A common question for rangers at Joshua Tree National Park is when will the wildflowers bloom this year? The answer is: NOW! Remember, to maximize your enjoyment of desert wildflowers, visit a variety of sites at different elevations to get the most from seasonal progression. Stop by a park visitor center for field guides and flower books. Rangers are happy to assist with blooming locations ands identification. Don’t forget to pack the binoculars! Colorful blooms attract butterflies and birds!
Winter rains soaked the desert and anticipation is building for the first sign of spring blooms. Yellow, red, purple, pink, and orange flowers will soon be seen all over Joshua Tree National Park. One of the flowers that you will find throughout the Park is the desert dandelion (malacothrix glabrata). The desert dandelion is a hearty flower that forms brilliant patches of gold across the landscape. The flowers are yellow and some have a red dot in the center. If you are lucky, you’ll see a desert tortoise eating a desert dandelion for lunch.
Winter rains soaked the desert and anticipation is building for the first sign of spring blooms. Yellow, red, purple, pink, and orange flowers will soon be seen all over Joshua Tree National Park. One of the flowers that you will find throughout the Park is the desert dandelion (malacothrix glabrata). The desert dandelion is a hearty flower that forms brilliant patches of gold across the landscape. The flowers are yellow and some have a red dot in the center. If you are lucky, you’ll see a desert tortoise eating a desert dandelion for lunch.
While enjoying the wildflowers, look for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds often pollinate tubular plants like chuparosa (justicia californica). Chuparosa is one of the Spanish words for “hummingbird” and this distinctive flowering shrub is also called the hummingbird bush for the frequent visitation of its namesake. These red flowers attract birds and visitors a like.
If you look carefully, you will see that the Joshua trees are blooming. The creamy white flowers attract nocturnal pollinators such as the yucca moth. These beautiful flowers cluster at the tips of the Joshua trees. Seeing Joshua tree’s blossom is a special treat, as these flowers are not seen every year.
Be sure and visit the park multiple times as spring blooms travel up in elevation. The park has many unique flowers that can only be seen in a specific elevation. To make the most out of your visit, the Joshua Tree National Park Association and the Park have put together many ways of finding the wildflowers. You can call the Park at (760) 367-5500 or the Association at (760) 367-5525 to get the latest flower updates, go on-line to the Park’s website at www.nps.gov/jotr, go to the Park’s twitter site at www.twitter.com/joshuatreenpor stop by any of our four visitor center’s and ask at the front desk.
Flower guides to help you identify flowers in the field are available at all of our store locations and on-line. If getting out in field doesn’t fit in your schedule, the Desert Institute has a lecture on wildflowers “Season of the Sand Blossoms” on March 12 when the award-winning films “Season of the Sand Blossom” and “Desert Gold” will be viewed with director, Peter Rhalter. The Desert Institute also offers different length classes on flowers. For more information on classes or lectures please visit our website at www.joshuatree.org or call (760) 367-5535.
SPRING 2011 WILDFLOWER SEASON
