Sojourn in the Desert

Carolyn reminds me to slow down through the sharp curves and steep drop-offs as our narrow two-lane road plummets into a vast landscape. Always a thrill for dramatic and breathtaking views along highway S22, our annual spring sojourn to Anza Borrego Desert State Park had begun.

After a rainy winter we’d expected wildflowers but didn’t see this coming.

The immense alluvial fan along Henderson Canyon Road had already become a dazzling still life painting in yellow-gold, purple, and white, on sand, while the air blew cool, and clouds shifted above, streaked and unsettled. Sand verbena, Abronia villosa, sprawled along the ground in royal purple clusters at our feet — what a delight! As we picked our way through flowers, white-crowned sparrows flittered away from us, from one creosote bush to the next.

I returned early next morning for a solo communion, and more photos. Legions of desert sunflowers melted en masse into a sea of golden yellow and drew their own horizon line beneath stony hills.

The desert primrose, Oenothera deltoides, exuded a fragrance so pervasive and sweet; it was like being in the middle of a blooming orange grove

Later, Carolyn and I hiked across another alluvial fan to the awe-inspiring canyon, known as Hellhole. Our trail, climbing at a steady five percent, unfolded with verdant finery and wild heliotrope, Phacelia distans, sheltered beneath larger plants. Their deep periwinkle blue flowers sported stamens and pistils that danced above, like little white threads and polka dots.

Ocotillos, already swelling from the winter rains, stood proud and ready to burst open from their scarlet tips while brooding clouds filled the sky

Our last night’s sleep was interrupted by the sounds of several showers, dumping almost an inch of rain. Heavy, low-hanging morning clouds played a game of peek-a-boo to reveal glimpses of sky and glistening, snow-plastered mountains in the distance.

The ubiquitous brittlebush, Encelia farinosa, gray-leaved and cheery, waved goodbye to us as we headed out of town.

It seemed to say, “Come back soon.”