Death Valley wildflowers are in full bloom

Don’t let the name fool you. From Salsberry Pass to Scotty’s Castle, this place is alive with wildflowers. What experts are calling the third best bloom in the last 20 years is peaking right now 100 miles west of Las Vegas, painting large swaths of Death Valley in yellow and purple. Fueled by consistent rain and unusually mild temperatures so far this year, the wildflowers emerged later and are lasting longer than they usually do in the hottest, driest spot in North America. Most years, Death Valley barely experiences any kind of bloom at all. “This is a fantastic bloom,” said Park Ranger Terry Baldino.