A number of updates came in today from weekend wildflower hunting. Anza-Borrego seems to be the current California hotspot. Below are new Anza-Borrego reports from the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association and DesertUSA. They are followed by additional reports from DesertUSA for Joshua Tree, Santa Monica Mts., Chino Hills, Point Mugu State Park, Arvin and Walker Canyon near Lake Elsinore.
Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association reports
Coyote Canyon is getting great reports right now, from the end of DiGeorgio Road. Borrego Palm Canyon as well. The polular viewing areas along Henderson Canyon Road are not quite there yet. For the full bloom in the Borrego Valley, we are still looking at mid-March, but that’s only a week or two away. We will be watching each week. Flower location maps are now available at our ABDNHA Borrego Desert Nature Center at 652 Palm Canyon
March 5, 2017 Yaqui Meadow Loop – Hiking Details
A hike to one of our favorite spots. Starting on the “Yaqui Meadows Loop” and as the drainage narrows skipping over to the “Yaqui Meadows – Glorietta Wash” and finally completing the “Yaqui Meadows Loop”. Trying to get the best of both hikes. Staggering fields of Bigelow’s monkey flower, Mimulus bigelovii bigelovii (10000+), Ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora (500+) and Parish’s poppy, Eschscholzia parishii (1000+). Never seen such large fields of monkey flower and Ghost flower before. Most flower fields on the sun facing slopes and some on the flat rocky area’s.
DesertUSA reports
Anza-Borrego
- Flowers around visitor center were great, but there were tons of people and the parking lot was a mess The end DiGiorgio was probably the best. Big field of verbena and other flowers, with the smell of citrus trees filling the air. Perfect place for a picnic.
The far west end of Henderson canyon had some good diversity, and the Far East end of Henderson had the best color with good lupine and verbena and primrose.
Photos at: Read more: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html#ixzz4aaVJMxq3- Anza Borrego on March 4th. There were near ‘carpet’ displays along Henderson Rd near the intersection of Peg Leg Rd. The rest of Henderson road is beginning to bloom but no carpet yet. Peg Leg Rd has a lot of flowers but also no ‘carpet’ quite yet. The area around the visitor center has a lot of flowers as well. Hellhole canyon is very green and has a lot of small flowers but the bottlebush or the cactus have not bloomed yet. In the wash up Hellhole Canyon there are many unique flowers. So many plant and cactus were on the verge of blooming, I think next week it’s going to explode.
Photos at: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html#ixzz4aaVE6FFP- Palm Canyon in the Anza Borrego State park. Great wildflowers. And the hills were very green
Photos at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html#ixzz4aaVR5GBE- est was in Coyote Canyon. Lots of brown eyed evening primrose, popcorn flower, spectacle pod and some desert lily. Here are some not mentioned previously or just starting to bloom: lavender bush, ocotillo, fishhook cactus, pale primrose and Arizona lupine. Touring again tomorrow and will further report.
Photos at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html#ixzz4aaVlhYRvJoshua Tree
- Areas from the bajada to Cottonwood Canyon. Many Arizona Lupine, Bladderpod, Brown-eyed, Evening Primrose, Forget-me-nots, Notch-leaved Phacelia, and more.
- best showing on West side of South entrance road from I-10, especially Mexican poppies mixed with Lupines.
Photos at Desert Wildflower Reports for Joshua Tree NP by DesertUSASanta Monica Mountains Date: 3/4/17 Site: Charmlee Wilderness Park Lots of greenery here. The shooting stars seemed to have just peaked, as many are producing seed pods. A good patch of stinging lupine was present just opposite the drive entrance. Several areas of hummingbird sage and prickly phlox, blue dicks, everlasting, night shade and other ground dwellers. Along the PCH between Pt. Mugu and Malibu, the hills are alive with giant coreopsis.
Photos at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#ixzz4aaWnExzaChino Hills State Pk. about half way thru the park, taken from from the road. Most of the flowers are towards the end of the park and need to be hiked to.
Photos at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#ixzz4aaWyQspcPoint Mugu State Park. Flower photos including Chocolate Lilly.
Photos at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#ixzz4aaX7CbzL
Hwy 223 out of Arvin is finally starting to bloom. Poppies and “grape soda” lupine on south-facing slopes and ditches at lower elevations. The usual fiddleneck and popcorn flower coming in the usual abundance in the flats. So far, grasses have not overgrown the more flowers.
Photos at: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#ixzz4aaXLzkZHAmazing poppy blooming at Walker Canyon near Lake Elsinore. Exit at Lake St on hwy15. Follow l Walker Canyon road, you will soon find the spot. Walk deeper into the canyon you will find tons of flowers in patches, many of them very dense and just by the trail. But be careful since trails are not well marked. Make sure to go when the sunshine is strong to see these poppies fully open.
Photos at http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html#ixzz4aaXVfLTw
Natural History Wanderings 
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