March 17, 2019

With almost 8 inches of rain since July, we are experiencing a widespread bloom of flowers, which may well last through March. Click the links below for specific tips and locations.

Some flowers are blooming along S22 east of mile marker 30, in response to heavy fall rains in that area. The fields at the mouth of Coyote Canyon have a wide variety of wildflowers blooming right now, but the "Wildflower Fields" along Henderson Canyon Road have not yet come into full bloom. There are large swaths of white Dune Evening Primrose and pink-purple Sand Verbena, but the yellow-orange Desert Sunflowers are still just in bud, ready to burst forth any day now.  Flowers are also very pretty in the southern part of the Park, with June Wash, though starting to fade, still a highlight for a wide variety of flowers (park near mile marker 42 on Highway S-2 and walk up the wash), and Carrizo Badlands Overlook worth checking out, too, for lupine and a yellow version of Brown-eyed Evening Primrose.

WILDFLOWER UPDATE 3/17/19 

AREA MAP WITH WILDFLOWER VIEWING TIPS 3/17/19

Many variables affect the extent of the spring bloom. Caterpillars may arrive any day en masse and start eating wildflowers; hot, dry winds can wilt them quickly, or cool, rainy weather can extend the life of the flowers and thus the beautiful display.