Sabino Canyon State Park is in the Santa Catalina Range on the northeast side of Tuscon.   The mountains rise about 2000m from the desert.   Hiking trails typically follow canyons up into the hills.   In Sabino Canyon a shuttle brings hikers from the entrance area to the Sabino Canyon trailhead 6 km farther up.   We hiked the trail up into the hills and back, enjoying the views and the many wildflowers in bloom.

desert evening primrose

On all of our hikes we encountered blue dicks (dichelostemma capitatum), a herbaceous perennial that grows from corms.   Other names include desert hyacinth, brodeia, and purplehead.

blue dicks

In this canyon fountain grasses (pennisetum setaceum) were abundant.   They can be invasive, crowding out brittlebrush and other native species.

fountain grass

In partly shady areas we found rockmustard (dryopetalon runcinatum) in bloom. 

rockmustard

On north-aspect rock slopes, maidenhead ferns populated damp seep zones.  

ferns

California suncup (camissonia californica) is sometimes called mustard evening primrose. 

California suncup

 Glandularia gooddingii is sometimes called Goodding’s Verbena.    It attracts butterflies.  

Southwestern Mock Vervain

Dalea pulchra is sometimes called indigo bush.   It is a semi-evergreen perennial.  

Santa Catalina Prairie Clover

Desert anemone (anemone tuberosa) grows on rocky slopes, gracing the trailside in spring.  

desert anemone

To follow – Part Two with more Sonoran Desert wildflowers.