The Frangrance of the Desert

Bigelow Monkey Flower

Late winter and early spring often brings blankets of wildflowers across the deserts of the Southwest; rain permitting of course. This winter we have had a good amount of rain spread throughout the months of December, January and February. This steady amount of rain has brought much green to many areas of Southern California and this green has led to yellow, orange, blue, purple and white flowers blanketing the the landscape. These blankets of flowers fill the air with 'The fragrance of the desert'; the sweet smell of nectar from all the blooming flowers.

I always try to make it out to the desert during this time of year to catch the spectacle of color before it fades. This past week I headed out to the Chuckwalla Mountains; which are about 200 miles east of Los Angeles. Last year I made it to Joshua Tree and Anza Borrego a desert east of San Diego near the border with Mexico. Anza Borrego is a low desert with Joshua tree being more of high desert; Anza Borrego is part of the Colorado desert where as Joshua Tree is part Mojave desert in the upper areas and Colorado desert in the lower areas. The famed Joshua Tree favors the Mojave as it is cooler and moister than the Colorado.

While out in the Chuckwalla Mountains I saw many common desert wildflowers including gold cup, apricot mallow, California poppy, creosote, brittlebush, phacelias and many others. There were a few flowers I saw but not many of these definitely peeked my interested. I saw two families of Bigelow Monkey flower, three ghost flower plants and one yellow/tarnished gold colored nightshade; I was drawn to these less populous wildflowers. I prepared three remedies from these flowers and will be researching them over the next year; at which time I hope to have a definition of their actions and make them available.

During my visit to the deserts in 2008 I prepared essences from Desert Canterbury Bells, Desert 4 O'clock, Arizona Lupine and Desert Dandelion. I have preliminary definitions for 3 these essences and hope to make them widely available by 2010. Now I know it is not right to pick favorites but my favorite out of the four mentioned is Desert Canterbury Bells; it is an eye catching deep blue flower and grow in communities amongst rock out crops.

Preliminary Definitions:

Desert Canterbury Bells- enhances vertical alignment; relaxes the upper and lower chest, shoulders and throat; lightens a tense heart and throat; good for those who are burnt out unhappy and destitute.

Arizona Lupine- this essence helps us harmonize with community; helps heal divisions with others in community by fostering feelings of allowing others to be themselves and helping us feel comfortable being ourselves in groups. Helpful for group unity and acceptance.

Desert Dandelion- relaxing to overly tense musculature; helps us take a more relaxed approach to life; good for those who are tense and high strung.

Desert Alchemy is another producer of flower remedies from the desert region of the Southwest; they are based in Tucson, Arizona and many of their remedies come from the Sonoran Desert.

Deserts are magical places it has been a place of solitude, mystery and spirituality for many cultures around the world. It is a vast place that challenges the ego to quite the feeling of solitude and quite is enveloping making it a great place for spiritual retreat. It is a place that is seemingly inhospitable and lifeless but with a touch of water the desert comes to life reminding us of the potential for life and growth of the organism and soul.

Please contact me through this website if you are interested in any of our desert flower essences.