Three updates today. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural Association and DesertUSA.
The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park reports
Good rains in December and January, plus the half-inch this month, have annual plants growing in the flower fields north of town, and along trails in western canyons. Desert lily plants are just beginning to bloom in many locations, including the badlands. The dirt road to Arroyo Salado Primitive Camp is a good place to look for lilies (4WD only beyond the camp area).
So far, cool weather is allowing the ground to stay moist, and plants are continuing to grow. Sunflowers in the “Flower Fields” along Henderson Canyon Road have buds, but are not yet blooming.
Spectacle-pod is blooming at the north end of Di Giorgio Road. The Coyote Canyon Road has just been graded, and is accessible to two-wheel-drive vehicles as far as Desert Gardens. Patches of sand verbena and dune evening primrose, as well as the occasional blooming lily and desert sunflower, await those willing to wander out onto the flats.
Poppies, phacelia, and brittlebush are just beginning to bloom at the Visitor Center, where cryptantha has been in bloom for a couple of weeks.
Borrego Palm Canyon is beautiful right now, with Canterbury Bells, Poppies, Monkeyflower, and Phacelia blooming against lots of bright green foliage! Hikers have been delighted to see bighorn sheep on both the main trail and the alternate trail recently.
It’s hard to predict a peak, but we should see many more flowers toward the end of February. If temperatures this month continue to be mild, flowers should persist into the first half of March, at least. Of course, another rain shower or two might extend the blooming period, so our fingers are crossed!
Click Read More to see posts from the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural Association and DesertUSA
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association General Borrego Valley Flower Update
Germination is excellent in most areas around Borrego Springs and much of the desert is now covered in a thin green mat like we have not seen for many years. While a major valleywide peak bloom is likely to occur soon, it is probably still a couple of weeks away – first half of March. In the meanwhile there are plenty of flowers to be found in the side canyons and washes.
Borrego Palm Canyon is a really great hike to take right now, very green, a variety of annuals, and many reports of hikers seeing bighorn sheep.
We have heard there is a good bloom of desert five spot in Coyote Canyon on the side slopes along the roadway. Reports indicate that the road is in good shape for the first few miles, it has recently been graded by the state park.
Desert Lilies are just about ready to pop and they seem to be wide spread this year. There are some to be found at the end of Digiorgio Road, in Arroyo Salado, and in the Ocotillo Wells SVRA.
Fred Melgert reports that this is a good time to see Fishhook cactus in bloom. His report today was from Bisnaga Wash. Hike details are here
See photos at http://www.abdnha.org/pages/03flora/reports/current.htm
DesertUSA reports in Plum Canyon on Feb. 17
Chuparosa was the predominant flower in the canyon. Other notable blooms were desert bell, fillarae, brown-eyed primrose and sage.
See photos at: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html#ixzz4ZNzBtjWv
Filed under: Desert, Wildflower Bloom Reports, Wildflowers Tagged: Anza-Borrego Wildflowers, California Wildflowers, Desert Wildflowers, Wildflower Bloom Reports 
