Desert Chicory

Figure 1. Desert Chicory, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

After consecutive years of drought, this winter brings a lot of rain to California. The drought is relieved, and the flowers bloom.

2017 spring in Southern California sees the rush of crowds for wildflowers. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of many places for the so-called super-bloom, though roughly only a two-week window. I've been to Borrego Springs for many years. I see most crowds this year. It is even difficult to find a parking lot at 9:00am.

Most people are drawn to the field of wildflowers during the super-bloom. The most impressed to me, however, is the desert chicory when I hiked Borrego Palm Canyon looking for bighorn sheep. While I saw this flower last year, I saw so many more this year and they easily caught my eyes along the trail.

Among many shots of the desert chicory, this is my favorite. The lighting is so great and it is full of contrast. I don't even need a macro lens for a good shot of it. I'll call it Flower of Spring 2017 of my own.