Natural History Wanderings

Death Valley National Park reports

First the bad news – the hot weather and lack of rain had already stressed our lower elevation flowers to the limits. Then the wind came. A vicious windstorm tore through the valley over the weekend, and devastated many of the lower elevation flowers. The Badwater Road is only a shadow of its former glory, and the fields along Highway 190 were hit hard, also.

Now the good news. Although the lower elevation flowers are past their peak, there are still large fields of Desert Gold (Geraea canescens) in some locations on the southern section of the Badwater Road. Best spots are the alluvial fan near Mile Marker 25 or the area just before the road closure. The Beatty Cutoff and the Daylight Pass Road still have a nice variety of blooms. Try getting out of your car and walking to see the most diversity.
One way to see more flowers at lower elevations is to hike into the canyons. With the additional shade and wind protection, blooms may last a bit longer there. Although they are far from their peak, we are also seeing more color in the mid-elevations. Try driving to Dante’s View or along the Daylight Pass Road to Rhyolite to see a few different flowers. The numbers are few but the variety is great!
Echo Canyon and Hole in the Wall are still good backcountry roads to view flowers. The first Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) blossoms are starting to come out in Lee Flat. Happy flower hunting! (dm)

One way to see more flowers at lower elevations is to hike into the canyons. With the additional shade and wind protection, blooms may last a bit longer there. Although they are far from their peak, we are also seeing more color in the mid-elevations. Try driving to Dante’s View or along the Daylight Pass Road to Rhyolite to see a few different flowers. The numbers are few but the variety is great!

Echo Canyon and Hole in the Wall are still good backcountry roads to view flowers. The first Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) blossoms are starting to come out in Lee Flat. Happy flower hunting! (dm)

See photos at Death Valley National Park