Anyone in the SouthWest US? Az & So Cal?

[jukas]

I usually make several trips a year to photograph reptiles however this year what I'm most interested in is the bloom. From the amount of rain the Colorado and Sonoran desert have been getting, it's being anticipated as being an even better bloom than back in '98.

Can anyone give me an update and an estimated time it'll peak? I know places near Borrego and into Az were reporting seeing some bloom in late January. I'm trying to get my timing down, I dont' want to go too early, but I also don't want to go too late and have nothing left.

[Belmondo]

I was out driving around in the hills between Indio and Joshua Tree last week, and it has started. I would expect it will continue to improve for most of the next month, but I've never really tracked these things before. I'm not much of a flower guy.

I will say that the hills are much greener than I've ever seen them in the 4+ years we've lived here, if that's any indication.

[ltdedorc]

Check out this link on the status of wild flowers. My wife and I have been planning on going out to Anza Borrego SP for 2 weeks but the continuing rains in So California has postponed our trip to maybe this Thursday or next Monday. Note the "meters" for each location...Harvey

http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html

[kawter2]

hey BEL? I live in orange county and my in-laws have a house in Mission Hills.

Where would you sugest the best place for the wildflowers to be.. The site seems to indicate a lot of them will be right by you guys.

Also, do you have a few "secret" places arround that area that have intresting subjecs to fotograph?

TIA

[robertwgross]

I'm at least 8-10 hours of driving time north of those desert spots. However, I have been waiting on the right time to go for wildflowers. The reports from Anza-Borrego were getting good one week ago, but then this recent rainy spell has hit. That made an immediate impact, negatively, but then once it dries off the bloom may be even better yet. The reports from JTree were also getting good a week ago. Death Valley was also, but the roads there are still seriously screwed up from too much water and debris. The poppy preserve isn't even going to open until March 15, so that tells you something.

Right now, a wild guess is that it'll be good anytime in March. A-B will be better early, and DV will be better later.

Actually, we ought to send Belmondo out on a scouting mission. What's it like in Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, just north of you?

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Like I said, I'm not really a flower kind of guy. I would guess that Joshua Tree would probably have some good areas. You might ask Bob Gross. He's not from around here, but he does make a pilgrimage here from time to time for the wildflowers, and he might know.

Also, the link that itdedorc just posted might be helpful.

Ask me about where to take train pictures.

[robertwgross]

hey BEL? I live in orange county and my in-laws have a house in Mission Hills.

Where would you sugest the best place for the wildflowers to be.. The site seems to indicate a lot of them will be right by you guys.

Also, do you have a few "secret" places arround that area that have intresting subjecs to fotograph?

For Orange County, head to Lake Elsinore. That's where the early poppies are. The late ones will be near Lancaster.

---Bob Gross---

[kawter2]

Ask me about where to take train pictures.

Do you know anywhere to take train pictures?

[kawter2]

For Orange County, head to Lake Elsinore. That's where the early poppies are. The late ones will be near Lancaster.

---Bob Gross---

GREAT... I'm there, would you say 2 days after the rain?

[Belmondo]

Do you know anywhere to take train pictures?

Oh, yeah!! :lol: :lol:

[jukas]

I'm at least 8-10 hours of driving time north of those desert spots. However, I have been waiting on the right time to go for wildflowers. The reports from Anza-Borrego were getting good one week ago, but then this recent rainy spell has hit. That made an immediate impact, negatively, but then once it dries off the bloom may be even better yet. The reports from JTree were also getting good a week ago. Death Valley was also, but the roads there are still seriously screwed up from too much water and debris. The poppy preserve isn't even going to open until March 15, so that tells you something.

Right now, a wild guess is that it'll be good anytime in March. A-B will be better early, and DV will be better later.

Actually, we ought to send Belmondo out on a scouting mission. What's it like in Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, just north of you?

---Bob Gross---

Bob,

Sounds like you're pretty close to the same stomping grounds I am. I live about an hour away from San Francisco. I'm hoping to go in March but I'm running into work obsticles that may keep me here until April

[gramps]

around here all I see that is new growth is WEEDS!!!! Here it is Feburary and there should be snow on the ground and I see green! Oh well maybe a good snow still to come will freeze 'em.

Hey Belmondo, where do you take pictures of trains?????

[robertwgross]

GREAT... I'm there, would you say 2 days after the rain?

Yes. California Poppies like sun, and they do not like wind. So, if it is bright and not windy, then they'll be out. On a breezy day, the poppies furl (close up), and that kind of defeats the best scene.

California has a poppy preserve near Lancaster, and that is supposed to be THE place to go for poppies. However, I have been there during March of the past two years, and I've been disappointed, at least within the preserve. Last year, I was almost skunked looking for them within the preserve, but then right across the road there was a million. The interpretive center at the preserve isn't due to open until March 15, which tells me that they expect the poppy peak after that.

Poppies are already blooming in Northern California as well, but they tend to be widely scattered.

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Hey Belmondo, where do you take pictures of trains?????

We only have one rail line through the desert here --- the Union Pacific's Yuma Line that runs between Colton and Phoenix. It closely parallels Interstate 10 through our part of the desert, and there are quite a few decent vantage points from which to get good shots. One of my favorites is the Palm Springs Amtrak Station. Trains will occasionally stop there to wait for traffic, and the mountain views are pretty good, too. If you stand on the Indian Avenue Bridge over the tracks, you can see them coming for miles. Unfortunately, most of the trains looks pretty much the same. This is actually an old Southern Pacific line that was gobbled up by the UP a few years ago, and graduallly all the old SP equipment is being retired or repainted to UP colors. There just isn't a lot of variety---a lot of containers, auto racks, and the occasional mixed consist. There are only two passenger trains per day, and they come through at night (when they're on schedule).

