Natural History Wanderings

Most of the desert parks report low elevation flowers well past peak.  Best flowers are now at mid-elevations.  Here are the most current reports from the park websites.

Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association website reports on May 9, 2010 “ The flowers are blooming nicely at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Among them are colorful Goldfields, Tidy Tips, Checkerbloom, Cream Cups, and many more. It can be cool and breezy up there, so dress accordingly.

Meanwhile down in the desert, only a few isolated stragglers remain from this year’s fine crop of annual wildflowers. Spiny Senna, with yellow flowers, is doing well, particularly along Highway 78 between Pinyon Wash and Mine Wash. The Blue Palo Verde and Desert Willow trees are in flower. Doing well but less likely to be noticed are Burroweed and Sandpaper Plant.”

Antelope Valley reports on its website: “Poppy Season coming to a close!

The Visitor Center and entrance Kiosk will be closing for the season after May 9, 2010.

The Reserve will remain open to visitors on a self pay/self guided basis.”

Death Valley Park website Reports on May 7, 2010 “The wildflower bloom is going strong in the mid-elevations (3000’ to 5000’ elev.) of the park now. Watch for flowers on the mountain passes where the roads cross into the valley. Wildflowers you will see include Pebble Pincushion (Chaenactis carphoclinia), Fremont Phacelia (Phacelia fremontii), Desert Dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), Broad-flowered Gilia (Gilia latiflora), Desert Mariposa Lily (Calochortus kennedyi), Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), and Desert Paintbrush (Castilleja applegatei martinii). Shrubs in full bloom include Indigo Bush (Psorothamnus fremontii), Hopsage (Grayia spinosa), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), and Acton Encelia (Encelia actoni). Cactus that are now flowering are Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris), Silver Cholla (Opuntia echinocarpa), Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii), and Mojave Fish-hook Cactus (Sclerocactus polyancistrus).

Titus Canyon is a delight to drive now because of the variety and abundance of flowers. Although the road is in good shape, a few steep and rough sections make using a high-clearance vehicle necessary. The first section of the road has Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia) Weakstem Mariposa Lily (Calochortus flexuosus), and Parish Larkspur (Delphinium parishii). As the road starts to climb into the mountains watch for Purple Sage (Salvia dorrii) and Pink Phlox (Phlox stansburyi). Around Titanothere Canyon and Leadfield ghost town the Prince’s Plume (Stanleya pinnata) will soon be putting on an eye-popping display. Stream Orchid (Epipactis gigantea) can be found in flower among the reeds at Klare Spring. And in the depths of Titus Canyon the Rock Nettle (Eucnide urens) are covered with flowers, but will be fading soon.”

Hungry Valley/ Gorman: Hungry Valley SVRA website reports on May 6, 2010  “The north grasslands have small patches of Pygmy-leafed Lupine (Lupinus bicolor) and some California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) at the start of Stipa Trail. There are still varieties of wildflowers, but not a huge quantity of blooms at Stipa Trail and Powerline Road of Bush Lupine (Lupinus excubitus), Linear-leaf Goldenbush (Ericameria cooperi), Globe Gilia (Gilia capitata), Chia (Salvia columbariae), Fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellate), Jewel Flowers (Caulanthus cooperi), Fremont Pincushions (Chaenactis fremontii) and a few Desert Tidy Tips (Layia glandulosa).

Click read more to continue

California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) along with a few Bush Lupine (Lupinus excubitus), Linear-leaf Goldenbush (Ericameria cooperi) and Cream Cups (Platystemon californicus) are also blooming along Wheatfield Trail in the lower grassland area. There is a large display of California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) and Bush Lupine (Lupinus excubitus) along Peace Valley Road between Sewer Line Road and Quail Lake Road; however this area is behind barbed wire fencing and inaccessible by foot.

The bloom on the Gorman Hills along the I-5 freeway has faded with just a few patches of  Globe Gilia (Gilia capitata), California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica), and a sparse showing of Bush Lupine (Lupinus excubitus).”

Joshua Tree National Park website reports on April 29, 2010 ”Wildflower season has peaked, but their is still lots of color to enjoy. Desert lilies, many species of cactus, mariposa lilies, desert senna, indigo bush, and paperbag bush are in full bloom.”

Mohave Preserve website reports on May 2010
“Aiken Mine Road/Cinder Cones Wallace’s woolly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei) Bigelow’s monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovei) Purple mat (Nama demissum) Fremont phacelia (Phacelia fremontii) lace-leaf phacelia (Phacelia distans) beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) Mojave mound cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) desert chicory (Rafnesquia neomexicana) desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata) freckled milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus) red-stemmed filaree (Erodium cicutarium) checker fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata) desert senna (Senna armata) desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum) desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) Mojave yucca (Yucca shidigera) Fremont’s pepper grass (Lepidium) spiny hop-sage (Grayia spinosa) Fremont pincushion (Chaenactis fremontii) Mojave sun cup (Camissonia campestris)

Cima Dome Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia ssp. jaegeriana) Mojave mound cactus (Echinocereus
triglochidiatus) white tidy-tips (Layia glandulosa)
erodium (cicutarium) Fremont phacelia (Phacelia fremontii) chia (Salvia columbariae) turpentine broom (Thamnosma montana) skunkbrush (Rhus trilobata) apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) Wallace’s wooly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei) Mojave prickly-pear (Opuntia erinacea) desert paintbrush (Castilleja angustifolia) desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata) spiny mendora (Menodora spinescens) Cooper’s goldenbush (Ericameria cooperi) antelope bush (Purshia tridentata) desert almond (Prunus fasciculata) evening primrose (Oenothera californica) rattlesnake weed (Chamaesyce albomarginata) Goodding’s verbena (Verbena gooddingii) checker fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata) red-stemmed filaree (Erodium cicutarium) golden gilia (Linanthus aureus)

Castle Peaks beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) desert paintbrush (Castilleja angustifolia) banana yucca (Yucca baccata) Mojave mound cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) jimson weed (Datura wrightii)”