Russ Greenberg February 28,2008 Contact: Andy L. Fisher 520 387 6849
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is announcing another new opportunity to see a unique area of the park. “It is clearly wildflower season out here, you can’t miss the hillsides of golden poppies as you look around”, according to Andy Fisher, Chief of Interpretation. “The staff has been working extra hard to research the flowers that are coming up this year because we are seeing species this spring that we haven’t seen in a couple of years. Last year, I didn’t find a single poppy in the park. This year they are everywhere.”
To help celebrate this colorful season, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is offering a “Wildflower Tour” in one of the areas that has traditionally been one with a tremendous diversity of blooms in the spring, but has recently been closed to the public. These van tours will leave the Kris Eggle Visitor Center at 9am on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Participants will be transported from the Kris Eggle Visitor Center out North Puerto Blanco Drive and back again in a government vehicle. Due to the limited number of spaces available on the tour, participants must sign up in advance either in-person at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center, or by phone at 520-387-6849 x 7302.
“Other areas of the park are just fantastic, too,” according to Fisher. “We are seeing color along the Ajo Mountain Drive like we haven’t seen in years.” People are also invited to enjoy the flowers at their own pace by driving around Organ Pipe’s most scenic loop drive or ask at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center if there is space on the daily Van Tour at 1:00 pm. All van and flower tours are free with the purchase of a 7 day entrance fee for $8.00 per vehicle. Annual, Golden Age, Golden Access and Senior passports are all accepted in lieu of the entrance fee. Come enjoy Mother Nature’s artwork as she paints our desert. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015