Natural History Wanderings

Joshua Tree National Park  posted a new wildflower report:

”      Fireworks in the Pinto Basin! The Ocotillo Patch is in full bloom, with a fiery red tip on almost every branch—one of
the best displays for years.
Mojave yuccas, yellow desert senna, and the white trumpets of sacred datura are blooming along Pinto Basin Road and the teddy-bear chollas in the Cholla Cactus Garden are just beginning to show their green flowers. Desert dandelions and brittlebush are plentiful in Wilson Canyon, Joshua trees are blooming in the northern and western parts of the park and several species of cacti are beginning to bloom throughout the park.
Beavertail cactus can be seen along the road between the Bajada Nature Trail and the Cottonwood Visitor Center, but generally the wildflower bloom in the southern area of the park is fading as plants begin setting seed.”

To see the full report which includes detailed locations and abundance of each species that is in bloom go to  http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/bloom_report.pdf