Scott Craven

The Republic | azcentral.com

As early winter storms chugged across the Sonoran Desert one after another, visions of wildflowers danced in many people's heads.

But as Mother Nature turned off the faucet early, excitement for an incredible wildflower forecast dried up as well. Forget about carpets of vibrant red, yellow and white covering the desert. Think more along the lines of throw rugs.

Want to know where you can find the coat of many colors? Head to the Desert Botanical Garden's wildflower tracking site, which went live today. A collaboration of parks and gardens statewide, it's one of the most comprehensive wildflower sites in Arizona. Visit www.dbg.org/wildflower-tracking-site and click on a destination to see the latest conditions.

Angelica Elliott, a wildflower expert and program development manager for Desert Botanical Garden, said wildflower displays this year won't stun anyone, but they will easily vault the low bar set in the past few drought-ridden years.

People driving along the interstates or back roads likely will encounter rich pockets of desert color, especially brittlebush that grows along the roadside. When that happens, Elliott said, get out of the car and enjoy the fleeting spectacle.

“Spring is a beautiful time in the desert,” she said. “Take advantage of it.”

Best places to see Arizona's wildflowers

The predictions of a wet winter reminded Elliott of the early 1990s, when well-timed rain in October and November prepped the desert for its best wildflower displays in recent memory.

It was a period of perfect storms, providing the right amount of water to wildflower seeds waiting to sprout when the temperatures were just right.

“The storms back then came in around every other week in October and November,” Elliott said. “The timing couldn’t have been better.”

The rains fell a bit short for ideal blooming this winter, Elliott said. Still, nature’s show will be worth a drive.

While there is still hope for more rain before the heat sets in, it won’t affect the number of flowers. But it could lengthen the season, Elliott said.

Flowers tend to wither by mid-April, but if nature throws some moisture this way, the show could last as long as early May, she said.

“It’s always difficult to predict,” Elliott said. “You can forecast based on weather and temperatures, but it can always wind up surprising you.”

One thing is for sure: The curtain comes down as hot, dry air takes up residence. By that time, the blooms will have left millions of seeds behind, just waiting for the next show.