DesertUSA publishes news, articles and educational content about the desert regions of the United States. Our news feed includes press releases from the National Park Service, State Parks and other recreation areas.
Wildflower Reports 2023
Where are the desert wildflowers blooming?
DesertUSA is predicting that we will have an excellent wildflower season this year. Will it be a superbloom? Time will tell. Some of the best wildflower viewing areas have received a good amount of rain over the past few months. We still have to see how the weather plays out in March. If the early bloom in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in December indicates what is to come, this year’s displays could be phenomenal.
To read the most current wildflower reports and to view photos, visit DesertUSA’s Wildflower Reports. Reader’s send in reports with location information and photos throughout the wildflower season.
Desert Life Features
The Desert Cactus
Cactus is an American Plant
The cactus family is one of the world’s most easily recognized plant families. Their beautiful blossoms, thick stems, and unusual shapes attract thousands of people to the desert yearly. Cactus, as a plant family, show variations between the individual species.
The Sphinx Moth
Desert Wildflower Pollinator
The sphinx moth (family Sphingidae) is also called the hawk moth and the hummingbird moth because of its hovering, swift flight patterns. These stout-bodied moths have long, narrow forewings and shorter hindwings, with wingspans ranging from 2 to 8 inches. Many species pollinate flowers such as orchids, petunias and evening primroses while sucking their nectar with a proboscis (feeding tube) that exceeds 10 inches in some species.
Museum of History in Granite
The Center of the World – Felicity, CA
The Official Center of the World is a dot on the bronze plaque within the pyramid. The center of the world, or universe, can be anywhere. It was set by law, based upon a now popular book for children “COE the Good Dragon at the Center of the World,” – and who argues with a fairy tale?
Joshua Tree park rangers announce new podcast: Where Two Deserts Meet
Joshua Tree National Park rangers announce the new official park podcast, Where Two Deserts Meet. Meet our narrators, Donovan Smith and Ian Chadwick, as they explore some of the park’s most…
Spring Forward into Bryce Canyon’s Centennial Year
The historic service station will reopen for Bryce Canyon’s centennial year to provide bike rentals along the Shared-Use Path. NPS Photo/Peter Densmore With around 30 inches of snow on the ground, it…
Zion National Park shuttle service starts Saturday
Time to catch a ride on the Zion Canyon Shuttle System! Shuttle near Zion Lodge at Zion National Park NPS / Daren Reehl Zion National Park is beginning shuttle service on Saturday,…
An adventure through time. Explore the route used by pioneers on their way to California. The Mojave Road lets your SUV act as a time machine, guiding you on a trail that stretches for 138 miles through country virtually unchanged since prehistoric times. Learn more about the Mojave Road Guide by Dennis Casebier.
NEW FLAVOR – SOUR Prickly Pear Cactus Candy. If you’ve tried Prickly Pear Cactus Candy, you’ll LOVE our new SOUR flavor. DesertUSA SOUR Prickly Pear Chewy Candy – Made from Natural Cactus Fruit (4 ounces). Shop now for SOUR Prickly Pear Cactus Candy.
If you’re looking for a fun thing to do with your kids, check out our “Break-at-Home” geode kits. This hands on rockhounding experience is a great way for kids to learn about geology, how geodes are formed and to experience the excitement of discovery when they break one open. Learn more about “Break-at-Home” geodes