"Desert in Bloom"

By August, this region is parched to say the least. The Laguna Mountains act as a rain shield that robs the Anza Borrego Desert. The rains are intermittent during the summer, however, and the ground becomes dusty and dry. Despite the aridity, wildflowers still thrive. In a landscape of frugal precipitation, the vegetation still finds a way. If I were a amateur botanist, I could easily identify these purple flowers. For sure, I would also prefer a picture of just the flowers or an individual bloom. But I am not so good with identifying the flowers. I just know that they make a excellent wash of foreground color for a desert sunrise. I want to say "desert primrose', but after googling my guess, I don't immediately find a match. Tell you what! I will photograph the flowers among their native habitat during prime light and someone else please feel free to come along and identify them for me. I don't know what they are, I just know they help make my photographs more attractive. Or at least I thinks so!!

Thanks for your comments (and hopefully accurately identifying these

flowers)!

Beautiful!  From top to bottom, this has it all.  Lovely elements, layer-by-layer, in a superb composition and exposure(s).  I'll check my California Desert Wildflowers book when I get home tonight and see what you've found here.  I agree though, it is not a desert primrose.  The leaf structure and body of the plant is not right for the primrose.  Gorgeous image, and thanks for sharing!  Cheers!  Chris

I can't tell for sure, but it looks like Bigelow's Monkey Flower (Mimulus bigelovii), and that is a species that's apparently known to grow there.

Lovely composition, BTW. I really need to see that area some time.

Thanks Chris and John! John, I looked up your ID, but I couldn't find a true visual match. I probably should mention this flower was not in the desert. The elevation here is nearing 6,000 feet, so that might exclude this species from the AB region. This is the Laguna Mountains, which actually take on the most winter precip (snow and rain) in San Diego county, so while you may be correct, it may be a variation that would not be found in the desert. Thanks again!!

Mark...  The petal structure looks like a variety of Petunia, but I would think them too fragile for that elevation, besides the stamen is much longer in your version...  And that's all the botany I know.  However, I do agree they make a grand foreground and the entire scene is just like being there... Mike

Great mood!

Best regards Mark!

PDE

Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens, or Desert Four O'clock.

Thanks Mike, Pierre and Jeff! Jeff, I appreciate the accurate ID. I just looked it up and there is a photograph that is a perfect match. Very nice of you to help out!!

Very nice.

Cheers.

Bela