Randsburg-DTNA-Red Rock Canyon State Park

Mojave bursts

Happy 2009 spring wildflower season, which for us here in socal is in full swing. I finally got out to check some spots in the Mojave this past weekend Traveled out the 14 and noted a lot of green in Antelope Valley but still early for any real color though. Some patches of goldfields in the highway divider and other perennials blooming along the road, but pretty dull until Red Rock Canyon State park.At the park, there was a nice bloom started and sure to get better over the next couple of weeks. The ranger said they had got a good amount of rain though the website for the park says not. Saw to much to namebut here is a quick list, gilias( a yellow one I had never seen), crypanthas, phacelias, monkey-flower, rangers buttons, asters, lots of dandelion, some greenish-yellow sulphur? flowers covering big areas. Chicory, evening primroses and yellow throats.
Went over to Randburgs and by Red Mountain, both further along bloomwise with nice patches of color and green. Finally, I went to the desert tortoise natural area. Hoping to see one. Alas by the time I found it, it was too dark. On the way did see a big patch of desert candles and lots of great annuals right along the Randsburg Mojave road. Looks like a good year for that part of the Mojave.

the rocks that shine

Way back in the northeast corner of Anza-Borrego state park lies a little used jeep route that ends in a WWII calcite mine. The calcite crystals here are enormous and clear as glass. The ridge cut road is fightening, hanging to some of the deepest canyons in the park. The entire area is a sandstone formation, with beautiful slot canyons and natural tanks. Palm canyon (one of several named such in the park, be forworned) is accessed thru a side road of the calcite mine road. It has been called on of the most beautiful with its extremely smoothed sandstone embeded with glittering calcite crystals. The remarkable slot canyons are a testament to the great volume of water that has funneled thru these canyons in the past, and even today. Periodically throughout the canyon huge eroded blocks would the path.

coyote creek offroad meet photogeeks

The creek represents that which must be crossed, the attained goal. His copilot lacks the involvement he is one that is task focused. We are neither , though Offroaders seem to accept us more, their conviviality and rust colored faces are easily approached. The flowollers, on the contrary, sprint away with camera bags and guidebooks atow, large brimmed hats flopping in the harsh wind of this march saturday. My eyes still hurt from the strain of searching, for a new species, or genus, ect. looking for that desert annual in the rough. Nothing as such this time. The real show was the flolowlers and their parking lot mentality. Stooping and squinting about, waiting in line to shot some interesting flower. Speaking of the wild heliotrope was the most stunning displayer, it was freaking everywhere.
other places show less pink than 2005 and more yellow on the sandy bottoms around the northern part of the park and at the entrance the the coyote creek 4x4 trail. We took the trail to the river crossing passing all types and confusing almost all.

ajo lily coyote creek yum

griffith post burn early spring

Once again I thought that I had lost them. I turn around in circles and figure the are the hill a little higher. Finally I run into. Heads bowed but stilll quite tall almost 3 feet. Hello California Peony, covered with your chocolate red petals, and that strange stamen monstrosity, like a clown nose. Each bent plant with its bluish green hand shaped leaves has severeal flowers head hidden below the mass of the plant.