Spring Images from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

The spring bloom is on in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park northeast of San Diego. We've returned home after a week-long visit.  This wonderful preserved desert area is known around the world for its spring wildflowers.  The bloom, though not as spectacular as some of the rare years, certainly was worth the trip.  And to brighten the spring spirits of readers of this blog, I am sharing here some of the images from daily hikes to view desert wildflowers and desert wildlife. If there are reasons not to cut funding of state parks in California, you find them in this park by the thousands. Enjoy the colors and the critters below.

TO VIEW ANY PHOTOGRAPH LARGER, JUST CLICK ON IT. 
All Images Copyright by Tom Debley, 2011

All Rights Reserved

Natural rock garden in Palm Canyon

Desert Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua

Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa)

Dune Evening Primrose (Oenotheera deltoides)

Beavertail Catus (Opuntia basilaris)

Desert blister beetle (Lytta magister) feeding

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Male Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)

Northern Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis)

Desert Sunflower (Geraea canescens)

Desert Orangetip (Anthocharis cethura cethura)

Desert Dandelion (Malacothrix californica)

Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus)

Ghost Flower (Mohavea confertiflora)

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia distans)

Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus)

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)

Teddy Bear Cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii)

Sacred Datura (Datura stramonium)

Brown-eyed Primrose (Camissonia claviformis)

 

Female American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)