Flower Power

Slot Canyon, Anza Borrego

Everybody has been talking about the magnificent bloom out in the Anza Borrego desert but due to a confluence of events beyond my control I was a little bit late to the party.

My photo cohort Ken has been laid up sick and I have been super busy so yesterday was the first chance we had to check it out. A little recon mission.

Unfortunately the rumors of the bloom being now off the bud were true, we had probably missed the peak. As one of my neighbors said, who visited last week, "Frankly it is prettier in Fallbrook."

Which isn't putting the desert effulgence down, it was great. Fallbook is just exceedingly pretty right now, many valleys resembling Granville Redmond or John Gamble paintings with their lupines and poppies.

There were tons of muggles of all ages enjoying the wildflower show, older people in their khaki, young girls in their spandex and yoga pants. Did you know that yoga pants are now affecting the ocean's health? Their microfibers now constitute about 83% of the ocean's plastic pollution.

We drove out to the Slot Canyon that Jerry Kalman suggested we shoot. We had a choice, go right or left and ended up going the wrong way but will be back to shoot another day. Now we have our bearings. Expect to nail it next time.

In the evening on Di Giorgio Rd. we saw the birder group charting the Swainson hawk migration. We then drove out to Henderson and the Desert Gardens. Ken got bit lightly on the knee by a cholla.

Ocotillas are starting to bloom and that was nice. Should never count the teeth of nature's offering I suppose. Wonderful in any measure and will be better when the humans have left for the year. Looking forward to returning when the place is as dead as a GOP health care bill.

We hit Carmelitas right when their power shut off but it was quickly restored.

The invasion has caused serious food shortages in the area, the favorite restaurant was temporarily out of salsa but I managed to get my favorite mole enchiladas. Actually my favorite mole anywhere.

I am sure the locals can't wait for the flowers to totally dry up so that they can get their home back.

I am looking forward to going through my shots and seeing if there is any gold to mine. I saw enough of the Slot Canyon to want to go back. And soon.