Borrego Springs Local • December 11, 2022
Anza Borrego: The Best Places to See the Wildflower Bloom
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The Anza Borrego State Park is a desert oasis located in southern California, known for its vibrant wildflower blooms.
Each year, the park transforms into a colorful landscape of wildflowers that bloom from late February to early May, depending on the rainfall. The park offers a wide range of hiking trails, dirt roads, and scenic drives, making it easy for visitors to see the flower bloom in all their glory.
Top Places to See the Flower Bloom in Anza Borrego State Park
Henderson Canyon Road and Di Giorgio Road are top choices for those looking to easily access the best flower viewing areas by car. Henderson Canyon Road is located at coordinates 33.300846, -116.327950, while the end of Di Giorgio Road, where it meets Coyote Canyon, can be found at 33.327958, -116.367754. These locations offer some of the best opportunities to see the wildflower blooms without the need for off-roading.
Henderson Canyon Road:
- Head south on S-22 from Borrego Springs
- Turn left onto Henderson Canyon Road
- Follow Henderson Canyon Road for about 3.5 miles to the parking area
Di Giorgio Road:
- Head south on S-22 from Borrego Springs
- Turn left onto Di Giorgio Road
- Follow Di Giorgio Road for about 5.5 miles
- Turn left into Coyote Canyon Road, and follow it to the end of the asphalt road where you will find a parking area. Please note that some of these roads may be closed during or after rain. It is always recommended to check with the park staff or website for the most recent information.
For More Bloom Info
For more information on wildflower blooms in Anza Borrego State Park and other tips on how to make the most of your visit, we invite you to visit the website: https://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html. This website provides detailed information on the best times to visit, what types of flowers to expect, and other helpful information to make your trip to the park a success.
Don’t miss out on the beautiful wildflower blooms, plan your visit today!
How To Be Prepared
- Check ABDNHA Wildflower Current updates and map website
- Join Borrego Blooms Facebook Group
- Like and Follow Anza Borrego Foundation Facebook page
- Sign up for ABF’s email updates to receive communication about the bloom.
- Check Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s website for road conditions, safety tips, and best routes when traveling to the Park or call the Visitor Center at 760-767-4205.
- Call the Wildflower Hotline: (760) 767-4684
- Visit the State Park Store for free information, wildflower brochures, books, and all your safe needs for exploring the desert. (we consider this your BEST way to get the most up to date information and personable tips about visiting both Borrego Springs and Anza Borrego State Park) All purchases are considered a contribution.
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Comment by Aug. 18 on Golden Pacific Powerlink The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is accepting online comments on the Golden Pacific Powerlink through Aug. 18. Submit a comment here: https://sdcounty.granicusideas.com/.../6a7a375d7d79655936
BASIC (Basic Assistance for Students in the Community) is hiring a Managing Director to lead programs, fundraising, operations, and community partnerships that support education for students and families in Borrego Springs. This is a visible, hands-on leadership role for someone who can build trust, get things done, and champion BASIC's C2G cradle to graduation mission. Key Responsibilities Partner with the Board to set priorities and support strong governance. Manage general daily operations, including use of technology, tracking data and written information, running meetings and supervision of a small staff. Guide BASIC programs, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Learning Academy, and Scholarships. Manage fundraising and communications (external and internal). Build strong partnerships and serve as a trusted community ambassador. Ideal Candidate Bilingual in Spanish and English Proactive, organized, and comfortable in our small community. Strong communicator (written and verbal) and relationship-builder. Leadership experience in nonprofits, fundraising, programs, administration, education or community service. How to Apply Send your resume to basic2026job@borregobasic.org by September 15, 2026 Learn more about BASIC: www.borregobasic.org
