Machaeranthera orcuttii

Common name - "Borrego Aster".   This beautiful purple wildflower is abundant in the badland regions of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  The park is located in Southern California just west of the Salton Sea.  This perennial grows to 36" in height and is very restricted to the local it grows in. 

"Machaeranthera orcuttii"     © Kathy Dunham 2011

Borrego Aster

It's just the beginning of the wildflower season here in the desert and these Borrego Asters were another find the other day.  Indigenous to the "Badlands" area of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park I found one lone bush on the roadside and did a quick U-turn to get pictures.  Good thing as I didn't find another bush the rest of the day.

"Borrego Aster"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Ocotillo Buds

Even though it's 100 degrees today we still have spring blossoms. These Ocotillo buds were growing in a wash in the Anza-Borrego desert. In dry conditions these tall, spindly plants look like a bunch of dead sticks loaded with thorns. But when it rains they sprout little green leaves all over their branches and get these red-orange blossoms on the tips.

"Ocotillo Buds" © Kathy Dunham 2009

More Desert Wildfowers

These tiny (1/4") delicate blossoms struggle to gain a foothold on the dry desert floor. One of the pleasures of hunting for wildflowers is finding these miniature treasures. While fields covered with blossoms are spectacular, it's these little, hard to find, beauties that make it all worth while.

"More Desert Wildflowers" © Kathy Dunham 2009

Spring in the Desert

Wildflowers have been scarce this year but I decided to be adventuresome and see what I could find today. But it was a day filled with challenges.

I headed East to check out the Chuckwalla Wilderness area about 60 miles from here. After driving about 6 miles on a gravel road I encountered a flat tire. Thank goodness I had a friend with me who took charge and changed it for me. That was after several cars were nice enough to stop and ask if we were OK. Just before we finished an elderly gentleman stopped on his way out from his mining claim. He said he'd lead the way to make sure we were OK. Well, wouldn't you know it, he got a flat before we reached the paved road. So, one good turn deserved another. So far, flats 2 - flowers 0.

Then we decided to head down to Borrego Springs State Park to see if there were any flowers left. Half way there we encountered severe winds but decided to continue. After a couple of stops on the roadside and short hikes we encountered seven different species of flowers. Even in the wind I was able to get some pretty great shots including this beavertail cactus blossom.

"Spring in the Desert" © Kathy Dunham 2009