Photos: Wildflowers add a touch of color to Southern Arizona scenery
Wildflowers add color to the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15.
In March and April, Arizona receives a touch of purple, blue, red, yellow and orange with the blossom of wildflowers such as California and Mexican Gold Poppies, Desert Globemallow's, Owl's Clover, Penstemon and others.
Common places to find wildflowers include Catalina State Park, Saguaro National Park East and West, Oracle State Park, Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, Tohono Chul Park and Tucson Botanical Gardens.
Wildflowers
From left to right, Gabriella Porreca, Edita Navratilova and Frank Porreca hike past a bed of Mexican and California Gold Poppies on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
A group of Purple Owl's Clover stand out in front of a bed Gold Poppies on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
Edita Navratilova, right, takes pictures of a group of Mexican and California Gold Poppies on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
Diane Stowell, front, hikes past a group of Mexican and California Gold Poppies and Blue Lupines with her husband Curt Stowell on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
Light shines on two Desert Globemallow's in front of Colossal Cave in Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail in Vail, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
Jessica Deahl, left, and Kristy Montano walk along a path lined with Mexican and California Gold Poppies on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
A hiker walks past a group of Mexican and California Gold Poppies and Blue Lupines on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
John Ryan, front, hikes down a narrow path lined with wildflowers with his wife Shan Ryan and friend Kathy Colby on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
A bee gathers some pollen from a Gold Poppy on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
A Penstemon stands next to a trail on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
A small group of Cream Cup wildflowers rest next to a trail on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
John Ryan, front, takes a picture of his wife Shan Ryan, center, and friend Kathy Colby on a trail lined with wildflowers on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
A Blue Lupines stands out from the Gold Poppies and purple Owl's Clover on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
Susan Davis, left, walks her dog Rizzo, a blue healer mix, along the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
Light shines on a group of Desert Chicory on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd., in Oro Valley, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Wildflowers
A bike rider passes by a bush of Desert Globemallow's on E. Old Spanish Trail in Vail, Ariz., on March 15, 2020.
Rebecca Sasnett
Photojournalist
Springtime blooms are beginning earlier while summer and fall weeds and grasses are living longer, according to a recent study.