Hobbies And Interests
Wildflowers and Shrubs
Many wildflowers and flowering shrubs are native to the Sonoran Desert area, a desert plain that includes Phoenix. The flowers themselves come in many shapes, sizes and colors and depend on Phoenix's rainy season, during April and May, for development. Shrubs are well adapted to thrive in desert climates because of their small, thick leaves and woody stems. The flowers of shrubs vary greatly and range from the small, purple and cone-shaped flowers of the desert lavender shrub, to the medium sized, yellow, five petal flowers of the desert senna. Other shrubs native to Phoenix include the white-thorn acacia, the desert hackberry and the gray thorn shrub. Wildflowers in this area generally have woody stems, and although they may bloom throughout the year, the peak of the wildflower season is during April and May. The angel trumpet, San Felipe marigold, Mojave aster and desert dandelion are all examples of flowers indigenous to Phoenix.
Trees
There are several types of trees native to Phoenix, including palms and pines, as well as the most common group, which contains flowering and pod producing varieties. Members of the palm family include the date palm, which grows to around six feet tall and has a grouping of leaves originating at the top of the plant. Pine trees found in this area are less condensed than pines found in cooler climates, with branches spreading out from the tree and containing many small needles. Varieties found here include the mondell pine and Allepo pine. Many of the trees in this area produce pods, which contain seeds, such as the blue palo verde, which produces three-inch long seed pods that form from yellow flowers. The carob tree, desert fern tree, honey mesquite, Indian rosewood and ironwood tree are all types of flowering and pod-forming trees found in this area. Though few in number, some oak, willow, olive and myrtle trees can also be found in Phoenix.
Cactus
The cactus plant has adapted a water storage system that allows it to thrive in hot, dry conditions. The fleshy stem of the plant is usually cylindrical, but may be spherical or flattened, and with or without additional branching stems. Spines found on the stems are actually modified leaves and may be short and stiff or long and hair-like. Many varieties of this desert plant are native to Phoenix and include the barrel cactus, which is a flowering cactus with sharp spines that grows up to 11 feet tall. The teddybear or jumping cholla cactus is indigenous to this area and gives the impression of softness from afar because of a thick covering of sharp spines on its many branching stems. If something touches the spines, the affected part of the cactus seems to "jump" away from the main plant. Another cactus native to Phoenix is the saguaro cactus, which can live up to 200 years and become 18 to 24 inches in diameter. The prickly pear cactus, hedgehog cactus and buckhorn cholla cactus are other varieties that are native to Phoenix.