Saguaros have been blooming beautifully in deserts and canyons this spring and now theyโre taking it uphill โ putting on a spectacular flower show in lower reaches of the Catalina Mountains.
The giant cacti show some blossoms every year along the Catalina Highway northeast of Tucson. But this monthโs boffo blossoming exceeds many past spring seasons in the Catalinas, with hundreds, probably thousands, of saguaros producing dozens of blooms per plant over several weeks.
Watch for numerous saguaros in bloom along the lower three or four miles of the highway. Be sure to find a safe parking pullout before stopping to take photos.
Morning hours are best for spotting a maximum number of blossoms. Blooms open at night and last only until the following afternoon. Although each individual flower lasts only one day, a single cactus can produce dozens or scores of blooms over a period of weeks.
