Arizona

February | Love, Baseball, and Wildflowers

by Ingrid
red roses

The month of February ranks pretty high on my list of favorite times of the year. It wasn’t always that way. Nope, that didn’t happen until we started spending winters in the south. Here in Phoenix, Arizona, February marks the beginning of spring-like conditions.

Fairweather temperatures, sunny skies, and budding vegetation are telltale signs that the end of winter is near which always brings a smile to my face. Bye-bye winter, hello spring!

February weather in PhoenixSeriously, what’s not to love about February in the desert southwest?

February is the month the desert comes alive. Vegetation of all kinds come out of winter hibernation.

Plants are starting to bloom and by the end of the month, the desert explodes with color from wildflowers, cactus blooms, and budding trees and will continue well into April.

This time of year, the citrus trees are loaded with ripened fruit just waiting to be picked. And let me tell you, delicious doesn’t adequately describe the taste of freshly picked citrus.

My palate is indeed spoiled after picking my own oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes. How will I ever eat store-bought citrus again?

Cactus League | Spring Training

February also marks the beginning of baseball spring training. Due to spring training and the gorgeous weather, mid-February and into March are the most popular times to visit the Phoenix valley.

It’s also the most expensive. RV Parks are booked well in advance and hotel room rates are nearly doubled in price. So, if getting up close and personal with your favorite ballplayer is high on your bucket list, be sure and plan well in advance for your Phoenix, Arizona visit.

There are ten stadium locations spread across the valley making it convenient to attend at least one baseball game during any visit. For a Cactus League schedule, click here.

Valentine’s Day in the southwest

Ah, but February isn’t just about baseball and wildflowers. It’s about love. Yes, spending Valentine’s Day in the desert southwest can be very romantic. There’s usually at least one chocolate festival to attend somewhere throughout the valley.

And as much as I love chocolate and indulge regularly, one of my favorite activities and challenges is to spot heart-shaped items while out hiking. I have a couple of friends who collect heart-shaped rocks … something I’d also love to do, but due to space and weight constrictions in my RV, rock collecting is not an option for me. Thoughts of The Long, Long Trailer and Lucille Ball come to mind.

Heart shaped cactus

With thoughts of Valentine’s Day nearing, I begin wondering what Al and I might do to celebrate. Would we celebrate? Perhaps a walk under the moonlight would be a romantic gesture. There are no shortages of great trails around Phoenix to do just that. Realistically, with my poor night vision, I’ll take a pass on night hiking but I would consider the short hike up to Hole in the Rock at Papago Park to watch the sunset, but sharing this cozy spot with twenty-some other people might fall shy of my romantic expectations.

My thoughts are leaning more towards a quiet evening out dressed in something other than hiking attire … maybe! Living in a major city offers a variety of cuisine options. Between Phoenix and Scottsdale, there’s no shortage of award-winning restaurants with food ranging from signature southwestern dishes to interesting international fare and every option in between.

owl couple
Happy couple hanging out together!

I love trying out new restaurants and usually focus on ordering a dish I don’t normally make at home. Then my quest is to try and recreate said dish at some point in the near future back at the RV … with the proviso that Al and I enjoyed the meal.

Ah, with no shortage of romantic options in Arizona, I’m sure Al and I will come up with something to do! How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

                         How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
                                By: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

                         How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
                         I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
                         My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
                         For the ends of being and ideal grace.
                         I love thee to the level of every day’s
                         Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
                         I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
                         I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
                         I love thee with the passion put to use
                         In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
                         I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
                         With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
                         Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
                         I shall but love thee better after death.

love is in the air

What is your favorite month of the year and why?

(Thank you for shopping my affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and really appreciate your support ❤)

Valentine’s Day Tower of Hearts
Gold Heart Necklace
101 Famous Poems

52 thoughts on “February | Love, Baseball, and Wildflowers”

  1. Picking your own fruit makes my frozen solid winter heart yearn for fresh produce. I think my favourite month is May as by then spring really is blossoming here. Have a happy Valentine’s Day whatever you two get up to.

