For the Flower Hour, share your images of flowers, gardens, fields of flowers, seasonal leaves and plants, fungus, algae, cacti, blossoms, berries, and wildflowers. Bouquets and silk/faux flowers are welcome.
This week, I’m sharing desert plants spotted during our visits to various points of interest near Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. 🌵
While visiting the Boyce Thompson Arboretum east of Phoenix, it was the perfect day to stroll the grounds and gawk at the desert plant life, with temperatures only in the upper 70sF (24C)! I know, right?
Isn’t this red yucca plant beautiful?


Sonoran Desert Fun
“A flower blooming in the desert proves to the world that adversity, no matter how great, can be overcome.” ~ Matshono Dhliwayo
We also visited Saguaro National Park, Southeast of Tucson, also on a cool-ish day. We took the road tour to various lookouts, since dogs are not allowed on the trails.

I thought this saguaro cactus looked happy, thriving in the warm desert sun with its arms reaching skyward; a small smile on its “face.”

Do you need to place a cactus call? This was spotted in the town near the national park entrance.

Honoring Cee Neuner during the month of March.
Also sharing for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday and Lens-Artists Challenge: Time to Relax. I couldn’t resist also sharing for my own Sunday Stills color challenge, graciously hosted by Susanne this week!
There are no specific themes for the Flower Hour; just use your own photography.
New to The Flower Hour photo challenge? Please check out my page for more information! I encourage “double-dipping” with other blog challenges if you do not want to create a separate post.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from San Diego this week! 🍀


© 2026 Copyright — Terri Webster Schrandt and secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved
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Wonderful desert photos and flowers Terri. I heard it is getting a bit hotter this week in that part of the world.
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very beautifull picture 👍
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[…] Terri’s The #Flower Hour #22-2026.03.28 […]
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Oh the circle cacti look amazing, Terri. It was surely a great visit.
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Thank you, Hazel! We’ve enjoyed our visits! Sorry I haven’t been by lately…
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Oh no apology needed, Terri. I smiled. My pleasure and just enjoy!
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hi Terry, glad you are having a relaxing time….the colours in your photos are so vibrant….not how I imagined a desert to appear. Beautiful!
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[…] I’m joining The Flower Hour. […]
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Terri – very nice and the photos made me feel all warm and toasty looking at the cacti and the Yucca plant too. We had a couple of Yuccas many years ago, side-by-side in the garden, but they were white. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you too. The Shamrocks are pretty. Enjoy your time in sunny San Diego with family.
Here is my post for Flower Hour, but I also used it for Sunday’s Green Challenge as well. I’m trying to think warm thoughts when it is 23 degrees now, a windchill below zero this morning, but hey – we had 70 degrees a week ago. 🙂
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Eek, that’s cold, Linda! It was 92 here in San Diego. Waayy too hot for me. Spring has really sprung here! My daughter’s garden with jasmine, orchid trees and orange blossoms smells amazing.
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It’s weather whiplash here in SE Michigan, but Northern Michigan got three feet of snow in some spots due to a blizzard/bomb cyclone last weekend. I am ready for Spring, but not 90s yet. I did hear California would have a hot spell. I’m sure you’ve taken many flower pics to use on Flower Hour – now you need to figure out how to make them into a scratch and sniff patch for your post … if only AI could do that too!
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[…] Peridot. I may just have 50 shades of green in this post, but, if not, I will link this post to The Flower Hour on Tuesday. Since Terri is on vacation, blogger Susanne at Cats and Trails and Garden Tales is […]
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Those cacti are simply wonderful. These photos should make everyone very relaxed. Great post, Terri. Here’s my entry:
https://throughbrazilianeyes.com/pollinating-in-the-winter/
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Thank you, Egidio! The two areas were amazing with the variety of cacti and other desert flora. It took us a good 3 hours to stroll through the arboretum. And it was a cool day for Eastern AZ too…bonus!
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Nice tribute to Cee. Cacti aren’t my go-to plants or flowers, but you’ve represented them well.
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Thank you, they’re not mine either, but I was impressed by the variety of them!
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The red yucca is fabulous. Happy St. Pat’s Day!
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Many thanks, Rebecca!🍀
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Terri! I think of those red cactus plants as Red Hot Pokers, but I might be mistaken. Lovely pop of colour! xx
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Happy St Paddys Day, Jo! These are Yucca plant flowers. They look so graceful!
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Great desert gallery, Terri!
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Thanks so much, Sandy! Amazing what grows in the deserts.
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Beautiful reds, greens, and yellows to brighten up the desert! Those tall cactus are amazing! 🙂
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Thank you, Barbara! March is a good month to visit the desert in Arizona.
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[…] Flower Hour #22: Relaxing Beside Desert Greens […]
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Terri, the desert blooms are gorgeous!
Here’s mine https://wanderingdawgs.com/2026/03/17/the-flower-hour-22-first-azaleas/
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Thank you, Beth. The arboretum was full of floral surprises!
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[…] Many thanks to Terri for this week’s Flower Hour challenge The Flower Hour #22: Relaxing Beside Desert Greens […]
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Lovely.
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Ooohh, the sunshine and beautiful desert vistas made me happy, Terri. Lovely gallery and what a wonderful Red Desert Yucca! Thank you for the relaxing vibes!
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[…] Terri’s The #Flower Hour #22 – 17 March 2026: “Relaxing Desert […]
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Desert greens are always a favorite of mine, Terri! We went to Apache Junction to take a ride on the Dolly on Canyon Lake yesterday, and found a museum we’d never visited just across the ghost town at Goldfield. More pics coming this summer!!
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Looks like you are having a great time. Enjoying the beautiful pictures . Mine https://threebylisa.wordpress.com/2026/03/17/icicle-panies-flower-hour/
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[…] Flower hour with Second Wind leisure perspectiveshttps://secondwindleisure.com/2026/03/17/flower-hour-22-relaxing-beside-desert-greens/ […]
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Gorgeous!
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Very clever Terri, to use this post for many challenges. The desert can be relaxing and beautiful. Well, except for your final flower!
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Beautiful photos, Terri! It’s a very different desert than the Mojave.
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For sure, John, thank you! Hope you have a nice St Patrick’s day!
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Thanks Terri! I stopped drinking late last year… 👍🏻😂
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Thanks for sharing these very impressive photos. How different and surprising nature can be. Here are only wild boars, forests, and … many hillbillies. Lol Have also a wonderful week ahead. Best wishes, Michael
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Thank you for reading, Michael! Your area sounds just fine and I’m sure the plant life is wonderful!
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Relaxing, indeed! Gorgeous desert pics of the cactus! And a happy St. Pat’s Day to you!
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If you can call “strolling” with energetic 40 somethings relaxing! The arboretum was amazing, even an Australian biosphere!
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Ah, I see your point! 😉 But the desert still exudes peace and relaxation!
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It does, we’re not quite used to the heat! It was “cooler” in Arizona last week, compared to San Diego this week! Oh well!
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