March 25, 2010 Desert Wild Flowers / Photography Net

[DaveK]

We are in the midst of a spectacular desert wild flower season. Join us on Thursday for a discussion of the best locations for viewing and some tips on photography. Our guest will be professional photographer, John Aydelotte, KE6U, for advice on how to take the best pictures. Join us on Thursday at 7:30 PM on the Keller Peak Repeater.

[Chazz Layne]

I should be up on the side of San Jacinto right about then... I wonder how the signal will be with an HT.

[DaveK]

Tomorrow we will cover a number of Southern California wildflower locations. In many of these areas they are experiencing a spectacular wildflower season that is happening right now.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park See: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638 .
According to Park information, the season will peak in the next few weeks and last for several more beyond. From the Park service website:

After a winter of bountiful rain, the desert is has burst into
a riot of colorful blossoms. We are having a good to very good bloom.
The weather has finally heated up. The bloom is improving every day.
This coming weekend should be very good in the valley.
Please click this link for the wildflower update for March 18, 2010:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/638/files ... 202010.pdf
As long as the weather doesn't get too hot, or too windy, we expect a spectacular
desert wildflower show this year.

California Poppy Reserve - http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

Carrizo Plain National Monument http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfi ... eeing.html
From the BLM Website:

Full of natural splendor and rich in human history, the grasslands and stark ridges of the Carrizo Plain National Monument contain exceptional objects of scientific and historic interest. Bisected by the San Andreas Fault zone, the Carrizo Plain National Monument is the largest undeveloped remnant of this ecosystem, providing crucial habitat for long-term conservation of the many endemic plant and animal species that still inhabit the area. Encompassing more than 200,000 acres, the monument was established in January 2001 by Presidential Proclamation. The monument is also a premier example of the San Andreas Fault system, including. stream channels that suddenly shift up to one-half mile north as they cross the fault line, and fault-trimmed ridges which rise sharply from plain to form the Panorama and Elkhorn Hills. The monument is also home to the largest concentration of endangered species in all of California, in part because the remote 45-mile-long plain is an ecological "island," the single largest remaining remnant of native grassland in California that was once abundant in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Death Valley See: http://www.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/w ... e-2010.htm
From the Park Service:

Mar. 12, 2010 Death Valley Park reports: The first few flowers of the season are starting to open in the southern part of the park, but you have to really search to even notice. It is still far too early to make a special trip out here to see flowers. Wait until early April for the peak bloom. Brown-eyed evening primrose, sand verbena, and gold poppy are putting out their first flowers along the roadside below Jubilee Pass. The thickest areas of green with the largest growing plants are found in the Furnace Creek area and south along the Badwater Road to Mormon Point, although only buds are visible so far.

Joshua Tree NP See: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/blooms.htm
From the Park Service:

March 20, 2010
At last it is beginning to look like wildflower season. Cottonwood Road from the south boundary of the park to Cottonwood Pass is lined with the lovely, yellow blooms of desert dandelion, along with lots of chia and some Mojave Lupin.

North of the Bajada, you can see sundrop, purple mat, Fagonia, and wild heliotrope. Several Mojave yucca are in bud and even blooming in Cottonwood Campground and at Woods Spring.

At higher elevations, the Joshua trees continue to flower.

Mojave National Preserve See: http://www.nps.gov/moja/naturescience/w ... lowers.htm

This website has far too many reports to include here, but from all accounts, there is a very good wildflower season underway.

Excellent sources of additional information

Desert USA: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html

Cal Photo: http://calphoto.com/wflower.htm


POST SCRIPT

Very good net. We ran just a little over two hours with 44 check-ins. Thanks to John, KE6U, for his expertise.