Desert Wildflowers Death Valley NP

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Jan 23, 2012 DUSA reports: A litlle rain yesterday, and more in forcast for today. The Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley National Park will close February 1, 2012 for the replacement of the sewer and water lines. Frequent pipe breakages require that the work be started as soon as possible. The project is scheduled to take several months to complete, requiring the work to be completed before the extreme heat of the summer.

Oct 5, 2011 Jim B reports: Rain in the forecast for this week.

April 19 2011 Bob Reports: I think were are about to see an explosion of blooms on the Beavertail Cacti in the desert valley. By this upcoming weekend the other blooms should be out. There were a few of the beetles on these blooms that frequent these flowers. But only a few of them were there Saturday. In the nest week we should have great Macro photo opportunities.

April 5 2011 David Reports: I spent most of the time in the northwest part of Death Valley park. There were not a lot of flowers, but there were spots with dense patches, mostly just on the edges of the dirt roads and in some washes. Much of the park was very green though. The largest displays seemed to be of desert primrose, bright yellow with delicate red spots. Scalloped Phacelia also made a nice showing, sprinkling some areas purple. The orange of Coulters Globemallow also made for a nice mix of colors here and there. Nikon D80 on 4/2 and 4/3

April 5 2011 Cathy Reports: Began our trip into the Park from the north headed down south thru Saline Valley and then South thru Panamint Valley.
A note on the road into Saline over North Pass - still muddy and a little snowy, passable with 4WD, but would wait a while with 2wd

Saline Valley - Sadly, much of Saline Valley was dry - even worse display than I saw last year at the approximate time. The indigo bush and creosote were blooming on the valley floor and a little more greenery as you head up the alluvial of the southern exit/Grapevine Canyon. A few worthy botanical exceptions to Saline Valley...Lead Canyon had excellent greenery waiting to pop open - maybe 2 weeks? 3? lots and lots of what looked like Penstemon, Paintbrush, Primrose, and more - I was just a little early. McElvoy Canyon, what a wonderful canyon - when you get to the waterfall there is a HUGE cliff of ferns and orchids. The orchids were not blooming yet, but were present. Add this to the free shower and the solitude, was well worth the trip.

Panamint Valley - again, sadly unimpressive, even in some of the 4WD roads we took into the Argus, the displays were not very good at all. Some prickly poppy blooming here and there around Minietta, a lone lupine, small white cryptantha andpopcorn flower etc. A few small brittlebrush roadside around the Darwin Falls turnoff. Until... my all time guaranteed spot to have good wildflowers... Immediately before the road begins climbing out of the southern end of Panamint Valley (the road to Trona) there is a wash with a really nice pull out. A lot of the area looks like it has had former dozing and grading etc. LOTS to be found here. Lots of pincushion, small poppy, datura, chia, brittlebrush, a few lupine and globemallow, whispering bells, phacelia etc. Could spend a good 30min/1 hour just combing this section and never be out of eyesight of the car. This spot never fails!

Peak Blooming Periods for Death Valley are usually...

Mid February - Mid April at lower elevations (valley floor and alluvial fans)

* Best Areas: Jubilee Pass, Highway 190 near the Furnace Creek Inn, base of Daylight Pass
* Dominant species: desert star, blazing star, desert gold, mimulus, encelia, poppies, verbena, evening primrose, phacelia, and various species of cacti (usually above the valley floor).

Early April - Early May at 2,000 to 4,000 ft. elevations

* Best areas: Panamint Mountains
* Dominant species: paintbrush, Mojave desert rue, lupine, Joshua tree, bear poppy, cacti and Panamint daisies.

Late April - Early June above 4,000 ft. elevations

* Best areas: High Panamints
* Dominant species: Mojave wildrose, rabbitbrush, Panamint daisies, mariposa lilies and lupine.

Books on the Death Valley area.

More on Death Valley Park

Photos tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.

Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...

We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone. iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.

Other DesertUSA Resources
Desert Plants
Wildflower Information & Hotlines
When Will The Wildflowers Bloom?
Wildflower Intro. Packages
Books on Cacti, Wildflowers, & Other Flora

 

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