Natural History Wanderings

Death Valley National Park reported on Wildflower Wednesday

Most of the wildflower sprouts coming up are growing slowly, biding their time, and conserving energy. They will stay small, semi-dormant until the days get longer and the nights get warmer. But there are a few flowers that are acting like little kids on Christmas morning. They just can’t wait! Desert Gold in Mud Canyon, Encelia near the East Entrance, Twining Milkweed in Grotto Canyon, Brown-Eyed Evening Primrose on Artist’s Drive, Beavertail in the Funerals –reports are coming in from all over of individual flowers blooming two or three months ahead of their usual schedule. Not big numbers, but spots of color when you would least expect it, during the coldest and shortest days of the year. If you are coming to Death Valley in the near future, keep a lookout. You never know what you might see!

The flower I’m excited about this week is Sweetbush (Bebbia juncea). This is a flower that, although it blooms primarily in the spring, will blossom whenever it gets enough water. It is one of my favorites, due to the wonderful aroma that wafts through the air in a wash with abundant sweetbush. The delicious scent reminds me of freshly baked cookies. However, like cookie dough, this bush needs to be baked to bring out the yummy fragrance. Warmth is the trigger. On cold days, or in the shade, the bush has only a faint hay like odor.

This plant must taste as good as it smells to some of Death Valley’s wild residents. Sweetbush is a favorite food for Desert Bighorn Sheep. Chuckwallas love it, too. So much, in fact, that another name for this plant is Chuckwalla’s Delight

Source: Death Valley National Park