I got the best surprise ever on our road trip last weekend (you may have a good guess if you follow me on twitter, or even if you read the title of this post!) – as we rounded a corner in the highway coming out of Payson, we were greeted with this AMAZING view:
I know I usually lean towards black and white – but how can you not try to tackle the color thing when you have this to work with?Β I mean, this is the most vibrant Arizona ever gets – or at least as far as I have seen it! Pink, pink, pink.
Swoon! I love the spring for it’s rainbow explosion of flowers – autumn is the only season that could rival it in color, and it’s constantly a toss up in my book between which is my favorite.Β Usually, I decide based on whichever one I’m closest to on the calendar.Β Today, spring wins with flying colors (ha – sorry I couldn’t resist).
I have to give a little shout-out to my awesome husband too, as he was willing to take a 20 mile detour on our already 12 hour drive so that I could actually get to the flowers (they were all conveniently on the OTHER side of the divided highway, and as you can see from the photos, the two directions were not right next to each other by any means – nowhere in sight!).Β He sure spoils me!
(Aside: balancing your camera on the roof of your car does not the best photo make, but hey, what are you gonna do?)
Dear Arizona, thanks for the brilliant show.
Every time you post photos from your travels it makes me long to get back to the southwest. Gorgeous shots and mad props to the hubby for being willing to take the detour!
Sometimes I get tired of it and want to experience far away lands – but I am learning to be grateful and appreciate where I am at – thank you so much for the lovely compliment π
Yes…very nice. Thanks!
Were you on highway 95. I know the Arizona flowers. I wish I had a digital camera then .
We were on 87 (Beeline) south of Payson!
Definitely worth the detour!! Beautiful!!!
totally! thanks!
[…] and rainy and cold (again, relative) – but I do love a photo of a cloudy sky!Β Plus, the flowers were still blooming so that made up for […]
Absolutely spectacular photos — love how wildflowers can totally transform a landscape. I live in northern Nevada, and often while traveling between here and Vegas or here and northern California, I’m completely overwhelmed by the vibrant vistas! π
it’s really amazing! especially since deserts can be so…brown π thanks!
Beautiful images from a beautiful world! I adore the last pink flower shot! Great work. Great talent =)
thank you!
Very nice adventure! I LOVE roadtrips and wildflowers, and it’s even better to do/see both at the same time lol. This is a GREAT time to see wildflowers especially. I just LOVE all those natural colors. They bring me peace:)
Thanks! Wildflower season isn’t until much later here in Colorado – I think the altitude is to blame – so I was really happy to find some on our trip to AZ.
The cactus flowers are beautiful!
right? I love the way the bright yellow pops against the purple π
Definitely worth a detour and must say you have a real good husband who let’s you take such detours
I agree π He did good!
beautiful indeed!!!
Beautiful photos! There is one plant there in AZ that has a skinny green stalk and along the stalk are the brightest red flowers!
AWESOME
Brilliant colors, interesting angles, great pictures!
so sweet – thank you!
I love pink and flowers. beautifuuuuuul pics
HERMOSOS PANORAMAS, TRANSMITEN LA ESENCIA DE DIOS.
Estoy de acuerdo – muchas gracias! π
Great photos Annabelle! Wildflowers always make a trip much nicer. I’ve seen some fabulous ones heading north toward the Grand Canyon
Ah, the Grand Canyon – it’s definitely on our summer list, I haven’t been in ages!
Nice pics. π I really enjoy images of the southwest. Thanks for posting. π
You’re welcome – so glad you enjoyed them!
Penstemmon! I have those growing in my yard. Very nice. And that is a great highway to go for a drive.
Definitely – it’s a long (and sometimes unexciting) drive from CO to AZ, but the Beeline is definitely one of the highlights.
You did very well out of your car, amazing mini vacation for us. Beautiful! Thank you π
Thank you! We actually pulled over – this was too good to just drive by π
I can see why, great mental get away from the words for me, beautiful imagery, thanks again π
Really really nice photos!! Thanks sharing π
I LOVE Arizona. Beautiful photos.
thanks! it has really grown on me π
Having recently moved from AZ the wildflower pics were a nice reminder of one of my favourite surpises in the desert – the flowers. Glad you stopped to savor it!
so glad you enjoyed them! thank you! π
Really nice photos. Thank you for sharing your trip. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
I love the cacti flowers! So pretty!
The pinks have been really awesome this year.
Uma belissima paisagem, congratulations.
Obrigada!
Uma belissima paisagem, parabΓ©ns
Very beautiful photos! I hope to see more of your work as you continue to have even more exciting adventures!
cc:Keith
that’s the plan! thanks! π
I grew up in Safford and I could actually smell the flowers! Very beautiful.
I love that!! Thanks!
Congrats on FP! AZ flowers lovely. If you would like to see my Virginia flowers, please visit my blog/world and check out the left column of essays/photos. D.
Ah, spring in the east coast is so different from spring here – miss it a little bit sometimes. Thanks for sharing π
I don’t know these flowers, but I recognice beautiful spring when I see it, like in your nice photos.
I visited Arizona in March and I’m returning in June… I’m so jealous I missed the color! Thank you for outstanding pictures (:
Yes, the view is breathtaking. These are beautiful pictures and I love your shots of the flowers. Cheers to you! π
Really beautiful pictures! My parents live in Tucson thus I’ve been going there for over 18 years now. I love this time of year! I love the flowering cacti but must admit I’ve never taken a drive and saw wildflowers. Where in Arizona were you driving? Wonderful post!
We were on the Beeline driving into Phoenix – we rounded a bend in the road outside of Payson and they totally surprised us – I think I actually audibly gasped! π
Cool!
