Imperial National Wildlife Refuge

From USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System:

“Wilderness is not a luxury but necessity of the human spirit.” –Edward Abbey

You might be surprised to find a lush river ecosystem in the midst of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Colorado- but that's exactly what you get in the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness, CA/AZ. When enough rain falls the desert bursts into stunning bloom: yellow paloverde, lavender smoke trees and ironwood, pink beavertails, red prickly pears, and purple and gold bellyflowers (so named because you must lie on your belly to appreciate these small blossoms). More here http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=257