Photos: Saguaro flowers
Saguaro blooms have a purpose beyond posing for photos. They attract flying animals - from white-winged doves and long-nosed bats to honeybees and moths. As these airborne visitors chow down on the sweet nectar inside saguaro flowers, they become powdered with pollen.
Photos of the day
Saguaro blooms are starting to appear along a road at Saguaro National Park West. Park people say the blooms are weeks ahead of their normal schedule. Photo by Doug Kreutz on Monday, April 7.
Photos of the day
Saguaro blooms are starting to appear along a road at Saguaro National Park West. Park people say the blooms are weeks ahead of their normal schedule. Photo by Doug Kreutz on Monday, April 7.
Big guys of cactus realm are blooming
Stefan Schlereth, of London, had good timing to be in Arizona as saguaros flower. He was at Saguaro National Park, 2700 N. Kinney Road, on Monday. Schlereth said he's been traveling around the state visiting friends for three weeks.
Big guys of cactus realm are blooming
Saguaro blooms are easily visible at the Saguaro National Park Red Hills Visitor Center on the far west side. The flowers have a short duration, but more are always sprouting on the same plant.
Saguaro flowers
This huge arm of a Saguaro Cactus in bloom at Tucson Mountain Park was submitted by Debbie Angel. May 8 2011.
Saguaro flowers
A lone saguaro blossom has opened up among all of the buds Monday, May 7th, 2001 at the end of a saguaros arm. All of the Sonoran desert has been nourished by the winter and spring rains this year. Photo by Jim Davis. Photo taken on 5/7/2001.
Saguaro flowers
Two birds find the top of a saguaro filled with blooms to their liking near the Hotel Congress in downtown Tucson, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 14, 2003. photo by a.e. araiza digital
Saguaro flowers
A bird sits atop a saguaro cactus at the San Xavier del Bac Mission Wednesday morning. February, 2001.
Saguaro flowers
Charlotte Cordes took this photo May 8, 2010: "The white-winged dove, a major pollinator of the saguaro, having a busy day." Submitted by Charlotte Cordes
Saguaro flowers
Debbie Angel took this photo last May of a cactus wren getting nectar from a saguaro flower west of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Submitted by Debbie Angel
Saguaro flowers
A lone blossom blooms at the tip of a saguaro near the Hohokam Road at the Tucson Mountain District in Saguaro National Park, which is part of the National Park Service on Thursday, August 5, 2010, outside Tucson, Ariz. Photo by A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star
Saguaro flowers
Saguaro blossoms have come a little early this year with the above average temperatures Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 triggering the early blossoming. Photo Jim Davis/ Arizona Daily Star
Saguaro flowers
Saguaro blossoms have come a little early this year with the above average temperatures Tuesday, May 19th, 2009, triggering the early blossoming. Photo Jim Davis/ Arizona Daily Star
Saguaro flowers
This photo of saguaro blossoms goes with a preview of the Rincon Institute's April 24 Saguaro Blossom Celebration. Courtesy of Jim Powers.
Saguaro flowers
Saguaros blooming in Sabino Canyon on April 25, 2013. Photo by Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star
Saguaro flowers
Saguaros blooming in Sabino Canyon on April 25, 2013. Photo by Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star
The first brilliant white blooms of saguaro cacti - the state flower of Arizona - are bursting out in Sabino Canyon and other sites around Tucson.
Saguaro and Joshua Tree national parks are in a "sunset off" on Instagram. Send us your photos in the comments or at eds@tucson.com and we'll …