There are two emotions that dwell in the hearts of those who have experienced a desert wildflower “super bloom”: hope and reality.
And the only difference between the two emotions is rainfall.
There is always hope that winter rains will be generous, bringing the reality of a spring desert covered in yellows, purples, reds and indigos as wildflowers add seasonal color to the desert.
But something’s out of whack.
It was mild and sunny in the desert last week and the arid sands were painted in glorious hues of yellow, purple and white with an October wildflower bloom.
October?
That’s not right. Wildflowers come in the spring.
But a well-spaced series of summer and fall thunderstorms brought an unusual amount of rainfall to the Anza-Borrego Desert, and to the surprise of early fall visitors the wildflower bloom is in full glory, even beyond some spring blooms seen in more normal years.
Some refer to this as a “false spring,” but for former Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Superintendent Mark Jorgenson, there is nothing false about it.
It’s about patience and opportunity.
“Plants and animals in the desert have to be opportunistic and cannot up a chance to flourish and reproduce if given the right circumstances,” Jorgensen said.
And the past several weeks have been just the right circumstances.
Jorgensen measured over 3 inches of rain at his Borrego Springs home and a bit to the west in the community of Ranchita, rainfall totals exceeded 8 inches.
“On September 22, the equinox, the temperature, sun angle and time of daylight were identical to a March flowering period,” Jorgensen said.
Add rain and you have all the ingredients needed to create a wildflower reality.
“So, 2 or 3 inches of rain after a drought period was perfect,” Jorgensen said.
He added, “I don’t see this as unseasonal at all. I see it as the reason all these species we’re noticing this month still exist.”
The result of this magic blend of rainfall, sunlight and temperature is a carpet of tiny yellow chinchweed in areas of the Borrego Badlands, Coyote Canyon, Blair Valley and Culp Valley.
Blanketing thickets of sunflower-like goldeneyes are mingling with the boulders in Culp Valley, patches of purple sand verbena are popping through the sand around Borrego Springs, and just about everywhere you look, the ocotillo that normally look dead this time of the year are sporting thick coats of bright green leaves. Many will likely bloom in the next few weeks, thanks to another storm that dropped significant rainfall early last week.
The large, white flowers of the Jimson weed dot the desert landscape, and other flowers emerging include the deep purple indigobush, barrel cactus and bright red chuparosa.
Nature is happy.
And it’s not just the flowers.
The whole cycle of life is energized.
The huge sphinx moth and their large caterpillars are out and about. Desert iguanas and prehistoric looking chuckwalla lizards are basking in the spring-like sunshine.
Even the flying ants and pesky gnats were on scene within a week of the heavy rains, and the magnificent desert bighorn sheep have thousands of acres of lush indigobush to thrive on as they prepare for breeding season.
“Timing was perfect and in the long-term natural history of our desert what we’re seeing in response to the tropical storms is not unseasonal or unusual, but it’s a key response that the opportunistic species which have adapted to our harsh ecosystem have used to survive for thousands of years,” Jorgensen said.
In the grand scheme, it all about patience and timing.
“Each species’ goal is to reproduce at least once to carry on their kind. For long-lived plants like ocotillo or ironwoods, that may be decades or a century or more, or maybe it never happens and the species declines or disappears,” Jorgensen said.
This year it has happened. The persistent hope of desert lovers has become an early reality.
The beauty is powerful, the air is scented with delicate fragrances, and nature’s glory is on full display.
As the flowers of fall fade, hopes will ignite again for a winter abundant with more rainfall, followed by another spring wildflower show.
In the meantime, nature waits.
As the Japanese philosopher Ikeda said, “With love and patience, nothing is impossible.”
When it comes to wildflowers, nature brings patience, we bring love.
Cowan is a freelance columnist. Email [email protected] or visit erniesoutdoors.blogspot.com.
