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General Wildflower Update 2/20/15: A mix of unseasonably warm temperatures over the past couple of weeks and ground moisture from light winter rains have created a real spurt in plant growth and flowers are now blooming in many locations.  There is a nice bloom at the north end of DiGiorgio Road in the Borrego Valley within easy walking distance from the end of the paved road.  This location is the best place right now to see widespread flowers in the Borrego Valley; photos of this area can be seen below.  Those with 4WD can expect to see more flowers along the jeep road going into Coyote Canyon.  A good bloom is also reported just off of the Visitor Center - Campground Trail, an easy walk on a paved trail that can be started either from the Palm Canyon Campground or State Park Visitor Center.  Henderson Canyon is another place with flowers in bloom, many species and scattered individual plants.  This also appears to be a good year for desert lilies.  See photos below.  These intricate and beautiful plants are can be found in the DiGiorgio area as well as to the east, along Henderson Canyon Road.  They can be hard to spot but once you have found your first one you will be successful in finding more.  They are mixed it with other plants and flowers.   There is a nice bloom of Sand Verbena getting started and steadily spreading off to the sides of Henderson Canyon Road as well, in the same areas as the lilies, between Pegleg on the east and the intersection with DiGiorgio road.  Localized areas along the roadsides in Borrego Springs are also beginning to display flowers.

Scroll through the flower reports below for more detailed information and photos.

Free maps of the Borrego Valley, showing the best bloom areas, can be picked up at ABDNHA's Desert Nature Center, 652 Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs, as well as a comprehensive selection of desert books, guides, art, clothing, and gifts. 
ABDNHA is a community-based 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization.

 

 

 


ABDNHA's business members support the educational work of the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association and provide tourism services in Borrego Springs.

 

 Their support is appreciated.

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June 21, 2015

Marcy Yates passes on a tip she received from Bill Sullivan that elephant trees were blooming near the Elephant Tree Trail in the south part of the park. Marcy then checked the two trees at the park visitor center In Borrego Springs and found fruit on one (or so she thought).  Her photo was forwarded to Bill; he enlarged it and sent it back because there were actually some fading flowers near the fruits.  Such tiny flowers!  There is also a small elephant tree in the ABDNHA botanical garden, but no flowers there this year.

 

Interesting facts:  The elephant tree has very fragrant leaves and comes from a large family which includes such plants as frankincense and myrrh. This tree was and is important for a variety of practical and ceremonial uses of native people within its range.  The Elephant Trees in Anza-Borrego are at the northernmost part of their range.  The tree does not tolorate freezing temperatures.

Elephant Tree  Bursera microphylla Marcy Yates


May 4, 2015

Marcy Yates reports lots of ironwood trees in Pinyon Wash that are in various stages of blooming.

Ironwood  Olneya tesota Marcy Yates

 

April 5, 2015

This report from Combs peak by Fred and Carla  See hiking details.

Woolly Bluecurls,  Trichostema lanatum Fred Melgert

Chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis Fred Melgert

Mountain Phlox, Phlox austromontana Fred Melgert

California poppy, Eschscholzia californica Fred Melgert

 

April 12, 2015

Grapevine loop by Fred and Carla:  See hiking info.

Everything is weeks ahead of schedule and even dryer than last season if that's even possible. This is fine as the Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum is starting to bloom and will become more of an obstacle as it already is, but no thorns. The Wide-throated yellow monkeyflower, Mimulus brevipes seems to have spread to every single wash along both sides of the Pacific Crest trail. The prickly poppy, Argemone munita where everywhere last season, now not trace of them this year.

 

Golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum Fred Melgert

Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum Fred Melgert

 

April 10, 2015

Carrizo Canyon east fork palms by Fred and Carla.  Hiking information here

We've been to the sweeney pass a week before, so we expected something alive over here.

 

 Coyote melon, Cucurbita palmata 99+ nicely in bloom in the Carrizo Creek as we where early. The smoketree look green,  that's always a good sign. But these canyons are special as they have good ground water. The canyon we hiked in looked as it had a good bloom, a lot of the plants where of course out of bloom, but far from all. Scarlet spiderling, Boerhavia coccinea by the hundreds. Hairy Blazingstar, Mentzelia hirsutissima in the hundreds, some still in bloom. Catclaw, Senegalia greggii starting to bloom. This is the year we find Broom Twinberry, Menodora scabra var. glabrescens, two more in bloom. What I noticed are many small California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera so that's a good sign. This time we didn't hike the loop but went to explore the other Palm clusters.

Coyote melon, Cucurbita palmata Fred Melgert

California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera Fred Melgert

Hairy Blazingstar, Mentzelia hirsutissima Fred Melgert

 

April 5, 2015

A shot taken earlier today of a queen butterfly caterpillar on milkweed.

monarch butterfly caterpillar on rush milkweed - anza-borrego

Rush Milkweed Asclepias sublata apocynaceae and queen caterpillar Mike McElhatton

 

 

March 31, 2015

From Fred and Carla, a loop from mile 14.3 on the Pacific Crest Trail

 

Strange enough this is the only place we found Thistle sage, Salvia carduacea in the Park. A nice bunch of 20 or so plants on one spot, very close to the start of the hike. We where almost too late, some of them where already out of bloom. Wide-throated yellow monkeyflower, Mimulus brevipes and a lot more than last year. We where looking for Splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens for years now and finally found them. The same goes for Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum.

 

Wide-throated yellow monkeyflower,  Mimulus brevipes Fred Melgert

Splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens Fred Melgert

 

March 27, 2015

From Fred and Carla:Hawi Vallecito to Lower Storm Canyon

The hike starts at the parking of Hawi Vallecito but is otherwise completely out of the park.


The intention was to hike up Storm Canyon, to check out all the green stuff you can see from the road.  But we never came that far, one of the reasons, we encountered so many plants we hardly, if ever, encounter..

The terrain is grassy, with Big galleta, Hilaria rigida. The upper part of the valley is covered with one of the biggest fields of Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa we've ever seen. We basically went for the lower part of the Storm Canyon wash. The wash is partially sand with patches of rock, the wash is obvious wetter than most.  White rhatany, Krameria bicolor is blooming we found several plans in partial bloom.  San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides in full bloom.  We saw our first Short-lobed phacelia, Phacelia brachyloba.


Some Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa are still blooming. It's time for Desert woolly-star, Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum, you find them in town roadside.

Our third find of Lemmon's Linanthus, Leptosiphon lemmonii in two locations of 99+ They seem to stay in one place and don't spread out much.A surprise was the second Coulter's snapdragon, Antirrhinum coulterianum we have seen in bloom this month (1 plant).
Finally another Gillia Caraway-leaved Gilia, Saltugilia caruifolia  And we where missing the Prickly poppy, Argemone munita as they where everywhere last year. So 3 plants was a good find. Showy Penstemon, Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis in my favorite for today, our first one this season.


And lots lots more.  All in all a great wash.

Showy Penstemon, Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis Fred Melgert

Prickly poppy, Argemone munita Fred Melgert

Desert globemallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa Fred Melgert

Slender wreathplant, Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua Fred Melgert

Honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana Fred Melgert

 

March 26, 2015

Joy Ziemnick says there is a lot of color at Culp Valley Campground area and along the California Riding Hiking Trail west from parking. area. Goldfields, Nolina, Wooly daisies, Whispering bells, Veatch's blazing star, Hairy? lotus, Apricot Mallow, lots of Chia further up, Wishbone...and more species as well.

Parry's Bear-Grass, Nolina parryi Nolinaceae Joy Ziemnick

March 25, 2015

Fred and Carla from the Grapevine area:   Hiking details
This is our known area for flower fields and they didn't disappoint us. The only bad thing happening is that the mesquite and catclaw are growing back from the 2012 fire. And you are guaranteed to return somewhat black as there is plenty of black stuff out there.

 

A couple of fields of Fremont's monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii Our favorite one Wide-throated yellow monkeyflower, Mimulus brevipes. Fields of Fremont pincushion, Chaenactis fremontii And best of all the only field we found anywhere in the park: White Tidy-tips, Layia glandulosa and Scalebud, Anisocoma acaulis.

 

We where a bit concerned as we didn't see any flowers as we came down the PCT, we where after all still early. But they where just in hiding and as we came closer, there they where!

 

Fremont's monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii Fred Melgert

White Tidy-tips, Layia glandulosa Fred Melgert

Little-leaved chaparral beardtongue, Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla Fred Melgert

 

March 22, 2015

Joy Ziemnick sends this shot of a brilliant indigo bush on the north side of Highway 78, about a mile west of Texas Dip Junction.  She says she has never smelled or seen such a full and fragrant Indigo Bush.  The color is very intense too.

Indigo Bush, Psorothamnus schottii by Joy Ziemnick

 

March 22, 2015

Culp Valley - Wilson Mountain Loop by Fred and Carla

This time we explored a part of Culp Valley we haven't been before and we ended up far to the east in washes that eventually end up in the Glorietta Canyon.

A nice supprise to still find Goldfields, Lasthenia gracilis everywhere, mixed with Narrowleaf goldenbush, Ericameria linearifolia they make it very yellow. Cleveland's beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. clevelandii and Parish's purple nightshade, Solanum parishii along boulders. Desert globemallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa are in the thousands, out there, some are already blooming.

We found our first ever Chinese Houses, Collinsia concolor, should be more out there. Veatch's blazing star, Mentzelia veatchiana are hard to miss, they are everywhere It would be a bad hike if we wouldn't find Hairy bush monkeyflower, Mimulus aurantiacus var. pubescens and we found 8+ and they always grow in the most impossible places. This is Carla's favorite. We where looking for Lemmon's linanthus, Leptosiphon lemmonii before and found only a few now we found 100+ but only at one particular spot.

 

 

Lemmon's linanthus, Leptosiphon lemmonii Fred Melgert

Virgin's bower, Clematis ligusticifolia Fred Melgert

Woolly Indian paintbrush, Castilleja foliolosa Fred Melgert

 

March 18, 2015

Sandra Lee Childs send these interesting photos of Wild Cucumber mara macrocarpus var taken near Stewart Spring.  She reports the largest one was five inches long.

 

March 18, 2015

From Cool Canyon, by Joy Ziemnick.  She reports Chia, Tobacco plant, Checker Fiddleneck, Wishbone, Whispering Bells, lots of Canterbury bluebells, lots of Vetch's blazing star, lots of Palmer's Milkvetch, ground cherry, desert rock pea, Ephedra/desert tea, and at least 1 larger display of wooly indian paintbrush.

Palmers Milkvetch  Joy Ziemnick

Wooly Indian Paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa Joy Ziemnick

 

March 18, 2015

Fred and Carla send this report: Butler Canyon Hidden Spring Rockhouse Canyon
Hiking Details

We went up Rockhouse Cayon first and then back into Butler Canyon.  That is indeed a recommended loop for those without a GPS. And with the flowers right now it was a real treat, a repeat from most places: we have never seen so many flowers on this hike.

 

Desert lily, Hesperocallis undulata were here, as you can see the seed pods right now. White-lined Sphinx Moth Catepillar have arrived, but Brown-eyed primrose, Camissonia claviformis ssp. peirsonii are still plentiful. Desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana , very common right now. Desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata are in huge fields especially on the mesa at the end of Butler canyon. 

On our way from the Mesa into Butler canyon we started counting and checking Threadplants, we found two kinds in abundance. Tiny but once you know what to look for rather easy to spot. Purple mat, Nama demissa var. demissa are doing great in Butler canyon, a lot of larger plants. My favorite Desert Bluebells, Phacelia campanularia var. campanularia, we found only one.

It took us 50 minutes more than usual taking pictures, so it turned out another long 5 hour hike. The road up to the trailhead is rocky with deep soft sand, a high clearance 4x4 is essential. And so many I didn't mention

 

Indigo bush, Psorothamnus schottii Fred Melgert

Desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana Fred Melgert

Desert Bluebells, Phacelia campanularia var. campanularia Fred Melgert

 

March 17, 2015

We have several reports that the Ocotillos in Coyote Canyon are just spectacular right now.  It's a sea of bright red flowers.  Just south of town, and on the west side of Borrego Springs Road, the "ocotillo forest" is getting ready to pop. 

