A Quick Diversion to the Anza Borrego Desert to Scout Before Our Camping Trip Next Weekend

The rain storms that brought several inches to the mountains brought a little bit to the desert, too. A little goes a long way down there, and the flowers looked richer along Henderson Canyon Road than they have in several years.

We also drove about 5 miles up Coyote Canyon, which is a favorite spot of ours now!

Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs. The usual suspects, flower-wise. Nice to see them again after a long absence!

Wide shot at Henderson Canyon Road.

Hyles lineata (White-lined Sphinx Moth) caterpillar. There was a huge emergence along DiGiorgio Road.

Not much left of this plant (which is a mustard, I believe).

If the leaves are gone, why not eat the stem?

Small cryptic grasshopper at the northern terminus of DiGiorgio Road.

Matching (almost) pupae of...? Northern terminus of DiGiorgio Road.

Acmaeodera vernalis, a new species for me in San Diego County (or anywhere else, for that matter). Around Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon.

Eupompha elegans, Henderson Canyon Road.

Trichodes ornatus, checkered beetles. These are common in our desert, and in the mountains, also. This behavior keeps them that way! These were near Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon.

Fishhook Cactus flower. Near Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon.

A nice healthy-looking Desert Lily, Old Springs Road, Borrego Springs.

Signs of Spring in Cuyamaca Woods

Even though it's not technically spring, it is feeling like it these days. We have finally had some decent rain (around 5 inches in the past several weeks). The warm weather between storms, and the water is bringing the spring growth out.

Lupine with dew. These little lupines grow on a slope just outside the house. They are kindly adding nitrogen to the soil.

BIG droplet on some low-growing vegetation behind Yin Yang's house.

Manzanita berries. They will get bigger and redder as the season progresses. These are about a centimeter wide. The manzanitas flowered to a huge degree this season, for some reason.

Ceonothus sp. (wild lilac). This particular bush is very popular with honey bees and native bees at the moment!

Yin Yang, the nature lover, who accompanied me on this mini-photo expedition around the property last Tuesday.