Last year at this time, preparations were underway for a desert sojourn.
Saguaro National Park in Tucson is on the current itinerary, so I won’t be returning to the California desert. Still, that won’t keep me from reliving the adventure of a series of 2011 Springtime hikes through arrays of wildflowers, beginning in the Indian Canyons of Palm Springs …..
Palm Springs Wind Farm
… and on to Joshua Tree,
Joshua Tree National Park © Alice Joyce
with plenty of time allotted to explore Anza-Borrego State Park.
I’ll return one day to hike again in Hawk Canyon, a majestic setting with trails to satisfy all levels of endurance. I felt like a mountain goat at times, veering off a trail to find myself moving forward in rather treacherous terrain of rocks and boulders. I couldn’t really look around and enjoy the scenery, when it was necessary to focus on each step to keep from tumbling over.
Fouquieria splendens Anza Borrego ©Alice Joyce
Brilliant flaming red spires of Ocotillo – Fouquiera splendens appeared in striking contrast to gem-like Phacelia minor, the wild Canterbury Bells.
Phacelia minor © Alice Joyce
Native wildflower, Phacelia crenulata (if I’m correct): Notch-leaved Phacelia- Andreas Canyon, Palm Springs.
During the early-March 2011 trip, Brittlebush blooms were lighting up the desert landscape with masses of cheery, golden yellow daisy-like flowerheads on shrubby, mounding plants. It’s a common wildflower in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts.
Brittlebush – Encelia farinosa © Alice Joyce
More colorful still, the combination of Sand Verbena and Desert Dandelion hugging the parched earth. I was thrilled to encounter so many different species strutting their stuff. You can never know for certain whether the wildflowers will be abundant when planning desert travel in late winter or in spring. 2011 proved to be a very good year.
Sand Verbena and Malacothrix glabrata Desert dandelion © Alice Joyce
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