Ocotillo.  Coyote Canyon by Joy Ziemnick

 

March 17, 2015

Report from Little Blair Valley loop by Fred & Carla:

 

We went up where I found a small dry lake on the satellite pictures. And we found Narrow-leaved Globemallow, Sphaeralcea angustifolia right in the middle of that dry pond, hundreds of them, still rather small for now. Another plant that Carla had been trying to find and now we know why we didn't find them. The seem to like more alkaline soil as we found lots more in Little Blair Valley Dry lake.

 

Not so long ago I thought Goldfields, Lasthenia gracilis where rather rare in the park. We found them all over the place including the Pictogram trail up to the Smugglers drop. Along the boulders we found one of the biggest California fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria dioica we've ever seen, huge but in a hard spot to get my camera in. Pringle's Woollysunflower, Eriophyllum pringlei we where missing in our photo collection.
And Carla was probably most pleased with a couple of rather rare Lemmon's Linanthus, Leptosiphon lemmonii, nice flowers for such a small plant. A honorary plant that is rather faithfull blooming when we check at the pictograph parking Cleveland's beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. clevelandii.  I don't think nobody even notices it but it's a rather nice bunch of them. And so many others that didn't made it on film but are in Carla's notebook. We will check an area close by in a couple of weeks.  Photos:

 

 Narrow-leaved Globemallow, Sphaeralcea angustifolia Fred Melgert

Lemmon's Linanthus, Leptosiphon lemmonii Fred Melgert

Goldfields, Lasthenia gracilis Fred Melgert

 

March 16, 2015

Marcy Yates sends us this nice shot taken in Borrego Springs of a honey bee on Indigo Bush

March 15, 2015

Fred and Carla from the Grapevine area:

The area burned down in 2012. What you see right now is that grasses and the invasive Filaree have taken over the area. But some sandy washes remain.

The lovely less common Fremont's Monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii var. fremontii And the fire follower Wide-throated yellow monkeyflower, Mimulus brevipes Carla's favorite. White sage, Salvia apiana are blooming or are starting to bloom all over. Favorite of the day Cream cups, Platystemon californicus a couple of small fields of them. And the white variation Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. rubellum Often mistaken for Emory's rockdaisy, Perityle emoryi.

Cream cups, Platystemon californicus Fred Melgert

White sage, Salvia apiana Fred Melgert

March 14, 2015

Fred and Carla send this report from Pena Springs - Hellhole RIdge:

While driving along the Montazuma grade you notice whole fields of the invasive Redstem filaree, Erodium cicutarium. Driving up to the Pena Springs you see nice fields of Goldfields, Lasthenia gracilis mixed with Narrowleaf goldenbush, Ericameria linearifolia. Notice the yellow Yellow pincushion, Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula. You will see plenty of Chia, Salvia columbariae. And Common fiddleneck, Amsinckia intermedia and the similar looking Bristly fiddleneck, Amsinckia tessellata var. tessellata Carla's favorite  Hairy bush monkeyflower, Mimulus aurantiacus var. pubescens, look for them around boulders.

And as everything is early so are the Blue dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum Pleased to see yet another poppy, the prettiest one of them all California poppy, Eschscholzia californica Whole fields of Narrowleaf goldenbush, Ericameria linearifolia At the end of the trip my camera turned a shade of yellow from all the flowers.

 

Redstem filaree, Erodium cicutarium Fred Melgert

 Narrowleaf goldenbush, Ericameria linearifolia Fred Melgert

California poppy, Eschscholzia californica Fred Melgert

Hairy bush monkeyflower, Mimulus aurantiacus var. pubescens Fred Melgert

March 13, 2015

Cindy Knoke sends some shots of wildflowers north of Henderson road and she says "I cound not believe the Ocotillos.  I have been coming to Anza for 50+ years.  I love the place. Love your organization & thank you for what you do! "

 

Desert Sunflower and Pollinator   Cindy Knoke

A Globe Mallow  Cindy Knoke

 

March 12, 2015

Henderson Canyon Field by Joy Ziemnick

 

March 12, 2015

Palo Verde Wash

Fred and Carla say the Blue Palo Verde are now blooming in the wild and they send some other great photos as well.

Blue palo verde, Parkinsonia florida  Fred Melgert

Notch-leaved Phacelia, Phacelia crenulata var. ambigua Fred Melgert

Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens Fred Melgert

 

March 12, 2015

A photo of Lower Smuggler's Canyon by Bill Sullivan

 

March 12, 2015

Some beautiful flower pictures, all taken by Joy Ziemnick,  from Yaqui Meadows on the edge of Borrego Springs. Octillo, Barrel Cactus, Desert  Agave.

 

 

 

March 11, 2015

Report from Fred and Carla on Mine Wash East Fork Loop

Hiking details here

This looked a promising hike in December, so we went back.  The flower density in Mine wash is much less than what you see around the visitor center.  We got little indication that the last rain triggered any new growth. 

This is the elevation for Goldfields and we've seen them in Culp Valley. The mine wash is a known area for them, so I hoped we would find some.  Goldfields, Lasthenia gracilis fields in a couple of places, been a while to see them in the Mine wash area. 

Black brush, Coleogyne ramosissima is as the name indicates black and looks dead, except right now when it is turning yellow with nice flowers. 

Another plant that Carla was looking for these last weeks, Spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia, we just stumbled upon one in the middle of the wash,  My favorite for today, but it's hard to choose: Desert tea, Ephedra californica.

California groundsel, Senecio californicus Fred Melgert

Goldfields, Lasthenia gracilis  Fred Melgert

Desert tea, Ephedra californica Fred Melgert

 

March 11

Henderson Canyon Road

From Fred and Carla:  We checked Henderson Cy Road: Brown-eyed primrose mostly if not all gone, eaten? Dune Primroses/ Sand sabena between the airport and the Henderson Cy Road crossing (North) (Pegleg road), you can easily spot them from the road. When you exit on Henderson Cy Road, a nice patch of Lupine next to the road, close the the Pegleg monument. More in the middle of Henderson Cy Road great sunflower fields. Now on the other side of the road as well, but that's harder to see as the sunflowers turn towards the sun. Still nice fields of Dune Primroses, but less than a week ago.

 

March 10, 2015

Report from Karyn

If you have not been out to Henderson Canyon Road, about a mile east of Borrego Valley Road---wait no longer, drop what you are doing if you are in town and go there in the early morning when the light is low, and the air is cool and fresh.  The sunflowers are smiling, dune evening primrose petals are dancing and the scent of lilies can cause delirium.   

Sand dunes ripple from gentle winds in the night.  Fat and sassy white-lined sphinx moth cats wiggling their way up the dunes looking for the perfect spot to scrape out a 'den' to pupate.  And then there are the ravens and hawks along Borrego Springs Road in old Ag fields eating breakfast of them before they get a chance!    

The desert is alive. Get out and enjoy. Go dance with the flowers....why are you still reading this? Get outside!

 

 

March 7, 2015

Glorieta Canyon Loop

From Fred and Carla.  It's been 5 years that we hike this particular loop. What you notice is fields Parish's poppy, Eschscholzia parishii in the sandy Glorietta wash all the way to town. Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris are especially good right now, they where blooming all over the place and with the right most spectacular color. Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa is almost common this year, whole fields of them.

 

The hike we took isn't a casual hike, 8.2 miles in total lengthm but if you hike it from the start up to the boulders you should find most of the flowers we've seen. See Hiking information

 

Veatch's blazing star, Mentzelia veatchiana Fred Melgert

Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris Fred Melgert

Spiny senna, Senna armata  Fred Melgert

Hairy Blazingstar, Mentzelia hirsutissima Fred Melgert

 

 

March 5, 2015

North of the Visitor Center to Flatcat Canyon

This report comes from Ferd, Carla, and Bill  Fred Says ...We went out for a quick hike North of the Visitor Center, up to Flatcat Canyon. First to be found, the tiny easy to miss, Desert Calico, Loeseliastrum matthewsii, I had to make a better picture than the one I made at the Visitor Center. Hard to get everything in focus, I went for manual focus and just shot a couple of them. Second we where on the lookout for Pebble pincushion, Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia the reason we missed it all the time, It's the less attractive pincushion. Carla looked at hundreds of plant the last weeks to find this pincushion. Now that you know what to look for it's actually easy to ID. Also a difficult one to get a good picture from. It's simply to bright white, I think this one worked pretty well. We ran across some aggressive Hyles lineata caterpillar, one tried to pull the plant right of the ground. They are bigger and stronger right now. I saw one attacked by a fly and it desperately tried to defend itself. Bill pointed us to an interesting plant: Desert Threadplant, Nemacladus rubescens We found an other tiny plant with an even smaller flower we thought we found the right one, but it turned out a desert trumpet, so small. But we found the right one meter away. The plant is tiny and very easy to miss, lets say almost impossible to find if you don't know how it looks in real live, but in close up the flowers are wonderful.

 

Starting top left

Desert Calico, Loeseliastrum matthewsii

Short-bannered coastal lotus, Acmispon maritimus var. brevivexillus

Hyles lineata caterpillar

Second Row starting top left

Desert Threadplant, Nemacladus rubescens

Pebble pincushion, Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia

Parish's poppy, Eschscholzia parishii

All photos by Fred Melgert

 

March 3, 2015

Report by Fred and Carla from the Torote Canyon Loop.  View Hike details

The cacti are early this year, normally need to wait for the end of March or early April. The Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris wow what a color.  There are two flowers that people mix up right now, maybe because we haven't seen both of them at the same time for a while. Similar: Sand Blazing Star, Mentzelia involucrata and Ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora. The easy way to id is look for the coloring, the Ghost flower has a distinct coloring. 

 

This is my favourite of the day: Star gilia, Gilia stellata All in all a nice collection of flowers, could hardly be any better. The fields of Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei and Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii will certainly grow.

Star gilia, Gilia stellata Fred Melgert

Sand Blazing Star, Mentzelia involucrata Fred Melgert

Ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora Fred Melgert

Arizona lupine, Lupinus arizonicus Fred Melgert

Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris Fred Melgert

 

March 2, 2015

Ioana sent some nice photos of the bloom along Henderson Canyon Road taken this past Sunday.  She says this was her first trip to Anza-Borrego and she will be back.

North side of Henderson Canyon Road   Photo by Ioana Anghel

 

March 1, 2015

Birth of an Ocotillo. 

by Fred and Carla

Most of the time ocotillos catch our attention when they are mature plants six to ten feet tall with a dozen or more branches. These are amazing plants that can produce leaves to full size in just three days.  When the soil dries these leaves turn into spines.  The flowers of the Ocotillo are crucial for migrating Hummingbirds.  They are very rarely photographed as young plants when they are just emerging from the ground, but Fred and Carla send the following pictures taken today in Henderson Canyon. 

Very young ocotillo Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens by Carla Hoegen

The leaves on this young ocotillo will turn to spines as conditions driy out. by Carla Hoegen

 

 

February 28, 2015

Report by Fred and Carla :  "We checked out the upper part of the Jasper trail, not much going on there yet. So from there we started a hike.  That was not the best idea today because it was early, windy and cold. But nice flowers nevertheless. Huge bushes of Parish's purple nightshade, Solanum parishii, A lot of Woolly Indian paintbrush, Castilleja foliolosa,  Cleveland's beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. clevelandii,  a lot of them around the springs and they do love boulders. A huge White sage, Salvia apiana at a springs. This time the yellow was mostly from Narrowleaf goldenbush, Ericameria linearifolia perfect in bloom."

 

The flower below is one of Fred's favorite from the day.  He says "Notice the outer white flowers, every single one is a flower. Of course the inside has its individual flowers. A lot of the members of the huge aster family have these individual flowers but this on shows them very well."

 

White tidy-tips, Layia glandulosa Fred Melgert

 

 

February 27, 2015

Bill Sullivan says that the red tassels of Ocotillo are starting to nicely appear in Ocotillo Flat and, to a lesser extent, in Desert Gardens to the south. Ocotillo is a broad alluvial fan that extends from the wash at the north end of Desert Gardens, where the Coyote Canyon jeep trail turns across the valley, to the top of the Borrego Valley below Third Crossing.

 

February 25, 2015

The race is on!
by Mike McElhatton

It's not easy living in a desert environment where water and food are almost always in short supply.  The wildflowers that are bringing visitors to the desert right now are mostly desert annual plants.  They have evolved over time to germinate only when there is enough moisture in the soil so they can quickly grow, flower, and produce seeds.  Those seeds will then wait in the ground, perhaps for years, until there is enough moisture once again for them to start the cycle all over again. This adaptation leads to a very short lifespan for an individual plant, a couple of weeks perhaps,  but tens of thousands of years of existence for the species.

