ANZA-BORREGO DESERT, CALIFORNIA – I grew up in the desert in Utah so arid places are deeply in my comfort zone.  Anzo-Borrego is a serious desert – annual precipitation is less than 7 inches.  During the 1982-89 drought total precipitation was zero.  The Borrego Badlands is often listed as the hottest place in the United States – average summer temperatures are 107 degrees.  Highs of 125 degrees have been recorded.

But this spring there has been reasonable rainfall, so the desert here is remarkably green.

Desert in bloom