Sept 2, 2009 overview: The deserts are hot and the tropical storms are bringing rain to some parts of the desert. Expected El Niño impacts during late 2009 may increase precipitation for some of southwest. The 2010 wildflower season could be a good one. Check back for monthly updates. Regular reports will start in January 2010.
We have a 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 and similar devices. With your iPod 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. A good book is the Mojave Desert Wildflowers Book
Desert Wildflower 2009 Season Updates by State and Parks
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Arizona
California
Other States
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There are still some flowers in Nevada 5/8/09
2008 wildflower videos click on link below
Arizona Wildflowers
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Mojave Desert and Southern California
Nevada and Utah Wildflowers
2006 Wildflower season. - Click here to play.
2005 Wildflower Season - Click here to play
To review the best blooming areas check all the comments and photos posted one DesertUSA's Wildflower Reports. Be sure to take a look at our video retrospective too, links above.
We'd like to see your pictures in 2010. Send your pictures and reports to Jim@desertusa.com. We will post them on the wildflower reports site so that everyone can enjoy the wildflowers. Please do not change the automatic generated subject line on your E-mail to us. We use this subject to make sure we are able to spot your E-mail.
In our wildflower guide we have added some new pictures. Some of the pictures are sized to work on the IPod and similar devices. With your IPod you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Click Here for more information.
NOTICE TO UPDATE YOUR FLASH PLAYER: The new Flash 8 player plug-in for browsers has greatly improved video presentations for the internet. We intend to use it to improve your DesertUSA experience with more great sounds and video of the desert. To update your browser to the latest version of Flash click here.
Wildflowers and other Flowering Desert Plants
Desert plants have adapted to the extremes of heat and aridity by developing a lifestyle in conformance with the seasons of greatest moisture and/or coolest temperatures. These type of plants are usually (and inaccurately) referred to as annuals -- plants that live for only a season -- and perennials -- plants that live for several years.
Desert perennials often survive by remaining dormant during dry periods of the year, then springing into bloom when water becomes available. Some perennials, like members of the Lily Family, may remain dormant underground for several years before adequate winter rains rouse them back to life.
Most annual desert plants germinate only after heavy seasonal rains, then complete their reproductive cycle very quickly. They bloom prodigiously for a few weeks in the spring, accounting for most of the annual wildflower explosions of the deserts. Quickly pollinated, their heat- and drought-resistant seeds are broadcast by the winds, which then remain dormant in the soil until the following year's annual rains.
The term "annuals" implies blooming yearly, but since this is not always the case, desert annuals are more accurately referred to as ephemerals. Many such ephemerals can complete an entire life cycle in just a few weeks.
In our wildflower guide we have added some new pictures. Some of the pictures are sized to work on the IPod and similar devices. With your IPod you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Click Here for more information.
Tips for viewing wildflowers
For more reports click on the links below.
Reports are welcome and will be added to these pages when submitted via E-mail to jim@desertusa.com.
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