Saturday, April 6, 2013

A Diversion to the Algodones Dunes in Imperial County, California

The dunes were somewhat dry today, as the whole region has had so little rain since the beginning of the year, but the Palo Verdes were flowering in a massive display the likes of which I've never seen before in many springs of visiting them.

The Palo Verde forest about 2 miles north of Glamis, at the edge of the dunes. 

One of the blooming trees along Ted Kipf Road.

Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) on Palo Verde.

A little dried mushroom, probably dating back to last summer after the heavy monsoonal rains.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). This medium-sized individual was sunning itself on the east side of a stand of shrubbery. Gave me a scare when I first spotted it!

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5 comments:

  1. Chaparral EarthApril 6, 2013 at 5:50 PM

    Kool shots of the Mushroom in the Dunes and I love this time of year with Palo Verde Trees in bloom. Don't forget to harvest the peas in June. Taste great even raw.

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    1. Robyn WaayersApril 6, 2013 at 6:00 PM

      Ha, ha -- we should! We are learning how to soak, dry and grind up our local acorns, and THAT is good food!

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  2. Chaparral EarthApril 6, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    Black Oak or Interior Live Oak are the best ones up there in those mountains. They are also the largest and fattest of the acorns.

    Just finished a post on my other blog "Earth's Internet". I am now back over here in El Cajon. Yesterday I went up to photograph the 30= years old Torrey Pines on Rattlesnake Mountain and the local residents nearby chain sawed them down justifying it because they were an invasive species and cause fires and if allowed to spread they could harm resident homes. It was all I could do to contain myself from within. They threatened me with police if I didn't leave and demanded to know what I was photographing.

    Oh Well, no wonder I lived all those 24 years up in Anza. Not that they don't have ignorance up there, but it's simply less do deal with.

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    1. Robyn WaayersApril 7, 2013 at 12:53 PM

      What a shame -- well, unfortunately there are...people like that...everywhere. You're getting some nice cool spring weather while you're here!

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  3. Margarethe BrummermannApril 16, 2013 at 9:00 AM

    Not a lot of Palo Verde bloom here yet - at least not the Foothills species, the Blues are just starting. We leave the seeds for the wildlife, the critters are stressed enough by the drought - no need to compete for food with them (Palo Verdes are so much less productive than oaks, and we have no mesquites to speak of.

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