All of the rain that Southern California received in 2019, helped provide a fantastic wildflower super bloom. I visited Anza Borrego (on a weekday) to check out the flowers. While I absolutely LOVED it, there are some tips that I wish I’d known before going.
1. Plan on leaving early. It is hot in the desert and for some reason, the same temperature feels warmer when out in this arid climate. This is especially true if you plan on hiking. It is nice to get started before it gets too hot.
2. Bring extra water. I am thankful for the signs at the visitor center telling us to bring water. This is not a clever marketing ploy. It is vital to prevent dehydration.
3. Bring food and snacks. There were fewer options for food than I anticipated and a few food establishments closed in the early afternoon for a siesta.
4. Buy the wildflower pamphlet at the visitor center. We were going to get the book, but we were so glad that we bought the pamphlet instead. It helped us identify most of the flowers that we saw
5. Go to the visitor center in the strip mall for information. There are two visitors centers. The main one has a beautiful view and flowers around it to look at, but parking can be difficult to come by and volunteers, while nice, are all very busy helping everyone.
There are two visitors centers. The main one has a beautiful view and flowers around it to look at, but parking can be difficult to come by and volunteers, while nice, are all very busy helping everyone.
I suggest that you visit the State Park Store run by the Anza Borrego Foundation. It has similar items for sale and I felt that the volunteers were able to give us info tailored more to our needs. Plus, parking was less of an issue.
200 Palm Canyon Drive (at the west end) Borrego Springs, CA 92004 760-767-4205
6. Get the map of the wildflowers The Anza Borrego foundation updates this weekly during desert wildflower bloom: https://theabf.org/explore-anza-borrego/wildflowers-super-bloom/ Many of the plants you can drive to, park your car on the side of the road, and view.
Ocotillo with red blooms. Surprisingly not all of the Ocotillos were in bloom at the same time. They seems to bloom in their particular micro climates. This is a good thing for people coming to look for wildflowers in Anza Borrego!I love how the long pink spines wrap around the yellow flowers of the Barrel Cactus.Wild Heliotrope is mixed in with Desert ChicoryI love how the flowers all mix together. There is a beautiful juxtaposition with the Wild Heliotrope, Fremont’s Pincushion, and the Desert Dandelion mix with Cholla Cactus.The red flowers of the Chuparosa or Justica californica were just starting to bloom in the desert. We spotted the illusive Ghost Flower or Mohavea confertiflora in anza borrego. The volunteers told us that the ghost flower does not have nectar. It is a sneaky flower that usually grows near and looks like the Sand Blazing Star which does. The Ghost Flower further tricks insects into pollinating it by the purple dots it has near the stamen, looking like other small insects.Nature really is the best landscape designer. Look how lovely these colors and textures mix.Popcorn Flower or Cryptantha angustifoliaThe Purple Mat or Nama demissum is low growing and extremely striking with its vibrant magenta flowers.This Murple Mat or Nama demissum reminds me so much of African Violets that I’ve kept as houseplants.This wildflower is called the Sand Verbena or Abronia villosa.Apricot Mallow Or Sphaeralcea ambiguaWild heliotrope or Phacelia distans were to be found all over Anza Borrego. I loved the way that the sweet light purple flowers uncurl like a catterpillar. We met a beekeeper that told us that when the bees pollinate these flowers, the honey has purple in it!dwarf poppies in Anza BorregoThis was the only blooming Bevertail Cactus or Opuntia basilaris that we saw. All of the others looked like they had a week left to bloom. I’m glad that I at least got to see one!I wish that I could convey how lovely the smell was of this filed of Desert Dandelion in Anza Borrego.This was thre only Arizona Lupine or Lupinus arizonicus that we saw. I imagine that it would be spectacular multiplied.Sand Blazing Star or Mentzelia involucrata blooms with hornworm caterpillar on itWe saw a whole field of Dune Evening-Primrose or Ornothera deltoides in the desert of Anza Borrego.Here we are happily standing in a field of Desert Dandelion or Malacothrix glabrata. It is perhaps one of the sweetest smelling places I have ever visited.
Resources
In March, April, or May, you can call 818-768-1802, extension 7 to hear the latest info on what wildflowers are blooming in California that week.
Calflora has an extensive database where you can search and identify plants in California (native or otherwise)
