Natural History Wanderings

Updated 3/12/11

Anza Borrego Desert State Park has posted a new wildflower report and map on  wildflower bloom throughout the park.  They are reporting that there are not large display,  flowers are in bloom in several areas and Borrego Palm Canyon has one of the best displays.  Also good blooms at Hellhole Canyon and Corral Canyon.  Read the report on many park locations and see map at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Wildflower Update 3-11-2011

New Report from Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association:

“The flower hunt continues, with good results. Super-sleuth Tom Chester found over 1,188 plants of 62 species in bloom along a 1.5-mile stretch at elevations from 2,400 to 3,050 feet between Mine Canyon and Earthquake Valley. He found 75 species in flower on a hike on the West Butte of Borrego Mountain.

For the rest of us, the canyons west of Borrego Springs (Little Surprise Canyon, Borrego Palm Canyon, Henderson Canyon) continue to impress. Hawk Canyon and Desert Gardens are added to the mix. Brittlebush is starting to flower on the sunnier mountainsides, indicating the possibility of smaller flowers nearby.

Visits to Desert Gardens are particularly rewarding and easy. The Coyote Canyon jeep trail is nicely lined with yellow Desert Dandelions and white Desert Pincushions, with an occasional Spectacle Pod. Cheesebush is in fruit and flower. There is little to no Sahara Mustard. A Beavertail Cactus makes an impressive display of red flowers. There are many places to park along the 1.5-mile length of the gardens, and that’s the thing to do for the best viewing. Park and walk.

Park at the Alcoholic Pass trailhead, for example, and walk to where the trail climbs the mountain, and leave the trail there. Continue northward to the first large canyon on your right, watching the slope beside you as you do. As you turn into the canyon you’ll find a wonderful hillside nicely dotted with Monkey Flower, Ghost Flower, Chia, Arizona Lupine, Wishbone Bush, Desert Poppy, Brittlebush, Desert Lavender, Gander’s Cholla (but not in flower), Ocotillo, and one or two hardly noticeable Sahara Mustard plants. On the way back to your car, you may find a Barrel Cactus in flower.

Or, park further north at the Desert Gardens picnic tables, and walk a trail toward the mountains and watch as new species appear. Among plants in flower that caught our eye were California Primrose, Bur-Sage, Creosote, California Fagonia, Desert Trumpet, and Whispering Bells. We noticed cones on an Ephedra, and lots of Cryptantha on the ground.”

Theodore Payne and  DesertUSA also have new Anza Borrego reports.