Whether the bloom "happens" depends entirely on winter rain. In a wet year, mid-February through mid-March is the show: hillsides turn yellow, washes turn purple, and the ocotillo flame at the tips.
Coyote Canyon (north of town, partially seasonal closure for bighorn sheep lambing) and the open desert north of Henderson Canyon Road are the usual hotspots. The state park visitor center posts daily bloom updates during the season.
