Category Archive

Fishhook Cactus, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

Easy to see why these are called Fishhook Cactus!

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

I captured this a couple of hours ago at sunrise.  It was another beautiful morning – the sounds of coyotes and quail a short distance away only enhanced the experience!

Desert Lily, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

This was from sunrise this morning – these are the coolest desert flowers around!

I think recent cold weather has delayed the bloom a bit, it is warmer this week and I hope that spurs more blooming by the weekend.  Brittlebush for example is almost always in bloom by now, but not this year.  But, like fall colors, thing can seemingly change overnight.

Unfortunately, some of the famous roadside fields like the ones along Henderson Canyon Road have been taken over with mustard.  I’m doing a lot of scouting this week and have found some nice little areas, but the windshield drive by flower viewer might be disappointed by this years show despite all the rain – we will know soon!

By the way, I received a nice mention by being included on this list of 50 amazing nature photography blogs.

Desert Agave also known as Century Plant, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

I found and photographed a couple of these beautiful blooming plants this morning – this is a real treat as it takes some 20 to 40 years, if not more, before this plant blooms and then dies.  A new plant then begins to grow from the periphery and the process begins all over.  So as you can imagine, there are very few of these plants in bloom in any given spring – so it is a real treat to find one!  I have located a couple – this one is in Yaqui Pass, the other in San Felipe Canyon.

It was pretty stormy this morning – I like to think of this weather as a high variance photo opportunity, this is especially true in the desert.  What I mean by that is stormy weather greatly increases the chance for amazing light and unique atmospheric conditions, the kind of conditions that can lead to wonderful photo opportunities.  But, bad weather also greatly increases the chance of coming away with nothing!

I was reminded of that today.  At my first stop, the agave in San Felipe Canyon, I was greeted by hard wind and rain and came away with nothing.  On my second stop, I found calm wind and the beautiful defused light you see here.   At one point I even had a brief rainbow!

Golf course at the Springs at Borrego, Borrego Springs, California.

It rained a little last night, but this morning was beautiful!  Great light, and a rare, at least for this area, rainbow!

Farmer's Market, Borrego Springs, California.

With the weekend just about upon us, I know lots of people are looking for an update to the desert wildflower bloom.  Posting a photo of the wonderful Friday Farmer’s Market probably speaks volumes.  🙂

There is a vary wide variety of small wildflowers blooming in this area right now, and “pedal peepers” who are on the hunt for unique and pretty desert wildflowers won’t be disappointed.  The large carpets of wildflowers that have made this area famous, and that are preferred by most photographers haven’t developed yet.   This, coupled with foretasted winds is why I really can’t recommend visiting this weekend.  I found some wonderful fields of Purplemat this morning, so there are opportunities, but I really think next weekend and the following will be far better.  Stayed tuned here for more updates.

Hey speaking of the next two weekends, I have just one spot remaining for the first weekend of my Anza-Borrego desert photo tour / workshop.  The second one is full.

Greater Roadrunner, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

I photographed this guy this morning at first light.  I watched him catch a kill a small bird – it was a bit gruesome, but at the same time a bit fascinating, these birds are some hunters.  You can see the residual feather on the end of his bill.

Peninsular Desert Bighorn Sheep, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

We spotted and photographed these guys yesterday afternoon in Borrego Palm Canyon.  I have read some estimates that place the population of the subspecies of Desert Bighorn at only 280 animals.  I look forward to photographing these guys amongst the desert wildflowers.