Wildflower Report

A field of golden poppies, brown-eyed primroses, and chia is on display along the western side of the road at the southern boundary of the park. Please park carefully in designated places to enjoy the flowers. Wildflowers, especially poppies, close up at night then open again when the sun is high the next day. A stretch of desert that looks barren of wildflowers at 9 am may be quite colorful by noon.

Joshua trees are budding in the higher elevations of the park, with at least one blooming in Black Rock Campground. The rain we had over Presidents’ Day weekend will take a week or two to show up in our wildflower bloom, so bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), Arizona lupines (Lupinus arizonicus), and chuparosa (Justicia californica) remain the most prominent wildflowers for visitors to see this week. As usual, the warmer southern portion of the park seems to be taking off first.

February 22, 2011
The volcanic hills north of Ashford Mill still have the best display of wildflowers in the park. Desert gold now cover the hills and the low-growing cryptantha carpeting the ground may not look like much, but produce a sweet perfume that carries on the breeze. Sand verbena add sprawling patches of pink to the mix.
East of Jubilee Pass the sprouts that came up later are starting to bloom, but unfortunately from tiny plants that appear to be stressed from lack of moisture. Recent rainstorms brought high expectations, but little actual rain. Only 0.14 inches of precipitation fell at Furnace Creek on Feb 18, the first measurable rain since early January. This may be enough to keep the wildflower sprouts alive, but more is needed to produce much of a show.

Precipitation (Furnace Creek)
Year 2011: 0.22 inch
7/1/10 to present: 0.65 inch

It’s starting!  During a trip to Cougar Buttes in Lucerne Valley my friend pointed out an Indian paintbrush blossom poking it’s little self out from between two rocks reaching for the sun.  Picture? Of course not–why would one think I was smart enough to get a picture?  I’ll have to live with that for awhile.

Last week I was out at Death Valley Junction. Residents there are anticipating a good year with the snow earlier in January, the first that’s covered the ground in 22 years. 

Last October I attended a luncheon for the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve volunteers. The park biologist was saying then that the patterns were just right for a great year, and if there were a good amount of rain this winter (which there has been), and some early spring the poppies should have a great year.

Only time will tell.