Spring is always a favorite because of budding trees, flowers, and warmer longer days. We needed to be in Tucson to have some minor repairs done to our RV. We enjoy visiting Tucson Mountain Park, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and Saguaro National Park West. Western Way RV Resort is very close to those sites and this had been our third stay here.
Gila Bend, Arizona
We’ve driven through the area innumerable times, but never done an overnight stay. We were lucky to have missed Gila Bend declaring a state of emergency over migrant swarms and busloads of illegal immigrants being dropped off in the small town. The Sonoran Desert RV Park had large sites, full hookups, and decent Internet. There wasn’t much to do in the area, especially because of COVID, but there were numerous ATV trails in the desert.
Tucson, Arizona
We really enjoy the desert. It’s uncrowded, quiet, scenic and very peaceful. Even summers can be amazing, despite the temperatures, because of the visually stunning intense thunderstorms during monsoon.
Black vultures reside year round in the area.
It’s always unnerving when one lands next to you and watches intently.
A gila woodpecker excavating a nest cavity in a saguaro cactus. The excavated cavity is called a “boot”, which provides a cool safe place to raise their young.
Once the nest is abandoned, the boots are used by other birds.
Early Spring in the Desert
Spring wildflowers start about mid February and peak by mid to late March. It seems as if the Brittlebush is always blooming.
Desert sunflower and dune sunflowers were in bloom.
A spring favorite is Parry’s Penstemon.
Even a few cactus were blooming in February.
A dune evening primrose.
Desert globemallow.
Purple nightshade.
With all the spring flowers, hummingbirds were prevalent. Broad-billed, Anna’s, Costa’s, and Rufous hummingbirds.
Sunsets, with or without clouds were always stunning each evening. Because the nights were cold and daytime temperatures in the 60s, there were minimal concerns of rattlesnakes underfoot while walking in the desert in the dark.
