Since I’m so far behind on my posts now, I figured I’d do something more current and catch up later. How much later remains to be seen.
I spent a week in Julian, CA. It’s a lovely little town (and tourist trap) up in the mountains. Julian is in an area which happened to be surrounded by blooming California lilacs. The breezes smelled divine with all lilac scent filling the air.
On the drive down to the park we passed through the town of Borrego Springs. In the desert just outside of town a sculptor has placed many of his works. There is also an area outside of the town of Temecula, (on the other side of the mountains) where many more of his works are on display along highway 79. These are large pieces, including a full-sized stagecoach, driver and horses with passengers inside the coach. We’re talking a lot of detail to his pieces.
Bird on nest
wild horses
Mastodons
On the eastern side of the mountain, down on the valley floor is Anza Borrego state park. This is desert, dry, sandy, rocky and very hot most of the year. Fortunately it’s quite pleasant in March. My sister came up to spend a few days camping with me and we went to Anza to go hiking and to observe the cacti in bloom. There were quite a few blossoms and a lot of people wandering around to see and take pictures of them.
cactus flower with visitor
tiny desert flowers
One of the many plants in bloom were the Ocotillo. Ocotillos go dormant whenever the weather becomes too hot and/or dry. Then they put out leaves and bloom any time there is enough rain for them to do so. They can do this several times per year if the weather warrants it.
Ocotillo in bloom
We chose to hike the Palm Canyon trail while we were there. It’s a mile-and-a-half up to the oasis in the canyon. Where the spring issues forth it allows the palms to grow and sends a small stream trickling down the rocks for a short way, before the water disappears again. These little, hidden water sources are the reason there are so many bighorn sheep in the area. And a reason so many photographers lugging cameras with enormous telephoto lenses are to be found.
mama and baby
mama sheep sunbathing
During our stroll, we saw many forms of life, including quail, a mama bighorn sheep and her little one, a chuckawalla, and lots and lots of other types of lizards. Topper would have been in lizard-chase heaven, if dogs had been allowed on the trail. It was perfect day and an exhausting hike, but worth every step.
quail
(There is a campground here that is RV friendly, but I would have had to move on Saturday as no sites were available, thus Julian was home-base for this segment.)
cactus flower
Enjoy the pictures taken on our little jaunt.
slipstreamserendipity 