Anza Borrego Desert State Park and the Santa Rosa Ecological Plateau - 3/12/10

I took a day trip up to Anza Borrego Desert State Park on Friday, March 12. 2010. It was a nice, sunny day, which was perfect for a walk out amongst the wildflowers. I spent quite a deal of time at Coyote Canyon (located at the end of Di Giorgio Rd) and around the Henderson Canyon Road area. I was kind of disappointed in Coyote Canyon. It was not nearly as beautiful as it was a few years ago, so I didn't take any landscape photos. It seems like the wild mustard has taken over the area. I did find plenty of wildflowers, however, ready for their close-ups, including: Dune Primrose, Sand Verbena, Spectacle Pod, Desert Dandelion, Desert Chicory, Desert Lily and Common Phacelia (to name a few). Around the Henderson Canyon area I found most of the same wildflowers as I did in Coyote Canyon, including several Beavertail and Cholla Cacti, which had buds, but no blooms. The weather had been cold, so this has slowed down the bloom, and, per the park's website, the peak bloom should be in the next week or 2.

The park's visitor center is located in the town of Borrego Springs, CA (in San Diego County) on Palm Canyon Dr.

I also travelled to Murrieta to the Santa Rosa Ecological Plateua to the Vernal Pools part of the park. It seems like the bloom was just starting there. I did find some Ground Pink, Johnny Jump Ups, Shooting Stars, California Poppies, Miner's Lettuce, Wild Cucumber, Blue Dicks, and, of course, the Chocolate Lily (which can be found on the Trans Preserve Trail). Quite a few of these were in bloom. I plan on returning in a few weeks to check out the trails around the visitor center and back at the vernal pools again. They have some really nice trails around there, even if you are not a wildflower enthusiast ;)

The park's visitor center is located in the town of Murrieta, CA, in Riverside County. (39400 Clinton Keith Rd, Murrieta, CA,)


I posted some photos below.

Links to check out:

Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Anza Borrego - Wikipedia
Anza Borrego - Desert USA
Anza Borrego Wildflowers
Santa Rosa Plateau
Santa Rosa Plateau Wildflowers
Santa Rosa Plateu hiking