{Can't view email? Click here.}

New blooms are starting to pop up all around in Anza-Borrego Desert, but Henderson Canyon Road in Borrego Springs takes the prize for the most amazing display of color!

Top photo by Paulette Donnellon. Bottom photo by Scott Burnham.

Sanjiv Nanda, Chairman of the ABDNHA Board, captured these two photos showing the Desert Lily (Hesperocallis undulata) in bloom.

The Arroyo Salado Campground is a great spot to see blooming desert lilies. These beautiful flowers can also be found along Henderson Canyon Road with a little bit of patience and perseverance.

Anza-Borrego wildflowers (and ABDNHA) made the news! Click the button below to read this SDtoday article, featuring quotes from our own Betsy Knaak, Executive Director of ABDNHA.

Stop by and pick up your free wildflower map at the ABDNHA Desert Nature Center!

652 Palm Canyon Drive, next door to Carlee's

Or, download the map from BorregoBlooms.org!

The ABDNHA wildflower map is updated weekly during wildflower season.

Did you enjoy our last wildflower quiz?

Try guessing these new blooms that were recently spotted in the desert!

How well do you know your desert wildflowers?

See how many flowers you can identify below.

(Answers and locations are provided at the bottom of this email.)

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

All wildflower quiz photos by Mitchell Sterling.

Tickets are available in the Desert Nature Center and online.

No dogs, please!

More About the Featured Gardens ...

Rocks & Rustic Charm --

Garden & House

Nestled among rocks and boulders in the owner-designed Southwestern style house, open for the tour. The house interior showcases furniture collected by the owners in Mexico. Then pass through to the grotto-like pool with waterfall, rocks, and views. The backyard is the owner's pride and joy, with a variety of trees raised from seed. Among the trees reside rustic furniture, a portal, and a totem pole. Desert plants such as jojoba are mixed in with the trees and fun yard art.

Eclectic Collection --

Garden & House

The owner of this garden has been a collector since his youth. The yard includes an extensive plant collection plus a mix of metal sculptures and native artifacts. The collection continues inside the house.

Palms Galore &

Much More

Multiple types of palm trees, small citrus orchard, and many other trees and cactus landscape this 3-acre property. While on the walking paths, take in the wide views of the Santa Rosa and San Ysidro mountain ranges.

Garden of Art -- Garden & Art Studio Greeted at the street by a lighthouse lantern with dragon mosaic and colorful glass insulator sculptures, you get a sense of the owner's artistry right away. The owner/artist will have his art studio open for the tour.

Xenia Outpost

Named for the Greek concept of hospitality and guest friendship, this property's flagstone pathway invites you through the breezeway to the fenced backyard. Follow the private side space to a garden spot with tidy place for tools.

Want to Volunteer for the Garden Tour?

ABDNHA could use a few more volunteers for the Garden Tour to be on standby as backup docents at the gardens. Each docent shift is 3.5 hours long. Garden tour volunteers get a free ticket for the tour. If you would like to help out, email our volunteer coordinator at [email protected].

Join Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association and geologist Don Barrie on a grand tour of New Zealand's natural wonders: mountains, lakes, beaches, forests, waterfalls, glaciers, fjords, geysers, hot springs, and geologic formations.

ABDNHA's New Zealand trip is filling up fast!

Sign up now to reserve your spot!

New Program!

