Natural History Wanderings

Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association report

January 6, 2019- More rain and winter flowers
More rain in Borrego Springs last night and continued cool temperatures are keeping ample moisture in the soil, exactly what is needed for an excellent flower bloom this spring.  It also appears that we are seeing a normal cycle of winter storms moving through the area on a 10-14 day baises. That’s more good news.

The main bloom will be in springtime, whenever daily temperatures start to reach into the high 70s and 80s on a consistent basis.  But the rain is already giving us unusual winter blooms in some areas, with scattered patches of flowers being reported in various locations.

See photos of early blooms at https://www.abdnha.org/pages/03flora/reports/current.htm

Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association reports a somewhat more optimistic prediction than the previous post

December 31, 2018
Flower Forecast Update:  2019 Flower Season
We are receiving heavy rain in Borrego Springs on this last day of 2018, and snow above 2500 feet.  This storm greatly increases the likelihood of a excellent wildflower bloom this spring.  It will be a good year; there will be spring flowers this year in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Borrego Springs.

It’s too early to say with any certainty when exactly the bloom will take place.  It will happen when temperatures warm up in springtime.  We could have a prolonged bloom that starts in February and continues into March, or we could have the more typical “peak bloom” scenario that takes place over one or two weeks, typically in March, but sometimes in February.  We just have to see how nature decides to make its presentation.

Anza-Borrego Wildflowers Guide reports