With the summer monsoon rains come spectacular displays of Arizona Poppies (Kallstroemia grandiflora) along East Whitehouse Canyon Road (the first part of the paved road to Madera Canyon) just before mile marker 6.

Arizona Poppies are not actually poppies, although they do look very much like California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) from a distance, but when viewed closer, their leaves and flowers look quite different.

Arizona Poppies are members of the Creosote-bush Family (Zygophyllaceae), and unlike the spring-blooming California Poppies, Arizona Poppies bloom in the summer.

Arizona's summer monsoon rains (frequent afternoon thunderstorms) will make this area quite green, and the road to Madera Canyon will be lined with wildflowers a few weeks after the start of the monsoons. In addition to the Arizona Poppies, Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), Desert Unicorn-plant (Proboscidea althaeifolia), and Velvetpod Mimosa (Mimosa dysocarpa) are also quite common along this road.