The Fountain Hills Botanical Garden is still damp in some areas due to all the rain we had. This would be a good time to take seasonal visitors or just go for some quiet time yourself. Look for the wolfberry plant that is blooming now. It has very tiny, delicate cream colored inverted trumpet-shaped flowers.

Some of the desert lavender is also in bloom with, of course, lavender clusters of flowers along the stem. Chuparosa, with red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds, are blooming in some areas also.

As the temperatures rise there will be more plants blooming. The dam has water behind it and is slowly leaking in some spots, which creates a small, flowing stream. This attracts birds for drinking and bathing, so keep your eyes and ears open for their calls. Some birds are

secretive and difficult to see but you can enjoy their song.

Please do not walk on the dam. Because of its age is in precarious condition. You can take

the spur off the main trail when you are near it, which goes to the base of the dam.

The lichens are beautiful right now! Some are almost neon green. There are many different and colorful lichens on the rocks in the Garden. Lichens are comprised of fungi and algae functioning as a single unit. They are very slow-growing and are very resistant to drought and able to survive in the desert. There are also mosses that have greened up in damp areas.

Enjoy your town’s Botanical Garden and appreciate the beautiful rock formations in it!