 

But in nature, it does not go unnoticed that all of those springtime plants are also a good source of food.  The creatures that can rapidly swing into action to take advantage of that food are the creatures that will prosper over time.  Enter the White-lined Sphinx Moth.  White-lined Sphinx moths, also called Hummingbird moths,  emerge from the ground and lay their eggs, thousands of them, on the leaves of the emerging plants.  When the food is there, as it is right now, the sphinx moth caterpillars eat constantly and grow fast, and it is incredible to see how many caterpillars can quickly mobilize to take advantage of the food source.  They are an army on the move.  Thousands of brightly colored Sphinx moth larvae can now be found in certain areas, devouring plants as rapidly as they can.  Their goal is to eat, grow fast, burrow into the ground where they pupate and emerge as moths, and then lay their eggs on the leaves of plants, to start the cycle all over again.

 

So the race is on right now.  It is the plants vs the caterpillars.  The people who love the wildflowers don't like to see that army of caterpillars chomping away, but to the caterpillars it is just one big feast.  

 

To the birds, of course, the caterpillars look like lunch.  But so far the birds are not around in sufficient numbers to make an impact and the flowers are getting a serious muching, with some areas of flowers getting wiped out by the caterpillars. 

 

White-Lined Sphinx Moth Caterpillar , Hyles lineata    Photo by Joy Ziemnick


February 25, 2015

Fred and Carla send these beautiful photos of Desert five-spot that they found in the Sweeney Pass South Canyon area

Desert five-spot, Eremalche rotundifolia Fred Melgert

Desert five-spot, Eremalche rotundifolia Fred Melgert

 

February 23, 2015

Hellhole Canyon by Fred and Carla:

We hiked Hellhole Canyon up to the first palms, back along the wash, keeping north, and checked Flatcat Canyon. Desert dandelion fields are everywhere mixed with Pincushion, the latter are less visible but there are lots of them. Still plenty of Brown-eyed primrose and fields of Wallace's woolly daisy closer to Flatcat canyon. Small fields of Bigelow's monkeyflower, mostly concentrated before scrubs. It was not sunny or warm enough this morning for the Poppy to open.

Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii Fred Melgert

Desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata Fred Melgert

Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei Fred Melgert

 

February 22, 2015

Henderson Canyon, some new photos taken this afternoon by Fred Melgert.

Desert Lily, Sand Verbena in the background   Henderson Canyon Fred Melgert.

Dune Sunflower, Helianthus petiolaris
Henderson Canyon - Photo by Fred Melgert

Henderson Canyon - Photo by Fred Melgert

 

February 21, 2015

Joy Ziemnick reports many blooming and about-to-bloom yuccas ( Our Lord's Candle) in the vicinity of the Smugglers Cove and Pictograph trails.

Mohave Yucca (Yucca schidigera)   Joy Ziemnick


Joy also sends this photo of a California Patch butterfly on desert lavendar ( Rainbow Canyon)

 

February 21, 2015

Tom Chester has compiled a list of 79 species found in bloom at the State Park Visitor Center on February 21  See full list on Tom's website

 

February 20, 2015

Report from Henderson Canyon by Fred and Carla.   

Flowers are good at the start of the Henderson Canyon, the sculptures make it more like a maze to find the right route by car. The road is rocky, so may not be OK for all cars all the way. The first part of the hike is more or less on a marked hiking trail, so easy. But you should explore some rocky areas as the flowers tend to be there and NOT in the wash.

The right hand side of the canyon seem to be the best flower wise. Brown-eyed primrose, Chylismia claviformis ssp. peirsonii from the start, but they are winding down (end of bloom) and vanish further on in the canyon. Common phacelia, Phacelia distans  are in abundant numbers. Desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana in large numbers, almost as frequent as the fields of Desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata. A good number of Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii, some already big. 

When I hardly recognized Creosote bush, Larrea tridentata, so yellow, I knew the canyon would be fine. We've seen healthy Wishbone plant, Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa in numerous washes, but here they where in full bloom. Carla's goal was to find Desert Bluebells, Phacelia campanularia var. campanularia and we found a handful;  this isn't their habitat, but they are pretty. Last time we forgot to take a picture, because we've seen whole fields in Joshua tree. Not to forget nice fields of poppy's. And finally Ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora again, we encountered then in fish creek in November last year. And also spectacular Indigo bush, Psorothamnus schottii.

Henderson Canyon Photos: 
All taken in Henderson Canyon  Feb 20, 2015 by Fred Melgert
California suncup, Eulobus californicus Indigo bush, Psorothamnus schottii Desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana
Desert Bluebells, Phacelia campanularia var. campanularia Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii California trixis, Trixis californica var. californica
Chuparosa, Justicia californica Ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora California fagonia, Fagonia laevis
Desert star, Monoptilon bellioides Parish's poppy, Eschscholzia parishii Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris

 

February 20, 2015

Rainbow Canyon & Ocotillo Flat by Bill Sullivan

Heading into Borrego Springs from the south, Bill made a stop in Rainbow Canyon.  He says it would be worthwhile to get someone to make weekly visits down there. The list of plants collected there over the years is quite extensive. It's a small area that starts right beside the road (on either side of the road, to be exact) and it is no more than half a mile to the dry waterfall that halts all but the adventurous. In other words, it should be made to order for those who want to botanize by the side of the road.   On this visit, he looked across the road and found a Desert Wishbone Bush with pink flowers instead of the usual white. A week earlier, he found Arizona Fiesta Flower which the California Native Plant Society classifies as one of the rare, threatened, or endangered plants in California.  

 

On February 19 (Thursday), Bill visited Ocotillo Flat for a quick look. He says this area is usually the last area in the valley to flower. A new plant in flower he found in flower this year was Desert Star (the Belly flower). He was also happy to see the flowers on a Fish Hook cactus still looking good. The Beavertail Cactus was starting to flower here, as it is elsewhere. Weekly visits to Ocotillo Flat would alson be good, Bill suggests.

Mirabilis laevis - Desert Wishbone Bush by Bill Sullivan

Monoptilon bellioides - Desert Star By Bill Sullivan

 

February 17, 2015

Some very nice photos of desert lilies and Spanish Needles taken today in the area north of DeGiorgio Road by Joy  Ziemnick. These great shots show the fascinating details of this beautiful plant.  Joy and Jim Ziemnick are ABDNHA members from the U.P. of Michigan who like to break away in  winter from everything that the U.P. is and spend some quality time taking pictures in Borrego.  Nice shots.  We look forward to more while you are visiting us.

Desert Lily, Hesperocallis undulata Joy Ziemnick

Desert lily, Hesperocallis undulata Joy Ziemnick

Spanish Needles, Palafoxia arida var. arida    Joy Ziemnick

 

 

 

 

February 17, 2015

Some nice shots taken in Henderson Canyon by Joy Ziemnick

Blue Phacelia/ Wild Heliotrope  Phacelia distans Joy Ziemnick

Blue Phacelia/ Wild Heliotrope  Phacelia distans Joy Ziemnick

 

February 17, 2015

We have a report from Little Surprise Canyon today by Fred and Carla.  They report lots of interesting flowers to be found and it is an easy walk, right off of the Hellhole parking area. This area has individual  plants, no widespread blooms such as found at the entrance to Coyote Canyon.  Nevertheless, Fred sends some very nice closeups, and they are displayed in the collage below.

Clockwise from top left, Trailing Windmills, Allionia incarnata var. incarnata , Yellow blazing star, Mentzelia affinis, Desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana, California fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria dioica, California fagonia, Fagonia laevis, Parish's poppy, Eschscholzia parishii, Photos by Fred Melgert.

 

February 15, 2015

Photos sent to us today by Fred Melgert from the north end of DiGiorgio Road, at the entrance of Coyote Canyon.  2/17 Fred provides this update:  From the end of Di Giorgio Road walk up to the end of the Citrus farm (on your left), keep more or less along the Citrus farm towards First Crossing / Horse Camp. Walk for max 1/2 an hour. At first it doesn't look too good, but after a while there are Bigger Dune primrose, Oenothera deltoides ssp. deltoides than we found on the other side of the road. Desert-willow, Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata already in bloom close to first crossing. Also best to visit the morning as many flowers close later in the day.

Dune primrose, Oenothera deltoides ssp. deltoides , Desert sand-verbena, Abronia villosa var. villosa , and Brown-eyed primrose, Camissonia claviformis ssp. peirsonii

Gray desert sunflower, Helianthus petiolaris ssp. canescens   Fred Melgert

 Dune primrose, Oenothera deltoides ssp. deltoides Fred Melgert

 

Desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata Fred Melgert

 

February 13, 2015

Juergen Schrenk sends us this photo taken in Coyote Canyon.
Photo was taken on February 11, 2015

February 13, 2015

Today's report from Fred and Carla comes from Layer Cake Wash.  See hiking details.

Fred reports a very healthy collection of Brown-eyed primrose, Chylismia claviformis ssp. peirsonii,  a large collection of Desert tobacco in the middle of the Fish Creek Wash, which is an unusual place as they tend to seek out the shade. Also, some blooming Parish's Goldeneye, Bahiopsis parishii. Salton milk-vetch, and Astragalus crotalariae that are close to the end of their blooming cycle, they where in bloom in Fish Creek since December.

Heartleaf sun-cup, Chylismia cardiophylla ssp. cardiophylla  Fred Melgert

Emory's rock-daisy, Perityle emoryi Fred Melgert

 

And, although this photo has nothing to do with flowers, the photo below is interesting enough to post here.  It appears to be a strange collection of concretions.

 

February 12, 2015

From Bill Sullivan:  The 2015 Spring annual wildflowers show is definitely underway with eye-popping displays along the Coyote Canyon jeep trail (actually, any car can drive it) from the north end of diGiorgio Road to Desert Gardens (beyond which the driving becomes more of a problem).  

Right now, the star of the show is Peirson's Brown-eyed Primrose (Camissonia claviformis ssp. peirsonii), a white flower sometimes with a little pink in the Borrego Valley, yellow in the southern desert. It's safe to say that thousands of these plants can be seen over a 4-mile stretch.  

In the lower part, in the northern reaches of Borrego Valley, the flowers are joined by such favorites as Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa), Dune Primrose (Oenothera deltoides), and Arizona Lupine. Bladder Pod (Dithyrea californica), reported in flower on January 30, is now showing its namesake seedpods as well as flowers.  

In Desert Gardens, the Brown-eyed Primrose plants are joined by a cousin, California Evening Primrose (Camissonia californica) in numbers too large to count. Also noted in Desert Gardens were Forget-Me-Nots (Cryptantha angustifolia), Desert Dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), and Desert Chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana).

Photo by Bill Sullivan

Photo by Bill Sullivan

 

February 9, 2015

Fred and Carla spent a short time hiking in the Borrego Badlands today, where most everything looked pretty dry.  And then they came across this....

Desert trumpet, Eriogonum inflatum  Photo by Fred Melgert

 

After little time in the badlands they headed over into Hawk Canyon and they say that area looks promising for flowers.

 

February 8, 2015

We had a report today of an area with a nice assortment of flowers in Henderson Canyon, not the Henderson Canyon Road but the actual canyon, on the west side of Borrego.  Flowers seen there included Desert Lavender, Desert Dandelion, Chuparosa, Brittlebush, Monkey Flower, Brown-eyed Evening Primrose, Little Gold Poppy, Gold Poppy, and Lupine.

 

A later drive around the Borrego Valley revealed that the junction of Big Horn and Borrego Springs road, just a short distance norht of Christmas Circle, has a variety of plants germinating and looks to be another promising area in the weeks ahead.  .

 

 

February 8, 2015

Fred and Carla hiked up the Hellhole Canyon fork along Pena Spring.  Not a casual hike, they say, and knowing how they hike that means it's a hard hike, but they say it is very interesting because it crosses a couple of different climate zones.   The hike route is here.  As usual, they send some great photos.

Wild-cucumber, Marah macrocarpa, close to the Pena Springs parking area. Fred Melgert

They also report lots of Desert Apricot in bloom, Oak gooseberry, white flowering current, some filaree, nice manzanita in bloom at the higher elevations, lutebush, and a few small flowered poppies, Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora, shown below.

