Natural History Wanderings

DesertUSA has the following wildflower updates

California

April 30, 2014 Anza-Borrego Foundation reports: There are still a few cacti in bloom around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park- found in Plum Canyon today!

Death Valley National Park, April 25 – 28, 2014 The bloom the Park Service reported on April 11 is still going strong in Towne Pass and in Emigrant Canyon/Wildrose. An easy place to pull off to see flowers in Towne Pass is by a dirt road about a mile west of Towne Pass (on the south side of the road). Parking there and walking up the road goes into a pretty area of Prince’s Plum, Indigo, Paper Bag Bush and Golden Evening Primrose. The road from Emigrant Canyon to Wildrose is a succession of blooms that start with Gravel-Ghost, and a few Humble Gilia, Desert Star and Gold Poppy. Around mile marker 7 there are brilliant red Desert Paint Brush, Desert Dandelion, Larkspur and Indigo.

I even saw a Mariposa Lily tucked under a bush. Around where the road starts to descend there are three golden hills – one of Desert Dandelion and Blazing Star, one of thick Blazing Star and one of Golden Evening Primrose. On down the road, before the canyon going into Wildrose, several gravel areas have lots of Lilac Sunbonnet. Many spots along the road are lined with Broad-Flowered Gilia which is having a good year. Beavertail Cactus are also in bloom along the road. At Wildrose, Prince’s Plum is blooming nicely.

The drive from Wildrose campground to Charcoal Kilns has what I consider special flower treats. There are a few (and hard to find) Mariposa Lilies and Giant Four O’clocks. Once the road turns to gravel, there are several three feet tall Magnificent Lupine and a very pretty pink Phlox (of uncertain variety). If you are visited soon, expect to work around road resurfacing that started 4/28/14 and is projected to take about five days. Photos are from Emigrant Canyon to Wildrose.

see photos at:  Death Valley Wildflower Report – DesertUSA.

Nevada- Utah

Sunday April 27 we drove approximately 70 miles north of Las Vegas to the Desert National Wildlife Refuge off highway 93. We took the Morman Well road up to the Sawmill road. Pretty good flower show. Dominated by Desert Marigolds and Globemallow. 2/3 of the way up are a couple nice patches of Prince’s Plumes. Also saw Indigo Bush, Prickly Poppy, and Indian Paintbrush. Some cactus still in bloom but most are past peak. A few ground flowers scattered here and there. Bottom third about done. Middle to top third fo the way up should stay good for another week maybe two if it doesn’t get too hot/windy. Some rain would be nice to extend the bloom.

see photos at: Desert Wildflowers Reports for Nevada and Utah – DesertUSA.

April 30, 2014 Arches National Park reports: Look closely along the park roadside: bursts of crimson paintbrush are reaching up to color the sky.

see photos at: Desert Wildflowers Reports for Nevada and Utah – DesertUSA.