Natural History Wanderings

DesertUSA  has a new report for Feb. 12 for Death Valley. See photos at: Death Valley Wildflower Report – DesertUSA.

Feb 12, 2015: A few blooms have started in Death Valley National Park, and some parts are greener than I have seen them since the Big Bloom of 2005, due to the rainstorms last Fall. But a week of higher than normal temperatures (mid 80s F) has started to dry out some areas. Here’s an update on what I have seen in my travels around the park.

Southwest of Death Valley National Park

On Monday, February 2nd, I drove south from Panamint Springs Resort on the road to Ridgecrest, CA. Much of the southern Panamint Valley near DVNP and even Redrock Canyon State Park (southwest of Ridgecrest) had a light covering of green, probably caused by the rainstorms in January. Upon returning the on the same route on Sunday February 8th, after a week of 80 degree F plus temperatures, the green had faded considerably. Don’t expect much of a bloom in this area unless it receives more moisture.

North of Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park

On Sunday February 8th, there was still evidence of small green plants on the gravel fans north along CA 190 north of Furnace Creek and south of Salt Creek. These hot dry gravel fans have not bloomed with Desert Gold Sunflowers since 2005, so it is surprising to see any new growth. Still, more moisture is needed for this area to bloom.

The East side of Towne Pass above Stovepipe Wells is greening up as well. This area had a modest bloom last March, and could have a similar size bloom this season.

Greenwater Valley and Dantes View Road

On Tuesday, February 10th, I drove a loop through the southeastern area of Death Valley. The Greenwater Valley and the road up to Dantes View had a good cover of small green sprouts. This area is higher than 2,500 feet in elevation and is much cooler than the valley floor, so it has not dried as much from the recent unseasonably hot weather. The Greenwater Valley had a pretty large carpet bloom in March of 2014, and seems to be headed toward another such bloom this year.

 

Salisbury Pass and Jubilee Pass

In March of 2014, there were very small but attractive patches of wildflowers on the east side of the 3,000 foot Salisbury Pass and the 1,500 foot Jubilee Pass. This season, large parts of the desert here resemble a pasture, with thick green plants covering the area on both sides of the road. The first blooms appear to be the small Desert Gold Poppy, Golden Evening Primrose, Shredding Evening Primrose and Sand Verbena. I could recognize the pre-bloom vegetation of Trumpet Flower, Desert Five Spot and Desert Gold Sunflowers, all which are probably two weeks away from blooming. This area’s blooms promise to be much more spectacular than last year’s wildflower show! I will be checking on the bloom’s progress here every week or so on my days off.