It’s springtime in the desert again! I know what you’re thinking, “Wildflowers in Arizona? I thought it’s just a lifeless desert?!” You couldn’t be more wrong. Lots of living things thrive in the desert. Come Spring, they make their presence felt. You’ll see wildflowers in bloom in almost every corner of the state, and one of the best places to see them is just 30 minutes east of Globe, Arizona. It’s called Peridot Mesa.
Peridot Mesa
The mesa is located on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. A violent eruption that occurred millions of year ago created it.
We decided to leave our car on the side of the road and hiked our way up.
We went at a perfect time. It’s like a super bloom. Anywhere you look there’s a vast field of poppies.
Mexican gold poppies
You can see cars lined up to the left.
Geology of Peridot Mesa:
The place is rich in peridot, a gem-like light-olive green mineral. It’s the same mineral that you will also find on the Green Sand Beach in Hawaii.
This is a comprehensive video on the geological formations that can be found on the mesa:
Note:
You will need a recreation permit to explore this place.
Places to get a permit:
Basha’s Grocery Store near Peridot or at the Circle K in Globe, Arizona.
Video highlights:
