Wildflowers popping in Anza Borrego State Park

This is why I love this state: even in the depth of February, there are wildflofwers blooming somewhere in California. I've just heard that early blooms of brittlebush, popcorn flower, sand verbena, and the spectacular desert lily are popping up in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, in Southern California near Borrego Springs.

Stretching across more than 600,000 acres into three counties--San Diego, Imperial and Riverside--Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest state park and the largest state park in the contiguous United States. You can make it a daytrip from San Diego, or stay longer: there's plenty of camping in the park, along with hiking and wildlife watching.

“We anticipate the peak blooming season to hit between the 3^rd week of February and the 2^nd week of March, depending on the weather,” says Michael Rodriques, the manager of the park’s Visitor Center. “For those who enjoy the thrill of the hunt and would like to beat the crowds, right now is the perfect time to visit. Little pockets of wildflowers are being found along roadsides, in sandy washes, and along trails in the park.”

When the bloom season peaks, you'll find massive fields of wildflowers at the northern edge of Borrego Springs on Henderson Canyon Road and at the northern end of DiGiorgio Road, about ¼ mile beyond the end of the pavement. And a variety of wildflowers spring up along washes and in the canyons of the park. An off-road trip through the badlands, a hike up Borrego Palm Canyon or a trip to Plum Canyon may yield a startling array of wildflowers.

For updated reports, call the Wildflower Hotline (760/767-4684) to get regularly updated information about this year’s bloom. You can also visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s website .

PHOTO: Courtesy of California State Parks, 2009