WILDFLOWERS ARE SPRINGING UP EVERYWHERE

Well ... that headline may not be entirely accurate. The annual spring bloom has always been unpredictable.

But, as we go to press with this issue, our fingers are crossed. And if the conditions are right, Mother Nature will put on quite a show. A PORTFOLIO EDITED BY JEFF KIDA

At sunrise, the whites of evening primroses and the purples of lupines and sand verbenas form a striking scene on the sandy hills of the Havasu Wilderness in extreme Western Arizona. This remote wilderness area, which is northwest of Lake Havasu City, is known for its biodiversity.

Mexican goldpoppies and a few lupines greet the rising sun on a hillside near Saddle Mountain, a desert landmark west of the Phoenix area. Mexican goldpoppies, a subspecies of the California poppy, are among Arizona's bestknown wildflower species.

Healthy cholla cactuses punctuate a view of lupines and Mexican goldpoppies on a hillside near Superior, east of Phoenix. The Superior area is popular among wildflower enthusiasts, and it's also home to Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, where you can see more desert blooms. PAUL GILL