Poppies, Cacti, and Creosote, Arizona

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In the background of this photograph stands a large saguaro cactus. In front of it in the middle ground there are a couple of creosote bushes flanked on the far left and right by buckhorn cholla cacti. In front of them is a large prickly pear cactus, and in the foreground are brilliantly colored Mexican poppies. The Sonoran Desert is an arid place, but it is far from lifeless. That is most obvious during the annual desert bloom, which happens between February and April depending on the exact location and precipitation during the previous winter. Not every year is equal in this regard. Desert plants are adapted to a dry climate and can be dormant for many years until adequate moisture is available.