The rainfall totals for the season so far are 5.07" at Buttercup and 4.39" at Cahuilla. These amounts are from the RAWS stations in each area. They begin with the first measurable precip of the season on Oct. 21st at each station, and include amounts recorded Feb. 21st at Buttercup and Feb. 20th at Cahuilla. This is certainly an extraordinary amount, made even more effective (in botanical terms) by its distribution through the growing season: that is, it didn't all come at once; it has been well spaced with a new soaking every few weeks.

We visited the dunes in early Nov. and mid-Dec. to obtain germination data, and will go back March 12-15 to get flowering data for this year's crop of PMV. There was a bumper crop of seedlings in the fall; I can't wait to find out how many of them are flowering and producing seeds this spring.

As far as the wildflower season in general, a Yuma botanist recently enthused that it was "the best wildflower display in 90 years!" I expect the dunes, and many other parts of the Southwestern deserts, to have a similarly spectacular season. I hope everyone who loves the dunes and the desert will seize the opportunity to enjoy this rare feature of life in the desert. It could be a long time before we see it like this again. The desert is very patient, and every so often it rewards itself (and us) with a glorious celebration of spring.

Art Phillips