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Dune Evening Primrose
Anza Borrego Desert, California - March 2008
March 10, 2008 Millions upon millions of years ago, as the ancient oceanic tectonic plate slid under the land mass that would become California, mountains were formed. This was no small task, even for the relatively small range of mountains that run from Southern Baja into Southern California, separating the coastal areas from the desert. Millions upon millions of years of slow grinding, crunching, and the occasional violent jolt of movement pushed granite rock high up into the air to form these mountains. While the tectonic movement worked to create mountains at a geologic pace, wind brooding over the vast Pacific whipped up waves and storms, eroding away at the newly formed Peninsular range, adding to the scaring and ruggedness of the landscape.
As the mountains pushed higher, the clouds moving from the Pacific were compressed against the coastal side of the rugged peaks, stripped of the precious moisture through condensation and rain. What little remained of the clouds moved in land, devoid of almost all moisture. Deserts were formed.
 info
Today, millions upon millions of years later, the desert plants and animals have adapted. The wildflower varieties are abundant and diverse in the Anza Borrego desert. However, all the varieties of wildflowers are annuals - they sprout, bloom, produce seeds for the following year, and die within a couple of weeks. In order to sprout they require a certain amount of moisture and temperature. The required amount can vary from species to species. Some years only one variety may bloom - the seeds of its relatives lying dormant still waiting for the right circumstances to occur. Other years, when things are perfect, everything seems to bloom, an amazing display of life in the harsh desert.
This year, this week, the Sand Verbena, the Desert Lily, the Desert Lupine, the Dune Evening Primrose, the Mojave Aster, the Ocotilo, and others I haven't identified were all blooming in the Anza Borrego desert. This picture, of a lone Dune Evening Primrose surrounded by Sand Verbena was taken along Coyote Canyon, just before darkness. The sound of coyotes baying in the distance accompanied the last bit of sunlight peaking over the Peninsular range.
-Scott
Tips, Techniques & Tools Utilized
Note: here are additional photographs of the California wildflowers from the same trip along Coyote Canyon in the Anza Borrego Desert. I was amazed at how even with Kenko extension tubes I was able to get the subtle detail of the bright white pedals of the primrose. I'll post my findings soon, the diffuser I picked up at the last minute really helped in the detail - evening out the bright light and eliminating over powering shadows.
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