The monkey flowers are in bloom. That would be the Carson Valley Flowers. And that's a big deal because while they've historically bloomed from Red Rock north of Reno to Mottsville, they haven't been seen in six years.Â
"Our conditions have just been right this year," said Janel Johnson who is the President of the Nevada Native Plant Society and is also a state botanist. "Our wet winter and our hot and cold swings in temperature have been what they like. And just look at them," she says as she point to the spotty blanket of yellow that tucks its way in between bitter brush, sagebrush and desert peach in the hills off of Gino Road in Carson City.Â
About 74% of the rare flower's habitat has been taken over with development and agriculture. Illegal dumping has been a problem for the tiny flowers too. But they seem to be surviving.Â
"I have spent three or four days now trying to map them," Johnson says. "And if people see them out and about we'd love to have you shoot us an e-mail at www.NVNPS.ORG. We want to keep a close eye on where they are and where they bloom."
And if you just want to see them look in amongst the sagebrush when you're hiking. Or you can join Janel Johnson and the Nevada Native Plant Society for a tour of the flowers on April 16th. Just meet up at the Jacks Valley Elementary School at 10 a.m. Bring a camera along, but the tour is free.Â
