Winter Bloom - Anza Borrego

The 'Super Bloom' gets all the publicity in the media, which occurs about once a decade.  However a 'Winter Bloom' is only once every couple decades and does not get the attention it deserves.

This year a very massive Winter Bloom is occurring in Ocotillo Wells.  With a rebuild of the carburetor on the ATV, it was a perfect time to take it out for a test run.

The photos are from areas within the Ocotillo Wells Off-Road Park.

Sand verbena

Sunflower

Lupine

Palo Verde Wash was full of color, stretching all the way to Devil's Slide

The brilliant white of Evening Primrose has taken over the valley floor

Ocotillo Wells is an Off-Road area … but all of the off-roaders stopped to take in the amazing bloom in the wash.

ARG! Do not recall this name of this little lupine, that is only found in the Borrego Valley

The White Lined Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

There's a great video on You Tube demonstrates the speed it can devour a brown-eyed primrose HERE.  

The Swainson's Hawks will feast on the caterpillars during their annual migration.  The Borrego Valley Hawkwatch has put up a viewing platform at the end of DiGiorgio Road, where Fran and I watched a kettle of the hawks enjoy their dinner.

Desert Lily 

As pretty as it is I think the desert lily smells better than it looks.

Heading home as I approached Scissors Crossing there was a lot of traffic heading north on S-2.  That is the way I'd normally go also it's a gradual climb to 4000' on a wide road.

However, I chose to continue on CA-78 over Banner Grade, as it was devoid of traffic.  It's a steep narrow climb to 5000'.  And there's still  time to check out the snow.

That is it was devoid of traffic, until I came to Julian!, where the traffic was at a standstill.  I turned south on CA-79 toward I-8 as I had not planned to stop in Julian anyway.  I’ve seen more snow and worse conditions up here  …

But NEVER more traffic!!!  At least the southbound traffic was moving.  These must be the folks all heading home, with their heart set on a slice of Julian pie!

It’s late on a Sunday afternoon and the north bound traffic into Julian goes on for miles!

OK snow is fun, but this is stupid traffic on a late Sunday afternoon!

Great winter flowers and snow, No Bad Days! but feel sorry for those determined to go thru Julian.

We'll be in Borrego Springs in a couple weeks to check out their Spring Bloom.