Spring and Summer Wildflowers 

Dynamic urban life in the Las Vegas Valley creates a unique habitat for plant and animal species in the desert southwest.  As Las Vegas and the surrounding cities grow, urban runoff increases and feeds the Las Vegas Wash (Wash) which provides a vital wildlife oasis in an otherwise seemingly barren Mojave Desert.  A wide diversity of plants now bloom and thrive at the Wash, providing lush habitat for desert creatures such as reptiles, small mammals, birds and insects.  Bulrush, cattails, and sandbar willow frame the banks of the Wash while tall cottonwood trees stretch skyward.  The horned lizard can be found creeping beneath this canopy while the American coot bobs playfully near Wash banks.  Native mesquite and catclaw acacia can also be found scattered through upland areas and lining dry washes nearby.

Desert Chicory 

Yerba Mansa

Despite the abundance of plants and animals at the Wash, the annual debut of spring wildflowers may be considered a “crowd favorite.”  Although the time of bloom may differ year to year due to temperature and rainfall at the Wash, spring wildflowers always provide an enjoyable show for enthusiasts and photographers alike.  Spring is also an ideal time for Las Vegas Valley residents and visitors to take part in Wash activities such as bird watching, hiking and outdoor learning.  Clark County Wetlands Park provides paved hiking trails, bird-watching blinds and man-made ponds.  The ponds demonstrate how important riparian plants can be as they filter Wash water before it returns to Lake Mead.

Desert Globemallow

Spinyhair Blazingstar

March of this year kicked off the 2008 spring wildflower season.  During March visitors to the Wash could see desert chicory, an annual wildflower that often grows up through the branches of existing shrubs.  It can reach 6- 24 inches in height and blooms between February and May.  It is found in areas with gravelly and sandy soils.  Sandbar willow, a riparian shrub that provides habitat for migrating and resident birds, bloomed in April.  This shrub can reach 20 feet in height and can be found along Wash banks.  May brought the Yerba mansa to bloom, a creeping perennial wildflower spread by rhizomes and found in dense patches.  It likes to grow in areas where the soil is moist.  The funnily-named mulefat bloomed in June and is a large shrub often mistaken for a willow.  It can grow to 12 feet in height and blooms anytime between February and December.  Summer bloomers include desert willow, creosote bush and mesquites.  The bloom of these heat-hardy plants shows there’s nothing to fear from sizzling summer temperatures.

Sandbar Willow

Western Honey Mesquite

The Wash plays a vital role in the Las Vegas Valley while it serves a dual purpose as an urban run-off channel and diverse ecological system.  Participation in the bi-annual Wash Green-Up is an excellent way the public can show its appreciation by helping to plant native species, enhance wildlife habitat, and prevent soil erosion in the Wash.  Volunteer effort is essential to the sustained health of the Wash, and efforts are currently being made to gear up for the 2008 Fall Green-Up.  You can find out the latest information for this upcoming event by staying tuned to lvwash.org.