Desert Wildflowers Nevada - Utah

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May 3, 2013 Geoff reports: April 27-29 camped in the Mormon Mtns (Carp/Elgin Rd exit off I-15), at "the summit" (EL 3737' according to my map). An exceptional bloom there. It's at the very high-point of the road, right-hand (east) side, maybe 10 miles or so after the road turns away from I-15. LOTS of yellow (desert sunflowers?), and a number of other varieties: clusters of deep purple flowers, smaller bunches of pale lavender/pink/white flowers, brittlebush just starting to bloom, mariposa lilies, at least 3 varieties of cactus, some globemallow, penstemom, yucca and more. A short drive up the side road/hill to the east (if you have 4WD/high clearance) will take you to a very nice patch of the pink/lavender bunches, mariposa lilies and plenty of brittlebush just coming into bloom. Probably good for another 1-2 weeks, perhaps longer.

April 30, 2013 Sherby reports: April 24-27, Valley of Fire and Whitney Pockets Nevada: The best flower displays we saw was in Southern Nevada Including soaptree, desert sunflower, globe mallow, white evening primrose, buckhorn cholla, creosote bush, indigo bush and many more.

April 30, 2013 Shawna reports: Wild Flowers at Hidden Forest Road and lots of cactus blooms along Alamo Road in the Desert National Wildlife Range 4-27-13

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge was established May 20, 1936, and encompasses 1.5 million acres of the diverse Mojave Desert in southern Nevada. It is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the lower 48 states. North of Las Vegas, Nevada, in northwestern Clark and southwestern Lincoln counties.

April 23, 2013 Donna reports: Plenty of Indian Paintbrushes in Arches, especially heading to Delicate Arch.

April 19, 2013 Geoff reports: April 13-14, took Sallie's April 3 recommendation and camped on an eastern side road off Gold Butte Rd, just before Whitney Pockets. A hearty bloom in that area in general, not much variety (yet?), mostly Desert Sunflower and Globemallow, both impressive. Carpets of Tidy Tips (little daisy "bellyflowers") in flat terrace areas. Cactus are just starting to pop, as are Brittlebush, Sage and a few others. The Creosote are full of buds and should add a yellow glow to the landscape in coming weeks. Not sure what the purple-blue flowered shrub is, but an isolated few were coming into bloom. I drove farther south, taking Grand Gulch Rd into AZ where more rain fell this season, but didn't see many flowers.

April 16, 2013 John reports: Red Rock Canyon. Las Vegas, NV. 4/2/13. Large bloom of Joshua this year .

April 9, 2013 Betsy reports: Lots of wildflowers and cactus in bloom around Lake Mead, Taken on the Mountain River trail at lake Mead on April 6, 2013.

Taken on Northshore Dr at Lake Mead on March 30, 2013.

April 9, 2013 Carol reports: A quick late afternoon drive in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area following a day of rain showers, there were oodles of desert marigolds along the highway between the calico hills and Blue Diamond. Also noted that yuccas and Joshua trees (also yuccas, actually) are in various stages of bloom. Between the Spring Mountain Ranch and Blue Diamond, generous clumps of primroses were easily spotted from the car.

April 6, 2013 Geoff reports: Took this photo on April 1 in the Desert National Wildlife Range (Eastern end of Mormon Well Rd, off Hwy 93), showing patches of small yellow flowers and what looks like Purple Phacelia (both mostly in washes), and Globe Mallow lower left, which is just coming into bloom, and looks promising in the next few weeks. Also saw plenty of Desert Sunflowers closer to the hwy. You don't have to go far off the hwy to see the best flowers. Was also at the Bowl of Fire (Callville Wash Rd, off Northshore Drive in Lake Mead), and similarly saw some nice flowers, including patches of Tidy Tips (I think), some Brittle Bush and Desert Sunflowers, but the best is yet to come. I would predict peak for these areas around mid-April.

April 3, 2013 Sallie reports: Gold Butte Road, between the turnoff to Fisherman's Cove and Whitney Pockets, features a riot of color, primarily globe mallow, desert marigold, and sage. In addition, the cacti are beginning to bloom and the desert floor is white in places with tiny flowers. The mariposa lilies are stunning as they always are.

Along the paved part of the Carp-Elgin Road just off I-15, the evening primroses, desert marigold, and sand verbena make a pretty sight.

In the Virgin Mountains near Mesquite, the flowers are beginning to bloom with beautiful displays of purple mat and tiny yellow daisy-like flowers.

April 3, 2013 Arches National Park reports: With biscuit roots a-blooming among the fragile fins, it must be springtime in the Fiery Furnace.

March 25, 2013 John reports: Desert Primrose taken at Valley of Fire near Las Vegas, NV.

March 21, 2013 DUSA reports: Some wildflowers along the Rt 163 west of Laughlin, Nv. - Also wildflower along the road to Lake Mojave and the on the Arizona side of the lake.

RT 163

Near Davis Dam and road to lake.

March 8, 2013 Zion NP reports: 11 AM - rain, snow, and fog! Freemont cottonwood trees have started budding in the lower elevations of the park.

March 8, 2013 Lake Mead NRA reports: Wildflowers in the Lake Mojave Area.

March 4, 2013 Jeanne reports: The following wildflowers were found in bloom yesterday. The first stop was Exit 100 off of I-15, heading north on the frontage road to a patch of Joshua Trees. Attached are photos of:
1. Yucca brevifolia
2. Yucca brevifolia – close up of bloom
3. Oenothera deltoides
Along the Gold Butte Road, a small patch of Fremont Phacelia were found.
4. Phacelia fremontii
East of Whitney Pockets, along the Arizona Road, were found Turpentine Broom in full flower.
5. Thamnosma montana
6. Thamnosma montana – close up of bloom

Feb 20, 2013 Weather Service Las Vegas Nevada reports: Snow band producing near whiteout conditions in the Hualapai Mountains.

Jan 24, 2013 DUSA reports: 60 % chance of rain tonight and Friday for parts of Nevada.

Dec. 13, 2012 DUSA reports: Rain is forecasted for today for parts of Nevada.

Dec. 3, 2012 Teresa reports: These flowers (two primroses and globe mallow I think) are currently blooming on the lava-strewn slopes of Black Mountain, in Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area which borders a Henderson NV neighborhood called Sun City Anthem. I think REd Rock Canyon has blooms, too.

Oct 12, 2012 DUSA reports: More rain in southern Nevada.

Oct 3, 2012 Arches National Park reports: Ah-choo! Rabbitbrush (a member of the sunflower family) is in full bloom. Its sneeze-inducing pollen, highly fragrant aroma, and feathery yellow petals lure in desert insects to sip its sweet nectar. The funnel-like calyx also provides a home for the tiny crab spider, a web-less arachnid that waits patiently to snag unsuspecting bugs as they drink from one of the last flowers of the season.

Oct 3, 2012 Dave reports: The fall colors are coming to Red Rock Canyon.

Sept. 21, 2012 Lake Mead NRA reports: Thanks to all the recent rain, the Eldorado Valley is in rare bloom. Come out to Lake Mead National Recreation Area to see beautiful fields of Chinch Weed blanketing the desert floor.

Sept. 21, 2012 Dave on facebook reports: Red Rock Canyon got a pretty good amount of rainfall from this years monsoon season. It's really green & flowers are everywhere.

Sept. 18, 2012 Zion National Park reports: Getting a lot of rain, good start for future wildflowers.

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