Because I haven’t been around the lower elevations in central Arizona near the Sonoran Desert beyond the end of April I’m seeing a lot of blooming desert for the first time. Flowers in the yard, natures’ wildflowers, and best of all the saguaro cactus. They seem prolific to me yet I have no other years to compare to.
I began seeing the buds and blooms in photos from folks around Tucson several weeks ago. Summer temperatures work their way northward and soon those around Phoenix were showing off.
No saguaros grow where I am at almost 5,000 feet so I drove to Wickenburg about 30 miles south of Yarnell and 2000 feet lower where I found lots of buds and some flowers along Vulture Mine Road.
These tall sentinels seem to march up the hillside. Buds and blooms show up at the ends of the arms mostly. And with these beautiful saguaros being at least 30 feet tall I’d need a ladder or to hover like a bee to clearly see or photograph close up to the flowers.
Opuntia cactus were also flowering and much easier to see and look down on.
Yarnell’s high chaparral ecosystem lies in transition between lower Sonoran Desert and Juniper/Pinyon. The vegetation is rather a mix of lower and higher elevation species but mostly Arizona Oak, cypress, and cottonwood plus of course people have landscaped with non-native species. Berta has a green thumb so plants some lovely green and flowering plants around the yard that I’m trying to keep watered. Most are located in clusters for easier watering and often ringed with red bark chips separated by rather dull desert-beige crumbled rock and interspersed with interesting yard art.
The Desert Willow was planted after so many trees were lost to the Yarnell fire and I was shocked to see how heavily laden it became with deep-red long-tubed flowers suitable for bugs, bees, and hummingbirds. Although not blooming flowers, the Dusty Miller has taken over except for the also deep-red Idon’tknowwhatthey’recalled flowers.
After seeing more photos by friends taken along the road to Bagdad I took a 45-minuet drive looking for saguaro blooming. Unfortunately I didn’t start early and was there mid-day under intense Arizona blue sky and temperatures pushing past 85°F.
As I surveyed the landscape I spotted two nearby saguaros that seemed to call my name.
I carefully wound my way around the low brush and potentially snaggy vegetation keeping a vigilant eye out for snakes.
The perfect Sonoran Desert bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere
Getting up close to saguaro flowers is a difficult and dangerous activity. But I did manage to find some adjacent boulders to carefully climb and actually got almost face to face with the blooms, and the bees.
As summer progresses the blooms die and the delicious sweet fruit eventually ripens. Maybe I’ll get a chance to harvest some of that, carefully.
Never managed to be in the desert at the right time of year to see this kind of bloom. Sorry you aren’t working, but also quite tickled to be the recipient of your days of exploration and adventure in the saguaro country. I have really enjoyed the photos. and LOOK< I might be making a real comment here.
At 104°F today in Wickenburg I’m glad not to be in the lower desert, blooms or not. Yet glad I saw them in cooler temps. Yea, so glad you can comment here again. The Cyber Gods shine down upon us.
It seems to be getting hot a bit earlier this in the local desert, ‘at least it’s a dry heat’ doesn’t help when it’s 104 out! I think the red ‘Idon’tknowwhatthey’recalled’ is a red monkey flower. At least it’s pretty similar.
Nothing normal about weather. So right, thank goodness for dry heat. That flower closeup is the willow. 92°F today.
Wow had never seen Saguaro in bloom. Beautiful. I love the desert in Spring time. So many beautiful flowers on plants you cant touch or get to close too.
Thank you for sharing such beauty with us.
Keeping Berta in my prayers.
Hugs,
Rosemary
I was amazed by the saguaro blooms. Thanks for keeping Berta in your prayers. She is OK, just not better.
On the mobile again. The desert areas are very beautiful. I am glad to see these fabulous photos but sorry that we are not seeing the canyon as well. Love prickly pears but wish they were not so vicious! Take care Diane and Nigel
What glorious saguaro blooms. Love the bouquet and the sentinals. Wonderful to see the desert willow. Glad to know something good came from the stupid government mess up though I know you are missing the canyon. The saguos seem to be doing their best to take your mind off of it all.
Aren’t those flowers amazing? I am glad to have seen and photograph them. Am totally missing the canyon but don’t want to spend money on travel right now.
I remember when I was a kid and going to Phoenix from Payson that if there were a recent rain the desert seemed to come alive with wildflowers. I am glad you got to see saguaro blooms finally. Saguaros are such unlikely plants to me, kind of like giraffes in the animal world but I love them.
I am reading about possible fines for violating the GPDR up to a gazillion dollars a day. I just want to post photos and make comments and let people comment on mine. I am all for privacy but like you, I had never even thought about selling lists of emails or anything like that.
Doesn’t take much water to wake up a desert which surprised me about the saguaros as we haven’t had rain in many months.
Do you really think anyone is going to fine us little bloggers? I don’t. You have a link disclaimer after your comment box that tells anyone you don’t keep or sell info. That might be enough. If you figure it out, let me know.