Natural History Wanderings

 Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association has a wildflower report for Yaqui Meadows Loop  View Hike Details Here

This Yaqui loop route is just a couple miles outside of Borrego Springs.  Sunday was a windy day, but conditions during the hike where unexpected good, a lot of sun and sometime no wind at all. This looks like prime bloom, Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa everywhere close to or in prime bloom. Beavertail, Opuntia basilaris basilaris are almost in prime bloom as are Rock hibiscus, Hibiscus denudatus. Wow a big surprise  Gander’s cholla, Cylindropuntia ganderi in bloom and in good bloom, they are close to prime bloom in this area. We even found some flower fields of Bigelow’s monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii. On the side of the canyon we found the highest number of Desert five spot, Eremalche rotundifolia this season if not ever, not too far from bloom, certainly a spot to check out. We found 78 species in bloom on this hike, the highest number this season. 

See photos at Anza Borregohiking.com  and  Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers Update