Disappearing Soon, from a Neighborhood Near You...

This past winter's rains have produced an amazing spring wildflower bloom throughout our desert area. Close to home we even have pockets of brilliant colors in unexpected urban areas.

There is a beautiful swath of wildflowers less than a mile from the busiest intersections in our city. These couple of acres are surrounded by busy shopping centers, car lots and a 6-lane state highway.

We stopped for a spontaneous wildflower walk while we were running errands in town. On the dunes we found carpets of lavender Sand Verbena, delicate white Dune Primrose, a few scattered Spanish Needle, bright yellow Dune Sunflower and Desert Marigold. Encelia and Creosote were also blooming, and we saw many different species of bees busily pollinating the profusion of flowers.

We have lived in this desert for over 30 years, and can remember the open spaces before they started to get paved over and "developed". Spectacular blooms like this remind us of what we will be losing to another future big box store or fast food restaurant.


"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December."
~ James M Barrie, British Playwright  (1860-1937)

WALK, Don't Run

A recent morning run morphed into an unscheduled wildflower walk, when I noticed some colorful blooms peeking through in a field of invasive mustard and other weeds. Flower species seen included Phacelia, Salt Heliotrope,  Desert Dandelion, Dune Sunflower, Popcorn Flower, and Brown-eyed Primrose.

(A bit of spot "guerilla gardening" weeding also took place, to give the natives a bit more room and a better chance at propagation.)