Desert Wild Flower Reports   ¦  Birds   ¦  Mammals   ¦  Cacti   ¦  Shrubs and Trees

Organ Pipe National Monument
ARIZONA

Introduction

Organ Pipe National Monument ranks among the most spectacular treasures within the US National Park system and is recognized as a component of an International Biosphere Reserve that includes adjacent areas of northwestern Mexico. There are three kinds of giant columnar cacti, colorful and fantastically rugged mountains and desert solitude for everyone. Add to that some of the most spectacular sunsets anywhere.

Organ Pipe N.P. is located on the US-Mexico border some 140 miles south of Phoenix or 130 miles west of Tucson, Arizona making it a considerable drive from more well traveled routes. This is a huge park stretching more than 35 km from north to south and more than 40 km east to west at its widest. In addition there are many other worthy destinations in the vicinity: First and foremost are the International Biosphere units across the border in Mexico (Pinacate, Gran Desierto and vast estuaries at the northern end of the Sea of Cortez). Then Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Camino de Diablo to the west of Organ Pipe run along the US side of the border adjcent to Gran Desierto. Kitt Peak with its astronomical observatories sets about 80 miles east towards Tucson. What this really all means is that the visitor can spend many days if not weeks exploring the area, or like myself, will be drawn to return again and again.

The camp ground ("Twin Peaks") and visitor's center are great starting points for your adventure. The park entrance fee is $8 and camp fee $12 - restrooms with water but no showers. Many of the most characteristic birds, animals, cacti and shrubs flourish within the camping area. Somehow the animals just know that visitors pose no threat and so they come up close making for easy observation.

The 'must' visit locations within Organ Pipe are Senita Basin the only place to see Senita Cactus and Elephant Trees, Estes Canyon and trail to Bull Pasture, Ajo Mountain Drive, Arch Canyon and Alamo Canyon. Check the National Park Service website to get more travel info and planning tips.

The town of Ajo lies 30 miles to the north where there are guest houses and plenty of lodging. RV parks with more substantial creature comfort facilities are available in Why and Lukeville just outside the park boundaries.

Shrubs and Trees

March 7, 1998

Here's what Regina saw blooming: lupines, desert dandelion (Malacrothrix californica ?), scorpion weed, mustards, desert chicory, yellow primrose, lots of poppies, globe mallow (just starting), brittle bush, mormon tea, owl clover, filaree, Nana hispidum (I think), Dichelostemma pulchellium (I think). I am just learning the desert wildflowers so don't hold me to some of these ID's. The visitor's center has a good inventory of pressed wild flowers that were helpful. Also, a book that I think is pretty good "Colorado Desert Wildflowers" by Jon Mark Stewart. Even though for the Colorado desert, still a good resource.

Robert Dahl also visited this past weekend: Drove out to Organ Pipe Monument this weekend. The bloom began on the roadsides right after the Kitt Peak turnoff. Poppies, lupine, filaree and occasional penstamen in the washes (parryii, I think). Poppies were the most prevalent wildflower in the Eastern portion of the park. There was a beautiful bloom at the S. W. base of the Diablo Mountains, about a quarter mile before the first picnic area on Ajo Mountain Drive. It's about a 300 yard walk into the flowers. A blanket of poppy, lupine, Desert Chicory, Phacelia, Mohave Desert Star and the occasional owl clover. There was another good bloom at the foot of the small hills due south of the Diablos, about a quarter mile south off the road.
Later that afternoon we took the north boundary road throught the westernern side of the monument. Fields of orange mallow (Globe?) also a compositae about two feet tall, three inch dia. yellow flowers with orange centers. Almost got stuck in the mud at one large mud puddle about sixty feet long.

Common Name	Flower Color	Flower Size & Shape	Special Notes and Info	Where to Look
Rattlesnake Weed	White	Very small, w/4 or 5 petal-like appendages	Red-tinged mats grow mostly flat on the ground	Common in sunny places along side paved pathways/ roads
Comb Bur	White	Minute w/4 or 5 petals	Most plants are less than 3 cm tall at maturity!	Common nearly everywhere especially on flats in the shade of Palo Verdes
Cryptantha	White	v. small w/5 petals; numerous on a scorpioid inflorescence	low herb w/bristley foliage	Common on open flats and especially in shade of desert trees
Lyre Pod	Cream-Brown	flowers w/4 long petals	viney, but not twisting, 1 to 2 m long	Uncommon in shade of desert trees and shrubs
Creosote Bush	Yellow	5 petals, 15 mm across	dark green shrub w/fuzzy seeds	dominant shrubs throughout desert
Bladderpod	Bright Yellow	4 petals; many flowers crowded on spikes	herb 15 to 30 cm tall	forms brilliant carpets of bright yellow across desert flats
Brittlebush	Bright yellow	daisies with orangish centers	shrub mostly 1 m tall; leaves usu. silvery	Common esp. along roads, washes and hillsides
Yellow Evening Primrose	yellow	4 petals, 8 stamens	herb 20 to 40 cm tall	scattered various locations on flats
Mexican Gold Poppy	Orange	4 large petals; 5 cm across	low herb with finely divided leaves	Common on open flats now and progressing up hillsides with the season
Little Gold Poppy	Orange	4 small petals; 1 to 2 cm across	low herb with finely divided leaves; a miniature version of the Mex. Poppy	Common, but may require a search
Orange Fiddleneck	Orange	flowers small w/5 petals; flowers many on scorpioid inflorescence	herb 30 to 60 cm tall	common esp. in shade of desert trees and shrubs
Desert Globe Mallow	Pink-Red	About 15 mm wide & 5 petals	Robust shrubby herb 2 m tall.	Common along roadsides, wash banks, and hillsides
Filaree	Lavender	flowers small w/5 petals	herb growing almost flat on soil	common esp. on flats. Geranium scented leaves
Jojoba	Green	Separate male and female shrubs	A woody shrub 1 - 1.5 m tall.	Common throughout the park. Blooming peak has passed already
Triangle-leaf Bursage	Green with lots of yellow pollen	no petals	shrub mostly < 1 m tall	a dominant shrub. Causes hayfever.
Bowlesia	Green	minute, 5 petals	small herb w/5 to 7 lobed leaf	forms carpets of green beneath palo verdes

Wildflower records include observations by Regina