Wildlfower Update: Coachella Valley and Joshua Tree National Park

Wildflower Update
March 1st, 2010

It is still early to view the wildflowers here in the Coachella Valley.  Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has some blooms opening in various parts of the park.  For current updates visit DesertUSA’s Wildlflower Reports.

Edom Hill in Cathedral City, CA has some lupine, sand verbena and brittlebush along the roadside at at the base of the hill along Varner Rd. before you reach Edom Hill Rd.  There were also a few sunflowers, but this area has not yet come into bloom.  I had read in the Desert Sun that this was one of the better areas to view wildflowers in the Coachella Valley, but I couldn’t really find any good area to park and walk around. If any readers have information about Edom Hill area for wildflower displays, please post a comment and let us know what area to look for the best displays.

Joshua Tree National Park has a lot of green brittlebush growing on the hillsides and in between the rocks.  I would expect that the rocky slopes will be tinted with yellow in about three or four weeks.  It is too early for the wildflowers along the road that leads from the I-10 to the Cottonwood Visitor’s Center at the southern entrance to the park.  The only plants we saw in bloom were a few bladderpods and a couple of chuparosa bushes with some red blooms.  There was a lot of green, but no other color showing yet.

Great spots to see the desert wildflowers in or near Coachella Valley.
– Edom Hill in Cathedral City, north of Interstate 10, renowned for its golden display of desert sunflowers.
– South entrance to Joshua Tree National Park.  Displays can be viewed along the road to the Cottonwood Visitor’s Center.
– Indian Canyons in Palm Springs.
– Mission Creek drainage west of Highway 62 near Desert Hot Springs.
– Along Thousand Palms Canyon Road and the Coachella Valley Preserve.
– Tramway Road in Palm Springs.
– Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  Call their wildflower hotline, (760) 767-4684.

Wildflower Festival – March 6th

Wildflower Festival @ Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 6m 2010,
Location is Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, 51-500 Highway 74, Palm Desert
There will be guided hikes, workshops, kids’ activities, food, wine tastings and live music,
Free admission and parking at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 47-535 Highway 74, Palm Desert.
Information: (760) 862-9984.

For more detailed wildflower reports please visit DesertUSA’s Wildflower Updates Page.

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