While the word 'desert' may conjure up thoughts of a dry, sparse landscape, the Sonoran Desert in the spring is anything but that. One of Arizona's wettest winters in ten years is providing the fuel for a brilliant blanket of color statewide, especially during the perfect spring weather that's right around the corner in March and April. Here are some of the hot spots for wildflower viewing:

Mountain Ranges

Just east of Phoenix, the craggy, imposing Superstition Mountains look almost like a cartoon villain could live there. Drive a little closer, though, and you'll see that the ground will be covered in a bright yellow carpet of Mexican gold poppies. The contrast is stark and beautiful.

Near Yuma in the foothills of the Gila Mountains, visitors will find yellow brittlebush, and blue-purple scorpionweed and lupine. In the same area, red poppies are abundant in the Kofa Mountains.

In southeastern Arizona, the Chiricahua Mountains and Chiricahua National Monument shine with Mexican gold poppies and lupine. The range is particularly beautiful due to the hundreds of columns of volcanic rock that dominate the landscape here.

Botanical Gardens

At the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, visitors may stroll on a trail through every kind of cactus imaginable, many of which show their true colors in the spring with brilliant blooms. Plus, the desert wildflower trail showcases flowers which are native to deserts throughout North America. You'll probably run into a few hummingbirds and butterflies catching an afternoon snack. www.dbg.org

While yuccas and hesperaloes are year-round stars in the wildflower garden at Tucson Botanical Gardens, spring is the time when the garden shines with penstemon, lupine, Mexican gold poppy, desert marigold, owl clover and many other native plants. www.tucsonbotanical.org

After a visit to Tucson Botanical Gardens, take a drive through Saguaro National Park on your way to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Part zoo, part museum and part botanical garden, the museum comes alive in the spring. Not only is it a perfect time to view the cacti and wildflower blooms, but it�s also ideal for viewing the museum's animals, which are out and about in the warm weather. www.desertmuseum.org

State Parks

Several Arizona State Parks are famous for their excellent wildflower viewing. Park rangers are even keeping track of wildflower progress with 'Ranger Cams,' providing daily photos taken by the park rangers on the State Parks website. Check out www.pr.state.az.us for more.

The popular Mexican gold poppy may also be found at Picacho Peak State Park, which is halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. Visitors may hike the trail to the top of the 1,500-foot arrowhead-shaped peak, or take a leisurely drive through the grounds for viewing.

Forty miles north of Tucson at Oracle State Park, visitors will find more than 40 species of wildflowers, including Mariposa lilies, lavender larkspurs and desert marigolds. Other activities for visitors include 15 miles of hiking trails and tours of a historic ranch house.

Closer to Phoenix and along one of Arizona's designated Scenic Roads, you'll find Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Wildflowers with unique names can be found here, including fiddleneck, purple bladderpod, fairy duster, firecracker penstemon and globe mallow.

The 320-acre Lost Dutchman State Park, near the Superstition Mountains, features trails where you'll notice the wildflowers changing with the elevation. The park has a rich history which includes a legend of a lost gold mine. Chuparosa, filaree and Papago lilies are just some of the flowers you'll see here.

To plan a bloomin' fun wildflower viewing trip in Arizona, check out www.ArizonaGuide.com or call 866-298-3312.