Photos: Queen of the Night at Tohono Chul
Many of Tohono Chul's collection of night blooming cereus put on their annual one-night-only show, spreading their petals shortly before sundown, June 2, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Katherine Pew leans in for a sniff of Rosie, one of the night blooming cereus spreading her petals as the sun goes down at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026. A cereus plant blooms for only one night of the year and the event draws a big crowd to Thono Chul to watch them unfold.
A night blooming cereus glows in a black light flashlight being used by one of the crowd trying to get photos of the flowers in the dark at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
Rosie, one of Tohono Chul’s night blooming cereus, begins to open up two blooms as the sun light fades, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
Patrons maneuver their phones and flashlights to get images of the flower on a night blooming cereus at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
A nearby light is positioned to illuminate a night blooming cereus spreading a flower on its one night of the year at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
Gardner and arborist Shauna Smith takes measurements from one of Tohono Chul’s night blooming cereus on the one night of the year such statistics can be gathered, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
The sun drops below the horizon on the one night of the year the night blooming cereus opens its petals at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
Rosie spreads her petals on two blooms under a light rigged to illuminate her on the one night of the year for the night blooming cereus at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
An ant explores the emerging flower of a night blooming cereus flowering for one night only at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
A photographer lights up one of two blooms with a blacklight flashlight on a night blooming cereus at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
A night blooming cereus is lit by a blacklight at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
A small crowd gathers round a night blooming cereus flowering for one night only at Tohono Chul, Tucson, Ariz., June 2, 2026.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
