Our season of wondrous wildflowers continues.
Just as some desert areas are passing their peak, a fresh barrage of blooms is carpeting hillsides in lower reaches of the Catalina Mountains.
One place to see hues of blue, yellow, purple, white and more is along the Babad Do’ag Trail, which begins at the 2.6-mile point on the Catalina Highway northeast of Tucson.
The name of the 2.1-mile trail means “Frog Mountain” in the Tohono O’odham language. It’s the tribe’s traditional name for the Catalina Mountains.
Beginning at a trailhead at an altitude of 3,550 feet, the route leads first through classic Sonoran Desert terrain, then along the side of a stream-cut canyon, and finally to a 4,700-foot knoll on a ridge with expansive views of canyons, mountains and the Tucson valley.
But competing with those distant views this week are the colorful wild blooms, which are especially abundant along lower reaches of the trail.
Most evident are brittlebush plants with bright yellow flowers growing profusely on saguaro-studded slopes.
Hikers also pass many pink-hued fairy duster blooms, which stand out in bright contrast with the drab colors of many desert plants.
Desert chicory plants sport brilliant white blooms, sometimes surrounded by assorted small yellow flowers.
Far less common along the trail, but well worth seeking out, are the deep-blue blooms of delphinium, also known as larkspur.
Also along the way, hikers might spot blue lupines, a few gold poppies, pink penstemons and assorted bushy plants with purple flowers.
27 spectacular photos of spring wildflowers around Tucson
27 spectacular photos of spring wildflowers around Tucson
Spring Wildflowers
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Spring poppies and other wildflowers are in bloom and all over at Picacho Peak State Park on March 5.
Spring Wildflowers
Updated
Spring poppies and other wildflowers are in bloom and all over at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
Updated
Spring poppies and other wildflowers are in bloom and all over at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
Updated
Paul and Karen Reese stand on a picnic table to get a better view of blooming wildflowers at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
Updated
Spring poppies and other wildflowers are in bloom and all over at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
Updated
Spring poppies and other wildflowers are in bloom and all over at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
Updated
Spring poppies and other wildflowers are in bloom and all over at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
Updated
Paul Reese uses an iPad to take photos of the spring wildflowers in bloom at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
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Merlin Jewell uses his iPhone to take photos of the spring wildflowers in bloom at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Spring Wildflowers
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Pat and Eileen Mason, sisters, walk along the Children's Cave loop to take in the spring wildflowers at Picacho Peak State Park on March 05, 2019.
Picacho Peak blooms
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Standout early blooms at Picacho Peak State Park include brilliant gold poppies.
Poppies on SR 86
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Drivers on Arizona 86 southwest of Tucson see grand displays of wildflowers on both sides of the road.
Vast carpets of wildflowers
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Vast carpets of gold poppies and blue lupines line the sides of Arizona 86 southwest of Tucson. -- Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star
Carpets of wildflowers
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Carpets of gold poppies and blue lupines line the sides of Arizona 86 southwest of Tucson. -- Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star
Wildflowers trail side
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Lovely patches of bright yellow and purple wildflowers can be seen along the Canyon Loop Trail at Catalina State Park.
Wildflowers
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This grassy field in Catalina State Park was peppered with orange and purple wildflowers.
Saguaro National Park
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Saguaro National Park west of Tucson is alive with wildflower color, and its parking lots are crowded. In the park’s eastern unit, pullouts along the Cactus Forest Loop Drive are filling up daily.
Wildflowers and saguaro
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Wildflowers and a small saguaro at Saguaro National Park west of Tucson. -- Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star
Blue lupine
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Blue lupine wildflowers are in brilliant bloom at Saguaro National Park west of Tucson. -- Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star
Hikers and wildflowers
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Hikers on the Linda Vista Trail northwest of Tucson pass lots of brittlebush wildflowers along the way.
Poppies in bloom
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Poppies in bloom at Saguaro National Park west of Tucson. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star
Gold poppies
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Gold poppies stand out against a backdrop of cacti and blue desert sky at Saguaro National Park west of Tucson on March 11, 2019. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star
Carpet of poppies
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Gold poppies carpet the landscape at some sites in Saguaro National Park west of Tucson. Blue lupine and orange globemallow can also be seen in the area.



