Spring Desert Flower Day Trip

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

From Plum Canyon to Coachwhip Canyon.

via Old Kanes Rd, Buttes Pass, Cut-Across Trail, Palo Verde Wash and Ella Wash

April 1st 2001. (Mental health trip, all alone)

This was a great day-trip. Almost outstanding. The "Plum Canyon * " pictures were all taken in 40 square foot patch. The flowers are so innocuous that if you aren't looking down you won't see them. The day was really warm, at least 90 and the 36 SPF was losing the battle (drizzle and cold on the coast). Lots of stops and hikes for the rest of the pictures. Going up small side washes and wandering around. I also took my 35 mm camera but they didn't turn out good enough to scan.

I am trying to identify plant names but comparisons with books and pictures is tough. I will only put a name next to one I'm sure of or a name / ? if I am think there is some doubt. These images are all modified (cropped, resampled etc.) for web presentation. The original full size images are available by request.

All pictures are Plum Canyon unless specified otherwise.

Click on an image to see larger, more detailed version. Email comments - pat@ponart.com

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California Poppy (Plum Canyon *)		 dcp02474.jpg
? (Plum Canyon *) 		dcp02475.jpg
? (Plum Canyon *)
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? (Plum Canyon *)

In some places these made a carpet

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Desert Star (Plum Canyon *)

extremely small

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? (Plum Canyon *)
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Chuparosa close up 		dcp02480.jpg
Fiddleneck

The only one I saw

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Ocotillo flower close up
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Mohave Yucca flower stalk close up 		dcp02484.jpg
Yucca flower stalk 		dcp02485.jpg
Ocotillo, brittle bush, yucca, cholla
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Chuparosa, canyon long view		 dcp02487.jpg
Old Kanes Spring Rd, Cactus Garden. 

Only a few beaver tail are in full bloom now
but many hundreds in the next month
should blossom in this area.

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Cut Across Trail, Creosote, many with buds, some flowering
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Intersection of Cut Across Trail and Palo Verde Wash. 

Brush build up from recent flash floods.

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Indigo Bush Ella Wash

Pungent with tiny royal purple flowers.
Only saw one of these.

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CoachWhip Cyn, Right fork. 

Dry double-waterfall wash (Lazyboy Gulch!).
Unknown plant, looks like it will flower with in a week.