Wildflowers in the Tucson Desert
A walk through the desert in bloom provides a startling experience like no other. Carpets of color stand in spectacular contrast to the normal desert landscape. Like temperamental artists whose performances depend on just the right conditions, our spring wildflower display varies from year to year, depending on late-autumn rains. Residents eagerly await the arrival of March and April-the best months to see the greatest variety of types and colors of blooms, when the hillsides and roadsides of Southern Arizona begin to burst with brilliant gold, vermillion, pink, lavender, purple, blue, red and more. Look for African daisies, California and Mexican gold poppies, desert globe mallow, owl's clover, desert bluebells, paperflowers, desert marigold, penstemons, Indian blanket, and more. In town you can always visit Tohono Chul Park, Tucson Botanical Gardens and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for wildflower shows that are always in full glory in the spring. Picacho Peak State Park - northwest of Tucson on Interstate 10 boasts the best, biggest and most-varied spring display of native wildflowers in Southern Arizona. Other prime viewing spots include Kitt Peak and Saguaro National Park East and West, Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, Catalina State Park and Kings Canyon.
Upcoming Events
Ironwood Festival - May. 10 A celebration of the ancient ironwood tree and the Sonoran Desert, with fun, educational activities for the entire family., (520) 744-0004.
Oracle State Park Hike - Jun. 1 To celebrate National Trails Day, this ranger-guided hike with llamas at Oracle State Park combines information about eco-friendly benefits of llamas as pack animals and exploration of multi-use trails at park., (520) 896-2425.
National Trails Day - Jun. 7 National Trails Day is a chance to visit your local parks and nature centers. The 2008 theme, "Join Us on the Trail" is an open invitation to Americans to join a hiking club, outdoor retailer, parks and recreation department, or federal land managing agency and get outside and experience the great outdoors..
Wyatt Earp Days - May. 24 - May. 26 Celebrate the life and times of the Old West's most famous lawman in "the town too tough to die," with costumed entertainers, a barbecue, stagecoach rides., (888) 457-3291.
Summer Saturday Evenings - Jun. 7 - Aug. 30 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum opens after sundown so visitors can enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the Sonoran Desert at night, on Saturdays., 520-883-1380.
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See all our Major Events >> |
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View photos and videos on the AZ State Parks website.
Read the Wall Street Journal article about this year's wildflowers.
Wildflower updates on the Desert Museum website.
Browse businesses specializing in Plants & Animals
Wildflower Season is blooming in Southern Arizona. View photos and videos! |
