CALIFORNIA

Anza Borrego from Storm Canyon, Mount Laguna

This blog has been existing for about 7 months now, but I don’t think I have made a post here about places in my own home turf, San Diego. I guess the reason to that is my other blog, San Diego Backroads. When I think of what to post in this blog, I think of outside San Diego. It is like I am making San Diego outside of California. For today, I decided to post something about San Diego’s backyard, Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

The picture of Anza Borrego Desert above was taken from the trail to Garnet Peak at Storm Canyon in Mount Laguna.

Mount Laguna

I find it amazing at how conditions changes at this place, right next to each other, but seem different worlds. If looking East is an arid land, looks devoid of vegetation from afar, yet, looking West at the same point where I took the first picture above is the oak and pine forest clad with snow.

Looking West from Storm Canyon

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is a rain shadow desert. When the storm coming from the ocean hit the mountains, the clouds are pushed skyward, and most moisture evaporates up the sky. Very little  or no rain would reach the desert. Rainshadow happens frequently across Southern California inland from the Pacific Ocean. Thus, allowing San Diegans to frolic in desert sun,

Anza Borrego Desert Wildflowers, Spring 08, San Diego County

get a dose of fun in the mountains,

Sledding on Mount Laguna, San Diego County, winter 09

and in the ocean.

Surfing in Windansea, San Diego, year round

Though Anza Borrego Desert may look brown and uninteresting from afar,

Anza Borrego from Afar

But don’t let its outright appearance deceive you. Behind this boring color are very interesting landscape,

Font’ s Point Overlook, See Person (if you can find him) for Scale

and as with all other deserts in the Southwest, it is very colorful in the spring time and early summer,

Brittlebushes, Anza Borrego, Spring 08

when many species of cacti, widlflowers, desert lilies, and bushes come into full bloom.

Desert Sunflower (Gold) and Sand Verbena ( Purple)

This year 2009, the prediction is another good bloom, since the park looks greener than last year. For current wildflower update, please visit the site: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html

Point Lobos State Reserve is 3 miles South of Carmel on Highway one or Pacific Coast Highway. If you’re in the area visiting Montery and Carmel, this is a great place to visit. Point Lobos derived its name from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, or Point of the Sea Wolves.

 Here, the sound of the sea lions carries inland. Point Lobos offers unique geological formations,

endangered archeological sites, rare plants, beautiful wildflowers,

rich sea life and an abundance of fauna. It is a paradise for nature lovers who want to do nature photography, painting, scuba diving, or just simply listen to the music of the splashing waves harmoniously blending with the sound of the sea lions and the birds.

There is a State Park entrance fee of $10.00 entering the reserve, but it is very much worth it. At the gate, they give you the information about the reserve, places to go, and the trails. You can stay here for a day and may not even be done with the reserve if you will do some hiking in its beauitful trails. However, if you are only for a short visit, the reserve also offers awe inspiring vistas.

In addition to Point Lobos inspiring beauty, its resources also are scientific interest.

For more information on Point Lobos Stare Park, please visit the park site at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=571