It's almost time for the desert wildflower explosion

Snowbirds look forward to spring as the coming of not only warmer weather, but of the wildflowers. Newcomers to the desolate monotones of the winter desert have a hard time visualizing this dry, rocky terrain bursting in vivid displays of impossibly colored wildflowers.

Hundreds of thousands of seeds lay dormant beneath the barren surface waiting patiently—sometimes for years—for all the necessary conditions to line up properly and stimulate germination. Then the desert erupts with dazzling displays as if Mother Nature had gone giddily wild with her paint palate.

The intensity of the bloom is dependent on several conditions that must occur at specific times and with specific intensity. For instance, in order for the seeds to germinate, they must be nurtured by soft, soaking winter rains coming at the right intervals.

If the desert were to receive the heavy, flash-flood rains typical of summer, the seeds would instead turn their backs and go to sleep for another year, providing they weren’t ripped from the gravely soil and washed away.

Temperatures have to be right also. If a heat wave moves through in December or January, the seeds may wake up and be fooled into thinking that it's time to germinate. But when the short daylight hours and cold temperatures return, it could mean an early demise for these eager sprouters.

However, these seeds are not easily fooled. When conditions are right, only some will germinate, while others hold back for later in the growing season or for another year. In this way they protect themselves from extinction in case of a freak freeze or infestation of plant-eating insects.

When the bloom begins, wildflower hunters scurry about the desert floor, along highways, up rocky bajadas, and into narrow arroyos oohing and aahing like crazed lunatics. As a wildflower hunter you must take advantage of time, abrupt seasonal change, elevation, rainfall amounts, and other factors to determine the location of the best displays.

One of the first locations wildflowers pop their heads through the ground is along highways and in washes where rain runoff has provided extra moisture to germinate the seeds. Look for the first flowers at lower elevations and south facing hillsides, where the temperatures are warmer. Abundant stands of wildflowers can gather in shallows where rainwater collects, or under the protection of large desert trees or plants like palo verdes, acacias, and saguaro cacti.

But don’t wait until the peak wildflower season or you will miss many of the early opening flowers that may bloom for only a few weeks before dropping their seeds to await next year. Some wildflowers bloom as early as February. Cactus flowers don’t usually open until April, when many other annuals have passed.

See more photos of desert wildflowers. Next week we will look at some desert locations where you can see wildflower blooms.
Check out Bob Difley's boondocking and snowbird guide eBooks at RVbookstore.com

Add a portable battery-powered water pump to your boondocking arsenal

Boondockers know that being efficient with waste water, electricity and fresh water make a big difference in how long they can camp without having to dump waste tanks, charge batteries, and replenish their water supply. One piece of equipment that they can add to their rig's arsenal is a portable water pump, which can save them effort, time and hassle.

If you like to boondock, one piece of equipment you can add to your rig's arsenal is a portable water pump, which can have several uses, including saving you effort, time, and hassle.

A portable pump can be used to:

• Pump drinking water from your Jerry jug or water bladder water supply into your rig's water tank. No more lifting heavy water jugs to pour into your tank, which over time will save you a lot of back aches. Back your pickup or dinghy up to your rig, attach a hose to the pump and another into your water fill opening and pump away while you enjoy doing something else. 
• Pump water from a mountain stream or lake into jugs for transfer into your rig. Use this only if you use bottled or purified water for drinking and cooking and your water tank for showers and washing dishes. 
• Empty the water from your fishing boat, kayak, or canoe after a sudden rainstorm. 
• Put a shower head on the outlet hose and use it to wash off sandy feet or muddy shoes, pumping directly from a bucket outside so debris doesn't enter your gray waste tank, or move it to any area outside your rig that needs washing off.

A good, inexpensive choice for a pump would be one similar to the Attwood WaterBuster Portable Pump (photo) that you can find on Amazon for under $35 and operates on four "D" cell batteries, which will save running your house battery down. The WaterBuster will operate for about five hours before you need to change batteries and will pump 200 gallons per hour.

You can buy stronger pumps with higher flow rates--at higher prices, of course--but for the money a battery-operated portable pump should do the job--it will just take a little longer. 


Check out Bob Difley's Boondocking and Snowbird Guide eBooks at RVbookstore.com

Start planning spring travels--here's a Colorado wonder

"In time of peace, prepare for war," said Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, the Roman author. "In time of winter, prepare for spring," so says the Optimistic Boondocker. As we write this, Durango, Colorado, shivers under near-freezing conditions. But hey, come spring, the sun will shine, the birds will sing, and eager-beaver boondockers will move into the Haviland Lake Campground.

What's the drawing card for this high country (8,400 feet) Forest Service campground? In a word: Fish. In 2011 the lake was stocked with over 14,000 rainbow trout, and if you're a line-dunker, we don't need to explain much more than that.

Well, OK, how about this: While Colorado requires a Wildlife Habitat stamp to fish on the west side of the lake near the dam, inside the campground you don't need the stamp. And if you're a senior or a kiddy, you won't need it either.

For the non-fishin' folks, there's plenty of great views to be had and lots of outdoor recreational stuff to be done. Sited in the San Juan National Forest, scenery runs from high desert mesas, to alpine peaks and meadows. Bring the mountain bike, the 4 wheel drive (a special treat is the 4WD scenic byway), or for the traditional driver, check out the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway.

Traditionally Haviland Lake officially opens in mid-May, but the Forest Service wants to roll the gates open May 1. You'll probably be able to see a little snow here and there if you come near opening date. Coming early in the season may give you a better shot at this popular campground. Those who come in after 2:00 pm on Sunday right on through Wednesday will likely find a boondocking spot available. There are some electric sites available, as well.

GPS informtion (Latitude, Longitude):
37.53472, -107.80583
37°32'5"N, 107°48'21"W

From Durango, travel north on Highway 550 for 18 miles to Haviland Lake Road. Turn right onto Haviland Lake Road. and go 1 mile to the campground.