We have been watching the Redbuds at Indian Garden over the past few days.  They bloom somewhere around mid-March.  Two years ago on our way into Clear Creek in mid-March, they were past bloom.  Though we found some up in Clear Creek, just not masses and masses as they have at IG.  So I watch them from the rim through binocs.

Maybe we need a Redbud Cam at Indian Garden.  Although most of the year it would only show bare, grey branches.  I try to ask hikers coming out, and they don't seem to know if there were purple flowers in boom or not.

Grand Canyon Redbud is a sub-species of the Western Redbud, and it is only found inside the Canyon.  Because the springs are so isolated (less than one percent of the Park has water) species can flourish in one place and not move freely to another.  There are species at some springs that are only found there, and no where else on earth.  Somewhere in the depths there are white Redbuds, and I would like to find those.

The redbud dance

Sometimes they don't bloom until April.  I have seen the Brittle Bush get bushy already, and two weeks ago they were just starting to bloom in the bottom at the Black Bridge.  But that area gets sun all day, and Indian Garden is still in the shade for several hours a day.

Brittlebush at Devil's Corkscrew

The flowers just don't seem to cooperate.  The Park Service needs to look into that.  Maybe they should include it in the Backcountry Management Plan.  Until then, I keep gazing into the depths with my bincos, waiting for the Redbud to peak.