Spring wildflowers are a Death Valley favorite, although their arrival depends on spring rains. Below is a sampling of some we saw during our March 2014 trip.
Desert Fivespot
Brittlebush is common in the lower canyons.
Brittlebush
We only saw two of these plants all week, and we don’t know what they are. I could look them up, but it’s late.
Mystery flower
Indian Paintbrush, a plant I remember fondly from my childhood in New Mexico and Arizona.
Indian Paintbrush
Cactus–who knows what kind. Not even Larry knows.
We saw only a few of these in bloom–paper thin and vibrant pink.
Contrast: a lone plant blooming in a gravel wash.
Yellow Brittlebush mixed with something red. If it wasn’t so late, I’d look it up.
My favorite Death Valley cactus. It’s about the size of a large olive or grape. I don’t know its name. Neither does Larry. He says botany is boring. He also says that he didn’t say that (even though he did).
It’s a lichen. It’s not a flower, but it should be. Kill-joy Larry says it’s algae and fungus, not even a plant and certainly not a flower. What does he know? Either way, it’s as lovely as a flower, and maybe that’s the important thing.
Thanks for the flowers – I had never seen that 1st one. Yes, mystery flower is an Aster, pink cactus perhaps genus Opuntia, and I saw a Peregrine Falcon fly overhead chasing a pigeon today:)
Blueish flower looks like a type of Aster… Pink cactus maybe a Beavertail Cactus… Lonely flower looks like it could be a Four O’clock ( Maybe a Penstemon)… Something red looks like a Mallow… Small cactus looks like a Fishhook Cactus…..
Larry should take a ‘Lichen’ to plants. It is a challenge and another good item to make lists for.
I did not say I didn’t like botany, despite Janene’s claim otherwise. What I did say was that I am most interested in the botany of where I live or places where I spend a lot of time, not so much places I just visit. But as you know Janene takes creative license with reality in her writing.
Moby Goes 
Nice.
Just goes to show, there’s beauty in even the most desolate of places. And, you two always seem to find it! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the flowers – I had never seen that 1st one. Yes, mystery flower is an Aster, pink cactus perhaps genus Opuntia, and I saw a Peregrine Falcon fly overhead chasing a pigeon today:)
Blueish flower looks like a type of Aster… Pink cactus maybe a Beavertail Cactus… Lonely flower looks like it could be a Four O’clock ( Maybe a Penstemon)… Something red looks like a Mallow… Small cactus looks like a Fishhook Cactus…..
Larry should take a ‘Lichen’ to plants. It is a challenge and another good item to make lists for.
I did not say I didn’t like botany, despite Janene’s claim otherwise. What I did say was that I am most interested in the botany of where I live or places where I spend a lot of time, not so much places I just visit. But as you know Janene takes creative license with reality in her writing.