Don't Eat the Flowers!

It seems sheep enjoy the wildflowers as much as humans do, just a bit differently.  This field was covered with small yellow wildflowers and what seemed like as many sheep as well.  I'm sure they enjoyed their treat.

"Don't Eat the Wildflowers!"      © Kathy Dunham 2011

Desert Poppy

The wildflowers are starting to bloom, albeit slowly, but you can find both these Desert Poppies, Eschscholizia parishii, and the Arroyo lupines, Lupinus sparisflorus, in the Box Canyon area just outside the small town of Mecca, California.  They make a beautiful and dramatic combination with the yellows against the blues.  Time to dust off those cameras and take a road trip.

"Desert Poppies"     © Kathy Dunham 2011

Cactus in Bloom

They're not very big, just slightly larger than my thumbnail, but these tiny cactus blossoms were a real find today.  A friend and I trekked down to Borrego Springs to see what wildflowers might be in bloom.  We were slightly disappointed, not seeing as much as we had last year.  But we figured we might be about a week too early as we did see signs of buds and new plants.  One of the best ways to find flowers is to take a hike off the beaten path.  And that's where we found this lone cactus starting to burst out in blooms. 

"Cactus in Bloom"      © Kathy Dunham 2011

Brittle Bush

Northeast of the Salton Sea is a weather worn area known as Box Canyon.  Eroded by water and wind, the hills take on a erie look but come alive when the wildflowers are in bloom.  This brittle bush, Encelia farinosa, has yellow daisy like flowers and love to grow on rocky hillsides and in sandy bajadas.  As the flowers die, they stand tall on dried "brittle" stalks above the parent bush.  Early missionaries used to burn the resin for incense.

"Brittle Bush"      © Kathy Dunham 2011

Bladder Pod

Yes, the wildflowers are in bloom.  But you need to get out of the car and take short walks to find the good ones.  We don't have fields covered with blossoms, but they are out there.  This is a Bladder pod, Isomeris arborea, it's a member of the caper family and a favorite nectar plant for hummingbirds.  What's neat about this plant is the inflated seed pods, hence it's common name.

"Bladder Pod"    © Kathy Dunham 2011

Cholla

Wildflower season is almost upon us.  A few flowers have opened their buds but it's been pretty cool here so I expect a later rush of blossoms than normal.  This cholla, a member of the cactus family is a vibrant green.  Just watch out for the stickers as they come out so easily they get the name "jumping cholla".

"Cholla"     © Kathy Dunham 2011

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

French Wildflowers

Nothing brightens breakfast in the morning than a freshly picked bouquet of wildflowers.  So simple yet elegant they bring a smile and start the day with a happy spirit.

"French Wildflowers"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Let's Bee Together

My main goal during wildflower season it to find flowers to photograph but once in a while I find other critters enjoying the flora as much as I do.  These two bees were busy collecting pollen in an Apricot Mallow.

"Let's Bee Together"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Teenie Weenie Flowers

Yes, those are grains of sand near the yellow flowers.  Searching for wildflowers in the desert is a real challenge.  Finding the best ones require parking the car, having hiking boots, water, a hat and sunscreen.   And usually a walk on the wild side.  Hiking in the desert this time of year means you have to keep your eyes and ears open for rattlesnakes as they are coming out of hibernation and love to sun themselves on the warm ground.  But when I find little treasures like this it's all worth it.  btw.... there's no common name for this cutie.  But it is an "Eriophyllum wallacie" and is a member of the sunflower family.

"Teenie Weenie Flowers"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Ajo Lily

A rare find in the desert, this Ajo Lily was the highlight of my day today.  Searching for wildflowers, I found a huge patch of these in Borrego Springs, about an hour's drive south of La Quinta.  You would have thought I just walked into a candy shop and was told everything was free.  I couldn't take enough pictures.  Ajo comes from the Spanish word for garlic.  I'm not sure why, as this beautiful flower does not smell anything like garlic or look like it. 

"Ajo Lily"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Desert Chicory

The wildflower season is just about upon us and I'm getting out my canera, botanical books and hiking shoes so I'll be ready to get lots of pictures.  This desert chicory, a member of the sunflower family, is usually pretty abundant and can be found in sandy washes.  Remember to look down as it's easy to miss the little flowers.


"Desert Chicory"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

I Wish It Was Spring

The storm has passed, the sun is out and in another month the wildflowers should be blooming.  But the daffodils are showing up in the flower shops so it must be getting close to spring.

"I Wish It Was Spring"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Desert Cantebury Bells

We were hoping for a reasonable wildflower show this season but it doesn't look it's not going to happen. Thank goodness I took these last year when we had a lot of wildflowers. Be careful around these rich cobalt blue flowers, they have been known to cause a rash similar to poison oak in some people.

"Desert Canterbury Bells" © Kathy Dunham 2009

Yerba Mansa

I found this strange looking flower several years ago new Lake Isabella in the hills northeast of Bakersfield, CA. They prefer moist areas and appear to grow in large groups. The aromatic root is used for medicinal purposes ranging from the treatment of cuts and burns to a tonic for blood purification.

"Yerba Mansa" © Kathy Dunham 2009

All Lined Up

Living in the desert and being an artist who paints flowers presents a unique challenge..... finding subject matter locally. Excluding what the gardeners think we should grow here, I'm always searching for unique and interesting flowers. We had a reasonable rain this past winter and spring, enough at the right time to bring the desert alive with flowers. When this happens it's wonderful. Blankets of flowers cover the desert floor and hills. That's when I jump in the car and hit the road. For this shot I visited Joshua Tree National Park, about an hour's drive. I almost missed these little beauties. They are no bigger than the nail on my pinky finger. I mean, they are tiny!. Normally they grow in a clump but this group were so nicely lined up I thought they were qued up for something.

"All Lined Up" © Kathy Dunham 2008