The un-urban side of Phoenix...

[HX_Guy]

I've lived in Phoenix for 16 years and today was the first time I've ever gone to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The experience was amazing. The views, the hiking, the exercise...awesome. There are multiple trails, we chose the Summit Trail which is 1.2 miles long as rises from 1100 ft at the base to 2600 at the summit.

Enjoy...

[HooverDam]

Very nice. The Sonoran desert sure is beautiful. I love this time of year, the plants are going to start blooming soon and all of the mountains from a distance look like they're covered in a green moss, its very pretty.

[tempedude]

I think we are going to have a very nice wildflower bloom across the desert this year. On good years with the proper amount of rain and temps (like what I think we have had this year)...its nothing less than spectacular. There is nothing more beautiful than the desert in bloom.

Nice pics HX

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by HooverDam

... all of the mountains from a distance look like they're covered in a green moss, its very pretty.

Yea, that's crazy to see. I've been in Phoenix for a long time and I don't remember ever seeing the desert as green as it is now. There are open fields all around here that have turned completely green, it looks like someone planted grass on all of them but if you look close...it's all weeds!

[tempedude]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Yea, that's crazy to see. I've been in Phoenix for a long time and I don't remember ever seeing the desert as green as it is now. There are open fields all around here that have turned completely green, it looks like someone planted grass on all of them but if you look close...it's all weeds!

I am hoping a lot of those 'weeds' are Poppy, Owls Clover, and Lupine...last time I saw the desert (and urban mountain preserve areas) turn this green is when I also saw it turn very colorful

people were actually slowing down on the freeways to gawk....

[Buckeye Native 001]

Great day for hiking, that's for sure. Awesome pics

[Sekkle]

Great photos, thanks for sharing!

[PHX31]

Good lord, that's possibly the tallest (nearly armless) saguaro I've ever seen!

[vertex]

I see you made it to the top. Congrats and nice pics.

[Locofresh55]

Man,

You gotta love the weather this weekend. Here in Tucson, it was a balmy 76 degrees on Saturday. Went up to Mt. Lemmon and it was around 60 degrees, but there was still a good amount of snow. Summerhaven had some snow too. Wonderful weather overall.

[gymratmanaz]

Are you in these pictures HX_Guy?

It is amazing to hike there!!!!!

[®uger]

Cool pictures HX_Guy, thanks for sharing, any gold in them thar hills Hey if by chance the desert does turn into a paint pallet well we get some pictures

[DowntownDweller]

Haven't been to there in some time. Used to go every other weekend (I'd alternate Squaw Peak and CamelBack). Views are indeed amazing, and while this is not the greenest it has been in the past 5 years, it is a close second.

[HX_Guy]

I thought I'd throw this in this thread...

Took the picture this morning in the backyard, I know, I know...it's a non-native tree, but flowering fruit trees are awesome and really makes it feel like spring is here. This is a peach tree, the first non-citrus fruit tree I've had out here and now I think I want more.

[loftlovr]

Is that you with the girl in white shirt?
Just wanting to put a person to the Godly status on this forum!

Congrats on making it to the top!!
Great pics- I like the first one with Downtown in background (surprise!)

[HX_Guy]

Yes, that's me in the white shirt.

[PHX31]

Ah yes, a glorious peach tree. We had two of them in my backyard growing up in nw Phoenix/glendale. The tree's process of getting its leaves, blossoming, and eventually getting fruit was my measuring stick of how long until school was out and summer break was here (the best time of the year when you are a kid). It also produced the best damn tasting peaches I've ever had (although the birds usually ate the shit out of the fruit well before it was ripe enough to eat).

[HX_Guy]

PHX31: Are you familiar with any other fruit tree that does well in Arizona that is not tropical/citrus? Apricot maybe? Cherry? Apple? I want something that sheds it's leaves in the fall and flowers/fruits in the spring.

[NIXPHX77]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

PHX31: Are you familiar with any other fruit tree that does well in Arizona that is not tropical/citrus? Apricot maybe? Cherry? Apple? I want something that sheds it's leaves in the fall and flowers/fruits in the spring.

nice pix. i have an ornamental pear; there is no fruit at all, though.
but it does lose leaves (they turn a pretty orange and red) in december
and gets pretty white flowers and new bright green leaves about now.
mine is just about ready to burst into bloom.

i don't think cherry or apple will work in the Valley; not enough
chilling hours and too much heat. i hear kumquats (citrus?), pomegranete,
and apricot can grow hear. not sure if they flower.
go to a good nursery, like Baker's on 40th St or Whitfill on Glendale ave;
these are locally owned, operated and grown.

[vertex]

Originally Posted by NIXPHX77

...i hear kumquats (citrus?), pomegranete,
and apricot can grow hear. not sure if they flower.
go to a good nursery, like Baker's on 40th St or Whitfill on Glendale ave;
these are locally owned, operated and grown.

All 3 will bloom and grow fruit here, no problem. I've seen grape vines too.