The Desert a Month after Monsoonal Rains
By Jürgen Schrenk
After yet another week of waiting for the temps to go down watching our Monarch production and limiting our walks to local parks, I was worried that I might completely miss the monsoonal “spring” in the desert. So, I went on a quick drive along S-2 to check (without Ruth, who for unknown reasons refuses to join me at triple digit temperatures!). My first stop at Cool Canyon had no flowers but the ocotillos were green.
Cool Canyon. Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
Things became more colorful in Blair Valley with Hog Potato (Hoffmannseggia glauca) in full bloom (below).
Hog Potato (Hoffmannseggia glauca) Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
There were also a few pretty weeds, including silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), below.
Solanum elaeagnifolium. Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
but most flowers were natives, such as Parish goldeneye (Bahiopsis parishii) shown below, and…
Bahiopsis parishii. Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
from inconspicuous plants like California caltrop (Kallstroemia californica) below,
Kallstroemia californica. Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
to ‘impossible to miss’ manybristle chinchweed (Pectis papposa) below.
Pectis papposa.Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
The biggest surprise, however, was was Oriflamme Canyon Road, with masses of flowering desert willows (Chilopsis linearis).
Desert willows (Chilopsis linearis).Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
Mason Valley Cactus Gardens. Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
The Mason Valley Cactus Gardens looked healthy with pink teddy-bear cholla (Cylindropuntia fosbergii), as did the surrounding desert…
Pink teddy-bear cholla (Cylindropuntia fosbergii).Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
and my favorite cactus species in Canyon 41, jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii), below.
Canyon 41, jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii).Photo credit: Jürgen Schrenk.
Thanks for making the time to post for all of us to enjoy and learn. You may want to change the description on the photo that says,” Things became more colorful in Blair Valley with Cove’s cassia (Senna covesii) in full bloom (below)” because you accidentally put in the photo you took of Hoffmannseggia glauca. Again, thanks for the report at a time of year when reports are few in this location.