Gallery

Desert

The desert is another special place for me. I love the variety of flora and fauna. I've always enjoyed driving a 4x4 of one sort or another on the trails and washes to find new and interesting things to see and photograph. It's really nice living somewhere where I can be in the desert (Anza Borrego) in about an hour and a half. That makes it really convenient to head out for a drive or a hike. You will see desert landscapes along with some of the flora and fauna in this gallery.

Barrel Cactus Bloom

I think that Barrel Cactus blooms are among the prettiest blooms in the desert. It's hard to believe that such a thorny, round cactus could produce such pretty blooms.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Blooming Silver Cholla

This is a blooming Silver Cholla. The main body consists of jointed, cylindrical stems heavily covered in long, dense, straw-colored to golden-white spines with papery sheaths. A cup-shaped bloom emerging directly from the stem terminal, featuring pale greenish-yellow petals with a dense cluster of yellow stamens and a thick central style.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Below Font Point

This is a view of Font Point from below (and in the distance). This is a very different view than it is when standing on Font Point.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Super Bloom

Well, at least a very localized super bloom. Anza-Borrego is known for it's Super Blooms that occur from time to time. The conditions need to be just right with substantial rain over a period of time in the Winter and just the right amount of heat and sunshine in the Spring.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Desert Sunflower

This is a Desert Sunflower. You can also see some purple verbena below in the background.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Badlands Pallete

There are so many colors and shades in the desert. Way more than you might expect. This landscape shows a colorful spot in the Badlands of Anza-Borrego State Park.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Agave Stalk

This is an Agave bloom (specifically the flower stalk/inflorescence). The bright yellow, tubular/funnel-shaped flowers have prominent, long-exserted stamens (the thread-like structures sticking far out from the center).

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Thorny

The shot of a Silver Cholla offers a great macro view of the star-like clusters (areoles) of long, golden-tan spines. Notice the papery sheaths covering the spines—a hallmark feature of cholla cacti that reflects harsh sunlight and protects against desert heat.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Ocotillo and the Moon

Beautiful desert landscape including an Ocotillo in the foreground and the moon setting in the distance.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Ocotillo Bloom

Gorgeous Ocotillo bloom. The rich, saturated red of the flowers pops against the deep, cloudless desert-blue sky.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Ghost Flower

This is a Ghost Flower. A prominent, solid dark maroon patch at the throat of each bloom. Evolutionarily, this spot mimics the appearance of a female Xeralictus bee to trick male bees into visiting and pollinating the nectarless flower.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Blooming Hedgehog Cactus

This wide desert landscape shot features a vibrant Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus bursting with brilliant magenta blooms at the base of a blooming Creosote Bush. Indian Head is also visible in the background.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Font Point View

This is the view from Font Point looking down across the Badlands in Anza-Borrego State Park.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Billowy Overlook

The name of the spot this photo was taken from is the Billowy Overlook. That seems apt. Shown here with a friend how was along for the hike.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Brittlebush in Full Bloom

This Brittlebush plant is showing off. Bright yellow ray petals surrounding a orange-yellow central disk, held high above the main foliage on long, thin, leafless stalks.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Dune Evening Primrose

This is a Dune Evening Primrose. The long yellow style ends in a very prominent, four-branched cross-shaped stigma sticking out in the center, which is the hallmark giveaway for the evening primrose family.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Desert Lily

This is a Desert Lily. These can be harder to find sometimes. Each of the six white tepals has a distinctive, bold bluish-green band or stripe running down the center of its reverse side, clearly visible as the petals flare open.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA

Desert Dandelion

The single, striking crimson/purplish red spot at the exact center of the flower head is the signature giveaway for the Desert Dandelion.

Anza-Borrego State Park, CA