arizona. The color of its bloom depends on at which elevation it is found grown. Higher elevations produce more yellow flowers then red as in the picture above. It blooms March to June and if you look at the base of the flower you may notice that it has a maroon to brown splotch.

Monkey Flower

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This flower is very beautiful and is called the Monkey Flower it’s a member of the Genus Mimulus family. Its color ranges from blue to purple and can be found growing in the regions of Mojave, Sonoran and Great Basin area. It’s a remarkable flower that adds to the beauty of the desert. It peak blossom time is around the first of March.

Mexican Gold Poppy

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The common name given to this little beauty is Mexican Gold Poppy and it’s found grown in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan range. It blooms in spring Mid March to May. The bloom is a very pretty orange.

Dune Evening Primrose

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Dune Evening Primrose is another spectacular flower that grows in the Great Basin, Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Its white blossoms are very pleasing to the eyes. They bloom from January through May. They can be found in hot sandy desert areas below 3500ft above sea level. The flower will turn a pinkish color as it ages.

Red Bird of Paradise

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Red Bird of Paradise is strikingly beautiful and is found in the Phoenix Arizona area. It is quite often mistaken for the Mexican Bird of Paradise. The seed of this plant is very poisonous if it were to be ingested into the body. It blooms late summer till early fall and mid fall so therefore it bloom all year. It likes sun to partial shade and its blooms attract the many butterflies, bees and birds that live in the area. Its origin is the West Indies but has been found to be very common in the Sonoran Desert.

These are but a few of the natural landscaping plants that can be seen here in Arizona; there are many more. So come spend some time in the desert; I promise you that you will take something wondrously new away with you.