Natural History Wanderings

Desert Wildflower Reports – DesertUSA has new reports for

Arizona

Grand Canyon Reports: Lower South Kaibab Trail is in bloom!

Tucson Area spring wildflowers are blooming like crazy all over the Tucson area. It’s strange but true that the best display is along Interstate 10 near Picacho Peak, with the greatest profusion in the freeway median between Picacho on the north and Red Rock on the south. Explosive and colorful for miles. See photo at Read more: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/az.html#ixzz3W1IQZOiS

Tohono Chul Park is delightful for viewing many varieties at their peak. Catalina State Park continues to look great, both along the trails and on the unmarked side paths. We spotted a rare orange Mariposa Lily under a shrub on the left side of the Birding Trail going in the clockwise direction, which is the best way to walk this trail now that morning sun is so intense. See photos at  http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/tucson.html#ixzz3W1IaY4dX

Nevada

The North Shore ROAD on the west side of Lake Mead from Overton, NV, 3/29 to Echo Bay Marina and on to Calville Bay Marina is lined with tons of flowers especially Overton to Echo Bay. HUGE bunches of Brittlebush line the road and some draws. Lots of huge Desert Sunflowers, some past peak, others just starting. Also seeing cactus, globe mallow, Mojave Aster, Sand Blazing Star, Desert Marigold. And one of my favorites, the Las Vegas Bear Poppy (Arctomecon Californica) If you see a plant with yellow flowers blooming in an area all by itself, in the harshest, driest, gypsum laden soil, then it might be a bear poppy. They also have especially fuzzy hairy light bluish grey basal leaves. Very unique. Calville Bay to Henderson looks pretty much all dried out. See photo at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/nv.html#ixzz3W1IudDAB

Arches NP reports: Look closely along park roadsides and trailheads and you’ll find Dwarf Evening Primrose blooming in shady areas. This delicate flower “blushes” from bright white to soft pink after it has been pollinated by hungry hawkmoths or busy bees See photo at  http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/nv.html#ixzz3W1JBeQKq

California

Indian Wells Canyon, just southwest of the Highway 395/Highway 14 Junction. This is the Owens Peak Wilderness Area sitting at the Northern edge of Kern County, near the Junction of Tulare and Inyo Counties.
This is a burn area (desert restoration area) from several years back and the Lupins are taking over in recent years. Lupins are peaking this weekend, and my new discovery today was several California Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron californicum) blooming in the already dry stream bed. See photos http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#

Munz Rd out of Antelope Valley Prickly Poppy, paintbrush, chia and baby blue eyes. lots of lady bugs Also saw quail and blunt nosed leopard lizard today further east in Antelope valley part of Munz.
See photo at: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#ixzz3W1Jp4NTe