One of the problems I'm having more frequently is being chased off railroad property. the yard in Indio is an interesting place, but they don't like visitors. There's an old engine house that's about 100 years old, and it would make for some interesting photos. That's one of the other reasons why I like the Amtrak station---it's a public facility, and nobody bothers me there.

[robertwgross]

Bob,

Sounds like you're pretty close to the same stomping grounds I am. I live about an hour away from San Francisco. I'm hoping to go in March but I'm running into work obsticles that may keep me here until April

No, I live about an hour away from San Francisco!

Last year in March, I drove down and hit the poppy preserve, A-B, JTree, and DV, all within a couple of weeks. During the time in DV, I photographed different flower species that were endemic. In fact, one species grows only in an area of about five miles by ten miles, accessible by difficult road, and it only blooms at night. Boy, you want to talk about a hard shot to get! Don't even get me started about Mimulus rupicola.

Two years ago, I did a pilgrimage to DV for a photo workshop of three days. It was almost worthless, and the leader was disappointing. So, I just decided that I could do a lot better on my own. The scheduling problem now is that ski season is still underway.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

I found this news item for Death Valley flowers.

Death Valley - February 21, 2005
Ranger Charlie Callagan writes: Here's the latest wildflower update for Death Valley. A few changes but not a lot. Listen up for a radio program on Death Valley wildflowers and rain on NPR's Day to Day program. It will probably air on Monday, February 28th or a following day if not Monday.

Death Valley averages less than 2 inches of rain a year, but the Furnace Creek area has received over 5 1/2 inches of rain since July, 2004. There has been rain in every month since August. The bloom is coming along nicely and promises to get better, peaking around mid-March. Great wildflower viewing opportunities should exist from now until at least mid-April. A full-color wildflower brochure is available in the visitor center and all ranger stations for $1.00.

The best locations for wildflowers at this time are: Near Ashford Mill: A spectacular bloom of desert gold, sand verbena, and brown-eyed evening primrose line the roadways and add color to the alluvial fans. Explore the hills and alluvial fans to find the delicate desert five-spot in bloom. Hells Gate on the road to Beatty: Look for golden evening primrose, white brittlebush, rock daisy, and notch-leaf phacelia in bloom, especially on the east side of Death Valley Buttes. Badwater Road: Between Natural Bridge and Badwater look for the deep purple of the notch-leaf phacelia and the white of the brown-eyed evening primrose along the roadsides and up the alluvial fans.

Remember all plants in the park are protected. Please, do not pick any wildflowers.

=========
Keep in mind that Death Valley is at the northern end of the Mojave Desert. Anza-Borrego is far south (south=hotter=earlier). I think we'll just hold a Canon convention on Belmondo's front porch.

---Bob Gross---

[gramps]

"I think we'll just hold a Canon convention on Belmondo's front porch."

he IS planning a party at his place that weekend for everyone on the site isn't he?

[Belmondo]

"I think we'll just hold a Canon convention on Belmondo's front porch."

he IS planning a party at his place that weekend for everyone on the site isn't he?

Sure thing!!!

I'll just wait a little while to tell Mrs. Belmondo. :lol:

[robertwgross]

I'll just wait a little while to tell Mrs. Belmondo.

Ask her if she has a recipe for owl.

No? How about desert iguana?

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Ask her if she has a recipe for owl.

No? How about desert iguana?

---Bob Gross---

Bob:
I don't have to ask.
I do all the cooking. :o

[mbze430]

Yeah about 3 weeks ago, the 15fwy around Lake Elsinore started to bloom like crazy. I don't know now, since its been raining since last Friday (pooring rain).

Hey there should be a Canon meet, like a place of destination for nature photography. Since we have a few So Cal ppl on the board.

[robertwgross]

I think I can claim to know the nature photography spots in Death Valley. Unfortunately, you can't get to a lot of them very easily. Some are accessible by 4WD road, but I'll drive my sedan there filled up to the headliner with camera gear. Some are accessible by hiking trail only, but I cover a lot of miles on foot. Unfortunately also, Death Valley is seriously screwed up right now. CA Hwy 190 has a major section closed east of Furnace Creek, due to flash flood damage last fall. The famous salt flat at Badwater is now Lake Badwater.

Anza-Borrego ought to be really good about one week after the current rainy period ends, but before it has time to get really hot.

JTree, I'm not sure. Belmondo would have to make a run up to the Cottonwood Canyon Entrance to check.

Oh, remember the red-winged blackbirds that were flocking in Southern California a couple of weeks ago? Well, they are just north of Stockton now. Flocks of 10,000 or 20,000 were reported today.

---Bob Gross---

[yendikeno]

As already mentioned, you can get wildflower updates at the DesertUSA web site. Here are some other sources:

Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve 805/724-1180 (recording) - 805/942-0662, US Forest Service 805/245-3731
Good web sites: www.calphoto.com/wflower.htm (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/www.calphoto.com/wflower.htm) www.weather.com/CA_Lancaster.html (http://www.weather.com/CA_Lancaster.html) http://www.nps.gov/plants/cw/ (http://www.nps.gov/plants/cw/)

Theodore Payne Foundation 24 hr. wildflower hotline - 818/768-3533, Gorman wildflower tours - 805/248-7007 www.theodorepayne.org (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/www.theodorepayne.org)

Torrey Pines Reserve (San Diego) 619/755-2063

Hope this helps. ...yendikeno

[robertwgross]

I do all the cooking. :o

So, with desert iguana on the menu, do you serve a white wine, or a red wine?

It sure doesn't qualify as poultry or beef, does it?

---Bob Gross---

[TammieO]

I'm thinking a nice white wine with iguana since in some parts of the world it's known as "chicken of the tree".