Death Valley Wildflowers

[Rose Pink]

I understand that the flowers can be spectacular if the previous winter was wet. I also understand that March and early April are the best times to view the wildflowers.

Do any of you have experience with this area and time of year? If I go this year will I be rewarded with a grand display or will I be disappointed?
Thanks.

 

[Werner]

DesertUSA is one of the best sites for tracking desert bloom periods. The link is to the "flora" page but there is lots more info if you start at the home page. You can track the wildflower season for any southwestern desert. Death Valley is the lowest in altitude and therefore the earliest to bloom, usually starting late Feb through early April. If you click on "2008 Wildflower Reports" you actually get the 2009 preseason reports. Click on Death Valley and you get a 1 Jan 2009 update suggesting that some early rains this winter might trigger a good season there.

We were there a couple of years ago in mid Feb but there was no rain that winter and as a result there were almost no flowers and none expected for the entire season. There are also lots of pictures of last year's flowers on this page.

It may already be too late to make nearby reservations. The wildflower season at Death Valley is a big event and lodges fill up early on speculation that the rains will cooperate.

 

[geoand]

Someone is doing my thinking for me!

This thread is really quite exciting for me. DW and I are arriving in Palm Springs 3/27 for 3 weeks. We are driving. We decided last week that we would head home going up into Death Valley. Last year we drove Highway 1 and thought we would try something different. Have bookmarked the sites.

 

[Rose Pink]

Werner, thanks for the links. We are not planning to stay in the park but maybe just drive through. The photos are lovely.