I just read a newspaper article here in Vegas saying that Death Valley is beginning to have the best wildflower bloom of maybe over a decade.
Simply put, some are blooming right NOW and some in the next week or two at the most. As soon as a hot day comes the flowers can be wiped out like that.
So Death Valley shooters, you might want to hurry before you miss something special.
I might drive there tomorrow...
Mark
Mar 05, 2008 at 03:25 PM
David Leask Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Hate to burst your bubble kiddies, but the bloom now in DV is nice but not spectacular... With the huge sand storm and wind storm they had three weeks ago.. ( I was there) the ones blooming at the time got a bit beat up already...
The bloom in 2005 as Phil mentioned was the bloom of the century and all blooms are compared to that one from now on. That year Lake manly existed as the salt flats were flooded a few feet deep. There were people kayaking, row boating in DV...
The story I read is that an "above average" bloom is predicted but that it isn't close to touching the bloom of 2005. That is THE year all future springs will be compared to.
Does anybody know of any good potential wildflower locations closer to Las Vegas? I'll be there Easter Weekend, but won't be able to make it all the way to Death Valley...
I was just there March 3rd and the rangers told me they are peaking now, earlier than usual. The areas right around Furnace Creek are covered in yellow and purple flowers.
I've only been there in the summer before, so I can't compare this year's bloom to previous years, but I think it's definitely worth checking out. Sorry, I would post a picture, but I am in Yosemite with a bad USB cable right now, so I can't upload anything.
Thanks for the report. I would think there would be good blooms over most of the desert with the wonderful rains we have had. I look forward to your report, it might be worth an early trip out there!
Just got back from a month in Death Valley, the wildflowers were fantastic from the end of February until the 3rd week in March....still have quite a bit blooming higher up but it's getting hot now and everything is drying in the lower elevations.
