Natural History Wanderings

DesertUSA has a number of new Wildflower Reports including Arizona, Kern County in California and Nevada.

Arizona Feb 29, 2016 Flowers are popping up at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa, AZ. A few poppies in the Superstition Mountains, Bolder Canyon trail. San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation has a good bloom of poppies. See photos for here and other areas of Arizona at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/az.html#ixzz41X1BIpgO

Kern County, CA  area east of Bakersfield (along Hwy 223 and elsewhere) is getting impressive quickly. Its an early start. Looking at my camera info from past years, it is a solid 2 weeks early. Go now through next week at least, maybe longer if the weather cools and it rains. Good stuff. See photos and older reports for Southern California at: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#ixzz41X1hXxtd

Nevada Saturday 2/27, went south on hiway 95, turned left (east) on Nevada 165. Headed to Nelson, NV, through El Dorado Canyon and ended up at Nelson’s Landing. From Nelson to the Landing, lots of yellow and purple flowers. The dominate flower is Brittlebush with purple Phacelia filling in the spaces. Great easy short drive from Boulder City and Henderson, NV. Also drove Lake Shore Drive from Lake Mead entrance to start of North Shore Drive. Quite a few Brittlebush and some others. From start of North Shore Drive to Calville Bay Marina vary barren. Does not look like a bloom is coming.

Nevada Zion National Park reports: spring color is starting to show in Zion! Slow down your hike to notice early blooms such as the Zion milkvetch (Astragalus zionis).

See Nevada photos and older reports at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/nv.html#ixzz41X2Od54J