To see wildflowers in bloom at this time of the year…

Canebrake Wash was ablaze with Rabbit Brush (Ericameria paniculata),

but the surprise was a Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis),

which normally blooms in May and June.

From the Carrizo Valley, we took a walk through the View of the Badlands Wash

to the view at its end.

Many of the plants without flowers were still attractive: Desert Saltbush (Atriplex polycarpa),

Silver Cholla (Cylindropuntia echinocarpa)

and Knotweed Spineflower (Chorizanthe polygonoides var. longispina)

were in fact more conspicuous than blooming Desert Chicory Bush (Stephanomeria pauciflora).

We continued through Carrizo Valley with Smoke Trees (Psorothamnus spinosus),

my favorite cholla (Jumping, Cylindropuntia bigelovii),

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)

and flowering Alkali Goldenbush (Isocoma acradenia var. eremophila).

After a brief stop at Palm Spring

(which had water and lots of native bees)

we encountered the final botanical highlight of the trip,

Rush Milkweed (Asclepias subulata).

Arroyo Hueso topped off the day

with more scenic geology

than one could ask for.

And by the way: We met two vehicles at the very beginning, and one bike at the very end, close to the highway. Social distancing was not a problem.