TA Tidbits #61-Groom No Bloom
- Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 30
- 1 min read
Photos by Joe Thomas
Tortolita Preserve-Trail Grooming
Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB) volunteers were out in the Tortolita Preserve grooming the trail on March 15. Thanks to SDMB for making the trail clear and safe for bikers, hikers, trail runners and horseback riders.
No Wildflower Bloom
Hiked the Upper Javelina trail this morning and there are absolutely no wildflowers in bloom except for a few ocotillo. The La Niña winter (no rain) is the culprit. It is very, very dry in the Tortolitas.
In late March 2023 and 2024 there were plenty of colorful wildflowers. See March Gladness (2023) and TA Tidbits #55-Spring Loaded (2024) blogs to refresh your memory.
These photos were taken this morning in some of the spots where wildflowers are normally blooming at this time.
Big Island Beauty and Sea Life
Shirley and I are just back from our annual month-long visit to the Big Island (Hawaii). Since I have no colorful wildflowers to show---here are some photos taken during our hikes along the lava fields, beaches, sacred tropical valleys and volcanoes.
From Left to Right & Down: Pololū Valley Trail, Pololū Valley (childhood home of King Kamehameha), Pololū Beach (black sand), Holoholkai Beach-Ailani & Kenū Green Sea Turtles frequent evening visits, Holoholkai Beach-humpback whales every morning, Kīholo Bay-endangered monk seal basking on the beach and Kilauea Volcano-flowing lava at dusk.
