Saguaros, as if following the lead of other native desert plants, are putting on a spectacular bloom this spring in deserts and neighborhoods around Tucson.

Enjoy it — because this doesn’t happen every year.

A saguaro in bloom along the trail. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

Tall saguaros with milky white blooms grace the Sarasota Trail. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

Saguaros are blooming along the Sarasota Trail. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

Saguaros are in spectacular bloom across the Tucson area and surrounding deserts. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

The large number of blooms is impressive because each flower found on a saguaro lasts just one day.

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

Saguaros are in spectacular bloom across the Tucson area and surrounding deserts. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

Saguaros are in spectacular bloom across the Tucson area and surrounding deserts. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

Saguaros are in spectacular bloom across the Tucson area and surrounding deserts. — Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

Saguaros, with their milky white flowers and buds waiting to open, are in bloom across the Tucson area and surrounding deserts.

  • Photos by Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star

Palo verde blooms on a slope with saguaros. -- Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Star

This tall saguaro is sporting multiple blooms. -- Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Stars

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Stars
Brilliant bloom

Saguaros are blooming brilliantly in parts of the Tucson Valley. -- Credit: Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Stars

  • Doug Kreutz/Arizona Daily Stars

Saguaros and brittlebush in bloom add to the scenic beauty of the Rincon Valley beyond the Saguaro National Park entrance. But beauty can turn into beast during fire season.

  • Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star
Blooming saguaro

A saguaro blooms in the Catalina Foothills. Blooms can be unpredictable, but peak blooms usually occur from mid-May to mid-June.

  • photos by Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Tucson

Saguaros are on a blooming binge in Sabino Canyon northeast of Tucson. Photo taken on May 13, 2016.

  • Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star

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