Natural History Wanderings

 Anza-Borrego Wildflower Updates from  Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park published the following wildflower bloom report:

The desert received wonderful rain last weekend, almost an inch! While it is too soon to know what the ultimate effect will be, it is quite possible that it is “too little, too late” to prompt a big bloom of annual wildflowers. Most of our annuals seem to prefer soaking fall and winter rains. We do expect to see more ocotillo leaf out in the next week, and shrubs and cacti should be able to continue blooming longer. The increased soil moisture may also encourage those few annuals that had already sprouted to become larger and produce more blossoms. Time will tell. Here are some suggestions:

•   Visitor Center area: brittlebush, chuparosa (most have red blossoms, but there is one in the Nierenberg Amphitheater that is covered with yellow flowers), and desert lavender are in bloom. A beautiful beavertail cactus is blooming near the Nierenberg Plaza and Amphitheater, and the Wolf’s Cholla is starting to show rusty red flowers. Tiny cryptantha is the most prevalent annual so far, although a few desert dandelions and Fiddleneck have been found here and there. What can you find?
•  Borrego Palm Canyon: The recent storm sent water flowing almost all the way into the campground. Shrubs in bloom include chuparosa, brittlebush, viguiera, trixis, desert lavender, ocotillo, sweetbush, cheesebush, and creosote bush; scattered (and few) annuals such as monkeyflowers, pygmy poppies, whispering bells, rock daisy, cryptantha and phacelia. Look for the delicate white blossoms of fiesta flower in shady spots.
• Blair Valley: goldfields are blooming on the lake bed. Other annuals (in small quantities) can be found on the Morteros and Pictographs Trails, including phacelia, penstemon, and fishhook cactus.
• Plum Canyon: Two-wheel drive vehicles should stay right at the fork. Shrubs are blooming, including chuparosa, brittlebush, desert lavender, and agave, along with some annuals—desert star, monkeyflower, little gold poppy and Fiddleneck. Here, as elsewhere, flower seekers need to get out of their cars and look around in order to find them. Blooming ocotillo can be found along Highway 78 as you head east toward Ocotillo Wells.
• Mine Wash: another road accessible to two-wheel drive vehicles (do not go past the Indian Village site). Look for ocotillo and agave in bloom; annuals will require more hunting. Follow the short trail and explore the milling features here.
• Indian Gorge and North fork of Indian Canyon (4WD high clearance recommended; high clearance required): Desert Dandelions and Arizona Lupine are visible from the highway. In the north fork can be found pincushion, some sand verbena, spectacle pod, cryptantha, chia, brown-eyed eveing primrose, goldfields, desert star, pygmy poppies, Fiddleneck, monkeyflower, desert chicory, phacelia, filaree, viguiera, wishbone bush, and desert trumpet. Shrubs and cacti in bloom include hedgehog cactus, chollas, barrel cactus, agave, cheesebush, brittlebush, chuparosa, creosote bush, and desert lavender.