 

February 5, 2015

We have this report today from Bill Sullivan: Today the plant seen with the most flowers along Henderson Canyon Road is Baileya pauciradiata, commonly as Colorado Desert Marigold or Laxflower. A member of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae), those seen here are bushy with multiple stems to 18 inches tall. The stems are green, some blue-green. The ray flowers are pale yellow.

Also noticed for the first time in this location this year were three healthy-looking Desert Sand Verbena flowers (Abronia villosa). Sand Verbena is a ground-hugging vine with pink and white flowers and sticky hairs that pick up the sand that Sand Verbena thrives in. Its other name is Hairy Sand Verbena.

We saw these and hundreds of plants ready to flower, including about two dozen Desert Lilies (Hesperocallis undulta), several of them in bud, about 70 yards north of Henderson Canyon Road and 125 yards west of Coyote Mountain. This a bit east of where flowers have been seen in this big basin in past years.

Meanwhile, along the Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail, from the end of DiGiorgio Road to Desert Gardens, the numbers of Spectacle Pod and Peirson's Evening Primrose have picked up. A few Desert Sand Verbena plants are in flower.

 

Desert Lily  Hesperocallis undulata  Bill Sullivan

 

Colorado Desert Marigold Baileya pauciradiata Bill Sullivan

February 5, 2015

Fred and Carla went into Bighorn Canyon today to look for some Bush Milkvetch they had found there last year.  Having found none, they went into another fork where they found several plants.  Photos below, as well as an interesting close-up of Ocotillo.

Closeup of Ocotillo just leafing out, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens  Fred Melgert

 

Bush Milkvetch, Astragalus pachypus var. pachypus Fred Melgert

Palmer's milkvetch, Astragalus palmeri

 

February 2, 2015

Fred and Carla were recently in Coyote Canyon and they report both Spectacle-pod and some sand verbena.  Sand Verbena may be one of the most common plants to be found in the Borrego valley but it certainly is also one of the most brilliant.

Fred was biking a part of this trip, so his hiking info is actually biking info this time around.

Desert Sand Verbena, Abronia villosa var. villosa  Fred Melgert

Another common but beautiful flower,  Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa Fred Melgert

 

And a very large Bladderpod  Peritoma arborea Fred Melgert

Asian Mustard, Brassica tournefortii  Fred Melgert

 

January 30, 2015

Bill Sullivan reports he has seen his first annuals of the season, about 25 Spectacle Pods  (Dithyrea californica) beside the Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail, an easy walk just north of the DiGiorgio Road.  This is always a popular place to look for flowers as people can park on the blacktop and take a short walk into the canyon. 

 

From Bill's camp at Desert Gardens, a little futher into the canyon, he was up with first light looking for flowers.  The pictures below show a bit of what he found.

 

Brown-eyed Primrose, Camissonia claviformis ssp. Piersonii.   Bill Sullivan

 

Trailing Windmills  Allionia incarnata   Bill Sullivan

Spectacle Pods  Dithyrea californica Bill Sullivan

Pale Yellow Sun Cup Camissoniopsis pallida  Bill Sullivan

 

January 27, 2015

Fred Melgert reports that desert lilies are beginning to bloom along Henderson Canyon Road, mostly between S-22 and Borrego Valley Road.  He says that only a few are in bloom now but that this area looks very promising for wide spread bloom of lilies in a few weeks or so.

 

Also... Rain this week increases the chance that this will be the best flower year out of the past several. We have had several reports that there is a lot of plant germination in the Borrego Valley.  Plants are just beginning to be seen poking through the ground.  That bodes well for flowers in another few weeks.

Desert Lily  Photo by Fred Melgert

Another desert lily - this one not yet in bloom.  Photo by Fred Melgert.

January 21, 2015

Fred and Carla send these interesting shots from today on Thimble Peak, ashy silk tassel and a close shot of a pollinating bee.  Hiking information here.

Ashy silk tassel, Garrya flavescens Fred Melgert

Ashy silk tassel, Garrya flavescens with bee pollinating Fred Melgert

 

January 20, 2015

Palm Canyon Trail

Marcy Yates says pretty colors are starting to appear along Borrego Palm Canyon trail -- huge bushes of red chuparosa flowers, tall stands of desert lavender, and a few bright yellow brittlebush flowers.  There were some very happy bees buzzing around the flowers.  Lots of green plants hint at the possibility of more flowers to come.  It may be a good year for phacelia and rock daisies in this area. As of this morning (1/20), running water flowed over the small waterfalls near the first palm grove and almost to the trail crossing at the wash.

 

Note: We have had several reports saying there is more water flowing in Palm Canyon now than in recent years.  So it would be a good time to take that hike.

Photo by Marcy Yates

Photo by Marcy Yates

Photo by Marcy Yate

 

January 19, 2015

Culp Valley

Fred and Carla send us the first shot of desert apricot this year, from Culp Valley.

Hiking information here

 Desert apricot, Prunus fremontii Fred Melgert

 

January 17, 2015

Domelands East

Today Fred and Carla explored the visually strinking Domelands area, south of Anza-Borrego, where they headed into the less visited eastern part.   Some of their flower shots are shown below.  Hiking information here.

Rose mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rosacea Fred Melgert

Hoffmannseggia, Caesalpinia virgata  Fred Melgert

Heartleaf sun-cup, Camissonia cardiophylla ssp. cardiophylla Fred Melgert

Remains of ancient shells, from a time when this area was covered by a shallow sea.

Photo by Fred Melgert

 

January 16, 2015

Palm Canyon

Cyclists hate this plant.  But what's pretty is pretty and even 'bad plants' can have nice flowers. This is also very small flower; take notice of the grains of sand at the bottom.

Puncture-vine, Tribulus terrestris Fred Melgert

Plus this one from Palm Canyon: Rock crossosoma, Crossosoma bigelovii  Fred Melgert

 

January 12, 2015

Yaqui Meadows Loop

Everyone is waiting to see if conditions will be right for a good bloom of flowers this spring.  In the meanwhile Fred and Carla are out exploring on a regular basis and they are finding flowers on just about all of their trips, not the desert floor carpeted in flowers, but beautiful flowers tucked away in canyons and washes where there has been enough moisture to sustain them.

 

This trip was to Sweeney Pass South Canyon, in the south part of Anza-Borrego, where they found this very large desert tobacco plant, along with other species, such as Newberry's velvet mallow, ground cherry, desert lavender, along with a nice bloom of brittlebush.  HIking details here.

Desert tobacco, Nicotiana obtusifolia by Fred Melgert

January 6, 2015

Sweeney Pass South Canyon

A beautiful barrel cactus photo by Fred Melgert taken on Yaqui Ridge today.

Hike details here.

January 4, 2015

Yaqui Meadows Loop

Fred and Carla send some beautiful flower pictures from this nice loop east of Glorieta Canyon.  We are all waiting to see what the rain will produce, but in the meanwhile Fred and Carla continue to find beautiful flowers and send us beautiful pictures.  Hiking details here.

Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa  Photo by Fred Melgert

Paperbag Bush / Mexican Bladder Sage, Scutellaria mexicana Photo by Fred Melgert

 

December 31, 2014

Snow in Culp Valley

It did not snow in the Borrego Valley but Fred and Carla found plenty of snow not very far away, in the Culp Valley, and they send us these pictures of snow-covered cholla and yucca

 

 

 

 

December 16, 2014

Birth of a Smoketree

Fred Melgert sends this excellent photo of the birth of a smoketree.  Smoketree seeds will only germinate after being tossed about in a flood, which removes a protective layer on the seed.  In this photo you see not only the young tree but also evidence of the flood that took place with the cracked plates of mud, that have since dried in the sun. 

You can click the image above to download Fred's original full size image, which shows more detail and perspective.

 

December 16, 2014

Oyster Wash, From Fred and Carla 

Trailing windmills, Allionia incarnata by Fred Melgert

Fremont's Desert Thorn, Lycium fremontii by Fred Melgert

 

December 15, 2014

From Fred and Carla on the Thimble Trail Loop.  Hiking Details Here  They say they saw the best Asters so far this season, some nice desert holly, and once in a while, a Creosote in bloom  They also report the first blooming Silky dalea that they have ever encountered.

Silky dalea, Dalea mollis Photo by Fred Melgert

Chinch-weed, Pectis papposa var. papposa Photo by Fred Melgert

Alkali goldenbush, Isocoma acradenia var. acradenia Photo by Fred Melgert

 

December 9, 2014

Fred and Carla send these photos from the Domelands area in the south part of Anza-Borrego.

View Hiking Details

 

Rosy apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rosacea Photo by Fred Melgert

Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens Photo by Fred Melgert

White-stemmed milkweed, Asclepias albicans Photo by Fred Melgert

Nevada indigo-bush, Psorothamnus polydenius Photo by Fred Melgert

 

December 1, 2014

Fred Melget sends these great flower shots from the Elephant Knees in the southern part of Anza-Borrego.

Sticky fagonia, Fagonia pachyacantha by Fred Melgert

Wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora Photo by Fred Melgert

 

 

November 29, 2014

Fred and Carla this report from the north fork of arroyo salada loop. where they braved what they called an "artificial dust storm" from the thousands of off-roaders at Ocotillo Wells SVRA over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Indigo bush, Psorothamnus schottii by Fred Melgert

Palmer's crinklemat, Tiquilia palmeri by Fred Melgert

Pima rhatany, Krameria erecta by Fred Melgert

 

November 27, 2014

Fred and Carla send us some nice flower shots taken along the Jasper Trail.

View Hiking Details

Sapphire woolly-star, Eriastrum sapphirinum ssp. sapphirinum  by Fred Melgert

Slender wreathplant, Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua by Fred Melgert

 

November 15, 2014

Joy Ziemnick sends us this great photo of a queen butterfly taken along Fish Creek.

Very nice photo!

 

Boundary Goldenbush Ericameria brachylepis  Photo by Joy Ziemnick

 

November 15, 2014

Fred Melgert and Carla Hoegen checked out the Lizard Wash - Chuckwalla Loop hike they are doing for ABDNHA on January 3 and, as usual, they have found flowers!  Welcome back to Borrego!  Here are some pictures from their hike.  Note that Fred has developed an app for Anza Borrego Hiking that is based on the information on his website.  The app is available for free in the Google Play Store.

 

Wand Sage, Salvia vaseyi  Great find Carla!    Photo by Fred Melgert

 

Second shot of Wand Sage Photo by Fred Melgert

Third shot of wand sage  Photo by Fred Melgert

Trailing Windmills, Allionia incarnata var. incarnata Photo by Fred Melgert

Parish's Goldeneyes   Bahiopsis parishii  Photo by Fred Melgert

 

November 14, 2014

We had two submissions from Glorietta Canyon today.....

First, Joy Ziemnick sends us a couple of great shots of Bighorn Sheep that they saw on a ridge at the top. 

 

Photo by Joy Ziemnick

Photo by Joy Ziemnick

 

...and a photo from Fred Melgert.  Fred and Carla report spurges everywhere, at least four different species, and the flowers are very tiny, male and female flowers on the same plant.

Red-gland spurge, Chamaesyce melanadenia Photo by Fred Melgert

 

 

 

November 11, 2014

ABDNHA members Joy and Jim ziemnick, here for a short time from the cold and snowy UP of Michigan, send us some beautiful photos taken over the past couple of days.

A Chuparosa near Mine Wash  Photo by Joy Ziemnick

Coyote Melons off of the Jasper Trail Road     Photo by Joy Ziemnick

Sand Verbena, Henderson Canyon Road     Photo by Joy Ziemnick

A hummer taking a break in Plum Canyon      Photo by Joy Ziemnick

August 17, 2014

Summer color around Borrego Springs following a major rainstorm two weeks ago. Sulphur butterflies (shown) and Tiny Checkerspots (not shown) sip nectar from blooms of red Fairy Duster and ornamental Texas Ranger (shown in various shades of purple). Orange blooming Mexican Bird of Paradise contrasts with the desert's bright blue sky. Native Ocotillos are in full green leaf across the Borrego Valley.

Texas Ranger with Orange sulpher butterfly - Marcy Yates

Texas Ranger in full bloom. Note color variation in flower color between this dark purple and the lavender. This plant attracted more bees than butterflies. Leucophyllum frutescens is an evergreen shrub in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, native to the state of Texas. — at Borrego Springs, CA  Betsy Knaak

Fairy Duster in bloom, August 16, 2014. — at Borrego Springs, CA. Betsy Knaak

Two weeks after a storm that dropped 3 inches of rain, the Ocotillo throughout the Borrego Valley responded with full leaf, casting a haze of green across the desert.  ....a haven of shade — at Borrego Springs, CA.  Betsy Knaak

Mexican Bird of Paradise in full bloom two weeks after major rain storm of early August. Note blooming Agave on right. — at Borrego Springs, CA.  Betsy Knaak.

