2009 Reports
Mar. 23, 2009 Carol reports: Took these photos during the week of March 23 2009 in and around Sugar Land and Brookshire Texas
Photos taken by Kelsey Park Gray.
Mar. 17, 2009 Dusa reports: Some rain in the Big Bind NP has some wildflowers blooming near the river.
Feb. 27, 2009 Garu reports: I just returned from a trip to west Texas including Big Bend National Park. Conditions are extremely dry and there are very few wildflowers. Much of Texas has been in drought for over a year. There were a very few wildflowers in bloom in the park and only along the roads, and the few Big Bend Bluebonnets spotted were uncharacteristically stunted in growth. Looks like this year is a bust for wildflowers.
Feb. 1, 2009 DUSA reports: No reports yet.
Jan. 1, 2009 DUSA reports: Some early rain may help the wildflowers this year.
2008 Reports
Oct 13, 2008 DUSA reports: The park is getting rain and the Rio Grande is flooding in some area. RGV class A campground, RGV RV full-hookups, the showers and laundromat at RGV, the Santa Elena Canyon Trail, the road from Castolon to Santa Elena Canyon, Cottonwood Campground, Hot Springs Rd, River Road West from Talley to the entrance, access roads to GP4, LC2, SO3, and TY3 are closed.
March 6, 2008 DUSA reports: Cactuses are still fairly well-hydrated from last summer. They should flower mid-March through April in the desert, and from May through early summer in the Chisos Mountains. No pictures yet.
Feb 28, 2008 J. Sirotnak, Big Bend NP Park Botanist reports: Cactus (or cacti, either is acceptable) are starting to bloom at low elevations. Warnock’s cactus (Echinomastus warnockii) are in bloom and are in bud as high as 3000 feet. On the limestone close to the Rio, Duncan’s cory cactus (Coryphantha duncanii) and golf ball cactus (Mammilaria lasiacantha) are in flower. Rainbow cactus (Echinocereus dasyacanthus) are in bud at the lowest elevations. Brown-flowered cactus (Echinocereus viridus var. russanthus), which I think is a misnomer because the abundant small flowers actually vary from light green to deep brick red, are breaking bud at 3000-4000 feet.
Feb 19, 2008 J. Sirotnak, Big Bend NP Park Botanist
reports: Don’t expect too much and you might not be disappointed.
A few roadside bluebonnets and bi-colored mustards are flowering at lower elevations.
Torrey yucca stalks are elongating on the lower end of the Old Maverick Road.
Along the Rio, huisache and mesquite should have flowers by the end of the month,
so at least the bees will have something to work with. Other odds and ends are
popping up in sheltered washes, mostly below 2500’. Buds should start appearing
on the spiny-fruited and blind prickly pears soon.
Feb 4, 2008 J. Sirotnak, Big Bend NP Park Botanist
reports: In the Big Bend, winter is aptly called the dry season. True to its name, the season has been dry, as was the fall season that preceded it. We had some snow in December and rain in January, but probably not enough to fuel mass flowering. Bluebonnet seedlings are few, but some can be found in sandy washes at lower elevations. If significant precipitation falls in February or early March, we could still see some germination of annuals and greater green-up of perennials.
Jan 27, 2008 DUSA reports: Most areas
have had some rain, no reports of blooms at this time.
When will the wildflowers bloom? To
plan your visit to coincide with the peak of the bloom, keep up to date with DesertUSA's
Wildflower Reports. Be sure to bookmark this page for weekly updates.
We'd like to see your pictures
too. Send your pictures and reports to Jim@desertusa.com. We
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In our wildflower guide we have
added some new pictures. Some of the pictures are sized to work on the IPod and
similar devices. With your IPod you will easily be able to identify wildflowers
while in the desert. Click Here for
more information.
