Natural History Wanderings

Death Valley National Park reports the following wildflower Update
Don’t be alarmed, it is NOT all or nothing. Although the lower elevation flowers are fading, there are still some good places to see them. The Desert Gold (Geraea canescens) is still looking really special between Mile Marker 23 and Mormon Point on the Badwater Road. Mud Canyon on the Daylight Pass Road still has lots of flowers. Artist’s Drive is looking really nice, too. This is a good place to keep an eye out for the elusive Desert Five Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia). Many other locations in the lower elevations still have some flowers, just not in the same numbers that were there a couple of weeks ago. One flower to look out for is the Gravel Ghost (Atrichoseris platyphylla). This relatively late bloomer is having a fantastic year, with some of the largest and loveliest displays I’ve ever seen. The black volcanic soil around Ubehebe Crater is starting to pop with patches of Purple Mat (Nama demissum). Walk to Little Hebe for views of Desert Gold Poppies (Eschscholzia glyptosperma) clinging to the sheer sides of the crater. Hiking the canyons throughout the park will give you the opportunity to see a few species not found on the roadside alluvial fans, such as the beautiful and fragrant Rock Nettle (Eucnide urens).
Mid-elevation flowers are starting to pick up. Dante’s View Road and Daylight Pass Road are especially good locations this week. If you are coming in from the west, there are good blooms between the 2,000 and 3,500 ft. elevations on both sides of Townes Pass. The Mojave Asters (Xylorizha tortifolia) in the area of Father Crowley Lookout are especially striking. . If you don’t want to brave the bumpy gravel road to Lee Flat to see the Joshua Trees (Yucca brevifolia) in bloom, there are a couple of beautiful Joshua Trees in full bloom at the CCC camp across from the Wildrose Campground.
For dirt road back road enthusiasts, Saline Valley is blooming. Greenwater Road is getting some very nice patches. Look for Death Valley Monkeyflowers (Mimulus rupicola) and Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) on the Hole In The Wall and Echo Canyon Roads. I’ve heard good things about the West Side Road, Johnson Canyon and the upper reaches of Warm Springs Canyon, too. Wherever you choose to go, happy flower hunting! (dm)