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    1. When we lived in a cold weather climate, May was usually my fave as well. I love spring anywhere/anytime when the vegetation comes alive and flowers adorn the landscape. Wishing you and Dave a sweet day ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Sending you healing powers and strength from across the miles. You must get better soon so you can post the blooming wildflowers. Your words draw me toward Arizona even though we’re enjoying our time here in SoCal. We’ll be on the road Valentine’s Day working our way toward home. Take care.

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    1. Thank you Linda. The weather is beautiful and I’m finally starting to feel better. So the camera battery is charged and all I need is a little more energy and I’ll be out and about and camera clicking again.😃

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  3. One of these winters we will have to try the Phoenix area instead of our normal Casa Gande spot. I think Diane would enjoy the spring training season.

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    1. I think Casa Grande still has the best place for Pickleball. Our RV Park only has 2 courts, but then this is a great spot for four-wheelers and hikers and those interesting in spring training. We really enjoy the north end of Phoenix.

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  5. It’s so funny… I just found a prickly pear heart not too long ago! And I love my heart rocks collection!

    But did I ever tell you that at the LakeHouse (which you know is my childhood home) I am constantly finding heart rocks when I garden. I really do believe it’s my Mom and Dad sending me kisses for keeping the home in the family.

    And you know how much I love Owls. Beautiful post my friend!

    PS it’s toooooo cold and wet to go to Spur Cross. And Facebook memories reminded me that our blooms are late this year. I was capturing Poppies up on the hill already and my Lavender was in bloom as well. I’m sitting by the fire as I write this!

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    1. That’s so special about the heart rocks at the lake home ❤ Yes, it is cold today! I still haven’t been out and about much with this nagging cough and running nose – sigh. Thus, I was wondering about the wildflowers. Maybe they are holding out for me 😃. I’m hoping to get out next week to at least do a little strolling. I’ve been housebound way too long 🥴

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  6. I’m up in Bullhead City, AZ and hike nearby in Kingman and Lake Mohave. Last week I was delighted to see the beautiful yellow and purple flowers all along the hills. We got a little rain last night so I’m hoping that sparks new growth this week as well!

    I just LOVE when the desert comes alive!

    ~Allison

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    1. I’m starting to see the brittlebush blooming. I’ll have to visit some of my favorite wildflower spots to see what else is popping. The desert is indeed beautiful when it comes alive after a good soaking of rain!

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  8. Hi, Ingrid – I love your take on February and all that it has to offer. As I have spent most of my Februarys in colder climates, my February motto has usually been:
    Thirty days hath September
    April, June and November
    All the rest have thirty-one…
    Except for February was has one hundred!
    Thank you for the more positive point of view. Wishing you a very happy Valentines Day however you choose to celebrate!

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    1. Haha, thank you Donna. Yeah, February in the north was never a favorite time of year for me either. But in the south, I love it. As soon as my energy returns from this nasty cold I’ve been fighting, I’ll be out and about with the camera to capture the beauty of the desert in spring.

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  9. Getting ready for Spring training here to – PLAY BALLLLLL!!!! I really try hard to remain positive between mid-February to mid-March here due to the swell of the population – just about everything takes an extra 15 to 30 minutes. I work near the Phillies Spring Training Stadium and it can be a hot mess of snarled traffic. We will be checking out the new Jays Stadium in the town we live in at the end of February – Go Twins!!! Here’s to Spring and All Its Offerings – Enjoy 🙂

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    1. I hear ya on the traffic. March traffic is pretty brutal throughout the Greater Phoenix Valley. The population is at a peak due to the influx of tourists, spring training, and the beautiful weather.

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  10. I love the flowers. Valentines Day is wasted on me. It’s just a reminder that I’ve been single many years and don’t expect that to change.
    I’m not much of a sports fan either.
    I do love the flowers though.

