Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Looking west from the base of Tucson Mountain towards the next mountain range over, the Quinlan Mountains. My first reaction to seeing the Sonora Desert was how green it appeared compared to the Mojave Desert further west. Lots of saguaro, prickly pear, and cholla in front of us.

From here you can just barely make out the main telescope building at Kitt Peak National Observatory (right side, near a saguaro cactus arm, but far distant).

Tags:   Arizona Carnegiea gigantea Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Cylindropuntia bigelovii Opuntia Pima County Saguaro Saguaro National Park Saguaro West Sonoran Desert Tucson Mountain District USA United States buckhorn cholla cactus cholla desert landscape national park outdoor park plant prickly pear sonoran teddy bear cholla

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Tucson Mountain District, Saguaro National Park, Arizona

A view overlooking the Bajada Loop Drive, the main scenic drive through the western district of Saguaro National Park. A new moon is rising while the setting sun has lit up the filamentous clouds in the sky. Tall saguaro cacti dominate the scene, with other Sonoran Desert plants playing supporing roles.

Tags:   Arizona Carnegiea gigantea Pima County Saguaro Saguaro National Park Saguaro West Sonoran Desert Tucson Mountain District USA United States cactus desert landscape moon mountain national park outdoor park plant sky sonoran sunset

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Tucson Mountain Park, Pima County, Arizona

I was photographing these teddy bear cholla on the west side of Tucson Mountain in the morning shade, just below Gates Pass, when I was suprised by the rising sun popping over the ridge. I quickly reframed for a starburst and the glow of the sun on the cactus needles.

Tags:   Arizona Pima County Sonoran Desert Tucson Mountain Park USA United States desert landscape outdoor sonoran

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Tucson Mountain Park, Pima County, Arizona

This ridge near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum caught my eye, with its young saguaros and palo verde bushes in the foreground and the blue shadowed mountains in the distance.

Tags:   Arizona Carnegiea gigantea Pima County Sonoran Desert Tucson Mountain Park USA United States cactus desert landscape mountain outdoor palo verde plant ridge saguaro sonoran

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Tucson Mountain District, Saguaro National Park, Arizona

We're standing at the end of the Valley View trail looking down the steep slope at an expanse of saguaro cacti, palo verde bushes, and other Sonoran desert flora. The setting sun is casting a warm side light on the scene.

Tags:   Arizona Carnegiea gigantea Pima County Saguaro Saguaro National Park Saguaro West Sonoran Desert Tucson Mountain District USA United States cactus desert landscape national park outdoor palo verde park plant sonoran

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