Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association

29/07/2024

Star Party in the mountains, two miles south of Julian, right of Highway 79. 423 Inspiration Point Road, Julian. Sat., Aug. 10. Presented by our neighboring Dark Sky Community of Julian.

06/06/2024

Interesting article, short read on the benefits of a walk in nature.

Researchers used brain-monitoring technology to show that a 40-minute walk in nature helped people recover from a demanding mental task, and restored the ability to focus.

12/05/2024

Aurora and Ocotillo in Borrego's Night Sky, May 10, around midnight, by Cristina Antonia.

19/04/2024

Join ABDNHA for this informative webinar about lithium production at the Salton Sea. The story of lithium extraction at the Salton Sea begins in super-heated water 8,000 feet below the surface, on land at the southeast corner of the sea. This deep water, or "brine", holds the largest known deposit of lithium in the United States. When fully operational, it is expected that the Salton Sea area will produce 600,000 tons of lithium a year. Current worldwide lithium production is about 400,000 tons.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation. The program is free but registration is required.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rLnuwX-eTaafkW5tKAxTqw

Our speaker tonight is Jim Turner, CEO of Controlled Thermal Resources, one of the companies currently constructing lithium facilities to the south of the Salton Sea. Mr. Turner has been involved in geothermal power production at the Salton Sea for decades, overseeing the geothermal power production at the Warren Buffet geothermal power plants, and as chief operating officer for CTR.

08/04/2024

Total Solar Eclipse: On Monday, April 8th, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon crosses the face of the Sun and completely blocks the Sun for several minutes. From Borrego Springs this will appear as a partial solar eclipse that begins at 10:05 a.m. Maximum eclipse occurs at 11:13 a.m. when 63% of the sun’s diameter will be covered by the moon. The eclipse will end at 12:25 p.m. It is never safe to look at a partial eclipse at any point and must be viewed with solar eclipse glasses! An interesting effect to take note of during a partial eclipse is to stand under a leafed out tree and note the multiple crescent images on the ground. The tiny spaces between leaves act as pinhole cameras producing images of the Sun on the ground. This is a cool sight!

11/03/2024

Here is a 1948 home movie recorded in Borrego of people visiting the flower fields. But the music is a bit heavy, so turn that down. It probably seemed artistic to whoever made the film. After the borrego part the location changes.. This was probably the recording of a family’ Sunday drive, with a visit to the flowers first and a glimpse of San Diego streetcars. This film was found by Pea Hicks, who locates old film at garage sales, etc,and restores it. Pea has been on TV in San Diego showing and talking about his finds.

This channel is not monetized. If you like what you see here and would like to help me continue sharing cool stuff on my channel, please consider making a do...

11/03/2024

Here's the link if you'd like to get on the list to receive our twice-monthly ABDNHA Desert Updates about what's happening in the desert, with links to programs and activities, Garden Tour March 16, and flower updates. https://conta.cc/3T8KMui

10/03/2024

ABDNHA's Annual Borrego Desert Garden Tour is Saturday, March 16, 9 am - 3 pm. Tickets available online or at the Borrego Desert Nature Center at 652 Palm Canyon Drive. Tour five private gardens at your own pace during the wildflower season.

Desert Garden Tour in Borrego Springs, California

10/03/2024

Busy morning of flower seekers on Henderson Canyon Road! There's room enough for everyone, the bloom is wide-spread right now. Flower maps at ABDNHA's Borrego Desert Nature Center, 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Sundays 10-4, Mon - Sat 9-5. White Dune Evening Primrose, purple Desert Sand Verbena, and Desert Sunflowers all the way to the edge of the mountains on the north side of the road. Photo by Betsy Knaak.

10/03/2024

Pick up a flower finder map at ABDNHA's Borrego Desert Nature Center today 10 am - 4 pm, 652 Palm Canyon Drive. Photo taken in the morning, 3/9/24, on DiGiorgio Road just south of Henderson Canyon Road. A field of yellow Desert Dandelions. Mixed in are the small white Brown-eyed Primrose and the purple Desert Sand Verbena. The Dandelions start to close up in the late afternoon, so best to photograph earlier in the day. Photo by Betsy Knaak.

29/02/2024

Article just published at San Diego Today, sdtoday.6amcity.com, by Monica Garski. https://sdtoday.6amcity.com/travel-and-outdoors/where-the-wildflowers-are-the-annual-desert-bloom-at-anza-borrego-desert-state-park

After a rainy winter, the Borrego Springs desert region east of San Diego is expected to bloom quite nicely with vibrant desert wildflowers in spring 2024.

28/02/2024

Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs, 2/28/2024.

25/02/2024

https://www.abdnha.org/pages/03flora/reports/current.htm
Flower updates and map that you can download or pick up at the ABDNHA Nature Center, 652 Palm Canyon Drive.

01/02/2024

Join us for ABDNHA's Desert History weekend on February 16-18, focused this year on the story of Marshal South. For a seven-year period, from 1939 to 1946, South lived with his family on a remote ridgetop in what is now Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. South was a writer, and he had an enormous following across America, as readers waited anxiously for his monthly narratives in Desert Magazine. Some were so inspired by his story that they dreamed of following his footsteps into the wilderness and making their own escape from modern society.

