By Suzie Rodriguez
March 30, 2010

Just as mountains and grassy meadows have spring wildflowers, so do deserts-but there’s something extra-special about springtime in arid terrain. Astonishingly vibrant color suddenly appears in the dry and muted landscape, dazzling with bright red, purple, yellow, blue, white, hot pink, magenta, and all shades in-between.

Photographers hiking with their dogs might go a little crazy! Imagine posing a black Labrador, a snowy West Highland terrier, or a silky Afghan – its feathers swaying in the wind like desert grasses – amidst all that color.

Exactly when deserts bloom differs each year, influenced by rainfall, temperature, and many other conditions. Once in a while a year comes along when all the conditions are absolutely perfect, and long-time desert wildflower-watchers are predicting that 2010 may be one of those special years.

One of the best gazing places is North America is McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Scottsdale, Arizona. The Preserve offers more than 16,000 acres of protected Sonoran Desert land and miles of untouched desert terrain where hikers and leashed pups can enjoy leisurely walks or heart-pumping hikes. For 2010, the Preserve has highlighted seven different hikes-ranging from short/easy to long/difficult–designed to offer maximum opportunities for wildflower viewing.

McDowell’s flower list is vast, ranging from the small, bright yellow Janusia to the Wooly Sunflower, with captivating novelties like the Pincushion Cactus, with its barrel encircled by hot pink flowers. Bring binoculars along with the camera: more than one hundred species of birds visit or live on the Preserve-everything from finches and doves to hawks and vultures-and with few trees to hide in, they’re easily visible. Mammals, reptiles, and insects thrive here, too, including the unusual desert tortoise.

At the end of a hot, dusty hike, head for a refreshing oasis back in town. Scottsdale has an array of pet-friendly properties, including the retro-chic Hotel Valley Ho which offers an in-room Doggie Massage through its signature VH Spa; the Fairmont Scottsdale that welcomes pets with a “Woofer” or “Purr-fect” gift set including plush bed, matching food and water bowls, pet toys and treats; and the FireSky Resort & Spa, where a chocolate cocker spaniel named Bosco is the Director of Pet Relations.

If You Go:
Arizona Office of Tourism
Scottsdale CVB
McDowell Sonoran Conservancy
Pet-sitting services: Scottsdale Bark

Photo credits:
Stephen Parsons/McDowell Conservancy
Scottsdale CVB
Hotel Valley Ho