Monsoon

While it doesn't stack up to south Asia's monsoon, what we call monsoon in Arizona is active this year. It's characterized not by regular torrential rains, but regular, small thundershowers developing over central, eastern and southern Arizona, with an occasional torrential rain.

The spotty rains result in anomalous vegetative growth. I visited Hillside, Arizona last week where the vegetation was green though the soil mostly dry. On the way back we passed near Wilhoit, Arizona where the vegetation was positively lush.

This morning I visited an area near Seven Springs where the rains have been relativelty abundant. Found millions of plants in seedling stages and some already in flower. I'm looking forward to visiting again in August and September.

Posted on August 1, 2017 04:10 AM by stevejones stevejones

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Ornate Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:41 AM MDT

Description

Tail looks like new re-growth.

Photos / Sounds

What

Cat Claw Mimosa (Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:44 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Soapberry (Sapindus drummondii)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:46 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Sonoran Scrub Oak (Quercus turbinella)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:48 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Trans-Pecos Ayenia (Ayenia filiformis)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:50 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Arizona Blue-Eyes (Evolvulus arizonicus)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:51 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-gland Spurge (Euphorbia melanadenia)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:51 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Snapdragon Vine (Maurandella antirrhiniflora)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:55 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Arizona Blue-Eyes (Evolvulus arizonicus)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 10:57 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Rough Menodora (Menodora scabra)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:02 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pancake Pricklypear (Opuntia chlorotica)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:04 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:27 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:29 AM MDT

Description

Beat-up female ovipositing.

Photos / Sounds

What

Southwestern Pipevine (Aristolochia watsonii)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:32 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Trans-Pecos Morning-Glory (Ipomoea cristulata)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:32 AM MDT

Description

Seedling

Photos / Sounds

What

Texas Mulberry (Morus microphylla)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:43 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Coville's Lip Fern (Myriopteris covillei)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:43 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Beans (Genus Phaseolus)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:44 AM MDT

Description

Seedlings

Photos / Sounds

What

Montezuma's Grasshopper (Syrbula montezuma)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:47 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Golden Paper Wasp (Polistes aurifer)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:49 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red Barberry (Berberis haematocarpa)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:49 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Sonoran Scrub Oak (Quercus turbinella)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:50 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:51 AM MDT

Description

Insect gall on Quercus turbinella stem.

Photos / Sounds

What

Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:53 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:54 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Noseburns (Genus Tragia)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 11:54 AM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Dwarf Abutilon (Abutilon parvulum)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:14 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pretty Dodder (Cuscuta indecora)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:20 PM MDT

Description

Several hosts including Acacia angustissima

Photos / Sounds

What

Prairie Acacia (Acaciella angustissima)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:16 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Whitemargin Sandmat (Euphorbia albomarginata)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:18 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Texas Milkvine (Chthamalia producta)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:19 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Hyssop Spurge (Euphorbia hyssopifolia)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:22 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Southwestern Mock Vervain (Glandularia gooddingii)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:23 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Thornber's Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa ssp. thornberi)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:24 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:29 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-spined Pricklypear (Opuntia phaeacantha)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:30 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Christmas Cholla (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:30 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Engelmann's Pricklypear (Opuntia engelmannii)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:31 PM MDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Catclaw Acacia (Senegalia greggii)

Observer

stevejones

Date

July 31, 2017 12:31 PM MDT

Comments

That's great! I'll be coming to SE AZ this August.

Posted by nathantaylor over 6 years ago

Some of the plants down in Patagonia look so lush in comparison with their standard ID photos (e.g. that Dyschoriste) because the rain is pretty much a daily occurrence!
I've been wondering if any parts of the Sonoran are having good blooms because of the monsoons - I paid zero attention last summer. Do tell if there are any hotspots worth visiting!

Posted by marissa-b over 6 years ago

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