Photographing the Saguaros Blooming during Springtime in Arizona, USA, 2025

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 favorite photos below! 🌼🌵⛰️

P.S.

Always check rules, regulations, and practice leave-no-trace principles—be on the lookout for wildlife, like Rattlesnakes, which tend to be more active during the warmer 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, which can be life-saving.

Saguaro cactus with white and yellow flowers blooming and a mountain and blue sky in the background.
Saguaro cactus with white and yellow flowers blooming and a mountain and blue sky in the background.
Saguaro cactus with white and yellow flowers blooming and a mountain and blue sky in the background.

While still hiking in the Rincon Mountain part of the Saguaro National Park, I encountered some 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. It was my first time here, and 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! 🌸🐝

A bee on a pink flower bloom from a green cactus in the desert.
A bee on a pink flower bloom from a green cactus in the desert.
A bird perched on a cactus with mountains and sky in the desert as background.

I later learned that the Organ Pipe Cactus flower blooms can best be seen 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 as the clouds parted and the sun came out.

Organ Pipe Cactus with other cacti surrounding in a desert landscape with a mountain and cacti in the background.
Organ Pipe Cactus surrounding other cacti in a desert landscape with a mountain in the background.
Organ Pipe Cactus blooms with a Saguaro cactus surrounding other cacti in a desert landscape with a mountain in the background.

Here is one more photo from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, with a white Saguaro flower in bloom, surrounded by an Organ Pipe Cactus, and another Organ Pipe Cactus standing on the mountain, silhouetted in the background.

P.S.

Fun photography note—the cacti in the foreground of this photo are being lit up by sunshine, and a cloud is blocking sun rays from hitting the mountain in the background, which causes it look silhouetted in this photo.

A white Saguaro cactus flower in bloom with an Organ Pipe Cactus and Palo Verde and blue sky in the background.

Around early June is when the Saguaros’ red fruits ripen. The fruits will finally split open when ripened, and that’s when the seeds spill out—the fruits may also fall to the ground. 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!!

Red, split-open Saguaro cactus fruits in Arizona's Saguaro National Park, USA in early June against green cactus and desert brown background.
Red, split-open Saguaro cactus fruits in Arizona's Saguaro National Park, USA in early June against green cactus and desert brown mountain background.
Red, split-open Saguaro cactus fruits in Arizona's Saguaro National Park, USA in early June against green cactus and desert brown mountain background.

Thanks again so much for reading!

P.S.

I have been capturing videos and photos of many different types of wildlife in Arizona this summer, and that will be what my next posts focus on mainly.