Creosote Flowers

— Springtime in Texas means one thing: wildflowers cover the state! In my most recent trip to Big Bend Ranch SP, we were lucky to see wildflowers everywhere we went. From tall Bluebonnets to Yuccas and Creosote, the Chihuahua Desert was eye popping. This view above was captured as I exited the park on March 9, 2019. The morning light was beautiful on the mountains and also highlighted the Creosote bushes (Larrea tridentata). This bush is very tough and drought resistant. It also has a pungent scent reminiscent of petroleum at times. Native Americans used the bush for medicinal purposes, including treating fever, colds, stomach pains, arthritis, sinusitis, and even an anti-diarrheal. Non-medicinal uses include firewood, feed for animals, and roofing material. A couple of peculiar facts about this bush are that they always face southeast and that the plant only “breathes” in the morning, when moisture and humidity iare high in the desert.