Anza-Borrego Wildflower Updates 3/10/17

Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association Updates

Update March 10: The flowers are blooming now in Borrego Springs! Warm temperatures are really moving the bloom forward. The popular flower viewing areas along Henderson Canyon Road are now in full bloom. This will be a “rolling bloom”; different areas will come into bloom at different times. The bloom will likely last for several weeks as different areas come into full bloom.  If Mother Nature cooperates, we expect blooms for several weeks. It’s important to know that the best flower viewing is in the morning. Many flowers close up during the heat of the day. Free flower maps are available in ABDNHA’s Nature Center, 652 Palm Canyon Drive. We update the maps as reports come in.

Other Notes:
Best recommendation for Drive-By/Easy Access Flowers: Starting at the ABDNHA Borrego Desert Nature Center to pick up a free flower location map, you’ll see our blooming Botanical Garden; then head north on Borrego Springs Road to see the metal statues.

Recommended: Drive DiGiorgio Road to the end of the pavement, park, and get out to see up close Desert Lilies, Spectacle Pod, Sand Verbena, Desert Sunflowers. For those who want to drive the (2WD accessible) dirt road beyond the end of DiGiorgio Road into Coyote Canyon for a couple miles to “Desert Gardens,” you will see even more blooms (Poppies, Desert Dandelions, and just beginning to bloom are the Ocotillo and Beavertail Cactus).

Recommended: Drive north on Borrego Springs Road to the point where it turns sharply to the right and heads east. Pull onto the dirt road on the left side of the road right at the turn. Park and walk around to see blooms and scultures.

Arroyo Salado Campground: East on S22 to the Borrego Badlands and Arroyo Salado Campground to see lots of Desert Lilies beyond the last campsite.

Easy Hiking: In Full Bloom: Henderson Canyon at the west end of Henderson Canyon Road (See Desert Lilies, Chicory, Phacelia, a variety of cactus, metal statues, and mountain views).

Easy Hiking: Little Surprise Canyon on

see photos at http://www.abdnha.org/pages/03flora/reports/current.htm

Anza Borrego Desert State Park Wildflower Report by Location

Visitor Center Area: garden and parking lot

In this easily accessible area you’ll find that annuals have started to bloom: Phacelia, Desert Dandelion, a few Desert Chicory, lots of the tiny red Pygmy Stonecrop, along with Filaree, Popcorn Flower, Poppies and Fiddlenecks. Shrubs–Chuparosa and Brittlebush–have also started. Look for the white-flowered Wishbone Bush in the island between the first and second parking lots.

Borrego Palm Canyon

This popular canyon has plants that bloom on both the main and alternate trails. You may see lots of Phacelia, Chuparosa, Brittlebush and Desert Lavender. Also look for Desert Chicory, blooming Ocotillo, Desert Wishbone, Desert Dandelion, Canterbury Bells, and Brown-eyed Evening Primrose. On the alternate trail, you may see Monkey Flowers, Parish’s Golden Poppy, Little Gold Poppy, and Rock Hibiscus. Keep an eye out for dainty Whispering Bells and Fiesta Flower!

Henderson Canyon Road

The “Sunflower Fields” are really starting to pop, and may be in full bloom any time in the coming week. Nearthe east end of the road (west of Pegleg Monument area) you can look for blooming Desert Lilies, Dune Eveing Primrose, Lupine and Sand Verbena. At the west end of the road (near the statues of Galleta Meadows), look for lots of Desert Lilies, Brown-eyed Evening Primrose, and Desert Dandelions, as well as Sand Verbena.  Note:Use caution when pulling onto the shoulder as the sand can be very soft.

Coyote Canyon

Where the pavement ends at the north end of DiGiorgio Road, you will find Spectacle Pod, Brown-eyed Evening Primrose, Dune Evening Primrose and Sand Verbena, along with Desert Lily and Desert Sunflower.  Walk out onto the flats or up the road.  Note: Though graded recently, and accessible to two-wheel-drive vehicles as far as Desert Gardens, road shoulders are very soft sand, with limited areas for stopping and/or turning around! 4WD is recommended beyond Desert Gardens.

Rockhouse Canyon Road

Fields of Brown-eyed Evening Primrose, Dandelion and Chicory, Phacelia, Pincushion, patches of Monkey Flower and lots of Barrel Cactus. Perennials include Indigo Bush, Ocotillo, Creosote, and Desert Lavender. Note: 4WD high-clearance recommended.

Yaqui Well Trail

Fishhook Cactus, Fiddleneck, Filaree, Fremont Desert Thorn, Agave, Desert Dandelion, Whispering Bells, Pygmy Poppy, Gold Poppy, Popcorn Flower, Chia, Dune Evening Primrose, Trailing Windmills.

Plum Canyon

Desert Apricot and Turpentine Broom have been spotted here, as well as Dudleya. Also, Wishbone, Chuparosa, Desert Chicory, Viguiera, Fiddleneck, Phacelia, Desert Rock-Pea, and Popcorn Flower.

Carrizo Badlands Overlook

This pullout in the southern end of the park boasts an impressive display of lupine, along with Brown-eyed Evening Primrose, Spectacle-pod, and Creosote bush. Desert Lilies bloom on the hillside.

Please Remember

Vehicles must be parked no more than one vehicle length off the road and must not trample vegetation or drive over geological features. Dogs must remain on a leash no longer than six feet and are not allowed cross-country or on hiking trails. Pets may not be left unattended. Please enjoy the Wildflowers and allow future visitors to enjoy them as well.

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Natural History Wanderings