Cancelled Program

Nature Journaling with Pat & Pam

Tues, Mar 5, 9:00 am

Hike & Write: Bill Kenyon Overlook

Fri, Mar 8, 9:00 am

Friendly Friday Bike Ride

Fri, Mar 8, 10:00 am

Hike: Palo Verde Wash

Sat, Mar 9, 8:00 am

Hike: The Bench

Sat, Mar 9, 8:30 am

Talk: Painting Nature

Sat, Mar 9, 10:30 am

Borrego Rock & Gem (BRAG) Club Field Trip

Wed, Mar 13, 8:00 am

Stargazing: Multiple Star Systems

Wed, Mar 13, 7:30 pm

Friendly Friday Bike Ride

Fri, Mar 15, 10:00 am

Photography: Around Town Photo Walk

Sat, Mar 16, 10:30 am

Nature Journaling with Pat and Pam

Tues, Mar 19, 9:00 am

Dog Walk: Pam's Canine Amble

Thurs, Mar 21, 8:30 am

Friendly Friday Bike Ride

Fri, Mar 22, 10:00 am

Borrego Rock and Gem (BRAG) Club Meeting

Wed, Mar 27, 2:00 pm

Hike: Pam's Amble

Thurs, Mar 28, 9:00 am

Friendly Friday Bike Ride

Fri, Mar 29, 10:00 am

Hike: Redman Mine

Sat, Mar 30, 8:00 am

Stargazing: The Big Dipper

Sat, Mar 30, 8:30 pm

Hike: Eagle Rock

Mon, Apr 1, 8:00 am

Hike: Rainbow Canyon/Box Canyon Loop

Sat, Apr 6, 8:00 am

Hike: Hellhole Canyon Overlook

Sat, Apr 6, 8:30 am

Stargazing: Far Distant Galaxies

Sat, Apr 6, 8:30 pm

Borrego Rock & Gem (BRAG) Club Field Trip

Wed, Apr 10, 8:00 am

Hike: Rainbow Canyon

Thurs, Apr 11, 8:30 am

Photography: Around Town Photo Walk

Sat, Apr 13, 10:30 am

Borrego Rock & Gem (BRAG) Club Meeting

Wed, Apr 24, 2:00 pm

These hikes & programs are full. Call 760-767-3098 to get on the waitlist.

If you are registered and cannot make the activity, please call 760-767-3098 and let us know so that someone else may attend.

Field Trip: Animal Tracking 102

Sun, Mar 10, 7:30 am

4WD Tour: Southern ABDSP

Sun, Mar 10, 9:00 am

Hike: Whale Peak from the Pictograph Trailhead

Mon, Mar 11, 7:30 am

Hike: Red Top

Tues, Mar 12, 8:00 am

Hike: Truckhaven Rocks to Coachwhip

Thurs, Mar 14, 8:00 am

Hike: Pam's Amble

Thurs, Mar 14, 9:00 am

Hike: Rainbow Wash Natural Bridge & Arch

Fri, Mar 15, 8:00 am

Talk: Birds of Anza-Borrego

Sat, Mar 16, 6:30 pm

Full Moon Walk: South Palm Wash

Sun, Mar 24, 7:30 pm

March is a busy month, not just at ABDNHA,

but everywhere in Borrego Springs!

Check BorregoEvents.com to see what's happening in town!

Need help identifying wildflowers?

Available at the ABDNHA Nature Center or online. Click on item to shop.

We have a wide assortment of hummingbird feeders!

Available at the ABDNHA Nature Center or online. Click on item to shop.

... And oriole feeders, too!

Available at the ABDNHA Nature Center or online. Click on item to shop.

ABDNHA Members receive 15% off purchases every day!

Borrego Desert Nature Center

652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA

760-767-3098

Just west of Carlee's

Open Daily: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4

Your purchases support ABDNHA's programs & services throughout

the year. Thank you for your support!

Shop at home and pick up in the Nature Center to save on shipping!

Join ABDNHA and support an award-winning non-profit 501(c)3 nature education organization dedicated to interpreting and preserving the Anza-Borrego Desert.

As a member, you can enjoy all of the great benefits below:

• Stay informed about the desert and activities
• The Sand Paper Newsletter - 5 per year
• 15% discount at Nature Center and Birds & Blooms Garden Shop!
• Special member appreciation events
• Calendar of activities & reduced price on lectures, hikes, & field trips
• Friendship & camaraderie with other desert lovers, and have a great time
• Support of nature education & desert conservation

Join or give a gift membership anytime throughout the year!

Membership is for 12 months from the month you join.

Join ABDNHA and make the desert a part of your life!

Donate Your Car. Save on Taxes. Make a Difference.

Do you have a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, trailer or RV that is no longer being used? Donate your vehicle to ABDNHA! Vehicle donations are tax-deductible, and we make it easy with free pick-up and by providing you with the necessary tax receipts.

Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA, pronounced

"AB-NA") is an award-winning, community based, educational non-profit 501c3 organization, founded in 1971.

We invite you to join ABDNHA 

and make the desert a part of your life!

ABDNHA offers information to visitors and programs to enrich the lives of those who live in and visit the community of Borrego Springs. We sponsor approximately 150 hikes, rides, lectures, tours, special events, and educational programs each year, and we lead conservation and citizen-science programs, including the Borrego Dark Sky Coalition and the Borrego Valley Hawk Watch.

Paulette Donnellon captured a great shot of this beautiful male Costas hummingbird.

Note: The photo below of four juvenile burrowing owls taken by Paulette was recently selected by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as the California Wildlife Photograph of the Year.

Congratulations, Paulette!

Here are the answers and locations from the wildflower quiz above:

A. Wild Heliotrope/Common Phacelia, Phacelia distans, near Visitor Center

B. Sacred Datura, Datura wrightii, Coyote Canyon

C. Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens, Coyote Canyon

D. Fishhook Cactus, Mammillaria dioica, Cactus Loop Trail

E. Pale Yellow Suncup, Camissoniopsis pallida, Coyote Canyon

F. Desert Wishbone, Mirabilis laevis, Fish Creek Wash

G. Desert Chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana, Coyote Canyon

H. Chuparosa, Justicia californica, Coyote Canyon

I. Rock Hibiscus, Hibiscus denudatus, near Visitor Center

How did you do on the quiz this time???