Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Wildflowers, hiking and moreAnza-Borrego Desert - Though hospitable in nature and appearance, the desert holds many secrets in its dry and dusty landscape. One trip to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, c.639 sq mi (1,655 sq km), S Calif., occupying most of E San Diego co. and neighboring portions of Riverside and Imperial cos.; est. 1933. proves just that. The largest state park in the Southwest, Anza Borrego covers 600,000 acres of land and is just a short trip (about two hours) from the San Diego area. Temperatures in this desert and coastal mountain state park can rise as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average July maximum temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit. So what, you might ask, are the benefits to visiting such a hot and desolate place? Hidden among the sands and baked rocks of Anza-Borrego are a plethora of desert cacti and wildflowers – and spring is primetime for desert flower gazing. The Beavertail Cactus, its brilliant pink flowers shooting up from gray-green stems, is a sight to behold against tufts of desert grass. Or ponder the Buckhorn buck·horn n. 1. The horn of a buck. 2. The material of such a horn, used especially to make handles for knives and tools. Cholla cholla Any cactus of the genus Opuntia, native to North and South America, having needlelike spines partly enclosed in a papery sheath. Chollas vary greatly in size and have small flowers, sometimes chartreuse and inconspicuous, but usually of more striking colors. O. with its bright green and yellow petals. But be careful – beneath those petals are spines that can grow up to five-eighths of an inch in length. You might also spy the wavy spires of the Ocotillo, topped by red blossoms growing skyward sky·ward adv. & adj. At or toward the sky. sky  wards adv. , or the fat and stout Barrel Cactus producing small yellow blooms close to the desert floor.
The Desert Agave Agave, in Greek mythology Agave (əgā`vē): see Pentheus. agave, in botany agave: see amaryllis. , its needle-pointed leaves giving way to a tall stalk topped with delicate, pale yellow flowers, can be found from elevations just above the desert floor to the peaks of some of the surrounding mountains. For flowers with no spikes to contend with, look for the bold yellow of the Golden Poppy, the purple stalks of the Arizona lupine lupine or lupin (l  `pĭn), any species of the genus Lupinus, annual or perennial herbs or shrubs of the family Leguminosae (pulse family). or some of the dozens of other varieties that color the desert floor this time of year.
According to the state park's website, flowers begin blooming in late February or early March. While in Anza-Borrego, be sure to explore some of the park’s 500 miles of dirt roads or the many hiking trails that criss-cross the region. In the northwest section of the park you can hike into Borrego Palm Canyon, an easy walk from the Visitor Center near Borrego Springs, and in the northeast try the Thimble thimble, n See coping. thimble, ionization chamber, n See chamber, ionization, thimble. Trail, to name a few of the trails. Be sure to carry plenty of water as you trek through the desert – park rangers’ advise hikers to drink the entire time they are out and turn back after they’ve consumed half the water they're carrying. Visit the park’s website at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1016 to view the Wildflower wildflower Any flowering plant that grows without intentional human aid. Wildflowers are the source of all cultivated garden varieties of flowers. A wildflower growing where it is unwanted is considered a weed. Update and see what’s in bloom and where in the park is the best viewing. Park Hours: Dawn ‘til dusk Visitor Center Hours: Open 7 days a week 9:00am to 5:00pm October through May and on weekends from June through September. 
|
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion