Natural History Wanderings

Joshua Tree National Park has posted a new wildflower report of for 2/28/14. They report:

The white flowers of the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) are blooming along the Wall Street Mill trail. Watch for the purple flowers of Sand verbena (Abronia villosa var. villosa) blooming along the road at West Entrance and the Desert Queen Mine Road. Look for the yellow flowers of the Desert rock pea (Acmispon rigidus) at West Entrance, Hidden Valley, and Cottonwood Basin area.

The yellow bladderpod (Peritoma arborea) bushes and the yellow creosote (Larrea tridentata) bushes along Pinto Basin Road, as well as the red flower of the chuparosa (Justicia californica) bushes, south of Cottonwood Visitor Center, are still visible from the road.

See the full detailed report, which includes what plants are in bloom, locations and abundance at: Wildflower Viewing – Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service).