April 11, 2014

From Fed and Carla:  The terrain in the Bittercreek area is growing back after the 2012 fire, but is still easy to hike. The wide-throated yellow monkeyflowers are still there, but no longer in the hundreds.  Also, the first desert prickly-pear this season.

 

Hiking details here 

desert prickly-pear, Opuntia phaeacantha

desert prickly-pear, Opuntia phaeacantha Fred Melgert

Coves's cassia, Senna covesii Fred Melgert

April 10, 2014

This is the time to visit Culp Valley, cool and still some flowers. And Culp Valley due to the 2012 fire is still accessible. Carla spent weeks searching for the showy penstemon and at last we found one.  It is a fire follower so this may be one of the last in this area. Primrose still bloom early in the day. Western wallflower, the first we found this season, are growing along the Old Culp Valley Road. We still found two Bush monkeyflower, they tend to grow in the most difficult to reach spot. All in all we found a nice collection of flowers on the Borrego side of the ridge. - Fred & Carla

Hiking details here 

showy penstemon, Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis Fred Melgert

western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum Fred Melgert

Bush Poppy, Dendromecon rigida

Bush Poppy, Dendromecon rigida Fred Melgert

sapphire woolly-star, Eriastrum sapphirinum ssp. sapphirinum

sapphire woolly-star, Eriastrum sapphirinum ssp. sapphirinum Fred Melgert

April 6, 2014

Hellhole Canyon is a must do hike. It's a more adventurous trail, but one of the most hiked, it changed a bit after the August 2013 rain A tip: stay closer to the water while crossing it a couple of times. At the maidenhair falls, orchids are blooming. Not as many as there should be but plenty.  Smoothleaf yerba santa are blooming mostly beyond the maidenhair falls, but if you look carefully you may find one earlier on. Three kinds of Willows are blooming, two real and one desert Willow. White Sage is blooming in this canyon but in a lot of other places as well; they make due with less water. And of course you can go even further than the falls. - Fred and Carla

 

Hiking details here 

stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea Fred Melgert Anza Borrego

stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea Fred Melgert

climbing milkweed, Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii anza borrego fred melgert

Climbing Milkweed, Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii Fred Melgert

 

smoothleaf yerba santa, Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum Fred Melgert

 

April 5, 2014

Two interesting photos today from Culp Valley.  The first, by Fred Melgert, shows the unusual Pholisma arenarium in flower.  The second photo, by Bob Stinson, shows an interesting pegmatite dike, partly eroded, to make it look like a carefully landscaped garden wall.

Pholisma arenarium by Fred Melgert

 

Pholisma is a parasitic plant, a perennial herb,  lacking chlorophyll,  that grows in association with various shrubs, taking it nutrients from their roots.  This flowering plant goes by several different common names, including  desert Christmas tree, scaly-stemmed sand plant, and purple sand food.

 

Pegmatite wall in Culp Valley Bob Stinson

 

April 1, 2014

Today's report from Fred and Carla covers the Indian Valley Torote Canyon area; lots of boulders to be found here.  And they also continue to spot flowers.  They reporst a handful of monkey flowers, but very big ones, along with some yello chuparosa and blooming cacti.

Hiking details here

Anza Borrego Flowers Broom Twinberry, Menodora scoparia

Broom Twinberry, Menodora scoparia Fred Melgert

anza borrego flower fish hook cactus

Fish-hook Cactus, Mammillaria dioica Fred Melgert

anza borrego flower yellow chuparosa fred melgert

Chuparosa, Justicia californica Fred Melgert

anza borrego desert flower desert hibiscus fred melgert

 Desert Hibiscus, Hibiscus denudatus Fred Melgert

 

March 29, 2014

From the Pacific Crest Loop, by Fred and Carla 

The Thistle Sage are very picky where they grow, so far we found them only in one specific spot. Wide-throated yellow monkeyflower are still there, but not for long as they are fire followers. (2012 fire) Bigelow's monkeyflower, the first time this season we found fields of them. Fields of Fremont pincushion and some yellow pincushion, another fire follower. It's time for the Blue Dicks right now, you see them a lot in this area. Because of the recent fire plants are bigger than usual, like the Chia. The west side of the Grapevine mountain is always a good place for flowers The first time this season, monkey flowers, and 2 species in the same wash. Some of the flowers are fire followers, so for some this may be the last time.

Hiking details here

anza borrego desert flower baby blue eyes fred melgert

Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii Fred Melgert

 

anza borrego desert flower thistle sage fred melgert

Thistle Sage, Salvia carduacea Fred Melgert

 

anza borrego desert flower chaparral gilia fred melgert

Chaparral Gilia, Gilia angelensis Fred Melgert

anza borrego desert flowers wallaces woolly daisy fred melgert

Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei Fred Melgert

anza borrego desert flower blue dicks fred melgert

Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum Fred Melgert

 

March 25, 2014

Carrizo Wash - Fred and Carla.  Mesquit and Catclaw are blooming in the canyon. Notice the California Copperleaf, with the tiny flowers. We came across a dead Borrego. Water is not that far away, maybe the Coyote got him, we saw one as we entered the Canyon. We see bighorn sheep frequently in the Carrizo Canyon. There is a  large forgotten oasis here, with a healthy population of over 100 Palms. It isn't on the map, no sign, so hardly anyone will visit it, Not the easiest hike, with some rocks and boulders. The wash road up to the canyon is good, but with plenty of soft sand this year.

 

Hiking details here

honey mesquite anza borrego desert fred melgert

Honey Mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa Fred Melgert

anza borrego desert flower california copperleaf fred melgert

California Copperleaf, Acalypha californica Fred Melgert

 

March 24, 2014

Culp Valley - Fred and Carla  We simply had to go back to Culp Valley, the best place to find flowers this year. This time up along a dry spring, more to the east. The first time this season we saw fields of pincushion (white and yellow) and woolly daisy. A lot of Acton Brittlebush, Golden-Yarrow, 3 kind of Lupines. The Schott's calico along the Wilson trail is the first we ever saw. This time we probably saw the highest number of different blooming flowers ever. Warning: This hike is NOT easy, expect boulders and some steep canyons. The plants like boulders and canyon walls, that's where the flowers are.

 

Hiking details here

 

cream cups, Platystemon californicus anza borrego desert fred melgert

cream cups, Platystemon californicus Fred Melgert

White stemmed blazing star, Mentzelia albicaulis anza borrego fred melgert

White stemmed blazing star, Mentzelia albicaulis Fred Melgert

anza borrego desert woolly-star, Eriastrum eremicum ssp. ere fred melgertmicum anza borrego fred melgert

desert woolly-star, Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum Fred Melgert

anza borrego California Rock Cress, Boechera californica anza borrego fred melgert

California Rock Cress, Boechera californica Fred Melgert

anza borrego desert flower palmer's milk-vetch

Palmer's milk-vetch, Astragalus palmeri Fred Melgert

borrego desert flower schott's calico fred melgert

Schott's calico,  Loeseliastrum schottii Fred Melgert

desert dudleya in anza borrego, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides anza borrego fred melgert

desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides Fred Melgert

 

 

March 17, 2014

Culp Valley-Wilson Trail by Fred & Carla  Culp Valley looks very dry,  but when you hike up the wash towards the Pinyon Ridge, you see more and more flowers. We expected some flowers blooming, but not as many as we saw.

 

Prickly poppy like some rocks, so we found them a bit out of the wash.  We've seen purple nightshade blooming in the area for months now and it is still going strong, they like the shade too. It may be a bit early for blue dicks, we saw only one. Jimson Weed is doing great, you see them all over the place. Pincushions are good, at least more than a single one in other places. The Yellow Pincushions are more rare, they look good on film. Milk-vetch is still blooming and has large fruits, this is one of the places where you can find two species. Whispering bells are still there after many months. Bush monkeyflowers, you find many of them as well. Plenty of desert globemallow. Wild-cucumber has made some nice fruit, that's how you recognize them.

Hiking details here

culp valley many desert flowers fred melgert

Comment by Mike:  There are so many flower photos in the Culp Valley - Wilson Trail report that a thumbnail of Fred's Picasa page is shown above.  Click it to view the gallery.

prickly poppy, Argemone munita anza borrego fred melgert

prickly poppy, Argemone munita Fred Melgert

 

lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi anza borrego fred melgert

lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi Fred Melgert

Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch, Astragalus douglasii var. parishii anza borrego fred melgert

Parish' Jacumba milk-vetch, Astragalus douglasii var. parishii  Fred Melgert

 

 

March 16, 2014

June Wash Sandstone Canyon by Fred & Carla.  Even here where we didn't expect any flowers, we found Asters in good shape, nice Bristly Langloisia, big Desert Tobacco and even some Lupine.  The Ocotillo seem to be a bit later, but with green leaves along the road close to Vallecito  and blooming, they must like it. This hike starts in the June Wash,where  a 4x4 is preferred. This is a way to get to the Sandstone canyon without driving into Fishcreek. Hike up to the "Peak", this is an amazing viewpoint, one of the best. The route goes down steeply on a short but slippery slope into a fork of the Sandstone canyon. Hiking back is in the impressive Sandstone canyon, one of the best canyons in the park, up to a saddle and back to the car.

Hiking details here

Bristly Langloisia, Langloisia setosissima ssp. setosissima Anza Borrego Fred Melgert

Bristly Langloisia, Langloisia setosissima ssp. setosissima Fred Melgert

Bristly Langloisia, Langloisia setosissima ssp. setosissima

Closeup  Bristly Langloisia, Langloisia setosissima ssp. setosissima Fred Melgert

sandstone canyon view fred melgert

Canyon View Fred Melgert

 

March 13, 2014

The lower willows is a nice place to hike right now, one of the greener places in the park. The road is very good up to third crossing but good ground clearance is recommended. There is some soft sand at the start of the dirt road. The Willows are blooming at the moment (2 species of real Willows not the Desert Willow that only looks like a Willow),  and the Cholla are early this year. Willows, Honey mesquite and Arrow-weed are  blooming.   We set out to find the spring and circled as close as possible around it, but it is not possible to get to the spring right now; the vegetation is incredibly dense. You should be able to get to the Palm oasis. The hiking trail is almost fully restored, except for the sign, that is still missing.-  Fred & Carla

Hiking details here

 

Goodding's Willow?, Salix gooddingii? Fred Melgert

Narrow-leaved Willow?, Salix exigua var. exigua?

Narrow-leaved Willow?, Salix exigua var. exigua? Fred Melgert

Spanish Needles, Palafoxia arida var. arida

Spanish Needles, Palafoxia arida var. arida Fred Melgert

Over view Fred Melgert

 

March 12, 2014

Today's report is from Harper Dams.  Starting at the end of the Pinyon road, Fred and Carla hiked up Pinyon canyon, across Harper flat, turned right and ended up at the Harper dams.  Fred describes this as a very nice narrow canyon with some obstacles. They then went back along the Pinyon Mountain road to take a look at  Heart Attack Hill/Pinyon Drop-off.  Fred says, "man what a steep drop," down into a small canon, where the old shack is located. Watch out for the Chaparral Dodder, that looks dead, but is actually blooming. A lot of Specter Phacelia along the hike too.

 

Hike details here

 

Chaparral Dodder, Cuscuta californica var. papillosa Anza Borrego by Fred Melgert

Chaparral Dodder, Cuscuta californica var. papillosa by Fred Melgert

Specter Phacelia Phacelia pedicellata anza borrego by fred melgert

Specter Phacelia Phacelia pedicellata by Fred Melgert

Purple Mat, Nama demissum var. demissum fred melgert

Purple Mat, Nama demissum var. demissum by Fred Melgert

March 10, 2014

Report from Bittercreek by Fred and Carla. Plenty of Apricot Mallow in the creek, some lonely Pincushion. Huge Common Sow-Thistle, nice blooming Tamarix. Red brome is pretty, except when you get them in you hiking boots, real nasty stuff. Salt Marsh Sand Spurrey is blooming for weeks now, but only later in the day. Even some Wallace's woolly daisy's close to the saddle, probably got some more water from mist? Normally you see plenty of them in this area, now only a few of them. Bittercreek is one of our favorite places to hike. After the 2012 fire the canyon is easily accessible. A good change to make a loop along the Pacific Crest trail, with some great views. Bittercreek is also one of the few places with flowers this season. 

