The rain storms that brought several inches to the mountains brought a little bit to the desert, too. A little goes a long way down there, and the flowers looked richer along Henderson Canyon Road than they have in several years.
We also drove about 5 miles up Coyote Canyon, which is a favorite spot of ours now!
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Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs. The usual suspects, flower-wise. Nice to see them again after a long absence! |
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Wide shot at Henderson Canyon Road. |
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Hyles lineata (White-lined Sphinx Moth) caterpillar. There was a huge emergence along DiGiorgio Road. |
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Not much left of this plant (which is a mustard, I believe). |
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If the leaves are gone, why not eat the stem? |
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Small cryptic grasshopper at the northern terminus of DiGiorgio Road. |
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Matching (almost) pupae of...? Northern terminus of DiGiorgio Road. |
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Acmaeodera vernalis, a new species for me in San Diego County (or anywhere else, for that matter). Around Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon. |
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Eupompha elegans, Henderson Canyon Road. |
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Trichodes ornatus, checkered beetles. These are common in our desert, and in the mountains, also. This behavior keeps them that way! These were near Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon. |
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Fishhook Cactus flower. Near Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon. |
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A nice healthy-looking Desert Lily, Old Springs Road, Borrego Springs. |