Lake Mead Wildflowers

April 01, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

A few days ago I went to Death Valley in search of wildflowers, there basically were none to be found. Luckily I live in an area with a variety of habitats and elevations! On March 19th I went for a drive on the North Shore Drive in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. There was a nice variety of wildflowers on the drive between the Valley of Fire on the north end and Lake Mead Parkway on the south end of the drive.

My favorite flowers this time of the year are the Sunrays. These large sunflowers are close relatives to the Panamint Daisy found only in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley. In rainy years, the flowers can get up to 6" across. This year they were a bit smaller. SunraySunrayOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

SunraySunrayOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA SunraySunrayOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

As you can see, various insects like the Sunrays.

Sunray and BeeSunray and BeeOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Sunray and Painted LadySunray and Painted LadyOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Sunray and LadybugSunray and LadybugOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

We also found a few of the very rare Bear-Paw Poppies. It is only found on harsh alkaline, gypsum soils in the Lake Mead/Las Vegas area.

Bear Paw PoppyBear Paw PoppyOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Bear Paw PoppyBear Paw PoppyOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The magenta flowers of the Beavertail Cactus are so bright, they are tricky to photograph. They appear oversaturated no matter what you do.

Beavertail CactusBeavertail CactusOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Beavertail CactusBeavertail CactusOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here are some Mojave Asters.

Mojave AsterMojave AsterOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Mojave AsterMojave AsterOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

And "cheerful" Phacelia.

PhaeceliaPhaeceliaOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA PhaeceliaPhaeceliaOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Sand Blazing Star.

Sand Blazing StarSand Blazing StarOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Brittlebush - a favorite of the desert bighorn sheep.

BrittlebushBrittlebushOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

So never give up on wildflowers! If you don't find them on your first try, keep exploring! All in an easy days drive from Las Vegas, NV.

 

 


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