Natural History Wanderings

Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association  posted a new wildflower update today:

“According to the calendar, we are now in the second half of winter. By desert reckoning, this usually means the annual spring wildflowers are blooming nicely. But this is a different year. It has been a dry year, and those wildflowers need rain. We haven’t had the rain. There are annuals to be seen in some places, especially in the southern desert areas, but their size and numbers are diminished. The larger perennials are another story. It’s possible to find Chuparosa, Desert Lavender, and Brittlebush with flowers now.

Visitors may find that for the best viewing they may have to get out and walk a bit. Luckily, roadsides are some of the best spots. Getting down on hands and knees may be necessary. A magnifying glass may be useful.

For knowledgeable botanists, it’s a different outlook. Tom Chester, who has spent the last few weeks looking at plants in and around Mason Valley, reports having seen 50 annual species, and 152 species total, in bloom so far this year. This, he says, essentially matches the 2010-2011 numbers as of this date. Only about 50 species are left to come into bloom; approximately three-fourths of our desert annuals are in bloom somewhere in the park.”