Yes, some of 2017’s more spectacular wildflower displays in the deserts of Southern California, Nevada and Arizona are history – the fields of desert gold (Geraea canescens) at Saratoga Springs in Death Valley, for example, are now a dried-up shadow of their former glorious selves.
But that certainly doesn’t mean that California wildflower lovers should throw in the towel quite yet. In fact, thanks to the heavy rainfall this winter there are still plenty of blooms happening amid that dusty scrubland we all love so much. But don’t dawdle: head south this weekend and prepare to have your mind blown. Here are some options:
Where to go: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
What to see right now: Bursts of dune evening primrose and pink sand verbena, with a few dune sunflowers and desert lilies, in the sand dunes along Old Springs Road; along Henderson Canyon Road, you’ll find pink, white and even purple lupine, before arriving at the fields of yellow-orange desert sunflower; the freshest-looking sunflowers are in the eastern half of this field; while most of the desert lilies have finished blooming, a few can still be found at Arroyo Salado primitive camp which you can check out here. There’s a stunning display of bright yellow brittlebush on the hillsides of Highways S-22 and S-3, and you can find a great variety of cacti, along with desert dandelions and pincushions, around the Visitor Center.
What’s coming next: Ocotillo, a sort of cacus wannabe, will soon start to bloom along Highway 78, on Yaqui Pass Road (Highway S-3), and in the Desert Gardens area in Coyote Canyon (the dirt road beyond Desert Gardens requires a 4WD vehicle); in general, head for the high elevations in the coming weeks to catch the later-blooming versions of flowers already in bloom at the Carrizo Badlands Overlook. But it’ll be getting hot soon, so go now.
Where to go: Death Valley National Park
What to see now: Flooding may have closed Scotty’s Castle for a while, but the rains also brought a bounty of flowering beauty. Visitors tell DesertUSA.com, the home of online wildflower fans, that pink-flowered cacti can be seen near Zabriskie Point while driving up from Dante’s View; fields of yellow flowers cover the drive to Ubehebe Crater; flower chasers found a thin scattering of desert marigolds on Jubilee Pass Road; and you still might find some desert gold flowers and desert five spots (Eremalche rotundifolia) along the same road.
What’s coming next: The Park’s website has plenty of suggestions for places to check out for the next month or so. In the next two weeks, visit the lower elevations on alluvial fans and foothills to see desert gold, notch-leaf phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), caltha-leaf phacelia (Phacelia calthifolia), golden evening primrose (Camissonia brevipes), gravel ghost (Atrichoseris platyphylla), bigelow mMonkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii) and desert five-spot (Eremalche rotundifolia). Then in early May, you can find all sorts of gems at the 3,000-5,000-foot level and on the upper desert slopes and higher valleys. They include desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), princesplume (Stanleya pinnata), desert paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa), Fremont phacelia (Phacelia fremontii), Mojave aster (Xyloriza tortifolia), indigo bush (Psorothamnus arborescens) and desert globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua).
Where to go: Joshua Tree National Park
What to see now: Wildflowers have been blooming in the lower elevations of the Pinto Basin and along the park’s south boundary since February, though you’ll find the show taking place at higher elevations now and in the coming weeks. Check out the park’s wildflower blog here and prepare to be amazed. Rangers say one of the best spots to see flowers right now is Wilson Canyon, south of White Tank Campground and north of the Cholla Cactus Garden; the slopes of the side canyons are turning yellow with yellowcups (Chylismia brevipes). Other common wildflower species in Wilson Canyon include browneyes (Chylismia claviformis), purple mat (Nama demissa) and sand blazingstar (Mentzelia involucrata).
What’s coming next: Even as late as June, you can see flowers blooming in areas above 5,000 feet. For now, check out wide swaths of brittlebush at the south entrance to the park; a short drive takes you past fields of orange desert mallow contrasting with abundant purple chia; further east, you’ll find a ton of stunning desert bluebells along the road.
Where to go: Mojave National Park
What to see now: Folks report spectacular displays Interstate 40 south of the park where entire hillsides are yellow and there are lots of lupine alongside the highway; some of the best displays can be found in the foothills along Nevada Route 163 between I-95 and Laughlin while the roads into Lake Mead NRA are also filled with color right now; on the hillsides you’ll find encelia, phacelia, chicory, cryptantha, camissonia, amsinckia, desert star, desert mallow, lupine, nicotiana, beavertail cactus and more. This is the best we saw after passing through Mojave NP (North to South) from Vegas.
What’s coming next: If you get there quickly, you can still see plenty of wildflower action; visitors say that near the northern entrance of MNP on Kelbaker Road they found beavertail cactus, desert lily, Wallace’s wooly daisy, lilac sunbonnet. apricot mallow, sun cups, desert dandelion, desert five spot, desert-gold poppies, popcorn flowers, just to name a few.