We have visited Arizona quite a bit on our travels but never in the spring during the blooming season. This would be great to view but I bet it only lasts for a short time.
My husband is from there originally and he says it’s maybe only two weeks at its peek – we got really lucky!
Love the pictures and this blogg i wanna live there one day…..
Nice photos! I moved to Arizona in December of last year and am totally digging the spring here. It’s completely different than the Northwester US, where I’m from.
So true! It’s more surprising I think π
I just moved to Arkansas from Arizona. I have always hated the desert. I didn’t think I missed it until I saw your post. Thanks for the reminder! It does have a certain charm.
Spring is definitely my favorite time there – summers can get a bit ridiculous! But I love that everywhere you go has its unique pros and cons π
That is so true! I love, love, love all the greenery here in Arkansas.. but I might kill myself with this humidity! Pros and cons.
Beautiful photos – Congrats on being FP!
Thanks a bunch!!
Love the shots!
If you don’t tell us that it’s taken near the roads, no one can tell either. The close-ups look great!
Thanks guys for taking that detour and snapping these great photos.
The first time I went to AZ to visit my parents, when they’d just moved there in 1987, the desert was in bloom. I hadn’t expected it and was completely knocked off my feet by the beauty. Thanks for the memorie!
Exactly how I felt! Thanks π
Unas imagenes preciosas!!!
gracias!
Ah, the painted desert, on my list of must-sees. Beautiful photographs–glad you went with the color instead of b/w for this post.
[…] had a handful (ok, maybe more) of new visitors to the site in the last day thanks to the feature of this post on Freshly Pressed (Thanks, WordPress!) so I thought I’d put together a little navigational […]
Never been to Arizona but must say it looks stunning and so unlike Ireland (where I live) maybe I’ll be able to see it for myself one day. For the meantime thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures.
Good job on the photos in your travel! Good shots too
Great photography you have! Keep it up! π
I loved your pictures.
My hubby was offered a role in Phoenix, we desperately wanted to take it, but the timing was not good as I was in my last year of a Uni degree and had just scored my dream job myself. In some ways we regret not making the move overseas, but it worked out for the best because the company was sold and broken up 9 months later.
Pictures like this bring back that regret. We would still dearly love to spend some time living in America! Just beautiful
…. and the flower would be it’s offering
of love to the desert, and the desert is so
dry and lonely, that all the critters there
appriciate the effort . . .
Lyrics to the Kimya Dawson, song –
“Tree Hugger”
Loved your post. I live in Tucson and this is my favorite season. Thanks for the inspiration.
Come back soon.
Love your photos! i was surprised at the beauty of the desert plants. We really enjoy the scenery out there. Good photos. We live in central Texas and we have the most gorgeous displays of wildflowers here. Its always a treat to drive in the spring time and see what is out.
how lovely. I am originally from west Texas and I must say this made me miss my beautiful desert scape! How inspiring that such beauty can thrive in such harsh conditions.
it’s amazing, isn’t it! Thanks!
Ohhh….Arizona…how I miss it… I lived there for 6 months only but I loved it and your beautiful pictures reminded me of my great time there…thank you.
Thanks for sharing these photos with the rest of us. My uncle and cousin used to travel to Arizona every spring to see the flowers. They loved the colors and the beauty there at that time of year.
Great flowers. Would like to put them in my wild drawings.
http://www.susanmedyn.com
ah, watercolors are near and dear to my heart! yours are so fun! π
Beautiful photos! I just moved from the Southwest. Spring is always a pleasant surprise in the desert…it truly can be beautiful. A nice share!
Nice pictures.
Thank u for sharing them with us.
Wonderful photos. For a time, I lived in the Mojave, and now I miss it…
a nice addition to an already nice landscape! π
Good job, Nice Pics
beautiful pictures π keep posting!
We spent the weekend Rv’ing in The Verde Vallely & discovered the deep ‘Pink Flowers’ (and other wildflowers) along Clear Creek. Your photos captured the beauty of the Arizona High Desert spring.
I love living here in Arizona. My family and friends back home think the desert is just brown. They seem unwilling to understand how beautiful it is.
Beautiful pictures! π
Very Nice! I lived in Tucson for a while, loved the trips into the country/desert
to see all the gorgeous flowers and watch for road-runners!! Ocotillo cactus was one of my faves, out near San Javier Del Bac mission…Thanks for the memories… π
A beautiful detour!
Beautiful pictures – the desert really is beautiful this time of year! When I lived there, I couldn’t wait for all of the flowers to come up – so gorgeous!
Beautiful pictures! Thanks! π
These photos make me want to jump in my car and go for a roadtrip!
This is so so Gorgeous. Indescribably beautiful. Thanks for sharing with the world. And just would like to inform you, i have nominated you for a sunshine award.
Thanks and looking forward to more beautiful pictures..
gorgeous! Arizona is an underrated treasure! Love my homestate <3
Great to see Payson, and the wildflowers, being promoted on WP! I have lived in Arizona, for the most part, since 1978, and am now in Prescott. Our town is a great place for B & W photography, so come on up when you get a chance.
thanks for the tip!
love it! π
My wife and I love wildflowers and we always try to plan a trip in the spring to see the wildflowers. We need to plan one for Arizona. Thanks for the post and great pictures.
I lived in Arizona many years ago. Brings back memories. Very nice pics!
Gorgeous wildflower! Would love to use some of these flowers for my cocktail garnishes!
What brilliant images, it’s fantastic when you stumble onto something that really inspires you isn’t it! Congrats on FP x
Great I like ^^