During the Spring of '08, the flowers at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area were the best they had been for a few years. The timings of the winter rains and the rise in temperature has everything to do with desert color. This year we haven't been as lucky. Our rains were late and the rise in temperature was very slow to come about. But, if there is anyone out there who still believes that the desert has no color to offer, ... think again!
Some of the first arrivals were the huge joshua tree blooms. Every joshua tree in the area gave us these blooms that were about 7" by 9" in size. This only happens once every few years. This year there are NO joshua tree blooms.
Also gracing us with their presence were desert yucca blooms. Yuccas are even more prevalent in the Las Vegas desert than joshua trees and, last year, almost every yucca made a huge display. This year, I haven't seen even a hint of one.
The prickly pears bloomed last year and are blooming again. Although, so far this year, I have only seen the "hot" pink blooms of the hedgehog cactus.
I call this a puffy bush! I think it may be a type of acacia bush. I haven't seen it yet this year.
This is a desert sage. It is blooming this year as well.
Indian paintbrush can be counted on to appear as the first flower of the spring. It is very prolific in the desert.
Desert marigolds are also found everywhere.
You have to look hard to find the wavyleaf thistle.
The silver puff is also difficult to spot but they are there.
The agaves bloom once then die to allow their offsets to take over. I have seen many agaves blooming this year as well.
Evening primrose make a big display when they pop up.
Redbud trees bloom in the desert in April. They are found lining the dry creek washes soaking up all the water they can when the water comes down from the snow melt every spring.
Cliffrose is another flowering shrub that can be found anywhere in the desert. There is a lot of it in Red Rock Canyon.
Last but not least, the globemallow makes quite a showing in the Red Rock Canyon area. Mixed with the desert marigolds, it really brightens up the place! They are also blooming this year.
Some of the first arrivals were the huge joshua tree blooms. Every joshua tree in the area gave us these blooms that were about 7" by 9" in size. This only happens once every few years. This year there are NO joshua tree blooms.
Also gracing us with their presence were desert yucca blooms. Yuccas are even more prevalent in the Las Vegas desert than joshua trees and, last year, almost every yucca made a huge display. This year, I haven't seen even a hint of one.
The prickly pears bloomed last year and are blooming again. Although, so far this year, I have only seen the "hot" pink blooms of the hedgehog cactus.
I call this a puffy bush! I think it may be a type of acacia bush. I haven't seen it yet this year.
This is a desert sage. It is blooming this year as well.
Indian paintbrush can be counted on to appear as the first flower of the spring. It is very prolific in the desert.
Desert marigolds are also found everywhere.
You have to look hard to find the wavyleaf thistle.
The silver puff is also difficult to spot but they are there.
The agaves bloom once then die to allow their offsets to take over. I have seen many agaves blooming this year as well.
Evening primrose make a big display when they pop up.
Redbud trees bloom in the desert in April. They are found lining the dry creek washes soaking up all the water they can when the water comes down from the snow melt every spring.
Cliffrose is another flowering shrub that can be found anywhere in the desert. There is a lot of it in Red Rock Canyon.
Last but not least, the globemallow makes quite a showing in the Red Rock Canyon area. Mixed with the desert marigolds, it really brightens up the place! They are also blooming this year.
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