Anza-Borrego State Park

[happ]

Here are some photos I took in eastern San Diego county earlier this week. The steep decline down highway 78 from Julian [4800'] to the Salton Sea [-229'] and into Borrego Springs is a must for every Californian. The Anza-Borrego desert is the largest state park in California and a wonderful visit in winter. The wildflower season is peaking right now. Unfortunately time didn't allow a visit to any of the palm oases but I did pass several palm plantations.

Edited March 14, 2009 by happ

[happ]

More shots of Anza-Borrego. This is where in 1774 Don Juan Bautista de Anza crossed over the canyons and passes from the desert to Mission San Gabriel [near Los Angeles]. The first photo is the interior of Mission San Antonio de Pala in Santa Ysabel:

And Padre Francisco Garces

There's art all over the desert:

[happ]

More figures of native creatures:

and Mexicano indians:

native desert lily:

[happ]

Palm plantation:

[happ]

Fan palms against mountains & sky:

[happ]

Doesn't this look like the Middle East?

Unmistakably California

[happ]

Back to wildflowers

and the strange Ocotillo

[happ]

More octotillo\ fouquieria splendens

[epicure3]

No, we are not in Kansas anymore. Happ, those pictures are amazng. Truly great stuff. Not that I want to be out there come August. Incredible how those Washingtonias survive that harsh climate.

[amazondk]

Happ,

Thanks for the pictures of the trip. That looks like a great place.

dk

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks for posting Happ.

Although I have gone out at least 30 times over the years to fix air conditioners, I rarely am too far away from "town". Aren't all those palm places on the north side? Thats the only -green- area I can remember.

[freakypalmguy]

Nice shots Happ, I spend a bit of time out in that area every year and love it. The desert is a wonderfull place.

[paulgila]

great pix,happ!

my parents live out there.i was there for thanksgiving & wanted to see some of those washy plantations but never got a chance,so thanks!

[happ]

Thanks for the kind remarks. Borrego is well-worth the visit but too bad it is so inhospitable for so many months of the year. Here are a few more photos of one of the oasis that I found on the Internet:

[leyucca]

Nice photos ! Last one is absolutly fantastic !

[MattyB]

Metal Dog Balls is the name of my new band.

[Jeff Searle]

Happ,

As they say, a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. The scenery is beautiful, but it looks just to be a little dry for me. I need my rain. BTW, just how few of inches does this area recieve a year? Less than 5"? But thanks for all the pics.

Jeff

[happ]

Metal Dog Balls is the name of my new band.

Here's your mascot!

Jeff, it probably is close to 5" yearly & half of that falls during summer as thunderstorms form over the mountains. Borrego Springs is a very small town not even close to other small towns! It was really pleasant the day I was there but temps are already beginning to push near 90F & it only gets hotter into summer. The drive down the 2 lane state highway[78] from Julian can mean an increase in the temp from near 80F to over 110F by the time you reach Borrego in summer. It basically is a "snowbird" town during winter.

It is desolate & actually dangerous if you break down in the desert in areas like this:

[bubba]

Happ, That is some beautiful country.Where do those incredibly weird cactus start(Joshua Trees)?I remember taking a back road (started out gravel and turned quickly to dirt) from Las Vegas to Palm Springs.Traveled past a large dune area that was used in alot of Westerns.That's when my wife woke up and if my oldest had not backed me up we may have ended up on Bagdad Beach.

[happ]

Bubba

I don't think joshua trees do well in the low desert. Joshua Tree Pk. is around 3000' elevation while Borrego Springs is 590' & nearby Salton Sea is -229 below sea level. Here are joshua trees & native palms in the park.

[bubba]

Happ, Those Joshua Trees are great but the native Washingtonia Groves are spectacular.