Region’s wildflower watchers optimistic about 2016 bloom

Wildflower watchers across the Desert Southwest expect a very good blooming season for 2016, following an El Nino weather pattern that delivered fall and winter rains to much of the region. Gloomy January skies, snow in unusual places and cold nights have slowed plant growth in some areas, but that may just extend the season.

This promises to be the best wildflower year since 2005, a banner season deemed the best in 50 years. This year, postcard scenes of flowers began to appear in January in the lowest parts of Death Valley National Park. A soaking rain on the first weekend in February and a warm-up the next week brought blossoms out along park roads heading toward Furnace Creek from Beatty and Death Valley Junction, California, especially in the rocky canyons and along washes.

This early in the spring, Death Valley is the best place to enjoy the desert in color. Widespread flowers paint the desert south of Furnace Creek and Badwater to Ashford Mill. Unfortunately, this route usually accessed from Shoshone, California, was damaged by October storms and portions of it remain closed. The road to Scotty's Castle and that attraction are also closed. Check with the National Park Service in Death Valley for road closure updates and flower reports at nps.gov/deva.

This is the year to plan a series of outings during the next few months in search of wildflowers as they progress from low to high elevations. Pack up the kids, the dog, a picnic and your camera and get out often. You might not see this season's equal for another decade or longer. It might also be a good time to invest in a field guide to western wildflowers so you will know what you are viewing.

In addition to Death Valley, look for early wildflowers along the highways toward the Colorado River, such as the scenic roads from U.S. Highway 95 through Nelson and Eldorado Canyon, through Searchlight to Cottonwood Cove and through the mountains down to Laughlin. Roadside flowers on highways paralleling the river south of Laughlin and Bullhead City, Arizona, and the highway to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, should also get an early start. U.S. Highway 93 toward Hoover Dam and the bridge across the Colorado often has showy roadside flowers in rocky canyon cuts. Take the turnoff east of the bridge in Arizona toward Willow Beach where the flowers start early if roadwork has not disturbed them.

When the flowers peak and fade in the lowest elevations, follow them higher. Look for them next month around Las Vegas in undisturbed desert areas and along highway roadsides, especially in washes, on south-facing slopes and among rocks that provide shelter, store heat and shed additional rainwater. By mid-March, flowers should begin to show up along U.S. 93 through Railroad Pass toward Boulder City, as well as along Lake Mead's shoreline drives and Northshore Road. Usually by Easter, the flowers in Valley of Fire State Park are very showy. An unusual snowfall in early February may have delayed them a little. Desert wildflowers should keep blooming until the onset of hot days.

When temperatures in the desert begin to rise, look for wildflowers at slightly higher elevations, such as in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and along the highways heading toward Kyle and Lee canyons. Flowers there often peak around Mother's Day. The graded road south from state Route 160 to Goodsprings displays some different flowers, including pink phlox and blossoms on scattered Texas redbud trees. Columbia Pass on the road from Goodsprings to Sandy Valley often boasts good flower displays. During April and May, travelers on U.S. 93, Interstate 40 or Historic Route 66 in Arizona enjoy many kinds of flowers.

After the desert wildflowers are finished, look for summer flowers in mountainous areas of our region. Since summers are short in the high mountains, plants have to develop quickly to ensure they can flower and produce seeds before the snow flies again. Mountain snowfalls were heavier this winter, so nature will probably produce delightful flower displays there this summer.

— Margo Bartlett Pesek's Trip of the Week column appears on Sundays.