Natural History Wanderings

DesertUSA reports at Death Valley

The wildflowers at the south end of the part continue to be spectacular. Some of the Desert Gold plants were as tall as my waist! We did a hike up Sheep Canyon, not a hike for the novice canyon hiker. Though not so visible from the road, once you get up into the fan, the Notch-leaf Phacelia is abundant. A desert rock garden indeed. We saw many Lupine just beginning to bloom. Most unusual find was 3 spotless five-spots on the way to Warm Springs. The road to Warm Springs was fabulous. Perhaps we didn’t go far enough, but Harry Wade Rd was OK, but couldn’t compare to the other areas. We didn’t get as far as Saratoga Springs. There were some wildflowers on 190 between Death Valley Junction and Furnace creek coming in from Pahrump. North of Furnace Creek, on the way out, the bloom seems to be just beginning, with a casting of yellow on the fans on the east side all the way to the road to Scotty’s. Heading out towards Towne Pass there was next to nothing.

See photos at Death Valley Wildflower Report – DesertUSA