Natural History Wanderings

Anza-Borrego Natural History Association recently published a winter wildflower report on 12/22/11.  Here are the highlights:

“Cheesebush is one shrub in a lovely time of its life, partly gold because of the sun, and partly green because of the rain.
Desert Holly, a species of saltbush, is displaying tiny red buds where it it found, in salty soils in the badlands. The yellow flowers of Boundary Bush, a holdover from the fall, remain in Canyon sin Nombre, while Black-stem Rabbitbrush, another holdover, can be seen in Pinyon Wash and Coyote Canyon. Desert Dicoria, with greenish-white fruit and greenish flowers, is a common sight in the Borrego Valley. Datura is also commonly seen.
A walk on the Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail, from Desert Gardens to Second Crossing, finds flowers on Rush Milkweed at Ocotillo Flat, and several Spanish Needles, a lone Sand Verbena, and a tall Desert Agave. Mule-fat is providing seeds and cover for the many bird species around Second Crossing, and a few yards past the gaging station are a few remarkably large stands of Bladderpod with green fruit and yellow flowers.
The only sad thing to report is Sahara Mustard, its tiny leaves sprouting in various spots beside the jeep trail.”

You can follow their reports at: http://www.california-desert.org/03flower_main.html