Every spring the Maturango Museum hosts the annual Wildflower Exhibit during which visitors can see the wide variety and abundance of wildflowers that grow in the Indian Wells Valley and surrounding canyons. Collectors with the proper BLM permits spend multiple days gathering the wildflowers which are placed into bottles or vases then set onto tables according to their family. This allows visitors to have a close-up view of the many wildflowers from this area – all in one room!

The exhibit features annual wildflowers and flowering shrubs. The annual wildflowers include species from the tiny white cryptantha (forget-me-nots), to the bright and showy coreopsis (bright yellow wildflower). Shrubs such as the creosote bush and desert senna are also on display. Each species is identified by a group of professional botanists and labeled with its common and scientific name.

As in past years, local artists from the Desert Artist League will be drawing and painting selected wildflowers throughout the weekend.

In addition to seeing the wildflowers, the Maturango Museum has multiple speakers during this year’s Wildflower Exhibit.

• Friday, April 5 at 6:30 pm, local Glenn Harris will give a presentation on “Holocene Climate Change – How Plants Have Responded.” Find out more about Glenn Harris
• Saturday, April 6, at 2 pm, Kimberly Schaefer, a master’s student studying Botany at Claremont Graduate University and California Botanic Garden, will give a presentation on her study area – the Sacatar Trail Wilderness. The title of the presentation is, “A Vascular Flora of the Sacatar Trail Wilderness, Southern Sierra Nevada, CA.” Find out more about Kimberly Shaefer
• Sunday, April 7 at 1 pm, Eugene Albitre from Bakersfield will give a presentation on Ethnobotany. His presentation is sponsored by the Arts Council of Kern. Find out more about Eugene Albitre

With the winter rains we have received thus far, this spring promises a colorful and fragrant display of wildflowers for this exhibit!

Entry fee is $2.00 per person paid at the door.

Click here for more information and to register.