The Daily Dig

Fall is a perfect time to travel – the tourist have all returned home, the weather has cooled and light this time of year is magical. And depending on where you go there's also another bonus – wildflowers. On the southern half of Baja California late summer and early fall often bring hurricanes. The rains awaken the dessert into an oasis of flowers and plant life and the dry, rocky and inhospitable landscape is transformed and a buzz with life of all kinds.

Click the main image for photos of this amazing trip.

Geographically, Baja California is very dynamic. It's surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other which is fed by the Colorado river at the top. A mountain range prevents moisture from the Pacific from reaching the other side but they are no match for the hurricanes which bring much appreciated water. And the landscape is truly surreal. Mountains and desert slide into the crystal blue sea and the cardón cactus create striking silhouettes at sundown.

Biologically it's even more amazing. An archipelago in the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Loreto is home to plants and animals that can only be found on these islands, rivaling the Galapagos islands for endemic species.

As gardeners we create our own version of paradise but there is nothing more amazing than seeing the ones that Mother Nature has created herself. Full of surprises and secrets, this is where we can see the complex layers of life playing out in all its glory.