CRAZY FOR POPPIES 2

It turns out that I really did not have to travel far for some wonderful poppies and their painting of the countryside. Just over a mile away is Mission Trails Regional Park where both George and I volunteer. 

Just driving the road through the park one sees some lovely displays of poppies.

BELOW SOUTH FORTUNA PEAK

Then a hike up Oak Canyon gives one some more beauty with poppies and other wildflowers to admire. 

THE STAR OF THE SHOW

FUNNEL SPIDER WEB

WATERFALL DETAIL

PARRY'S PHACELIA

Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed the show.

CRAZY FOR POPPIES - MARCH 2019

There were a number of reports this past week about the poppy explosion of color occurring in the Walker Canyon area around Lake Elsinore. I was attending a photography function in Riverside today so took camera gear so that if we had time we could stop in the area while passing through.

Well we just passed through. At 0900 the area was already full with viewers and flower lovers, and the start of traffic jams. 

LUPINE HILL

The above photos were taken with my iPhone while moving at about 40 mph.

On our return trip there were still people on the hillsides at 7:30 p.m. We got caught in the resulting traffic jam. As a result an 1.5 hour drive turned into a 3.0 hour drive. It was still  good to see hills, and experience the color show put on by Mother Nature.

DESERT WILDFLOWERS - COYOTE CANYON - FEB. 28

Up early to enjoy the early morning light in the Desert. It was very enjoyable. I drove out to Coyote Canyon and onto Desert Garden. The wind was already an issue as it was blowing about 10 mph. Due to the latest rains, about a week ago, the Canyon was closed to vehicle traffic beyond Desert Garden. 

That did not stop me. I decided to take advantage of the fact that there was no vehicle traffic and walked in about a mile and a half. It was delightful, as generally there are a lot of four wheel traffic going in to the area. 

MORNING LIGHT AND SHADOW

I really enjoyed the play of the clouds and shadows on the slopes.

SHAW AGAVE

Not bad for a phone image

VERBENA AND DESERT DANDELION

DESERT DANDELION ENTWINED IN DODDER

When I returned to my car i set up my breakfast table and enjoyed breakfast and the natural setting. Soon it was time to head for home, but I first had to check out of my motel. 

WILDFLOWER SPRING - FEBRUARY 27

The end of February I returned to Anza-Borrego State Park for some more enjoyment of the Spring Bloom. This was a solo trip and I spent the night out there so I could enjoy it a little more, and see a couple of different areas. Since the last trip we had had another good rain which reached Borrego Springs and caused some flooding in Borrego Palm Canyon and Coyote Canyon.

My first stop was at the end of Henderson Canyon which showed a large variety of Verbena and  Desert Primrose. The Desert Sunflower was also out.

I then returned to S-22, the Salton Sea Highway and revisited Arroyo Salado and then ventured into Coachwhip Canyon. The wind was a bit of an issue today so I tried to find flowers that were in the lee of a canyon wall.

GOLD POPPY

BLAZING STAR

BLUE PHACELIA

DESERT LILY

ARZIONA LUPINE

BROWN-EYED EVENING PRIMROSE

LUPINE HILLSIDE

After a mid-afternoon break I headed back out on the Salton Sea Highway and captured the late afternoon light on North side of the Badlands.

The skies remained clear with only a few clouds so there was not a need to go to Fonts Point for sunset. Oh darn. I enjoyed the light on the canyon walls though.  

DAY'S END