Showing posts with label wildflowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildflowers. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

White on White Wednesday: Desert, Mountains, Wildflowers




Anza-Borrego Desert Vista  --  Clark Dry Lake
All Rights Reserved: 
PHOTOS & TEXT Copyright Alice Joyce

Snow-capped San Jacinto Mountains - Wind Farm in Foreground:
Palm Springs
Photos © Alice Joyce

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Among the White Wildflowers: Chicory - Rafinesquia neomexicana
Photo © COPYRIGHT Alice Joyce

Saturday, March 26, 2011

In Search of Wildflowers .. Anza-Borrego Desert Journey



Blooming Beavertail Cactus - Opuntia Basilaris
Photos ©  Alice Joyce
Dune Evening Primrose
The Anza-Borrego Desert has long been on my bucket list! This State Park has a reputation for spectacular wildflower displays when all the conditions of water, rain, wind and sun play out in harmony. I've begun to write about my recent sojourn on Alice's Garden Travel Buzz, where views of the spectacular landscape and canyons where I hiked are featured.
2011 is proving to be a good bloom year in Anza-Borrego. The timing of my trip was fine, if too early for most cacti.
All text and photos: Copyright Alice Joyce

Funastrum hirtellum   Photo © Alice Joyce

I came upon it only once in 8 days. A twining plant with tiny, star-shaped flower clusters.
(Many thanks, James of LostLandscape: plant indeed appears to be Funastrum hirtellum - hairy milkweed.)


The native California Fan Palm is the star here!
Justicia californica blooms in front of the stately tree.


Sandy expanses of the desert floor were covered with Sand Verbena: Abronia villosa
You may recognize Datura wrightii Regel: the poisonous Jimson Weed has quite a reputation. This member of the Solanaceae family is also known as Sacred Datura.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Wildflower Walk .. Mt. Tamalpais .. Marin County


Pacific Coast Iris ... quite tiny but what a presence!
Wildflower season on the trails around Mt. Tamalpais, and Marin County's Bon Tempe Lake.

Lemon yellow blooms ... Coast sun cup, perhaps.

Mt Tamalpais

Alligator lizard: Didn't mean to frighten you!

Life cycle of the woodland: A stumpery to please Prince Charles.

Abstraction: Rusty orange rock face.

Baby blue ... brightening a shady spot.
Cynoglossum grande