Is it too late to catch desert bloom this year?

I don't know, but you might try checking the official web
sites for the various U.S. parks in desert areas (Death
Valley, etc.). They might say, and if not you can get
their phone numbers or email addresses from the
sites and send your question directly to them. I'm
sure it's a question they get a lot.

(Calling would obviously be quickest; I've found that
they often take a few days to reply to emails.)

Jim