Desert History weekend includes several programs in our ABDNHA library as well as a hike to his homestead and an auto tour of places central to the South story.
https://www.abdnha.org/calendar1.htm #0217

23/01/2024

At 8 pm, we're at two inches, and it's still raining. Flower-making storm!

22/01/2024

At 1.5 inches of rain already by 3 pm today in Borrego Springs, we are looking forward to a nice wildflower bloom this spring!

21/01/2024

Garden Tour Tickets now onsale with early bird pricing, $2 off each ticket.
Www.abdnha.org/gardentour

Desert Garden Tour in Borrego Springs, California

28/12/2023

Dec. 29, Fri., 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Monsters on the Loose: A Different Kind of History by Historian Richard Carrico
Presenter: Richard Carrico

As an archaeologist, historian, researcher, author, and now cold case murder investigator, the intellectual curiosity of Richard Carrico leads him to 1931 San Diego, an idyllic prohibition era beach town, and the true unsolved murders of three women early that year. Immersing himself in dusty files, long-forgotten oral histories, old newspaper articles, and newly discovered investigation records, Carrico brings new life to the true stories of Virginia Brooks, Louise Teuber, and Hazel Bradshaw, shedding light on a dark chapter of San Diego’s history, written from the perspective of seeking justice for the three young women in crimes that took place almost a hundred years ago. In the ABDNHA library. General Public $12, Members $10, Volunteers $8. Register online https://www.abdnha.org/calendar1.htm #1229
or at ABDNHA 652 Palm Canyon Drive, 760-767-3098.

11/12/2023

Join with other photographers this next Saturday (December 16), for the first ABDNHA Borrego Photographers Club AROUND TOWN PHOTO WALK. Led by Lisa Noe Daniels. Be in front of the ABDNHA store at 9:00 am. The group will visit the ABDNHA Garden, Fredricks-Sculptures, & BAI Art Park & Garden and places in between.
All levels of experience and photo gear are welcome, including smart phone cameras, learn from other photographers and have fun shooting We'll be walking around-please travel light.
Hope to have YOU join us,
!

04/12/2023

ABDNHA has an interesting free webinar that is coming up on Wednesday from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. It's focused on a powerful force of nature, weather. The presenter, Katie Giannecchini is the principle meteorologist for SDG&E. Her program will be on the forces that come together to make San Diego County weather what it is, with a closer look at weather in Borrego Springs. SDGE has numerous weather stations in Borrego Springs and they now have data acquired over many years.

The program is free but you need to register in advance.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vsp2sy6BS9GoACB195Aknw

03/11/2023

03/11/2023

This is going to be a very big sale, a fundraiser for the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association, inside our rooms and in the parking lot next to Carlee's. Books, too, fiction and non-fiction. Furniture, antiques, appliances, household items, lots of fun just to look! Saturday and Sunday, Nov 4 & 5. 652 Palm Canyon Drive. Come support ABDNHA and find a treasure!

03/11/2023

13/10/2023

ABDNHA's first program of the new desert season is this Saturday, October 14. All of our hikes, 4WD trips, lectures, and more, through mid-December, are now posted on the ABDNHA website
https://www.abdnha.org/activities

17/09/2023

Don't miss our latest ABDNHA Desert Update via email. Sign up today. https://conta.cc/3Rkcd41

03/09/2023

Texas Rangers blooming in shades of purple around Borrego after the rain from Hilary....plus cooler temperatures. Thanks to ABDNHA Member Marcy Yates for the photos.

23/08/2023

From San Diego County

Thanks for the Sandbags, Now What Can We Do with Them After the Storm?

Aug. 23, 2023 | 2:46 PM

Thousands of San Diegans fortified their homes and property with sandbags before the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Hilary. More than 100,000 bags were gathered and used across the county. But now the storm has passed and clear skies have returned. That has led many to ask, “What should I do with the sandbags now?”

The experts at the County’s Department of Public Works offer some answers to the sandbags question:

With rainy season approaching, consider keeping your sandbags for reuse. You could store them filled, or empty out the clean sand and store the bags away from sunlight in a covered, above-ground location.

If the used sandbags are not contaminated with foul water, chemicals, or petroleum products, rake the sand into soil, add it to planters, or use it for flowerbeds as a soil amendment.

Place the empty bags in trash cans if you choose not to reuse them. Do not place the empty sandbags in the recycle bin.

If you cannot reuse the sand or sandbags at home, take them directly to the landfill. Local landfills (Miramar, Sycamore, Otay, and Borrego Springs) can accept sandbags used for stormwater control during the recent storm. Do not put full sandbags in your trash cart, bins, or dumpsters, they are too heavy for disposal companies to collect.

If you see or suspect your sandbags are contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or petroleum products, handle them with protective gear, including gloves and protective eyewear. Dispose of them at select landfills or through a hazardous waste contractor. Please contact the landfill facility in advance as additional handling and paperwork will be required.

Residents of cities or tribal lands should also check with their jurisdiction or trash contractor for any additional guidance.

For questions not covered here, unincorporated county residents can contact 1-877-R-1-EARTH or 1-877-713-2784.