Natural History Wanderings

updated 3/18/13

Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association has several new wildflower reports:

There are a few specimens of sand verbena and spectacle-pod blooming at the north end of DiGiorgio Road, right where the pavement ends.

Annuals can also be seen at the beginnings of the Cactus Loop and Yaqui Well Trails, near Tamarisk Grove campground.

The Elephant Tree Nature Trail off of Split Mountain Road still has a variety of annuals in bloom, though it may be starting to dry up. The unpaved road to the trail is rocky and only recommended for high clearance cars.

Shrubs are blooming at the Visitor Center. Many species of cactus are loaded with buds and should be blooming in another week or two.

The Narrows Earth Trail is a short walk, and the hillside has a few poppies and other annuals.

Directions to hillside with poppies, lupine and others, near “Unnamed Wash” at approximately mile 83.4 on Highway 78:

From the east:
Pullout is on the left (south side of highway), 2.3 miles west of the intersection with Borrego Springs Road, immediately after a call box on the right (north side of highway) at about 83.5.

From the west:
Pullout is on the right, 1.9 miles past the pullout for the Narrows Earth Trail. It is immediately after a “45 MPH” yellow warning sign, and you can see the call box up ahead on the left.

Big Horn Road and Lazy S Lots of Desert Dandelions, one of Borrego’s prettiest yellow wildflowers? In the morning, when the flowers are open at their best, drive to the end of Big Horn Road and Lazy S —it looks just like the last couple of years. Beautiful!

Mine Wash  This is always a very nice wash to hike, even if there are no wildflowers. Along the mine wash road you see fields of desert dandelions.  The mohave yucca’s are beautiful blooming. In the wash you don’t find many wildflowers, but we hiked a wash west from the mine wash, up to a saddle.  Here you find beautiful patches of yellow goldfields.

To see photos and older reports go to: Wildflower Updates