Winter rains bring an explosion of life and color to the southwestern deserts. There always seems to have been enough moisture for brittlebush, globemallow and lupine to pop up. In good years, when the rains were plentiful, the Mexican goldpoppy add to the spectacle of color. When those all start to wane, the cactus flowers take the stage to prolong the show. For a special treat, stay out during the dusk and early evening to watch saguaro, organ pipe or other night-blooming cactus open their flowers to the starry sky.

Saguaro Flowers

Desert Willow

Poppy

Spring Storm

Framed Poppies

Lupine

Hedgehog

Night Blooms

Sand Verbena

Prickly Pear

Ocotillo

New Life

Chuparosa

Pincushion Cactus

Spring Picnic

Superstitions

Spring Evening

Poppy & Owl Clover

Saguaro Skeleton

Claret Cup

All images are copyrighted by Frank Zullo. Please do not use without written permission.