ABDNHA home | Wildflowers | Current Report

Wildflowers: Summer in Anza-Borrego

Closeup photo of a honeybee on a yellow Acton's Encelia flower, San Felipe Valley, 24 June 2010.

June 24, 2010 – In San Felipe Valley, we found a nice display of summer flowers and flowering shrubs and trees, as well as some hangers-on from the spring. Blossoms ranged in size from the tiny Scarlet Spiderling to the large Calabazilla, Western Jimson Weed, and Desert Thorn-Apple.

Blossoms on the Desert-Willow trees (lots of them) were dancing in a nice early morning breeze. Insects were all over the blossoms of Catclaw, Honey Mesquite, Desert Milkweed, and Acton's Encelia. The Salt Heliotrope was a nice surprise. The Small Wreath-Plant, which can grow to over three feet tall, was out in significant numbers as were the Buckwheat and the Prickly Poppies. We also saw our first Sandpaper Plant of the year, but we are sure it won't be the last.

Insects were out and about, including honeybees at the Acton's Encelia and Catclaw, a bumblebee at the Prickly Poppy, and ants (red and black) on the Desert Milkweed.

We began our walk from the kiosk on the west side of the San Felipe Valley Road (County Road S-2) between mile 11 and mile 12. Signs indicate that this former farm property is managed by California Fish & Game. We walked down a dirt road (no weed seeds in our socks) for about a mile before turning around.

PS: Back in our car and driving westward on Highway 78, we noticed all kinds of Desert Agave in flower.

Key words: Scarlet Spiderling, Calabazilla, Western Jimson Weed, Desert Thorn Apple, Desert-Willow, Catclaw, Honey Mesquite, Desert Milkweed, Acton's Encelia, Salt Heliotrope, Small Wreath-Plant, Prickly Poppy, Sandpaper Plant, Desert Agave

May 9, 2010 – The flowers are blooming nicely at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Among them are colorful Goldfields, Tidy Tips, Checkerbloom, Cream Cups, and many more. It can be cool and breezy up there, so dress accordingly.

Meanwhile down in the desert, only a few isolated stragglers remain from this year's fine crop of annual wildflowers. Spiny Senna, with yellow flowers, is doing well, particularly along Highway 78 between Pinyon Wash and Mine Wash. The Blue Palo Verde and Desert Willow trees are in flower. Doing well but less likely to be noticed are Burroweed and Sandpaper Plant.

Keywords: Goldfields, Tidy Tips, Checkerbloom, Cream Cups, Spiny Senna, Blue Palo Verde, Desert Willow, Burroweed, Sandpaper Plant.

A Season of Little Surprises
Climbing Milkweed

April 25, 2010 – This year, the big flower displays haven't been in the valleys. They've been on the sides of mountains, yellow flowers like Brittlebush mostly, with some Creosote Bush and our desert Golden Poppy here and there. But for anyone who would look closely, there've been little flowers in little displays. To those who know their flowers, the mini-displays have been every bit as exciting as the big ones. More so, perhaps.

We've heard from one 20-year "desert rat" who saw her first Climbing Milkweed this year. A confirmed desert dweller wanted to know the identity of "lupines" in her yard. One turned out to be a Dyeweed (a Fabaceae but not a lupine), the other a Bajada Lupine.

Our own recent desert strolls have led to finds like a Pine Broom-Rape, Desert Goldenhead, and a San Felipe Dyssodia in flower, not to mention favorites like Little Trumpet, Dead Man's Fingers, and Few-Flower Wreath Plant. People we know who love all plants whose blossoms have a diameter of less than a dime wax flowery over plants like Capillary Threadplant, Miniature Woolly Star, and Purple-Root Cryptantha.

And this list itself, like the plant displays in it, is only a miniature of what people have been enjoying.

Keywords: Brittlebush, Creosote, Golden Poppy, Climbing Milkweed, Dyeweed, Bajada Lupine, Pine Broom-Rape, Desert Goldenhead, San Felipe Dyssodia, Little Trumpet, Dead Man's Fingers, Few-Flower Wreath Plant, Capillary Threadplant, Miniature Woolly Star, Purple-Root Cryptantha.