Thursday, February 25, 2016

Start & End: Texas Spring campground, Death Valley NP

A wonderful evening and morning in camp, but we had flowers to see. The park service ranger, the day before, had told me to head south from Furnace Creek. South of Badwater the Super Bloom became apparent. The Desert Sunflower (geraea canescens) was the prevalent flower - as far as the eye could see up the slopes. My pictures do not do justice. There was not as much diversity of flowers as there was last Spring, but the quantity of the Desert Sunflowers was abundant.

Flowers






Notch-leaf Phacelia


Brown-eyed Primrose


Sand Verbena


Gravel Ghost


We drove back north along the West Side Road, this is a dirt road which crosses the valley north of Ashford Mill and comes back to the east side near Artist's Drive. Along this drive was the only place I found the Desert Five-Spot (eremalche rotundifol).



We also visited Shorty's Grave along the West Side Road. This road is suitable for 2 -WD, well-graded. It is washboarded and a few places with soft sand. While driving it we saw a few other vehicles, including small sedans.





When in Death Valley we always enjoy a Happy Hour at the saloon in Furnace Creek, a great way to end another perfect day in Death Valley.