Almost nothing is more synonymous with springtime in Tucson than the bright yellow flowers of the palo verde tree.
This year, the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the arrival of the palo verde blossoms with a month-long Palo Verde Bloom Festival, highlighting the beauty of the desert landscape and the cultures of the region.
Rob Elias, president of the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he came up with the idea for the festiva on his annual trip to Washington, D.C., for a United States Hispanic Chamber legislative conference.
A carpenter bee hovers over a blooming palo verde tree.
“Every year I go to Washington, D.C., and I typically go during the cherry blossom festival,” he said. “On my way back last year, I thought, ‘why don't we have something similar in Arizona that highlights the beauty of our state tree?' They're just as vibrant, if not more vibrant, than cherry blossoms, as stunning as those are.”
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On the plane ride back, Elias wrote up the entire plan for the festival.
“Tucson is this very unique place, comprised of so many different cultures that make this place special — not just in people, but in diversity of our natural environment,” he said. “We really want this to be a vibrant celebration that highlights our creativity as a region, that highlights our culture, and the many cultures that make Tucson so special, and to celebrate the incredible environment that we have here with this land that has sustained us for thousands of years.”
First up was Bloomfest, a day of performances at Kino Sports Park last Saturday, March 28.
The festival itself officially starts April 1 and will run through the end of April, with special offerings from participating local businesses.
Palo verde trees are in bloom all over Tucson.
“Whether that be a bakery, a coffee shop, a hotel, a resort or a retailer, you can expect to find things that are specific to springtime in the desert,” Elias said. “Maybe it's a signature dessert at a restaurant, or a signature cocktail at a bar, or a signature candle that's inspired by springtime in the desert.”
For example, La Estrella Bakery’s downtown location will be serving a signature matcha drink with a yellow cold foam on top to represent the palo verde blooms.
Some of the community partners who have already signed on for the new festival include the Leo Kent Hotel, Tohono Chul Botanic Gardens and Arboretum, and the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
To find participants and their special offerings, see paloverdebloom.org/enjoy/local-partners/.
