More Desert Blooms

In early April, the wildflowers are beginning to fade in the Arizona desert. However, the cactus are just starting their peak bloom period, so the landscape remains beautiful. The hedgehogs bloom early; at the start of April they're at their peak or even a bit past it. This was a particularly pretty patch in White Tank Mountain Park west of Phoenix.






Buckhorn cholla are just beginning to thrive. This flower was nicely fronting a young saguaro. The buckhorns bloom in April and May; saguaros peak in May and June.

















This buckhorn is showing numerous fine blooms, with a lot more buds promising more flowers to come. I'm not sure if they're distinct species, but I've seen cactus like this with yellow, dark red, and even magenta flowers.









Here's another cristate saguaro! It's about a mile off the road in White Tank.

This is not a wilderness pic...it's the paloverde tree in Dave's back yard in Sun City West. It has good flowers now, and many more buds are ready to bloom.