Wildflower Reports For 2010
Anza-Borrego Desert

Feb 6, 2010 DUSA reports: The park is getting rain today and more on the way

Feb 2, 2010 George reports: Photo taken North of Ocotillo near Coyote Mountains. Sand Verbena and Brittle Bush. Near the South end of the park.

Jan 18, 2010 Frank reports: Canebrake, CA - The main storm was over by 6:00 PM last night but then about 9:30 PM very brief showers started blowing through and continue to do so this morning. As of this time, another 0.15"accumulated from these showers. My total for the week is now 3.4" and for the season is 4.7 " Weather station located in Canebrake, Ca in the southern part of the Anza Borrego.

I only saw three flashes of lightning, early last night, and only heard the thunder twice so I don't think it was very close to Canebrake. This is the only thunderstorm activity that I am aware of, for this entire period of storms, starting with last Monday.

Jan 18, 2010 Frank reports: About 3:15 PM, after a period of blue sky, it started raining rather suddenly and continued steady, for about four hours. The total was 0.59 inches. That brings the season (since 7/01/09) to 1.91" Weather station located in Canebrake, Ca in the southern part of the park.

Jan 16, 2010 DUSA reports: The rain is coming next week, it could be a big storm.

Jan. 11 2010 DUSA reports: Visited Anza Borrego area on Sunday. The area did have a good rain several weeks ago, but is dry now. Some green plant activity starting along Coyote Canyon Road.

Dec. 7 2009 DUSA reports: The Anza Borrego desert received the needed rain to get the 2010 started. More rain is forecasted.

May 1, 2009 The Park reports: The wildflower season is winding down for the year. While there are cacti blooming in the lower elevations of the park, the remaining annuals are mostly found in the higher elevations of the park. This is the final update from the park.

Apr. 23, 2009 The Park reports: The show of flowers on the valley floor is done with but there are still lots of flowers to see with a bit of hiking in the canyons and at higher elevations.

Around the valley floor look for the red flames of the Ocotillo blooming all over along the roadsides, especially along Borrego Springs Road near Texas Dip and Highway 78 in that area. Around the Visitor Center there are Indigo bushes and Palo Verde trees blooming. The cactus are also putting on a nice show with Beavertail and Cholla blooming all over and some of the Hedgehogs starting as well. Hiking up Hellhole Canyon towards Maidenhair Falls there are still nice flowers and shrubs blooming.

The Yaqui Well trail is still very nice for flowers and the Cactus Loop has cactus blooming. The majority of the canyons off of Highway 78 and down S-2, which are at a higher elevation, have a greater variety of flowers blooming for those willing to do some hiking. Plum Canyon has flowers including Wishbone, Chuparosa, Chicory, Viguiera, Fiddleneck, Phacelia, Desert Rock-Pea, and Popcorn Flowers. To get to the walk you have to drive about two miles off Highway 78 on a dirt road which is good for 2 wheel-drive vehicles. Mine Wash Road off of Highway 78 has a great display of Poppies and Brittlebush going up the hillside near the beginning and Spiny Senna and Dandelions along the road. At the Village Site there are Pincushions, Desert Lavender, Dandelions, and Cholla starting to bloom. For those with high-clearance, Nolina Wash as well as most of the canyons off the highway do have nice displays of flowers.

In the south end of the park, Carrizo Overlook has Lupine, Dandelions, Chicory, and Beavertail Cactus blooming. For those with 4WD there are flowers in Canon Sin Nombre and Indian Gorge. There are also flowers around Bow Willow and Mountain Palm Springs. Coming down Montezuma Grade on S-22 look for flowers all along the roadside and there is also a chance of seeing sheep up there. Stop at the Culp Valley Campground to look for Goldfields, Brittlebush, and Poppies.

Mar. 19, 2009 Juli reports: Went for the wildflowers on Monday March 16, and got a bit of a bonus - between mile marker 14.5 and 15.0 on Montezuma grade, we spotted a pair of bighorn, mother and lamb.