Tonto National Forest

There's a big area on the north-eastern side of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area that looks like this:

​The green doesn't really accurately show the beauty of the area...
​Let me try this...

​Or this...

It's called the Tonto National Forest

The area is almost 3 million acres wide, making it the largest national forest area in Arizona, and the fifth largest in the country. It's a big area of desert landscape! It has three lakes, miles of cacti, and some legends of the Lost Dutchman and his gold. I didn't really explore the history of the area - but I did get to explore flora...

Well, actually, it seems like I explored the area just for this particular flower:
the Agave chrysantha
​also known as the Goldenflower Century Plant

Something about the orange gold just caught my eye. The Tonto National Forest is another hidden gem found in Arizona. What I love about Arizona is the incredible diversity of regions it offers. It is hot and dry in Phoenix during the summer. But drive a few hours north and you are in a completely different habitat that's cooler and filled with Ponderosa pines. A lot of that has to do with a change in elevation and geology.

It's not just a desert out here in Arizona - it's a state that has a lot to offer and fuel for inspiration for new work. The desert is so beautiful this time of year, maybe I'll do a little painting sometime soon.