Natural History Wanderings

Anza Borrego State Park has posted its first wildflower report of the year. They say:

The quality and extent of flower displays are governed by a variety of environmental factors that are not only beyond our control but hard to predict. Rainfall this season has been much lower than average, so we do not expect to see eye-popping displays of carpets of annual wildflowers. But many shrubs have already started to bloom, and limited numbers of annual wildflowers can be found growing in western canyons. Desert cactus species are generally dependable performers in late March.

Even without carpets of wildflowers along the road sides, blossoms can be found if you are willing to leave your car to walk, especially in western canyons and washes.

Wildflower Update for February 23rd:

1. Visitor Center area: brittlebush, chuparosa, and desert lavender are blooming.Tiny cryptantha is just about the only annual so far.
2. Borrego Palm Canyon: chuparosa, brittlebush, viguiera, desert lavender; scattered (and few) annuals such as monkeyflowers, poppies, rock daisy and phacelia
3. Scattered annuals can be found blooming along roadsides in the south
4. Try Plum Canyon off of Highway 78 for Desert Apricot in bloom

Related articles

• Anza-Borrego Wildflowers Report 2/21/12 (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
• Anza-Borrego Wildflowers Winter 2/18/12 (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
• Anza Borrego Wildflower Update 2/13/12 (naturalhistorywanderings.com)