Natural History Wanderings

Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service) reports

Currently the best spots to view wildflowers are still found in the central and southern portions of the park. There is also a decent bloom found along Utah Trail just south of the Twentynine Palms entrance. The higher elevations do have wildflowers, but just not large expanses of color. If you primary purpose is to view wildflowers, you may try going to locations other than Joshua Tree. While we are having a decent bloom, other areas, such as Carrizo Plain National Monument, are reporting better displays.  Please avoid trampling vegetation so that these native annual species can successfully reproduce, and so that other visitors can enjoy witnessing the bloom too!