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

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

Box Canyon

Even though we have about 200 golf courses in our area there are still parts of the nearby desert that are dry and desolate. Box Canyon is one of these areas.

"Box Canyon" © Kathy Dunham 2009