In addition to its wildflowers, Borrego Springs is rapidly becoming famous for the 120+ metal sculptures that dot its landscape. The Galleta Meadows Estate, owned by Dennis Avery, a seasonal Borrego Springs resident, commissioned these life size creatures to roam his many parcels. Local sculptor and “accidental artist” Ricardo Breceda, who actually sculpted these life size creatures, has just completed his latest 350 ft long “Rattledragon” that undulates out of the earth on either side of the road. You can view these and many other scuptures at his website. Better yet, plan a day trip out there to view these amazing sculpures in person. Now is a perfect time to visit the desert before it gets too hot.
Marshall South was an early resident of the Borrego Springs area; this was a pen name for a man who arrived in the US from Australia and created both a new life along with a new past for himself. It has only been in the last decade that more of the true story behind Marshall South is becoming known. During his time in the Borrego area, Marshall South and his wife, Tanya, hand-carried all the materials up a mile-long steep trail that were needed to build a house they called Yaquitepec. They resided there for 17 years, from 1930 to 1947. There were no springs on the mountain, called, interestingly, Ghost Mountain, so the Souths created ingenious methods of catching and storing rainwater.
The life was a natural, but harsh one, and Marshall South made his living writing a series of articles about the desert and life therein which captured the imagination of many. Marshall’s essays and poetry described the desert like an artist would a favorite piece of art, and considering the intense problems his family was having with the rules he laid down about how life on Yaquitepec was to be, it appears that he was better writing about the desert than he was at living in it – in short, he was a storyteller of unsurpassed ability to paint a glowing portrait of the desert.
After trying to raise their three children on Yaquitepec, Tanya South had finally had enough by 1946, filed for divorce and left, never to return. Marshall’s health deteriorated quickly after losing his home and family so quickly, and he died in 1948 in Julian, where he is buried. Tanya lived to be almost 100 years of age, dying in 1997, refusing to the bitter end to talk about Marshall and her life on Yaquitepec. For more information on this dreamer who became trapped in the image he created in his stories, we suggest a hike out to Yaquitepec or click on Marshall South.
Way off at the end of Borrego Valley Road, about 5 miles out
of Borrego Springs, is a quaint little fruit stand that sells the Seley Red
grapefruit, among other things. We personally think the Seley Reds are the best
grapefruit on the face of the earth, and look forward every year to when their
fruit stand opens for business. The fruit stand is on the honor system, where
you drop $3.50 per bag into a metal collection box. Our 5-year old son enjoys
climbing up on the stand, picking out the appropriate bags of fruit, then
dropping the money into the slot. Usually you can also sample the citrus for
free, as there is a knife and one or two open bags of grapefruit, oranges,
tangerines or nectarines on a table nearby.
The latest of the Dennis Avery metal menagerie has appeared on Borrego Springs Road. The RattleDragon as we call it is over 300’ long, has the head of a dragon and the tail of a rattlesnake, and undulates on either side of the road out of the ground.
As a sculptor, Ricardo Breceda gets better with each animal, and the RattleDragon is the best yet. We thought that perhaps the Borrego metal zoo had seen the last addition, but considering the amount of time it must have taken to create this sculpture, we guess the Mr. Breceda was just working away at his studio for quite some time. This will, however, be a hard act to follow.
To see more of his metal sculptures, visit www.galletameadows.com. Or better yet, plan a weekend trip to Borrego Springs to see for yourself.
Borrego Springs is known for a few key things: specifically wildflowers, as well as sculptures and of course, the borregos or bighorn sheep.
Various species of wildflowers are actually in bloom in Borrego Springs throughout the year, although the most spectacular months are generally
considered to be in the spring.
Our favorite wildflower trail is Coyote Canyon, where you can begin by driving past fields of desert lilies, sand verbena, and desert dandelion.
You soon get to Desert Gardens with some of the stockiest and greenest ocotillos to be found anywhere in the park.
After crossing Coyote Creek a few times (each crossing has a number), you get to Third Crossing, which has some marvelous
beavertail cactus with their bright pink blooms up the hill on the east side of the road.
Book now for your Borrego Wildflowers adventure. Winter is the best time to visit the desert so check our schedule for rental availablity. See you soon!!
Do not miss out on the chance to admire art in Borrego Springs! Borrego Springs is beginning to establish itself as an art gallery town. They featrure ”Art Walks” the first Friday of every month from October to May, 5pm to 8pm, located in downtown Borrego Springs, admission is Free! Please visit the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce for more details on this and other events in beautiful Borrego Springs.
Palo Verde translated in Spanish means “green stick”. The name is quite appropriate since the Palo Verde trees from the leaves to the branches, the limbs and trunks are all green. Their springtime blooms are a beautiful yellow, it is by far one of the most spectacular trees. They grow very well in the desert since they are very tolarant to the hot dry climate. This is why Palo Verde trees are the perfect tree to cultivate here at Borrego Palms.
We have been quite pleased with the rapid growth and the blooming yellow flowers from our spineless Palo Verde trees that we have collected approximately 50 seeds and have been replanting them into 1 gallon containers. Hopefully, they will be ready for the ground in about a year. The current older trees are getting brittle on some of the branches, and their harsh spines make trimming very difficult. Over time we hope to replace the current Palo Verde trees with these new ones.
We are hoping to have the transition completed by 2014.
Consider your winter getaway this year at our Borrego Palms Desert Vacation Home. Winter is one of the best times to visit the Desert, it is not too hot or cold. You can enjoy your morning coffee to the most beautiful sunrises. It is truly an amazing place to experience.
The Ghost Mountain Trail to Yaquitepec is a trail of moderate difficulty. It’s 1.4 miles long and will take you one to three hours depending upon your hiking skills. It’s a family friendly trail.
One of the more interesting artifacts of California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is Yaquitepec on Ghost Mountain. The ruins of the South Home, where a family of writers lived in the 1930s, can be seen from the top of this short, steep trail (about 600′ in 3/4mile) that begins in Blair Valley, 2.7 miles from Highway S-2.
In February 1932, while the country felt the grip of The Depression, Marshal and Tanya South came to this mountain to build their home and live off the land. They raised their children here, wrote magazine articles, grew vegetables, gathered native plants, and after 16 years decided to call it quits.
The “South Home,” actually an adobe cabin, was built by Marshal and Tanya South when they began homesteading in 1932, before the area was within the state park boundaries.
Yaquitepec, or Ghost Mountain, still carries the reminders of South’s homesteading adventure. The steep, mile long walk to the homesite will give you a breathtaking view of the land the South family called home. Look for signs of the ingenious water system with its cisterns and troughs. The adobe structure is quickly becoming a victim of the elements.
This is a rewarding hike with interesting remains to explore and beautiful 360 views.
Tips: Watch for the Blair Valley sign (on your left) just after curve on S2 south. There are other nice short hikes in this area including th… more »e pictograph trail and the Mortero trail.
Bring plenty of water and sunscreen/hat there is no shade.
In addition to its wildflowers, Borrego Springs is rapidly becoming famous for the 120+ metal sculptures that dot its landscape. The Galleta Meadows Estate, owned by Dennis Avery, a seasonal Borrego Springs resident, commissioned these life size creatures to roam his many parcels. Local sculptor and “accidental artist” Ricardo Breceda, who actually sculpted these life size creatures, has just completed his latest 350 ft long “Rattledragon” that undulates out of the earth on either side of the road. You can view these and many other scuptures at his website. Better yet, plan a day trip out there to view these amazing sculpures in person. Now is a perfect time to visit the desert before it gets too hot.
