Wildflower hunters usually have to wait until February or March to see blankets of color in Borrego Springs, but thanks to early fall rains, the flowers arrive early. Last weekend, visitors hiking through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and nearby areas encountered tall, bright sunflowers, deep pink desert sand verbena, evening primrose, and even elusive desert lilies, which thrilled photographers like me.
I went out there on Sunday morning with a friend. The go-to place to see wildflowers in the area is Henderson Canyon Road, just northeast of the town of Borrego Springs, and it did not disappoint. Both sides of the road were full of colorful flowers.
Desert sand verbena grows in the area around Henderson Canyon Road in Borrego Springs.
(Raúl Roa / Los Angeles Times)
Some may wonder if this December mini-burst means we'll see a superbloom next spring, the rare phenomenon in which large areas bloom en masse. Jennifer Koles, a nature enthusiast and former docent at Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Orange County Parks, said it's not a guarantee, but people can see it as “an early wilderness delight.”
He added: “It all comes down to rainfall.”
Desert Sand Evening Primrose and Verbena Basket.
(Raúl Roa / Los Angeles Times)
After enjoying the variety of flowers and colors on Henderson Canyon Road, my friend and I went in search of the desert lily (Hesperocallis undulata), a perennial herb native to southwestern deserts. It is known for its large white trumpet-shaped flowers with a green stripe that bloom from late winter to spring in sandy soils. Also called garlic lily, it grows from a deep bulb, has long, wavy-edged leaves, and is pollinated by sphinx moths.
We saw a few desert lilies on Henderson Canyon Road, but none in bloom, so we headed further east. We saw them beginning to sprout along a dry creek.
Then we saw a person crouching on a small steep hill, and immediately stopped and asked if the desert lilies were blooming. The answer was yes, so we immediately jumped out of the vehicle and ran excitedly. While most of the plants only had one flower with many buds yet to open, some were in full bloom with the sweet, fragrant aroma that only the lily can provide.
A desert lily grows on a small hillside just above a dry creek in Borrego Springs.
(Raúl Roa / Los Angeles Times)
After clicking our cameras, we were grateful to have experienced something that many seek in vain. I have seen chocolate lilies in the wild, but I have never seen a desert lily. Check one more flower off my list. After that, we visited the newly installed metal rattlesnake and roadrunner sculptures by Ricardo Breceda. All in all, it was a perfect day for wildflowers in the cool desert in winter.
If you visit the area, remember to leave no trace, never step on the wildflowers, and do not collect anything: flowers, rocks, or artifacts. Also, do not drive off-road unless it is a designated dirt road and be sure to read the warning signs because some of the dirt roads can be sandy and two-wheel drive cars and even some AWD vehicles can get stuck. Enjoy the day and the flowers, and take lots of photos.
Two recently added metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda, a rattlesnake and a roadrunner, can be seen on Borrego Springs Road.
(Raúl Roa / Los Angeles Times)
