Natural History Wanderings

DesertUSA reports

A few wildflowers are starting to bloom in Death Valley and Anza Borrego area. Not much rain at the point and we will need more rain soon for a good bloom this year.

Anza Borrego – Feb 9, 2018 DUSA reports: No rain yet, we found a few wildflowers in the Grapevine Canyon area near Rt 78 and in Plum Canyon see map below. Lots of Chuparosa in bloom in Plum Canyon and some Ocotillos. Here are some pictures from the area. Not looking good at this time, we need rain to get the wildflowers going. See photos at  https://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html#ixzz56ZzlaMz5tusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html#ixzz561HKPXuS

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Reports: The desert can be unforgiving when it comes to rainfall. Only the strong survive and non-native species often do not make it here in the Sonoran Desert. This past January has been a dry one with only 0.03 inches of rain compared to January 2017’s 1.27 inches of rain and January 2016’s 1.6 inches.