This spring I explored the southern part of my home state, Arizona, during late May and early June, with the goal of photographing Saguaros and other cacti in bloom. I started in late May by driving through the Rincon Mountain part of the Saguaro National Park. This part has a nice little loop drive, as well as some hiking trails that are easily accessible with parking lots. If you are looking for some good hiking, I would recommend checking out the hiking trails information for this part of the Park. You can take some short hikes around the Park, or adventure further into the surrounding Rincon Mountains, which this part of the Park is named after! I only hiked a few miles here, but my goal was to take photos of the Saguaro flower blooms, and I did just that—here are some of my favorites of those photos below! 🌼🌵⛰️
P.S.
Always check rules, regulations, and practice leave-no-trace priciples—be on the lookout for wildlife, like Rattlesnakes, which tend to be more active during the warm months. You can keep an eye out for a coiled up snake which can blend in well with the desert rock and sand, but if you don’t see it, the rattle is unmistakable! You should back up safely if you ever hear or see one, and call emergency services if you are bitten, although that is rare. Even when bitten, there are treatments, like anti-venom, available in hospitals.
Then, while still hiking in the Rincon Mountain part of the Saguaro National Park, I encountered some wildlife and birds! After some research, I believe the first bird I photographed was a Gilded Flicker Woodpecker. The other one looks like a White-Winged Dove! 🌵🕊️
After photographing the Saguaros in bloom and the birds in the Saguaro National Park, I ventured more south to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Here, I photographed this bee on a pink cactus flower, and another type of bird. If you know what kind of bee and bird these are, feel free to let me know if you want by commenting below!
I later learned that the Organ Pipe Cactus flower blooms best in the early daylight hours, so after one rainy night in Arizona, I returned back and photographed the Organ Pipe Cacti blooming shortly after sunrise.
Here is one more photo from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, with a white Saguaro flower in bloom.
Once June hits, the flowers turn into red, ripe fruits. The Saguaro fruit finally splits open when ripened, and the seeds spill out. These fruits not only provide desert critters with food, but also help spread the Saguaro cacti seeds so new cacti can grow. Saguaro cacti grow from seed, while others can propagate! But that is a different story for another day… I am so glad I was able to capture the springtime cycle of the desert in bloom, from the flowers, birds, bees, and fruits. Thank you all so much for joining along on my adventures with me! I hope I am able to provide some inspiration in your own explorations and adventures... Keep adventuring safely and responsibly!!
Thanks again all so much for reading! I have been photographing and capturing video as well of some other types of wildlife in Arizona this summer, and that will be what my next posts focus on mainly.
P.S. Here is the shortened version of the YouTube video that corresponds to this blog post! And can I please just say, I am excited for the end of summer and beginning of fall for so many reasons, but it has been SO real so far this year. Everyone seems to have been chasing storms this summer in AZ! Maybe that will be a summer idea I pursue next year or sometime soon… it’s been a long time since I have gotten a photo of a rainbow or lighting bolt. 🌈🌧️🌩️ Sorry for rambling. Bye!
