2017 Southern California Desert in Bloom

This is a desert.

Monument Valley in southeastern Utah.

And this is a desert.

 Anza-Borrego of California from www.desertusa.com/anza_borrego/du-abpmain.html

And this is also the Anza-Borrego Desert---in bloom:

Anza Borrego Desert, Southern California      Photos courtesy of Joy L. Delman

So what happened?????

A desert typically gets +/- ten inches of precipitation a year. Might not be hot but it's definitely dry.

From 2014 to late 2016,  California suffered drought conditions that reduced water for farms and communities and increased risks of wildfires.

From late 2016 through the winter of 2017, Southern California got as much as double the typical desert rainfall.  I heard from friends and news reports of torrential rains that could wash out bridges and threaten communities.

Nature has its ways, and anyone who’s read any of my blog knows I'm often overwhelmed by natural phenomena, whether it’s looking at mountains, rivers, volcanoes, or learning about the rains bringing an end to a four-year drought.

But what a spectacular end!  The California deserts responded to the rains with floral explosions of light and color. 

My friend, Joy Delman and her husband Pete, visited Borrego Springs--Anza-Borrego Desert State park--to photograph the desert in bloom.

I could do a lot of writing here.  But I think I these beautiful desert photos speak for themselves,
(Please note: I tried to find the names of some of the flowers.  I was not very successful.  If you know any of them, please comment or let me know and I’ll update my information.)

purpurascens and goldfield

Purple Mat

And when the desert is in bloom, the caterpillars arrive.  This caterpillar is not a farmer’s friend...but with plenty to eat in the desert,  local gardeners may be spared from predatory ways.  And as with all natural cycles,  the moths serve several useful purposes:  food for migrating hawks who fly over 10,000 miles from South America to the North American Arctic (they get hungry--they need to eat!) ; the satiated plant-filled caterpillars who escape the hawks burrow into the ground to return next winter as moths that will pollinate native plants as they sip their nectar.     And the cycle begins again.

Sphinx Moth caterpillar

For more photos of the Anza Borrego Desert in bloom, visit Anza Borrego Desert in Bloom
For more information on the sphinx moths, visit http://theabf.org/sphinx-moths
For more information on the desert in bloom, visit http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html

Special thanks to Joy Delman for providing such rare and beautiful views of the desert in bloom

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Saying Goodbye to the Volcanoes and the Columbia River Gorge

According to my notes, our first stop on our last morning is Crown Point Promontory, which provides a spectacular view of the Columbia River Gorge.  Vista House was built here the same time as the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway. Sam Lancaster, who designed the Highway in keeping with Sam Hill’s vision of recognizing the surrounding beauty, wanted Vista House at Crown Point to  pay tribute to the first pioneers who made their way across the Gorge. (For more information refer back to an earlier post: The Dry Side of the Cascades)
Unfortunately, my photos do not adequately represent the beauty of the views from Crown Point. However, this three-and-a-half minute video from  davidegg22 does:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHf2y63Ajw 
 (if clicking o the link does not work, lease copy and paste into your browser)

Our next stop is the trail near LaTourelle Falls, a fairly easy one mile hike with another beautiful waterfall.

LaTourelle Falls

And from there we go to Multnomah Falls, a 620 foot cascade carving its way down the mountain to the waters below.  The trail leading up to Benson Bridge is an easy and manageable paved walk leading to the perfect photo op.  I did take the photo below, but I assure you there is another photo of me on the bridge, waving to my friends below. (Who could resist?)

Multnomah Falls and Benson Bridge

With this spectacular view, we say goodbye to the magnificent Columbia River Gorge, goodbye to hiking on active volcanos, goodbye to the inspiration of inimitable an unsurpassable natural beauty and the arresting reminders of the vast power of nature.