I don’t consider going to town a “fun” day, especially when it involves having very expensive brakes put on the front of my truck. But it’s good for stopping.

Kaibab Plateau Hwy 67 South Kaibab National Forest Arizona

And on the drive back climbing out of the hot valley through the Pinyon/Juniper woodlands I enjoyed the transitions into spring on the Colorado Plateau and had to stop and smell the roses so to speak.

Cliff Rose Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Cliffroses are in full bloom and smell as sweet as any rose.

Cliff Rose Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

This shrub or small tree is part of the rose family displaying spring and summer flowers .75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm). The later fruit produces a cluster of showy, whitish, feathery tails.

Cliff Rose & bug Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Cliffrose provides an important browse plant for deer especially in winter.

Bark of Clifrose Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

In the past, Native Americans used the shreddy bark to make rope, sandals and clothing.

Cliff Rose, Juniper & pinyon Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Not the only bloom found in this dry, limestone rock under the pinyons and junipers.

Pink Sego Lilys Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

I discovered a true delight in the various shades of pinks the Sego Lilies exhibited.

White Sego Lily Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

I usually see only white Segos at a higher altitude in the park and later in June.

Pink Sego Lilys Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

This 3-petaled beauty can occasionally be seen in magenta or tinged with lilac.

Pink Sego Lilys Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Sego Lily is neighboring Utah’s state flower.

Yucca in bloom Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The long creamy Banana Yucca blooms had started to turn into a pod-like fruit that looks much like squash and is edible as are the very moist flowers.

Desert Globemallow along Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

After a wet winter, the Desert Globemallow has formed a spectacular exuberance as it lines the highway.

Desert Globemallow Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The many stems offer clusters of bright orange-red .5-1.5 inch (1.3-3.8 cm) flowers well into June.

Pinyon&Juniper woodlands Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Juniper/Pinyon woodlands grow from 5000-7000 feet (1524-2134 m) in a transition zone between desert and forest.

Pinyon Pine with cones Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The “two-leaf” or “Colorado” Pinyon grows to 15-35 feet (4.6-10.7 m) tall on open, orchard-like slopes of the plateau.

Pinyon Pine cone against sky Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The delicious edible seeds, known as pine nuts or Indian nuts, can be eaten raw or roasted and once provided a staple food for southwestern Indians. I love to gather them in the fall if I can beat the pinyon jays, wild turkeys, packrats and deer to the harvest.

Utah Juniper Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Utah Juniper, also called a cedar, has scale-like leaves and produces bluish green berries which are edible but I find them a little bitter.

Shoe on rock along Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

I also found a “shoealongroadside” looking a rather dull gray beside a Desert Sage. I believe it to be an invasive species, not the sage which smells rather nice in comparison. Sure wish travelers wouldn’t leave these things behind. And there’s probably one hopping child somewhere.