One of our favorite hikes of 2020 was a hike up Pima Canyon in the Santa Catalina Range outside of Tuscon, Arizona.    It was a mid-March date and a sunny, warm day.    Spring run-off in the dry, rocky canyon provided some spring riparian zones along the route.

On all of our hikes in the area, blue dicks (dichelostemma capitatum) graced the sides of the trails.   These desert hyancinths are part of the lily family and grow from corms, which were once harvested by Native peoples as a source of starch.

blue dicks

An annual/biennial in the mustard family, lyreleaf jewelflower (Streptanthus carinatus).   It can be a weedy plant but the white, purple, or yellow flowers by themselves are pleasing.

lyreleaf jewelflower

In a lush riparian area wild cucumber (cucumus anguria) was draped over shrubs and perennials with hanging fruits and small yellow male flowers above the female flowers below.    It is in the gourd family and is edible.

wild cucumber flower

Prickly cucumbers hung from vines in the shade.

Fiddlenecks (amsinckia menziesii) are weedy annuals in the borage family that flourish after a wet period.   The plant is poisonous and brushing against the plant can be irritating to bare legs.    Small tubular terminal flowers develop in spring.

Fiddleneck flowers (amsinckia menziesii)

Californian creamcups are an annual herb.   It usually grows on sandy ground near desert washes.   A single terminal pale, cream flower sits above hairy stems and leaves.

platystemon

A northern cardinal flitted between spiny shrubs. keeping any eye on us.

northern cardinal

On the way back down the canyon opened up and spiny tall ocotillos were in bloom, always a welcome sight.

We took many photos of landscapes, plants, insects, and birds in the desert.    Some are shared here in winter, a reminder of the burst of life in spring.