DesertBlog

Anza-Borrego Wildflowers 2009

Occasionally we need to take a break from activism and get out and smell the flowers. Last Saturday, I took a hike from Grapevine Canyon, up Grapevine Mountain and back down Bitter Creek. Brittle bush was probably the most abundant bloomer, but the chuparosa in Bitter Creek were also spectacular. Lots of phacelia as well. And I found the fish hook cactus (right) to be the most charismatic of the bunch.

A full set of photos and a map from the outing are available on my Flickr page.

The Anza-Borrego Foundation and Institute’s website also has a flower alert page, as does the state park website.

And this photographer got some great shots on his first trip to Anza-Borrego, though not necessarily of the flowers.

Feel free to post your own flower reports in the comments section below.

Chuparosa and brittlebush in Bitter Creek.

UPDATE: Here are a few more photos from a hike up Harper Canyon in Anza-Borrego on March 29. Feel free to help me out on the identifications in the comments section.

Orange Mallow

Beavertail cactus blossom

Going by the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association’s flower guide, I think this is a ghost flower (Mohavea confertiflora)

Creosote in bloom

So it’s not a flower, but this was a new lizard for me. Not sure, but could be a banded rock lizard.

Indigo bush

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