Heading into Jojoba Wash. Jojoba Wash is know for its’ proliferation of Jojoba bushes.

As the the three day weekend crowds began funneling into coastal San Diego, Mary and I were heading east towards the Anza Borrego desert. We were hoping to escape the weekend crowds and perhaps find some desert wildflowers.

Blooming Ocotillo in Jojoba Wash – Anza Borrego

The problem with predicting the annual desert wildflower blooms is that nobody really knows for certain what triggers the phenomenon. Well-spaced rain storms throughout the winter and spring are the minimal prerequisite, but even that will not guarantee a good wildflower bloom.

Barrel Cactus Closeup – Notice small buds protected by numerous thorns.

We decided to confine our search to the southern end of Anza Borrego, and explore some of the less visited canyons and washes.

After we setup camp we set about  looking for any sign of desert color which proved to be a bit of a challenge. The Ocotillo looked very healthy and full of green leaves, but only a handful showed any sign of the fiery buds they are known for.

Ocotillo starting to blossom in Indian Gorge

A few blooming Chuparosa bushes broke up the otherwise brown landscape but overall the southern Anza Borrego desert seem to be in a holding pattern.

Chuparosa in Jojoba Wash

Our expert opinion (no we are not really experts), is that the southern Anza Borrego desert needs more time before the wildflowers and cactus blooms will blossom. We noticed numerous blooms on  the barrel cacti and many areas were covered with an emerald green grass.

Mary looking for Barrel cactus blooms

Check back in a few weeks for an update. 🙂