Superbloom 2019 (San Diego, El Cajon, Laguna: home, office, station)

[futbol]

Just got back from the desert. Yes, the flowers are starting to bloom. I'd give it a few more weeks to make a trip just for the flowers, though.

Sorry, no pics of the flowers as it got dark when we got down to where I would have taken them.

It was an absolutely beautiful day for a hike (Villager Peak).

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Good info about the superbloom as of today, March 9:
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/loc...506890041.html
Apparently traffic is going to be intense, so bring food and water, and gas up!

Daily updates here:
https://www.abdnha.org/borregoblooms/maps.html

[volosong]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Good info about the superbloom as of today, March 9:
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/loc...506890041.html
Apparently traffic is going to be intense, so bring food and water, and gas up!

Daily updates here:
https://www.abdnha.org/borregoblooms/maps.html

Just saw those a few minutes ago. Headed down in about a week.

[RosieSD]

I was out in Anza Borrego last weekend. There were some really nice shows along S-22. One particular wash was covered in waist high purple lupine and was truly amazing.

However, I would strongly recommend going during the week if you can, as some of the larger fields of wildflowers were full of people (and cars) when I was there last week which, to me at least, distracts quite a bit from things.

And, another tip: the areas closest to Borrego Springs tend to get the most crowded. Try the southern end of the park to get away from the crowd - take S2 (Box Canyon, Blair Valley, Vallecito County Park, Agua Caliente Park, etc.) all the way to the 8. And getting out of the car and walking even just a tiny bit also usually gets you away from the crowds and into great flowers. Some of the best wildflowers are NOT on the "official" map. Explore!

However, you don't have to go all the way to the desert to see great wildflowers. The wildflowers are also starting to go wild in areas a lot closer to San Diego than Anza Borrego. I was gob-smocked by the California poppies on the hillsides in Beaver Hollow east of El Cajon this afternoon. I have never seen so many in one place in San Diego County, and I'm starting to see some nice shows of Ceanothus, Lupine, San Diego sunflowers, and other wildflowers on hillsides throughout East County. I'm sure the same is true inland in North County. Over the next few weeks, that should pick up considerably, especially if we get some good sunny days in the mix.

In May/June, we should also be seeing some great wildflowers in the Cuyamaca/Mount Laguna and on Mount Palomar areas.

So, take a drive, take a hike, and keep your eyes open. It is going to be a spectacular wildflower season throughout San Diego County this year, and you don't necessarily have to go all the way to the desert to enjoy the show!

[RosieSD]

These articles have some other ideas about places besides Anza Borrego in Southern California that are having good wildflower shows this year:

https://sfist.com/2019/03/10/want-to...ar-head-south/

https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr...708-story.html

But again, there is plenty going on right here in San Diego County too -- you don't have to go far if you drive around, are willing to walk a bit, and keep your eyes open. Enjoy!

[NewbieHere]

I’m heading out soon. I was debating between Chico or San Diego. I have to figure out how to get there.

[Radaghast]

Originally Posted by echo42

all you rain worshipers should move to Seattle

Yeah, damn all of us for valuing the one thing that could stave off wildfires.

[echo42]

Originally Posted by Radaghast

Yeah, damn all of us for valuing the one thing that could stave off wildfires.

Yeah, I get the irony in your statement, but actually excessive rain is the cause of wildfires. All this new growth, which is beautiful at the moment, will dry out come July, August and September.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

We went out there yesterday, first real day of spring! And no crowds to speak of, because it was a Friday.

A quick report: We went up 79 from I-8 to Julian, and down the grade. Don't expect any spring in the mountains! There was actually still dirty snow along the road above 4000 ft. But Lake Cuyamacha was almost back to its old size, the way it was in the 1980s! An amazing sight.

The best areas right now are still up DeGiorgio to Coyote Canyon; lots of yellow flowers and Verbena (purple). Henderson Canyon Road has Verbena and Desert Primrose, but the deep yellow flowers ("sunflowers," but not the classic late-summer sunflowers, of course) are just "coming online" as the guide in the information office said. Two years ago they were covering the entire valley, but that section is just green now. Up Hellhole Canyon on the way to Montezuma Grade (to Ramona) there are thick clusters of bright blue flowers everywhere. Sorry I don't know what they're called--RosieSD would know! Lupins, maybe? It was too dark by then to take pictures.

Not a lot of flowers on the hillsides yet, and no wild lilacs at all in the mountains yet. I'd say that unless we get a scorching heat wave, the flowers will keep going for another couple of weeks at least.

More pictures on the next page!

[NewbieHere]

I was at Lake Elsinore and there was a long line of people. What do you mean by no crowd.