Tag: Highland Trail

Wildflower Season Keeps on Going

Earlier I wrote that the wildflower season was coming to an end. To my surprise, it just keeps on going. The September rains were very beneficial and the result is I get to enjoy the flowers for a fews weeks more.

Here  are some wildflower photographs from later September through mid October.

A scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) seen on the Weatherford Trail in the San Francisco Peaks.
A scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) seen on the Weatherford Trail in the San Francisco Peaks.
Purple and yellow wildflowers on the Weatherford Trail in the San Francisco Peaks.
Purple and yellow wildflowers on the Weatherford Trail in the San Francisco Peaks.
Lupine wildflowers on the Weatherford Trail.
Lupine wildflowers on the Weatherford Trail.
White asters on the Highland Trail south of Flagstaff.
White asters on the Highland Trail south of Flagstaff.
White asters on the Highland Trail south of Flagstaff.
White asters on the Highland Trail south of Flagstaff.
Purple asters on the Highland Trail south of Flagstaff.
Purple asters on the Highland Trail south of Flagstaff.
Lupine flowers on the Humpreys Trail at Arizona Snowbowl.
Lupine flowers on the Humpreys Trail at Arizona Snowbowl.

 

Wildflower Season Coming to an End

Wildflowers have been scarce for most of this summer because of a lack of rainfall. The summer rainy season was a bust but September was much wetter. As a result, we had a late–season burst of wildflowers across northern Arizona and Flagstaff. Shorter days and much cooler nights, however, signal the end is near.

Here are a few photographs from this morning (01Oct2025) along the Highland Trail just south of Flagstaff. I was using a recently purchased used-but-new-to me Sony RX10m4 camera. This has a 24mm–600mm (35mm equivalent) zoom and all of these photographs were shot at the maximum 600mm. (Note: I bought this to replace my old Sony RX10 which has an optical issue but cannot be serviced. “Parts not available.”)

Closeup of a penstomen. Flash fill was used to illuminate the shady side of the flower.
Closeup of a penstomen. Flash fill was used to illuminate the shady side of the flower.
A purple aster.
A purple aster.
A cluster of white asters with a bright background.
A cluster of white asters with a bright background.
A cluster of yellow goldenrod flowers.
A cluster of yellow goldenrod flowers.

And now fall leaf color season begins.