 

Hiking details here

Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii Fred Melgert

Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii Fred Melgert

Salt Marsh Sand Spurrey  382014, Spergularia marina 

Salt Marsh Sand Spurrey, Spergularia marina Fred Melgert

California groundsel, Senecio californicus anza borrego fred melgert

California groundsel, Senecio californicus Fred Melgert

Rabbitsfoot Grass, Polypogon monspeliensis anza borrego fred melgert

Rabbitsfoot Grass, Polypogon monspeliensis Fred Melgert

Wishbone Plant, Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa anza borrego fred melgert

Wishbone Plant, Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa Fred Melgert

 

March 8, 2014

Sombrero Peak.   Fred and Carla found just a few flowers on this hike. The only water, or indication of it, was found on the peak, in the box to register, someone put it upside down, so it was half filled with water. This indicates recent water and a lot of it, I guess 4 inches. Fred We came well prepared for the climb up to Sombrero Peak after reading stories of a very difficult hike. The road into the South fork of Indian valley, was much better than expected, so we arrived at the end of the road real quick. We started with the most difficult part of the hike, straight up the canyon wall. After 2 hours we arrived at the peak, a bunch of large boulders. A bit hard to determine what's the actual peak. As Carla already told me, peaks are nicer from afar. The Sombrero peak is highly recognizable, but only from a distance and at the right angle. Spotting the palm below us on the way down and as we where way ahead of schedule, we decided to go down. Down is rather steep and with plenty of small boulders. The oasis is in bad shape, a lot of dead palms. Getting at the palms was difficult, getting out and back turned out even more of a challenge. Beware: This isn't a hike for the casual hiker, there is no trail. You need some experience in these boulder rich mountains.

 

 

Hike details here

Sapphire Woollystar, Eriastrum sapphirinum Fred Melgert

Parry's Bear-Grass, Nolina parryi anza borrego fred melgert

Parry's Bear-Grass, Nolina parryi Fred Melgert

Sombrero Peak Anza Borrego by Carla Haegen

Sombrero Peak  Fred, at the top.  Photo by Carla Hoegen

 

 

March 4, 2014

A great hikeup the east fork of Pincyon wash today by Fred and Carla, then back around Harper Flat and down the main Pinyon Wash. Blooming: Indigo Bush, Chuparosa, red, orange, and yello, as well as Spiny Senna, and White Sage.  The Creosote is really colorful as well.

 

Hiking details here

 

White Sage, Salvia apiana

White Sage, Salvia apiana Fred Melgert

Spiny Senna, Senna Armata

Spiny Senna, Senna Armata Fred Melgert

 

March 3, 2014  

Fred and Carla send a report from Travertine Palms, a small oasis in the northeast corner of the park.  The wash is very dry but Palo Verde are blooming, and lots of trailing windmills. 

 

Hiking details here

 

California fan palms, washingtonia filifera

California fan palms, washingtonia filifera Fred Melgert

 

Desert Thorn-Apple, Datura discolor

Desert Thorn-Apple, Datura discolor Fred Melgert

 

Cheesebush, Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola Fred Melgert

 

February 27, 2014  

Fred and Carla send today's report from the Lute Fault Scarp. Fred says this is a pushed up hill of sand and gravel, supposed to be the largest of its kind in the Northern part of the continent. It's also a nice hike, in the sand dunes, rattlesnake canyon wash and back over the ridge. The sand is an ideal place for  tunnels, so watch your steps. Palo Verde are starting to bloom, even as some look almost dead.

 

Hiking details here

 

blue palo verde, Parkinsonia florida

blue palo verde, Parkinsonia florida Fred Melgert

Parish's Gold Poppy, Eschscholzia parishii

Parish's Gold Poppy, Eschscholzia parishii Fred Melgert

 

February 24, 2014  

Today's hike by Fred and Carla starts on the east side of Granite Mountain, in Cool Canyon.   They say this is an interesting canyon, easy to hike with some small dry falls. As the canyon ends at a vertical dry fall, head South out of the canyon toward the ridge/saddle. Go around the South side of the first peak and head for the second peak. Follow the ridge, all the way up to the main peak. The last stretch is the most difficult as the peak is mostly a pile of boulders. Along the way we found interesting plants, including some rare and one we've never seen before. Unfortunately the rare one is close to the peak, so it's a long way back to see if it's starting to bloom.

Hike details here

Silver Birds Foot Trefoil, Acmispon argophyllus var. argophyllus

Silver Birds Foot Trefoil, Acmispon argophyllus var. argophyllus Fred Melgert

Poodle-dog Bush, Eriodictyon parryi

Poodle-dog Bush, Eriodictyon parryi Fred Melgert

Prickly Poppy, Argemone munita

Prickly Poppy, Argemone munita Fred Melgert

Parry's Nolina, Nolina parryi

Parry's Nolina, Nolina parryi Fred Melgert

 

February 21, 2014  

From Fred and Carla, report from Coyote Canyon:

 

We read reports of hardly any flowers in Coyote canyon. But while driving up along first crossing, Carla detected a number of them. So arriving at third crossing we changed our plans and hiked along Coyote creek. Of course it's best to start at first or second crossing and head up or down stream. Most of the flowers are between second and third crossing. The road has never been better and of course up to first crossing is especially easy. The only obstacle is some soft sand. There are no flower beds, but still a great variety of flowers, It's been a while that we've seen Western Jimson Weed this big. False Monkeyflower with tiny flowers, this is one of the few places in the park where you can find them. A less pleasant note, insects with a nasty bite. And don't forget to bring waterproof shoes.

Hike details here

Western Jimson Weed, Datura wrightii

Western Jimson Weed, Datura wrightii Fred Melgert

Hairy Sun Cups, Camissoniopsis hirtella

Hairy Sun Cups, Camissoniopsis hirtella Fred Melgert

False Monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus

False Monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus Fred Melgert

Arrow Weed, Pluchea sericea

Arrow Weed, Pluchea sericea Fred Melgert

Desert Plantain, Plantago ovata

Desert Plantain, Plantago ovata Fred Melgert

Heart-leaved Primrose, Camissonia cardiophylla

Heart-leaved Primrose, Camissonia cardiophylla Fred Melgert

 

February 19, 2014  

From Fred and Carla, June Wash:

The June wash was easy to drive in 2014, some soft sand at the start, but I don't think you need AWD, but don't blame me if you get stuck!  An easy hike except for the short scramble up to the ridge. Keep in the east fork and drive up to the end. Keep hiking east and you end up in a fork of the Arroyo Tapiado and eventually in the main wash with the road. But if you keep going that way you will end up miles and miles from your car. So cross over to the Arroyo Hueso. Great canyons with steep walls you see all over this area. After just under a mile we headed North West back toward the June wash. Flowers: Many: Spanish Needles, woody-asters (the best so far). Some: Indigo bush, Emory's indigo-bush, Ocotillo and Tamarisk, indicating water. Another Broom-Rape, it's blooming time for them. They are real easy to miss, blending in with the sand.

Hike details here

Pima Rhatany, Krameria erecta

Pima Rhatany, Krameria erecta Fred Melgert

Tamarisk, Tamarix ramosissima

Tamarisk, Tamarix ramosissima Fred Melgert

Broom-Rape, Orobanche cooperi

Broom-Rape, Orobanche cooperi Fred Melgert

Emory's indigo-bush, Psorothamnus emoryi

Emory's indigo-bush, Psorothamnus emoryi Fred Melgert

 

February 18, 2014  

Fred and Carla hiked to Whale Peak today.  They say they did not take the easiest way up to the peak, but their routhe was interesting, if you are not afaid of rocks and boulders.  Fred says that flowers were scarce, but as always they provide some wonderful pictures of.....flowers!  They also say they encountered a traffic jam in the park, driving back from parking on the dirt road.  It was a busy Presidents weekend.

Hike details here

California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum

California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum Fred Melgert

Desert lotus, Acmispon rigidus

Desert lotus, Acmispon rigidus Fred Melgert

Narrowleaf Goldenbush, Ericameria linearifolia

Narrowleaf Goldenbush, Ericameria linearifolia Fred Melgert

 

 

February 13, 2014  

Fred and Carla hiked Bisnaga was and they say "This is what I think a desert should look like."  It is an easy stroll, hike for about 30 minutes, go over to the other side of the wash and then hike back.  Blooming right now:

Cheesebush in two colors, Chuparosa in red, orange, and yellow, along with barrel and fish-hook cactus.  Finally, after years of searching they have also found Newberry's velvet mallow.  Watch  out for all the cholla though!

 

Hiking details here 

Newberry's velvet mallow, Horsfordia newberryi

Newberry's velvet mallow, Horsfordia newberryi Fred Melgert

Yellow Chuparosa, Justicia californica

Yellow Chuparosa, Justicia californica Fred Melgert

White-stemmed blazing star, Mentzelia albicaulis

White-stemmed blazing star, Mentzelia albicaulis Fred Melgert

Cheesebush, Ambrosia salsola var. salsola

Cheesebush, Ambrosia salsola var. salsola Fred Meglert

California Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus

California Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus Fred Melgert

February 12, 2014  

Marcy Yates sends a report from a hike in South Palm Wash.  She sends photos of a giant milkweed spotted along the way but reports there are not many other flowers there, other than a few Desert Trumpets with their very small flowers.

Giant Milkweed

Giant Milkweed Asclepias sublata apocynaceae Marcy Yates

Milkweed Asclepias sublata apocynaceae Marcy Yates

February 12, 2014  

Fred and Carla send a report from Eagle Rock, which they describe as a hike among friendly cows, along a popular section of the Pacific Crest Trail.  Carla is puzzled by the birchbark mahogony which should bloom much later, and this one is already in fruit.

 

Hike details are here

 

Birch-leaf Mountain Mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides, Fruit

Birch-leaf Mountain Mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides, Fruit  Fred Melgert

Wild Cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus

Wild Cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus Fred Melgert

 

February 9, 2014  

Report from Bill Sullivan

What some people look forward to as the first day of spring wildflower season in Anza-Borrego is now less than a week away. Early reports indicate that the 2014 season won't measure up to good seasons in past years. So today I decided to drive to Ocotillo, and come up County Road S-2 to Scissors Crossing to see what I could see in the way of early bloomers, as close to the road as possible.  

 

I exited Interstate-8 at Highway 98 where I was greeted by a few flowering Brittlebush and Creosote. I stopped to look around, and also found a California Fagonia (but just one) and noticed two Chuparosa plants with nice red flowers in a wash. The Brittlebush and Creosote apparently had been flowering for several days. The flowers appeared weather-beaten, and were small, a sign of lack of water, so nice but not spectacular. I looked around for signs of spring annuals, real wildflowers and not just the flowers on shrubs and trees, but I saw nothing.  

 

My next stop was a few miles east on Highway 98 at a road called Coyote One. It is just south of a tall microwave tower beside a road to the Yuha Basin. Running south from Highway 98 at the Coyote One road is a ditch which, though dry now, always seems to support several nice flowers. I was pleased to notice two nice new Prickly Poppy (Argemone munita) plants in flower and quite a bit of small-flowered Apricot Mallow. Last year the Prickly Poppy covered several acres of ground west of the Crucifixion Thorn reserve east of here another mile, so I drove down to take a look. I didn't find much Prickly Poppy in flower, but I did find sufficient numbers sprouting out of the ground to tell me this could be another good year for this plant here. As for other plants, I could not say, but the Crucifixion Thorn (Castela emoryi) was looking good. .

 

Then it was on to Anza-Borrego where things became progressively flowerless, at least beside the road. The highlight was at the Volcanic Hills where I stopped to look at the Pygmy Cedar (Peucephyllum schottii) -- it wasn't in flower but I love the green color -- and I came across an Oncerometopus nigriclavus (just call it a red Plant Bug) enjoying some Milkweed.

Argemone_munita_0360

Argemone munita Bill Sullivan

 

Peucephyllum_schottii

Peucephyllum_schottii  Bill Sullivan

Oncerometopus-nigriclavus

Oncerometopus-nigriclavus  Bill Sullivan

Oncerometopus-nigriclavus

Castela emoryi  Bill Sullivan

 

 

February 7. 2014

Fred and Carla revisited Grapevine Peak today, the first time since the 2012 fire.  The return in Bitter Creek was a lot easier this time; no more nasty cat claw and other nasty scrubs.  Flowers are scarce, but still a good variety.

