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Sunday, April 24, 2016

Desert Plant Wrapup – 2016


Each year my folks and I see a variety of blossoms, in different phases of development, in a range of ecosystems. Over the past several years, plants have been increasingly stressed due to the prolonged drought. This year they are in better condition due to the increased rainfall from El Niño. The desert received less rain than expected (or hoped for), but it was enough to revive the plants, trees, and shrubs for another year.

This year, we saw the tamarisk in bloom at Lake Skinner near Hemet, California. Most tamarisk species are exotic (brought in to control the sifting sand along the railroad tracks), and invasive. Still, I enjoyed seeing the lovely pink inflorescence of this hardy shrub. Here is this year's virtual album from our travels (see albums for 2014 and 2015).

Tamarisk
(Lake Skinner)

Indian Paintbrush
(Lake Skinner)

Desert Poppy
(Joshua Tree National Park)

Purple Mat
(Joshua Tree NP)

Pencil Cholla - more spine than blossom (Joshua Tree NP)

Teddy-bear Cholla
(Joshua Tree NP)

Sand Blazing Star
(Joshua Tree NP)

Yucca shidigera
(chaparral)

Bladder Pod - photo by Al Harris
(Whitewater Preserve)

Beavertail Cactus
(Whitewater Preserve)



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