By Dennis Mammana Week of Aug 16-22, 2026 It was 20 years ago that our solar system lost a planet. Well, it didn't really go anywhere, but Pluto is no longer a planet because it's been reclassified. I'm sure you figured out in school that scientists love to classify things. Rocks, clouds, plants and, yes, even stars and planets. So why did they feel the need to reclassify Pluto? Because Pluto doesn't seem to fit the pattern of the rest of the major worlds of our solar system. First, it's a world not even 1,500 miles across; in other words, if we could bring it to Earth, it would fit inside of Mexico. Its orbit is tipped about 17 degrees to the orbits of all the other planets and is so elongated that every 240 years it crosses the orbit of Neptune. In addition, Pluto is an icy world with only five known moons, yet it exists in the realm of the gassy, ringed giants, around which hundreds of moons orbit. This is one strange world, so on Aug. 24, 2006, when the International Astronomical Union reclassified it as a "dwarf planet" — one of five currently known — some folks became quite upset. I hear people say all the time, "Pluto was a planet when I was in school, and by God, it's still a planet!" But that's not how science works. As we learn more about nature, we find characteristics and patterns that don't match up with our previous notions. Sometimes when that happens, we must change the way we think. It's all good science, and it happens more frequently than you might imagine. Ages ago, anyone on the high seas would have considered whales as fish. Though whales were known to have characteristics different from fish, it wasn't until 1758 that the 10th edition of Carl Linnaeus' "System Naturae" officially branded them as mammals. I'd be willing to bet that if the internet had existed back then, folks would have been screaming for Linnaeus' hide, and proclaiming, "Whales were fish when I went to school, and by God, they're still fish!" But here we are, three centuries later, and no one's upset any longer. No, Pluto just doesn't fit the patterns of all the other planets, so for that reason, it seems to me, Pluto cannot legitimately be categorized as a planet. So if Pluto's not a planet, what is it? A moon of one of the outer planets that broke free? A monster comet? A weird missing link? Good questions, all. Unfortunately, we just don't know. It was in 1930 that Clyde Tombaugh found Pluto, and some of his ashes were carried onboard the New Horizons spacecraft as it sped past and explored this distant world in 2015. Those who are more sentimental than scientific believe that this reclassification is an insult to the man who was so very proud of being the discoverer of the last planet of our solar system. I knew Clyde, and I'm pretty sure this wouldn't bother him one bit. In fact, I suspect he would be even more honored to be the discoverer of the first of an entirely new class of worlds! Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com .
Four-day Desert Bloom retreat planned at Borrego Springs Resort in January 2027
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Saturday, September 5th | 4:00–5:00 p.m. After years of dedication, generosity and service, Frugal Coyote Resale Shop & Thrift Store is celebrating Ann’s retirement . Frugal Coyote has long been part of the Borrego Springs community, giving donated and secondhand items another life while supporting local causes. Behind that work are the people who have contributed their time and care over the years, and Anne has been an important part of that story. Friends, customers and community members are invited to stop by Frugal Coyote at The Center on Saturday, September 5th, from 4:00–5:00 p.m. to share a memory and celebrate Anne as she begins her next chapter. Cake and champagne will be served while supplies last. Please RSVP: Anne’s Retirement Celebration RSVP
The world champion who races in Borrego Springs trains all summer in a Saskatchewan village Fred LaCroix, a French handcyclist and a familiar sight on Borrego Springs roads, was recently featured by CBC News for his racing in Borrego Springs and his summer training base in rural Saskatchewan. LaCroix, 65, is from the French Alps and has competed in the 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships in Borrego Springs. He won the 24-hour men’s handcycle event in the 60–69 age division, finishing despite mechanical problems. A former helicopter pilot who worked in 62 countries, LaCroix’s life changed dramatically in 2016 when a virus caused him to lose the use of his legs. The disability ended his aviation career and made him a wheelchair user. He later turned to adaptive sports, first racing in a wheelchair and then discovering handcycling, which allowed him to train for longer distances and endurance competition. LaCroix was looking for somewhere in Canada with flat roads and elevation slightly higher than the Borrego Springs course. He landed in Cadillac, Saskatchewan, a small village about 146 miles southwest of Regina , by chance. This is his third summer there. The village has taken to him. CBC News reported that residents gathered during his interview , and local officials said LaCroix has become part of the community. He has volunteered at fundraiser barbecues and even helped by watering newly planted trees at the village campground. Regional Saskatchewan news outlets have also reported on LaCroix’s training and his preparations for racing in Borrego Springs. His regular appearances on local roads have made LaCroix a familiar figure in Borrego Springs, creating an unexpected connection between this desert community and a small prairie village more than 1,500 miles away.
