Wildflowers have burst into brilliant bloom at Saguaro National Park west of Tucson, thanks to winter rains and recent uncommonly warm weather.
Gold poppies carpet patches of the desert in some areas, with purple-blue lupines, white desert chicory and orange globemallow blooms joining in the color show.
Blooms vary from place to place in the park and other parts of the Tucson Valley. One spot to find poppies and several other wildflower species blooming this week is at a site along Picture Rocks Road on the northeastern side of Saguaro Park west of Tucson.
Shortly after entering the park from the east on the road, watch for a large parking pullout where the road bends at the bottom of a hill. You’ll find flowers in the flat desert area across the road from the pullout.
Blooms are also showing up at Catalina State Park north of Tucson and in parts of Saguaro Park’s unit east of the city.
