Natural History Wanderings

Desert sunflowers in the “wildflower fields” along Henderson Canyon Road are mostly gone, though a few remain along the roadside.

The Visitor Center remains one of the best places to see a variety of things in bloom. Indigo bushes are bursting with fragrant purple blossoms, and many species of cacti can be found in bloom, along with ocotillo. There are still plenty of desert dandelions and pincushion flowers, also.

Hikers can still enjoy a wide variety of wildflowers in Borrego Palm Canyon— cacti, ocotillo, indigo and other shrubs, as well as a few remaining annuals.

The Ocotillo Forest along Borrego Springs Road is in full bloom and is worth the drive south of Christmas Circle! Fragrant desert senna is blooming along Yaqui Pass Road (Highway S-3) north of Yaqui Pass primitive camp.

The Cactus Loop Trail is a good place to look for different species of cactus in bloom.

Yucca has been blooming in Blair Valley, with annuals reported along the Pictographs Trail.

Agave stalks are shooting up along the Bill Kenyon Overlook Trail and along Highway 78 west of Tamarisk Grove. Look for those flowers to be opening over the next few weeks.

Explore higher elevations as temperatures climb.