The hike up Grapevine Peak is one of the easiest around, they say. 

 

Fred says: "This time around we didn't repeat the previous mistakes, going up high after the saddle. Going up along the wash was pretty easy and there where some pretty flowers up there. First you get a rocky peak and close by is the more shallow real peak. .Looking down towards Bitter Creek, a very steep drop indeed. So keep on going south, following the ridge down. It still goes down rather steep, but the sand keeps it almost easy. This is where we found our first blooming barrel cactus for this year.  Some small falls and there is still some water in the creek. More a salty seep than a spring. You see hundreds of Saltmarsh sand-spurry. The actual spring is further down. There is a white bathtub that used to be connected to the pipes. You can easily spot the spring by looking for a palm tree up to the right (east). The Cottonwood Tree that used to be there is gone, only the trunk remains."

 

Hike details are here

 

Purple mat, Nama demissum var. demissum

Purple mat, Nama demissum var. demissum Fred Melgert 

Saltmarsh Sand-spurry, Spergularia marina

Saltmarsh Sand-spurry, Spergularia marina Fred Melgert

Red-Stem Filaree, Erodium cicutarium

Red-Stem Filaree, Erodium cicutarium Fred Melgert

Desert Agave, Agave deserti

Desert Agave, Agave deserti Fred Melgert

February 6,  2014

Fred and Carla find flowers again way, this time above Big Spring in the steeper boulder rich canyon. There is Red brome in Culp valley and the Coyote Melon that are plentiful out here. Thousands of Whispering Bells in the boulders, but only a few opening up their flowers. Golden yarrow is plentiful and it seems to be paintbrush time. Desert apricot, are starting to bloom, but only a couple of them. One Indian Valley bush mallow was spotted near the spring, that was almost white, not a common sight. In the Big Spring, there is plenty of streaming water, but hardly anything blooming. But you find Indian Valley Bush Mallow and the tiny Star gilia. A warning, the canyon is rather steep, so not suited for a casual hike.

 

Hike details here

Golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum

Golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum Fred Melgert

Star gilia, Gilia stellata

Star gilia, Gilia stellata Fred Melgert

Bishop's Lotus, Acmispon strigosus

Bishop's Lotus, Acmispon strigosus Fred Melgert

Red brome, Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens

Red brome, Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens Fred Melget

February 7. 2014

Fred and Carla send todays report from Arroyo Salado, hiking in the north and main fork, looping around and following many washes.  Only some Asters struggling to bloom were found there, just a few.  Conditions are very dry. We do have the following photo, which is certainly a keeper.

Hike details are here

 

 Orcutt's Woody Aster  Xylorhiza orcuttii

Orcutt's Woody Aster  Xylorhiza orcuttii Fred Melgert

February 6. 2014

A loop in Grapevine Canyon, on the north side, kept Fred and Carla busy today.  They are on a quest to hike as many canyons as possible and, between last year and this year, they have covered an impressive number of locations in Anza-Borrego and beyond.  Click here to take a look at the ground they have covered, all with map details, directions, GPS, photos, and even videos.

 

Hike details are here.

 

Carla - in a scene from today's hike  Fred Melgert

Beetle Spurge, Euporbia eriantha

 Beetle Spurge, Euporbia eriantha Fred Melgert

February 5. 2014

Some nice flowers found at Blue Spring, according to Fred and Carla.  Among the ones found:  Bush Milkvetch, Astragalus pachypus var. pachypus and Cleveland's Beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. Clevelandii likes rocks and you find them in hard to get places, Fred says; he had just room to get the picture. Then it was on to Blue Spring and it's great sandstone pillars and holes. This time they report that they found a better route to get over the saddle, making the hike more pleasant. It still is one of their longer hikes, they say, but one of the best. Fred says they found some new flowers that made Carla go the extra mile!  Also the desert apricot and desert mistletoe are starting to bloom.

Hike details are here

Cleveland's Beardtongue,  Penstemon clevelandii var. clevelandii

Cleveland's Beardtongue,  Penstemon clevelandii var. clevelandii Fred Melgert

Desert-Apricot, Prunus fremontii

Desert-Apricot, Prunus fremontii Fred Melgert

Bladderpod, Isomeris arborea

Bladderpod, Isomeris arborea Fred Melgert

Bush Milkvetch, Astragalus pachypus var. pachypus

Bush Milkvetch, Astragalus pachypus var. pachypus Fred Melgert

January 31, 2014

Today's report from Fred and Carla comes from Big Spring....

 

Most of the flowers we found closer to the Big Spring. Still plenty of streaming water in the creek. It is closer to home. This is the third time we visited Big Spring; this time we hiked the lower canyon down to Middle Spring. This is a canyon with a creek, narrow and steep. Expect a lot of steep terrain, so be careful, check all options before proceeding. Watch for wild cucumber, they look like vines and have a strong smell. They can fill a large area with flowers.

Hike details are here

Thick-Leaf Desert Mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa

Thick-Leaf Desert Mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa Fred Melgert

Wild Cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus

Wild Cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus Fred Melgert

white fiesta flower, Pholistoma membranaceum

White fiesta flower, Pholistoma membranaceum Fred Melgert

January 28, 2014

Fred and Carla sent this report:

We hiked the Smuggler canyon before, but higher up. There it's very steep and filled with boulders. This lower part is a lot better to hike. The canyon walls are just high enough to provide some shade for the flowers. The wash looks dry and dead, but not so, it's filed with insects on the Lavender and Chuparosa. Both are looking healthy and we haven't seen any Chuparosa this good, in a couple of months. The first part, up the Smuggler Canon Wash, is very easy on a sandy wash. It takes about one hour until you reach some small boulders. 

 

Hike details are here and some flower photos from this trip follow:

 

Chuparosa, Justicia californica

Chuparosa, Justicia californica Fred Melgert

California Fagonia, Fagonia laevis

California Fagonia, Fagonia laevis Fred Melgert

Desert Tobacco, Nicotiana obtusifolia

Desert Tobacco, Nicotiana obtusifolia Fred Melgert

January 24, 2014

Pinyon Springs Forks.  Another try to find some flowers by Fred and Carla.

 

A loop in a couple of steep washes, just below and up to the Wilson Trail. A scenic hike with some challenging parts. And still flowers after almost 2 months without any rain. Wild Canterbury Bells at every boulder. The Parish's Golden-Eyes where the best we've see so far. Chia are so big you hardly recognize them. And the Bush Monkey flower (yellow).

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Parish's purple nightshade, Solanum parishii

Parish's purple nightshade, Solanum parishii Fred Melgert

 

California Primrose, Camissonia californica

California Primrose, Camissonia californica Fred Melgert

 

Bush Monkey Flower, Mimulus aurantiacus

Bush Monkey Flower, Mimulus aurantiacus Fred Melgert

January 23, 2014

Fred and Carla sent the following photos today from the Pacific Crest Loop, mile 14.3

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Wild Canterbury Bells, Phacelia minor

Wild Canterbury Bells, Phacelia minor Fred Melgert

Cryptantha, Cryptantha species

Cryptantha, Cryptantha species Fred Melgert

Thick-Leaved Ground-Cherry, Physalis crassifolia

Thick-Leaved Ground-Cherry, Physalis crassifolia Fred Melgert

January 23, 2014

It has been a long time since we heard from Bill Sullivan.  Yesterday he send us the following report:

 

I finally got back to the realigned First Crossing of Coyote Creek today, with all of its repositioned creek water and sand. Note how the lower part of the First Crossing sign is buried in new sand.

First Crossing Coyote Creek

In past years, water to First Crossing was either shallow or non-existent. Today, the water meanders well south of the jeep trail.

water in first crossing coyote creek

Overall, the Borrego Valley where the creek flows look depressingly dry. Overall, the outlook for spring wildflowers is not good. A great exception extends about ten yards south of the point where theCoyote Canyon jeep road crosses the re-aligned creek. The plants here show what water can do. Before showing you the pictures, I should say that for most people I would consider the drive here to be 4WD only. I myself parked at Desert Gardens and walked the rest of the way, about a quarter of a mile,which is hardly strenuous. I am sure I saw more flowers by walking than I would have by driving.   Before I reached the water of the creek, I saw a large Cheesebush shrub, Ambrosia salsola var. salsola, in flower in the dry creek bed. The only bad news is that Cheesebush has some of the smallest and least-noticed flowers in the desert. It's the fruit, which appears later, that gets noticed. Here's the itty-bitty flowers:

Ambrosia sisola var. salsola

 

I also was impressed with the size and color of a Sandpaper Plant, Petalonyx thurberi, which is one of our few plants to flower in summer. What was it doing looking so good in January? The flowers are not show-stoppers.

The stars of the show were the Emory's Rock Daisy, Perityle emoryi(an Asteraceae), plants beside the creek, upwards of four feet tall, with hundreds of white flowers with yellow disk flowers in the center ...

 

I also noticed this Arizona lupine plant ...

arizona lupine

and a rather mature Phacelia distans, each the only one of its kind ...

I also noticed a few, just a very few very large and healthy,Camissonia claviformis ssp. peirsonii plants (I think the NatureCenter people call it Brown-eyed Primrose, but Peirson's Browneyes would be better) and Dithyrea californica (Spectacle Pod), one of the good flowers  of the Mustard family. This is usually one of the first to flower in Spring. The photo below shows the  little green spectacle seed pods. They appear in pairs, like spectacles.

In the photo below, Camissonia can be seen on the left with the Dithyrea on the right..

Also along the way, I noticed several Psorothamnus emoryi, Dyeweed, with smallish flowers. Many of the plants were half buried in new sand. Down by the citrus groves, maybe 100 yards north of the DiGiorgio Road blacktop, I drove past a tobacco plant, Nicotiana, and I am sorry I didn't get the species (there are two or three in the desert) and I didn't take a picture.

 

January 19, 2014

Fred and Carla found the Culp Valley a good place for flowers mostly out of the wash.  They say...

 "Flowers are mostly found in higher elevations right now, where this hike goes. The hike starts in Culp Valley close to the asphalt.  A not too difficult hike completely off the beaten track. We expected some flowers this high up and because of the recent fire. Seeing some on the Wilson trail, that's close by.

We had to deviate slightly from the planned route, as we hit a really steep drop, with huge boulders. But the detour we found was surprisingly easy and brought us back on the route we planned to take."

Hike Details on Wikiloc

Woolly Indian Paintbrush, Castilleja foliolosa

Woolly Indian Paintbrush, Castilleja foliolosa by Fred Melgert

Red gland spurge,Chamaesyce melanadenia

Red gland spurge,Chamaesyce melanadenia by Fred Melgert

Yellow Bush Penstemon, Keckiella antirrhinoides

Yellow Bush Penstemon, Keckiella antirrhinoides by Fred Melgert

Coyote Melon, Cucurbita palmata

Coyote Melon, Cucurbita palmata by Fred Melgert

 

January 18, 2014

Arroyo Seco del Diablo in the southern part of Anza-Borrego.   Flowers to be found, even in this very dry time.

Fred and Carla explored this stunning deep and narrow canyon, with slots in many of the forks.  They report that the best route is to exit Palm Spring and drive Vallecito Wash.  They say that the Great overland route looks good on the map but there is deep sand in one section and they barely made it through with AWD.

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Flat topped buckwheat, Eriogonum deflexum var. deflexum

Flat topped buckwheat, Eriogonum deflexum var. deflexum by Fred Melgert

Narrow-Leaf Cryptantha, Cryptantha angustifolia

Narrow-Leaf Cryptantha, Cryptantha angustifolia by Fred Melgert

 

January 17, 2014

Fred and Carla report that even in this dry period there are flowers to be found. Their most recent report is fromThe Wilson trail, an easy hike on a faint dirt road. Take the Jasper trail and turn left on the four way crossing into (old) Culp Valley road and park at the Wilson trail (all signed). The road was good in 2014 and suitable for cars with some ground clearance.

