Natural History Wanderings

Mojave National Preserve  has a new wildflower report for April 4, 2013

Kelbaker Road north of Kelso: concentrations of blooms have been reported along dirt roads east of Kelbaker Road including on the road to Indian Springs, 12.4 miles south of Baker, Aiken Mine Road, 19.3 miles south of Baker, and the roads in between.

Kelso Cima Road: Desert dandelion is blooming along the roadside and Mojave yucca are blooming up into the foothills.

Kelso Dunes: Some blooms have been reported. Check the dunes and wash near the tamerisk tree 3 miles beyond the trailhead parking area.

Cima Road: Mojave mound cactus are beginning to bloom along Teutonia Peak Trail.

Essex Road: Mojave yucca have been reported blooming in this area.

The following is a list of plants that have been seen on the west side of the preserve:

canterbury bells, Phacelia campanularia

chia, Salvia colummbariae

gilia, Gilia latiflora

turpentine broom, Thamnosma montana

beavertail cactus , Opuntia bacilarias

filaree , Erodium cicutarium

wild rhubarb, Rumex hymenosepalus

fremont pincushion, Chaenactis fremontii

desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana

forget-me-not, Cryptantha sp.

Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia

Mojave yucca , Yucca shidigera

brown-eyed primrose, Camissonia claviformis

dunes evening primrose, Oenothera deltoides

prickly poppy, Argemone corymbosa

desert plantain, Plantago ovata

coyote tobacco, Nicotiana obtusifolia

desert marigold, Bailey multiradiata

desert sunflower, Geraea canescens

desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata

fiddleneck, Amsinckia tessallata

desert gold-poppy, Eschscholzia sp.

bladderpod, Isomeris arborea

You can see older reports at:  Where the Wildflowers Are – Mojave National Preserve.