Anza-Borrego Wildflowers

With the abundance of rain we've seen this year in Southern California, I decided to make the trip out to Borrego Springs to find out a little more about the world famous wildflowers that bloom each year in and around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Not knowing exactly where to go, I decided to start with the park headquarters located up at the end of Palm Canyon Drive. After speaking with a couple of the volunteer rangers and loading up with maps and pamphlets, I headed off to Coyote Canyon as advised. of course I couldn't resist at least getting a few pictures while at Palm Canyon, and I even had a brief meeting with a roadrunner.

A roadrunner sitting up in a palm tree



Some Brittlebrush and Buckhorn Cholla Cactus



Some colorful Brittlebush



Close-up of some Brittlebush



Another close-up of some Brittlebush

For anyone that has not been to Borrego Springs, the property around town owned by Dennis Avery is decorated with dozens of giant metal sculptures. Dennis is the land owner of Galleta Meadows Estates and decided to add 'free standing art' to his property with original steel welded sculptures created by Ricardo Breceda, the owner of 'Perris Jurassic Park' in Perris, Ca. The sculptures represent creatures that lived in the area about 3 million years ago and definitely add a unique flavor to the small desert city.

Giant metal tortoise sculpture up off Henderson Canyon Road



Giant metal horse sculptures located off Borrego Springs Road.

Once I got to the end of DiGiorgio Road and headed down the dirt road into Coyote Canyon, the wildflowers started coming to life. The desert seemed to be painted with Brittlebush, Desert Dandelion, Arizona Lupine, Sand Verbena, Fremont's Pincushion and a few other treasures like Desert Chicory, Little Gold Poppy, and Desert Sunflower. While there was some Buckhorn Cholla Cactus, I didn't notice any blooms, but the Ocotillo Cactus was starting to show it's red blossoms.

Brittlebush near Coyote Canyon



Desert Dandelion and Arizona Lupines near Coyote Canyon



Buckhorn Cholla Cactus near Coyote Canyon



Desert Dandelion near Coyote Canyon



Desert Dandelion, Arizona Lupines, Fremont's Pincushion, and Buckhorn Cholla Cactus



Desert Sunflower, Sand Verbena, and Fremont's Pincushion



A huge caterpillar munching on a flower



Close-up of a large caterpillar eating a flower



Brittlebush near Coyote Canyon



Desert Dandelion and Arizona Lupine



Small butterfly near Coyote Canyon






Wildflowers paint the desert valley all the way to the mountains



Desert Chicory

The wildflowers are just starting to peak so for anyone thinking about going to Borrego Springs to see them, you still have time. I highly recommend watching the wildflower reports over at desertusa.com for continued updates. Also, if you're unfamiliar with the Borrego Springs area, make sure to stop by the Park Headquarters located 200 Palm Canyon Drive for some great information.

Please help me to continue adding to this site by using these links to Amazon and Adorama to get all your photography gadgets. Using these links will cost you nothing extra. These online stores have the best prices and great service, which is why I personally use them exclusively for all of my photography purchases. Thank you. -Todd

Floating Cotton

Post storm cumulus clouds drifted over San Diego like giant cotton balls in the sky. Forecasts predict more stormy weather for San Diego this coming weekend.

Cumulus clouds hover of San Diego like cotton balls in the sky

Please help me to continue adding to this site by using these links to Amazon and Adorama to get all your photography gadgets. Using these links will cost you nothing extra. These online stores have the best prices and great service, which is why I personally use them exclusively for all of my photography purchases. Thank you. -Todd

Lazy Daisie

As if it's not hard enough to get a well balanced exposure of a Black Labrador Retriever, try getting one to sit still long enough to snap a photo or two. Well this weekend, my Labrador Daisie was lazy enough while lounging around in the warm sun, that I was able to get one decent portrait! Maybe I should just photograph her while she sleeps...

Portrait of my Black Labrador, Daisie.

Please help me to continue adding to this site by using these links to Amazon and Adorama to get all your photography gadgets. Using these links will cost you nothing extra. These online stores have the best prices and great service, which is why I personally use them exclusively for all of my photography purchases. Thank you. -Todd

Amazing Flight Back in Time

The Liberty Belle, a fully restored Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and one of the greatest military aircraft ever built, is again soaring the skies. The Liberty Foundation’s “Salute to Veterans Tour” is currently offering the public a chance to step back in time and get a first hand experience of what it what like to patrol the skies in the Flying Fortress. Flight cost is $430 for non-Liberty Foundation members. Please check the The Liberty Foundation’s web site for additional information and schedule details.

Below you will find a few photographs of the recently restored Liberty Belle flying directly over my house yesterday afternoon. What a site it was to see this magnificant piece of World War II history as it rumbled and roared overhead.

The Liberty Belle flying over San Diego.
Post processing deliberately added for an aged effect.

Please help me to continue adding to this site by using these links to Amazon and Adorama to get all your photography gadgets. Using these links will cost you nothing extra. These online stores have the best prices and great service, which is why I personally use them exclusively for all of my photography purchases. Thank you. -Todd