VIEW FULL HIKE DETAILS  Photos foloow:

yellow pincushion anza-borrego melgert

Yellow pincushion, Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula Fred Melgert

Veatch's blazing star, Mentzelia veatchiana

Veatch's blazing star, Mentzelia veatchiana Fred Melgert

Indian Valley bush mallow, Malacothamnus aboriginum

Indian Valley bush mallow, Malacothamnus aboriginum Fred Melgert

 

January 14, 2014

Fred and Carla report "a boulder rich hike" around Ghost mountain. The morteros are normally as short as hikes go. We made the hike a bit longer, into the canyon with plenty of boulders and back along the west side of Ghost mountain. Ghost mountain is filled with fish hook cacti. A couple of them are the first blooming cacti this year. Only recommended for experienced hikers.

HIKE DESCRIPTION

 

Fish-hook Cactus, Mammillaria dioica

Fish-hook Cactus, Mammillaria dioica Fred Melgert

 

 

Heart-leaved Primrose, Camissonia cardiophylla

Heart-leaved Primrose, Camissonia cardiophylla Fred Melgert

January 5, 2014

Glorietta Canyon revisited.  By Fred and Carla.  Glorietta is one of the most beautiful locations in Anza-Borrego, and so close to Borrego Springs that it often gets overlooked.  On this latest trip they report seeing Rock Crossosoma, plentiful Spiny Senna, plenty of Brittlebrush, and some great shots of Indigo Bush.

 

Rock Crossosoma, Crossosoma bigelovii

Rock Crossosoma, Crossosoma bigelovii Fred Melgert

Indigo Bush, Psorothamnus schottii

Indigo Bush, Psorothamnus schottii by Fred Melgert

December 31, 2013

The last hike of the year for Fred and Carla took them to Fish Creek.  They say the driving is slow, once past the wind caves, lots of sand and rocks, close to the limit of their Subaru.  A 40 minutes one-way drive from the asphalt.  They saw some bighorn sheep along the way, the second time this week for them, having seen sheep in the upper part of Moonlight Canyon a couple of days earlier.  The hike, they say, is for the more adventurous, and a hiking stick is recommended.

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The photos from two flowers they had not seen before are shown below.

broom rape anza-borrego melgert

Broom-Rape, Orobanche cooperi Melgert

desert plaintain anza borrego melgert

Desert Plantain, Plantago ovata Melgert

 

December 30, 2013

The upper part of Moonlight Canyon, to the Inner Pastures, was today's destination for Fred and Carla.  Very few people hike the Moonlight Pass, and althought they saw some hikes at the start there was little sign of hikers near the top.  There are some spectacular granite falls along the way, but they say that they look more difficult than they are.  On the return trip they encountered eight sheep.  Some photos follow. 

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desert lotus anza borrego melgert

Desert lotus, Acmispon rigidus Melgert

Queen Butterfly  Melgert

bighorn sheep anza-borrego melgert

Bighorn Sheep seen on their return trip  Fred Melgert

 

December 29, 2013

Mine Wash was the destination that Fred and Carla chose today.  They drove to the end of the road and hiked from there.  And they continue to find flowers wherever they go.  Fred says it was a really nice hike and adds that Dog weed is hard to forget; when you come home you can still smell it.

 

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And some photos:

palmers locoweed anza-borrego melgert

Palmer's Locoweed, Astragalus palmeri Fred Melgert

Piersons brown eyed evening primrose melgert

Peirson's Brown-eyed Evening Primrose, Camissonia claviformis ssp. peirsonii Fred Melgert

San Felipe Dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides Fred Melgert

December 26, 2013

Fred and Carla sent some photos today from yesterday's hike into Hornblende Canyon.  Hornblende is a beautiful little canyon, with some nice dry waterfalls, old mining sites, and morteros at the upper end.  Fred and Carla will be leading a hike there on February 25.  Details will be posted in the next edition of ABDNHA's Sand Paper newsletter.

 

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california primrose anza-borrego melgert

California primrose, Camissonia californica Fred Melgert

sow thistle anza-borrego melgert

Sow-Thistle, Sonchus oleraceus Fred Megert

desert mistletoe anza-borrego melgert

Desert Mistletoe, Phoradendron californicum Fred Melgert

 

December 18, 2013

Fred and Carla send a report from Oriflamme Canyon.  Just a few days from Chrismas but there are flowers to report.  They say that the road in is a little rough and high clearance is a must. 

 

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Fremont cottonwood, western sycamore, willow

Fremont cottonwood, Western Sycamore, Willow - Oriflame Canyon Fred Melgert

 

sugar bush anza-borrego melgert

Sugar Bush, Rhus ovata Fred Melgert

wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora anza-borrego melgert

Wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora Fred Melgert

short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius oriflame canyon anza-borrego melgert

Short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius  Fred Melgert

Chaparral Nightshade, Solanum xanti Fred Melgert

 

December 5, 2013

Today's hike started just before third crossing in Coyote Canyon, part of Box canyon, a fork of the Box canyon that leads in to Coyote canyon and back toward the lower willows.

What you can find right now are sand verbena's, rabbit bush and very early smoke trees blooming.

You can see the result of the August rain; a huge deposit of sand from Box canyon into the lower willows.
The smoke trees were a unexpected surprise.

On the return, towards the lower willows, the wash was almost unrecognizable.
And the hike was more like a bush walk crossing the willows, the trail runs completely different from last year.
Watch out for very deep holes.

The road up to third crossing is very good this year.  Fred & Carla

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smoke tree anza borrego melgert

Smoke Tree, Psorothamnus spinosus Fred Melgert

sand verbena anza borrego melgert

Desert Sand Verbena, Abronia villosa Fred Melgert

wishbone plant anza borrego melgert

Wishbone Plant, Mirabilis laevis Fred Melgert

mule fat anza borrego melgert

Mule Fat also known as Seep Willow, Baccharis salicifolia Fred Melgert

 

December 4, 2013

Marcy reports very nice Chuparosa blooming along the Narrows Earth Trail.

chuparosa_marcy_yates

Chuparosa Marcy Yates

 

 

December 3, 2013

We took an easy hike today to Big Springs, just 1.7 miles in length.  The area burned in 2012 so don't wear your best clothes!  You can still see the actual spring; before too long it will all grow back and you will not be able to reach it so easily. 

Today we saw Parish's Golden-Eyes, Desert Mallow, Rose Desert Mallow, Wedgeleaf Draba,  White Nightshade, Boundary Goldenbush, and Western Jimson Weed. The combination of fire and rain have made this a good place for flowers this time of year.

The Rose Desert Mallow may be more rare in the park, at least we haven't seen it yet before this. I personally like the Wild Cucumber even as they are 1/2 year old. Western Jimson Weed, seen mostly white, this one over here is more colorful.  Fred & Carla


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parish's golden eyes anza borrego fred melgert

Parish's Golden-Eyes Viguiera parishii Fred Melgert

rose desert mallow anza borrego fred melgert

Rose Desert Mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rosacea Fred Melgert

white nightshade anza borrego fred melgert

White Nightshade Solanum douglasii Fred Melgert

wild cucumber old fruits anza borrego fred melgert

Wild Cucumber - dried fruits  Marah macrocarpus Fred Melgert


November 27, 2013

Today we hiked Oyster wash and took a wash to the right.  We found that wash last year by accident.  Next we hiked over the saddle and along the cliff of Fish wash.  Steep with very nice views.  Really nice flowers for this time of year.  View Map on wikiloc

california fagonia

California Fagonia  Fagonia laevis Fred Melgert borregohiking.com

climbing milkweed

Climbing Milkweed  Sarcostemma cynanchoides Fred Melgert borregohiking.com

trailing windmills

Trailing Windmills  Allonia incarnata Fred Melgert borregohiking.com

desert hibiscus

Desert Hibiscus  Hibiscus denudatus Fred Melgert borregohiking.com

November 26, 2013

Today we hiked two forks of Plum Canyon as a loop.  View map on wikiloc.  The hike was great and the flowers were better than expected.  Some pictures follow:

wire lettuce

Wire Lettuce stephanomeria pauciflora Fred Melgert borregohiking.com 

Ground Cherry  Physalis crassifolia Fred Melgert borregohiking.com

desert trumpet melgert

Desert Trumpet Erigonum inflatum Fred Melgert borregohiking.com

 

November 24, 2013

Today we hiked a hike that we had taken in March of this year, from Highway S2, at mile 15.
It was a beautiful hike with a surprisingly amount of wildflowers. There were even 2 desert agaves in bloom. Some photos follow...

rattlesnake_spurge_fred_melgert

Rattlesnake Spurge  Fred Melgert

Filaree_anza-borrego-fred-melgert

Filaree Fred Melgert

amaranth_anza_borrego_fred_melgert

Amaranth  Fred Melgert

 

interior golden bush anza-borrego fred melgert

California match-weed, Gutierrezia californica Fred Melgert

 

November 23, 2013

On Saturday we found several nice clumps of California fuchsia in bloom along the trail to the little waterfall in Cougar Canyon. Verbena was blooming along the road in Coyote Canyon, along with one very healthy Rock Hibiscus in flower. Beautiful clumps of Rock Daisies were starting to bloom above the Third Crossing in Coyote Canyon. Even the foliage of the Rock Daisies was gorgeous -- lush and luminous green!

california fuchsia by marcy yates

California Fuchsia Marcy Yates

rock daisy foliage by Marci Yates

Rock Daisy Foliage  Marcy Yates

 

November 12, 2013

Today's hike in Little Surprise Canyon yielded some wildflower surprises. We saw Desert Rock Daisies blooming in the trail, along the trail and up the hillsides. It looked like they were just starting to bloom with lots of buds yet to open. Trailing Windmills were also much in evidence, with only one Yellow Ground Cherry spotted and only one Chuparosa starting to bloom. Some Desert Lavender bushes were still blooming.Today's hike in Little Surprise Canyon yielded some wildflower surprises. We saw Desert Rock Daisies blooming in the trail, along the trail and up the hillsides. It looked like they were just starting to bloom with lots of buds yet to open. Trailing Windmills were also much in evidence, with only one Yellow Ground Cherry spotted and only one Chuparosa starting to bloom. Some Desert Lavender bushes were still blooming.

We saw the most flowers in the right branch of the canyon, although there were some nice clumps of pale lavender flowers on our way out of the left branch.  - Marcy

rock daisy anza-borrego marci yates

Rock Daisy - Marcy Yates

 

Stephanomeria pauciflora - Marcy Yates

trailing windmills anza-borrego marcy yates

Trailing Windmills - Marcy Yates

ground cherry anza-borrego marcy yates

Ground Cherry - Marcy Yates 

September 29, 2013

We went to Glorietta Canyon today.  The flood of August 25 made major changes to the roadway.  It used to be a roadway suitable for two wheel drive cars,  but a large section of that road has been completely obiterated and replaced by a very wide and very sandy wash.  The wash continues all the way down to Borrego Springs Road, where it interects the highway just south of San Pablo Road.  Lots of tire tracks indicate that many vehicles are now getting to Glorietta via that wash instead of the old route.

Here are some flowers we saw along the way.

rock hibiscus

Desert Hibiscus

 

desert senna

Desert Senna

 

 

 

September 6, 2013

Not seen nearly as often as the more common Fishook cactus , these nice Yaqui Fishook ( Mammillaria tetrancista) were spotted on a rocky hillside in the Blair Valley following the heavy rainfall.

 

 

 

 

April 26, 2013

An interesting mix of flowers was found on a 4/26 hike up Plum Canyon. We saw Snake eyes, Dudleya, White sage, Buckwheat, Sweetbush, Desert Lavender, Chuparosa, and Desert trumpet.

Cactus blossoms were well represented with Gander cholla, prickly pear, hedgehog, beavertail and barrel cactus in bloom. - Marcy Yates

Photo by Marcy Yates

 

Dudleya - Photo by Marcy Yates

 

April 21, 2013

A nice Desert Willow bloom was starting along the Borrego Palm Canyon trail. We also found a few yellow monkey flowers in and along the stream leading out of the oasis. Desert lavender is still blooming well in the drier areas of the trail.

Only a very few brittlebush and chuparosa flowers lingered. - Marcy

 

Desert Willow - Photo by Marcy Yates

 

April 15, 2013

While many flowers have faded or blown away recently, there are still blooms to be found if you go looking. The Honey Mesquite is in bloom near Tamarisk Grove. Between there and Mine Wash is a sea of red Ocotillo flowers, plus quite a few agave flower spikes. Most of the agave do not yet have flowers open.

At the Mine Wash village site, ocotillo, desert lavender, chuparosa, and various cactus (beavertail, prickly pear, cholla) are in bloom here and there, with agave flower spikes visible in the distance.  - Marcy Yates

Desert Lavender Photo by Marcy Yates