Yaqui Well Trail

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is situated in the southeastern portion of California.  It is California’s largest State Park with 600,000 acres.  The Anza Borrego Desert State Park encompasses portions of the Sonora desert and sitting right next to the Salton Sea.  The following photos were taken during a family excursion during the month of March, several weeks after the first Spring rains in 2008.  We were fortunate to be able to photograph several dozen different species of blooming flowers and cacti.  The season was extremely better than the first time I managed to cruise through the park in middle of Summer in a 600 cc Suzuki Takana motorcycle–long time ago during my bachelor days.  This blog entry has more to do with a symbiotic relationship present in this, what some people might consider lifeless portion of California, desert ecological niche.  There is a plant called the Desert Mistletoe that parasitises on Mesquite, Catclaw, and Ironwood by drawing nutrients from the host plants.  Yes, the desert can be difficult for many organisms and they’ve developed interesting ways to deal with the harsh realities of desert life.  The Desert Mistletoe is carried from tree to tree by the Phainopepla bird which eats the Desert Mistletoe berries and defecates the seeds on Mesquite, Catclaw, and Ironwood. 

Desert Mistletoe hanging from Ironwood tree.  Notice ripening yellow berries.  Mature berries are red in color.

Ironwood Tree with tufts of Desert Mistletoe.  Years of infestation caused the death of the Ironwood.

Phainopepla bird roosting on Ironwood Tree.

Other interesting plants encountered in this trip included the Cholla cactus, flowering cacti, Ocotillo, and Agave.

Ocotillo extending its cane-like branches upwards along with its spines.  Ocotillo sprout its flowers immediately after the rains.  Hummingbirds depend on the sweet nectar produced by the Ocotillo flowers.

Agave growing wild in the Sonoran Desert.  Agave blooms once in its lifetime and it does this when it’s about 75 years old.  The Kumeyaay people used the leaves, blossoms, and seeds for their survival.  Any fibers from dead leaves were used to make bow strings, brushes, shoes, and snares.

The Cholla Cactus may appear just like any other cactus but, speaking from experience, it is quite a unique plant.  During the family excursion I literally had to pull apart portions of this cactus from kids shoes and a kid that decided they wanted to touch it.  The spines on this cactus have a distinct way of firmly attaching themselves to whatever they insert their spines.  I had to use a stick to pry this cacti from the bottom of someone’s shoe and prevent my hand from getting pricked.

Cactus Bloom