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  11. Valentine’ Day will probably to carry out pizza and drinks by the fireplace watching TV…It’s crazy how little we require as we grow older…just being alive and together seems to do it these days.

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    1. I hear ya! Unless I start feeling better by the end of the week, the most I’ll want to do is grab lunch at Chipotle and return to the couch with my box of kleenex. Oh, and more chocolate needed 😀

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  12. We have never stayed in the SW long enough to experience many of the things you mentioned. We are always jealous of those that do but we have plans to see them in the next couple of years!

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    1. The desert in Feb and Mar comes alive with blooms. I love this time of year. Surprisingly April can be a little color sparse considering the wildflowers are done and the saguaros won’t start blooming until the end of April and then into May, but by then, it’ll be way too warm for you guys. We’ve turned into reptiles and don’t mind the 90-degree temps.

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  13. February is most definitely not my favorite month due to the winter weather here in the northeast. (A small storm that passed through last night deposited 4″ of Mother Nature’s beautiful, white “decorative accent” that will need to be plowed, shoveled or otherwise dealt with.) As for Valentine’s Day, Alan and I will bypass the flowers and the fancy restaurant meal – that’s just not us. Instead, we’ll visit the local German bakery, pick up a pound of their exquisite, chocolate dipped butter cookies, grab a couple of cups of our favorite McCafe coffee at Mickey D’s, and head on down to the river to watch for bald eagles and ospreys and enjoy our treat. Low key? You bet – just the way we like it! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Al, Ingrid!

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    1. Understand! I used to hate March because I was so eager for winter to be over and now I love Feb and March. The weather in the desert is perfect this time of year and the wildflowers are blooming. Ah, a German bakery! Count me in 😃

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    1. Until we started spending our winters in the U.S. south, I was never a fan of this time of year. But now, I love it. However, come mid-May it’ll be too hot and thus time for us to move north. It was fun observing and photographing that owl couple.

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  15. Lovely pictures! I especially like the owls. We look for heart shaped cacti too. Winter is a great time of year in Florida too – isn’t it great?

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    1. Thanks Pam. Oh yes … winters in the south are the best. And although there are times I miss the winter wonderland in Colorado, I don’t miss it enough to visit during the cold weather months.

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  16. As I look out , well, it’s night time so instead as I hear the sleet falling on my windowpane, I think we are past going out for a romantic dinner and instead are planning a pajama party for two and take out food and dreams of when we can travel again.

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  17. Hi, Ingrid,
    I hope the delightful spring weather lingers. We’re coming back through your lovely state in late March and I can’t wait. Your two year plan sounds intriguing—let’s hear more. I’m with everyone else on the owls and love the picture. Joe

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    1. Be sure and keep us posted on your travels through AZ. March is a great time of year to visit just about any part of the state. However, it’s still cold in the northern part (north rim of Grand Canyon still closed) but still worth visiting. We don’t necessarily have a plan other than we know it’ll be time for some kind of change within the next couple of years. It’s nice to have options!

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    1. I’m with you and absolutely love spring. It’s the one time of year that I truly miss having a sticks and bricks home and a flower garden. And a happy Valentines Day to you too!

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  20. I love how you connected your images of our walk through the botanical gardens to this post, Ingrid! And I love those owls! We haven’t had much rain yet, but the Sierra’s have lots of snow so that bodes well for a drought-free season. Like the southwest, our area gets more spring-like as February marches on, too. More sunlight, trees are blooming and slightly warmer temps. Happy Valentine’s day to you!

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    1. Truth be told, I was actually searching out compositions for a Valentines Day post when we went to the Garden and the one of the two coyotes seems to work. Sounds like the weather is improving in your neck of the woods as well. And congrats on your property search. Sounds perfect!

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    1. So nice to hear from you Linda. Perhaps now is a good time for me to start collecting some rocks as each day we get closer to coming off the road full-time. We’re on the 2 year plan right now 😆 Between your sailing and RVing adventures, you sure made some wonderful memories and now your making new ones at that gorgeous property in Colorado. Good times for sure!

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