In most years, March in Cleveland is still winter so we try to go somewhere warm for a week or so. This year, we only went away for a long weekend to Tucson which is in the middle of the Sonoran desert. How ironic that although Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were only slightly warmer than Cleveland, Sunday and Monday were much worse – rainy and in the 40’s and 50’s.

Desert Dandelion, Globe Mallow, Penstemon

We started going there many years ago when the Indians still had their spring training at Hi Corbett Field. Long after the Indians left, we continued to return to Tucson for the wonderful hiking in Sabino Canyon and Saguaro National Monument. If the area receives ample rain during the winter, the plethora of wildflowers in the desert is astounding.

Our favorite trail in Sabino Canyon is the Telephone Trail. It is approximately a three hour hike that transcends several elevations and has multiple switchbacks. The Saguaro cactus only grows in the Sonoran desert and this is the ideal place to see it.

Backlit Saguaro

Because we hiked in the afternoon, I was able to capture some backlit views of this cactus and of the Cholla cactus, sometimes characterized as Teddy Bear Cactus.

I recognized several wildflowers from before but also had a first sighting of a wild delphinium that was a gorgeous shade of blue.

Delphinium scaposum

If you love hiking and flowers, try to visit Tucson in March during one of the coming years.