Red Flowers in Joshua Tree NP

In the lower part of the park, the Colorado Desert, two plants with red flowers are coming into bloom. This is a chuparosa. The flowers are long and tubelike; the objective is to attract hummingbirds who will pollinate the plant.

The ocotillo is just starting to bloom...this is the only one I found that was past budding stage.

This is a closeup of an ocotillo stalk...very cool! Although it's common for the plant to bloom at this time of year, its leaves and flowers are actually totally dependent on rain. If a winter is dry, the ocotillo will not bloom in spring. During dry periods, it looks dead...it's just a mass of spiny wood. After a good rain, at any time of year, these leaves will grow and flowers will bloom at the end of the stalks.