Wildflower Preview at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Click here to view last season’s wildflower video, a season in review.
This past week the desert area received rain which will prolong the wildflower season this year. The most significant rain in relation to the wildflowers is the precipitation that the desert receives during the months of October, November and December. Any rain that occurs after December will prolong the season.
A quick trip to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park showed some early color.Our first stop was the sandy area along the road at the entrance to Coyote Canyon.There were a few sand verbena and primrose plants in bloom.It was still too early for viewing at this location.The next stop was Henderson Canyon Road, well-known for its fields of purple sand verbena during a good wildflower showing.At this location we found some purple Sand Verbena in beginning to bloom.The best display was near the north end of Henderson Canyon Rd. where the water runs off the hillside onto a sandy area near the road.The mini sand dunes had a good display of sand verbena.
Near the Pegleg Monument we found a single brittle bush in full bloom and a few Lupine along the road, but not much else to be seen in this area. The Rangers at the Visitors Center said the blooms are just starting to show and we are a ways off from the peak of this season. They also confirmed that the recent rain will prolong the season this year.
Our last stop was Plum Canyon.The Rangers recommended this location for wildflower displays.We did discover a nice display of Chuparosa bushes in bloom and some lavender bushes starting to bloom.There wasn’t much else blooming yet in this canyon.It is a great location to bird watch.I saw several humming birds feeding on the nectar of the Chuparosa bushes.
It is still early in the season, so I don’t recommend going out quite yet.I’m sure we will be out that way again in a few weeks and we will keep you up-to-date on when we expect to have the “peak” of the wildflower season this year.Feel free to send us your reports for the various desert regions.Send photos too and we will post them on DesertUSA’s Wildflower Reports page.
Click here to view last season’s wildflower video, a season in review.
