For someone who grew up in New England, the idea of searching for wildflowers in early February comes across as slightly absurd. Even after spending seven years in Florida, I still don't know that we saw anything in true bloom until March. However, here in Arizona, it appears that certain types of wildflowers are popping up everywhere this month ~ or so I've heard.
I've seen reels and posts about the blooms beginning to appear in and around Bartlett Lake, Lost Dutchman State Park, and elsewhere. I mean, we're talking early blooms and, by no means, extensive or lush. Nonetheless, photographers are flocking to these areas and I'm no different. I felt the push and became highly motivated to be one of the go-getters who captured the perfect image early in the season, so we planned a day jaunt over to Bartlett Lake to see what we could find.
It was another early morning - 4:30 am rise, out the door by 5:30 and headed on our 1.5 hour or so drive in the dark. We love it because it provides us an opportunity to chat, catch up on "us" and connect before we even arrive to our destination. Not gonna lie, we've developed a sweet routine of sorts - fill the gas tank up, prep camera gear, pack the cooler with healthy snacks (almonds are a favorite) and fill the water bottles the day before. Then, day of, we rise before the sun, pack the car, mobile order our caffeine and egg bites, and then drive off to our destination. I'm ready for a nap just typing that out....
Even so, it's how we roll and it was no different this trip.
The ride there, even in the dark, was gorgeous. My husband is a huge fan of silhouettes and seeing the dark mountains that early in the morning against the slowly brightening sky jumpstarts his day. I'll cut right to the chase, though, the day wasn't without its failures. To be honest, we didn't find as many healthy poppies and colors as I had wanted. No doubt, I likely didn't search out all the right spots. It was our first time to the area and I tried doing the research, asking questions, and keeping my eyes peeled as we drove up and around that portion of Tonto National Forest. Nonetheless, I only found a few patches and those not very intriguing.
Barlett Reservoir with signs of early spring ~ photo by Tina Stevens-Brown
However, the day was not without a heartwarming highlight ~ and it happened very early in the adventure.
As noted above, we arrived to our destination before dawn broke. We chose to make our first stop Rattlesnake Cove right on the Bartlett Reservoir, as that was one of the top places my reels were telling me to go (ha!). Before I even started looking for flowers, I noted the placement of the mountains and where the light was starting to emerge.
OH, MY GOSH - it looked like we were going to have a front row seat to the sun making her grand entrance over the mountains!! Know what that means? Sunburst, baby!! If you know me, you know I love taking sunburst pictures!!! They are not always great, but I love the practice!
We had just enough time to set up the tripod and adjust my camera settings. Once situated - even my phone in place on my new Smallrig device ~ I patiently endured the cold, praying my fingers didn't freeze to where they couldn't activate the trigger on my camera, and waited as the sun took her sweet time making her entrance.
Sunburst at Dawn over Bartlett Lake ~ photo taken by Tina Stevens-Brown
If anything, this image and that peaceful moment made the trip out there worth it. My husband and I listened to the water lap against the rocky beach, heard birds chirping their sweet "good mornings," and just breathed in - out - and in again - grateful that we had this beautiful opportunity to witness the beginning of another day. Some things we just don't cherish enough ~ and as we get older, we realize just how precious these moments are.
Visit my instagram reel of the sunrise here.
So - as wildflowers go, we saw some, but not the blooms I had hoped. There was some yellow ~ a little purple and a few reds, but I'm going to have to give it another go a little later in the season if I want to catch more vibrancy and volume (wait a minute ~ it's not EVEN spring!!! I've got time....).
Now, I did catch this solitary poppy in a small field off the side of Horseshoe Dam Road heading west. I loved how it stood so confidently on its own, vivid and clearly enjoying its position in life. It was something that just got me thinking if but for a moment....
...and then I captured that moment so that I could share it with others and they could be inspired to "think for a moment," as well.
The Solitary Golden Poppy - photo by Tina Stevens-Brown
Until the next adventure...
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