Badwater - the lowest point in North America

the "bad water" at Badwater

Devil's Golf Course

Devil's Golf Course - up close

Zabriske Point at dusk

Wildflowers in Death Valley

Yellow Cups

Wild Heliotrope

Parachute Plant

Parachute Plant

Fillaree

Desert Sunflower

Desert Star

Desert Five Spot

Creosote Bush with a Plasterer Bee

Hedgehog Cactus

Wildflowers on Granite Road outside of Bakersfield

I took a drive not too long ago on Granite Road. There are lots of wildflowers out there....Fiddleneck, Popcorn Flower, Miner's Lettuce, Wild Hyacinth, Red Maids, and more! Th hills are orange with Fiddleneck. It was kind of cloudy that day so I didn't get a whole lot of pictures.

Granite Road

White Fiesta Flower

Red Maids

Unknown white flowers

if anyone knows what this is called, please leave a comment :)

Field of Fiddleneck on Granite Road

Granite Road

Granite Road

Kern Canyon and Kernville

I took a drive to Kernville about 2 weeks ago to see the wildflowers. There were quite a few in Kern Canyon....Fiddleneck, Lupine, Popcorn Flower, Miner's Lettuce, to name a few. Then around Kernville, lots of California Poppy, Lupine, Bird's Eye Gilia, Chia, and a few Bishop's Lotus and Spreading Fleabane. I posted pictures below. The day was partly cloudy and pretty windy, so I am surprised any of the pictures were in focus - lol.

Wild Hyacinth

Spreading Fleabane

Red Stemmed Fillaree

Popcorn Flower

Owl's Clover

Miniature Lupine

Miner's Lettuce

Lupine

Fiddleneck

Coulter's Jewelflower

Chia

California Poppy among Bird's Eye Gilias

California Poppy

Bishop's Lotus

Bird's Eye Gilia

Anza Borrego Desert State Park - March 7, 2008

After seeing all of the pretty wildflower pictures on the internet, I decided to take a road trip to Anza Borrego Desert State Park on Friday.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. It is located about 2 hours from San Diego, near the Salton Sea. Also nearby are Indio and Coachella.




The visitor center is located in Borrego Springs, CA. Most of the good wildflower viewing is near that area, in Coyote Canyon, located at the end of Di Giorgio Road and on Henderson Canyon Road. I had never been there before, so the information I got at the visitor center was very helpful. I couldn't believe how many people were out there. The visitor center parking lot was full, and there were cars lined up along the sides of the road. And for good reason. There were literally carpets of wildflowers in Coyote Canyon, and on Henderson Canyon Road.


Pics from Coyote Canyon















The ground was literally covered with Sand Verbena and Dune Evening Primrose. And the air was filled with a wonderful scent. I have never seen so many flowers in one place!


Henderson Canyon was also carpeted with flowers.






Brittlebush



Desert Sunflower



Dune Evening Primrose



Dune Sunflower



Sand Verbena


The purple and yellow of Henderson Canyon was a nice contrast to the purple and white of Coyote Canyon. Henderson Canyon was mostly covered with Desert Sunflowers and Sand Verbena, along with some Dune Evening Primrose and Dune Sunflowers here and there. It was a real treat, and well worth the 12 hour round-trip day (I also drove thru Joshua Tree National Park on the way there).

I plan on hitting up Death Valley National Park this Saturday. I want to go to Scotty's Castle and the Racetrack...2 places I didn't get to visit last time went.

I love spring!!!

Links to Check Out:

Anza Borrego Wildflower update 2008
Anza Borrego Desert State Park