Cheshire Cat Photo Blog(...said the Cat: 'we're all mad here....')

A spectacular mix of spring wildflowers is predicted for the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a park that I have never visited in San Diego County, Imperial County, and Riverside County. Blooms are just starting to show, and the wildflower season may begin and peak as soon as next week, as the result of a stretch of warm and sunny weather after weeks of cool and rainy weather.

“There are just so many plants coming up,” said Sharon Dall, who works at the California Department of Parks and Recreation rangers’ office in Borrego Springs. “There’s going to be a really good mix of color. It’s just going to be spectacular.”

The story by San Diego Union Tribune staff writer, Robert Krier, includes photos of some wildflowers, links to a photo section with many more, and an excellent suggestion for touring the desert, if you don’t have your own four-wheel-drive vehicle. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park encompasses 650,000 acres (2630 km²) and is the largest state park in California and the second largest within the continental United States (after Adirondack Park in New York). The park includes 500 miles (804 km) of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas, and 110 miles (180 km) of hiking trails provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the Colorado Desert (see the link for THIS meaning of “Colorado”). The Wikipedia article also states:

“Listening devices for the hearing impaired are available in the visitor center. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of 55 California State Parks with wi-fi access in one or more areas. Footage shot at this park was used in the 2005 feature film Serenity. Many visitors approach from the east via California Highways S22, S2, or 78. Visitors from San Diego via Highways 79 and 78 have the added pleasure of driving through the mountainous Cuyamaca Rancho State Park—quite a different experience from Anza-Borrego. The highways from the east climb to 2,400 feet (731 m) or so and then descend about 2,000 feet (609 m) to the valley.”

The Wikipedia article also details the extensive marine and terrestrial paleontology of the Anza-Borrego Desert. The area has an exceptional fossil record. The Wikipedia article and the other articles linked here have extensive descriptions of the flowers and animals that you may find in the park.

OK, so you don’t have your own four-wheel-drive vehicle…. Even if you do, you just may want to tour the backcountry with the park’s sole concessionaire, California Overland Desert Excursions (not an endorsement), and operator Joe Raffetto. Joe was orginally from New Jersey, spent five years at sea as an observer for the National Marine Fisheries Service reporting the numbers of dolphins seen and killed in fishing nets, worked as an art director in New York and as a professional photographer. Now he helps people become advocates for the park by giving them access to areas that are very hard to reach. How? He bought two M35-A2 military cargo vehicles plus an M-715 Kaiser Jeep from a military surplus company in Idaho, got a class B license, modified the vehicles, and took a 90-hour training course, years ago. Now, he knows the desert like the “back of his hand.” Robert Krier’s article has other valuable suggestions:

• The park’s visitors center can suggest spots that match your ability, vehicle durability, and desire to leave the masses behind! Call (760) 767-4205.
• Go on weekdays. Attendance can triple on weekends.
• Take a backcountry tour with California Overland Desert Excursions. Call (760) 767-1232 or go to californiaoverland.com.
• Sign up for guided tours led by members of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Botany Society. Cost is $5. Call (760) 767-0446 or go to theabf.org.
• Take the alternate trail in the popular Borrego Palm Canyon with far fewer people.
• Temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-80s early next week, and that could make many flowers pop.
• For updates on the wildflower status in the park, call (760) 767-4684 or go to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park on the California State Park pages.
• For information about wildflowers around Southern California, call (818) 768-3533.

-Bill at

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