Friday, April 1, 2005 Warm weather is beginning to dim wildflower displays in the low deserts, but it’s also bringing higher elevations into spectacular color.
The southern reaches of Death Valley National Park are now past peak, so the best places to visit are in the northern parts of the park. The alluvial fans between Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells are covered with desert gold (Eschscholzia glyptosperma), along with chia (Salvia columbariae), desert star (Monoptilon belliodes), notch-leaf phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), Mojave aster (Xyloriza torifolia) and canturbury bells (Phacelia campanularia). The area south of Scotty’s Castle also offer vast fields of desert gold.
Joshua Tree National Park is in peak bloom right now. Pinto Basin Road from the town of 29 Palms to the south entrance features bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), coreopsis, chicory (Rafinesquina neomexicana), brown-eyed evening primrose (Camissonia claviformis), creosote (Larrea tridentata), desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), desert star, woody bottle washer (Camissonia boothii) and phacelia. The entrance near the town of Joshua Tree has the parks namesake (Yucca brevifolia) in bloom. The northeast boundary of the park along Highway 62 has dune evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides) and desert lily (Hesperocallis undulata). The south boundary has dozens of species blooming, including beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris), canturbury bells, chuperosa, (Justicia californica) desert alyssum ((Lepidium fremontii), desert star, ghost flower (Mohavea confertiflora), heron’s bill (Erodium cicutarium), Bigelow’s monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii) and paperbag bush (Salazaria mexicana). The best walking tour in the park right now is the three-mile round trip 49 Palms Oasis Trail, where you’ll find desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum), brittlebush (Encelia californica) and dune aster among the dozens of species in bloom.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park continues its show with sand verbena (Abronia villosa), dune evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides) and desert sunflowers (Garaea canescens) along Henderson Canyon Road and Borrego Valley Road. The drive into the park from the west along Road S22 has lots of brittlebush, apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), poppy, lupine and phacelia in bloom. Road S3 has desert lavendar (Hyptis amoryi), desert dandelion, golden poppy, chuperosa, desert chicory and Fremont’s pincusion (Chaenactis fremontii). At the junction of Highway 78 and Palm Canyon you can find the same species, plus desert star, white sage Salvia apiana) and chia.
The Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve is about a week from being at its peak. Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are in bloom all over the preserve, along with lupine and coreopsis. On the west side of the preserve are massive displays of goldfields.
Saddleback Butte State Park, located 17 miles east of Lancaster on Avenue “J” East, is nearing peak form. Here you’ll find carpets of wildflowers from the campground all the way to the summit of the buttes. Brown-eyed evening primrose, coreopsis, golden poppy and lupine are among the flowers in bloom, and the Joshua trees on the butte itself are also in flower.
South-facing hills surrounding Gorman are beginning to show color; you can see some goldfields and Bigelow’s coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii) in bloom. The peak display is about a week away.
The best wildflower show in Southern California is still Carrizo Plain National Monument, although warm weather threatens to short-circuit it. The best viewing is along Seven Mile Road west of Highway 58. There are massed fields of goldfields Lasthenia californica) along with fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata) in the vernal pools north of Soda Lake. Continue west from Carrizo Plain on Highway 58 to Shell Creek Road and travel north. Along the first three miles of this road you can find an amazing array of over fifty species in bloom, including several species of lupine and owl’s clover, yellow blazing star and tidy tips Layia platyglossa).
In the Kern River Valley, there is phacelia in the canyons alongside Sierra Way. There are nice displays of goldfields along Highway 178 between South Lake and Mountain Mesa, and on the southwest edge of Mountain Mesa are beautiful fields of miniature lupine and owl’s clover. The Woodlands Conservancy has several wildflower walks scheduled for the Wind Wolves Preserve: April 2 at 9:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.; April 3 at 1:00 P.M.; April 17 at 1:00 P.M.; and April 24 at 1:00 P.M. Please RSVP by calling (661) 858-1115.
The bloom is just beginning in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County. Manzanita (Arctostaphylos ssp) are in bloom throughout the park, and you can find nice displays of baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii) in grassy meadows and in light shade throughout the park. In meadows around the lake are Southern California buttercups, Johnny jump-ups (Viola pedunculata), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata) and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), and the endangered Cuyamaca meadowfoam is just starting near the lake. Stay tuned; most of this park burned in the Cedar Fire a year and a half ago and fire-following species here will be spectacular later this spring.
In the Santa Monica Mountains, the Circle X Ranch area has the best wildflower viewing. Right now the Canyon View Trail is probably best, with chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), black sage (Salvia mellifera), yellow monkeyflower, Parry’s phacelia (Phacelia parryi), popcorn flower and chia. Further along the trail are big patches of globe gilia (Gilia capitata) along with rock rose (Cistus creticus), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and the best display of Fremont’s star lily (Zigadenus fremontii) seen in years.
The Grotto Trail in this area is also quite nice, with several streams running that are normally dry by this time of year. Over sixty species are in bloom, including Parry’s phacelia, canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides) and blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum). Near streams and seeps you’ll find creek monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) and lots of Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla).
The part of the Backbone Trail from the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead to Yerba Buena Road is not quite at peak yet but still is worth visiting. An astounding ninety-six species in bloom have been observed along this trail, including hollyleaf cherry, hairy-leaf ceanothus, several species of lupine, prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum), blue dicks, star lily, chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora) and bush monkeyflower.
In an urban setting the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach provides a great wildflower sanctuary. In bloom now are baby blue-eyes, bladderpod, butterfly sage , California buckwheat, golden poppy, Catalina tree mallow, Channel Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), Douglas’ iris (Iris douglasiana), flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum), Mexican evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa), scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) and yellow flag iris.
The wildflowers on Figueroa Mountain are absolutely incredible this year, particularly along Figueroa Mountain Road, Lookout Road and Sunset Valley Road. Happy Canyon Road is now repaired and open but it doesn’t have the spectacular flower displays found on the other side of the mountain.
Safety reminder: Please drive safely. These are narrow mountain roads and there is more traffic than usual. Drive slowly, stay on your side of the road, do not block traffic and be courteous to other drivers.
You can start your wildflower tour at the first cattle guard on Figueroa Mountain Road. Look for purple lupine, blue dicks, yellow buttercups and Johnny jump-ups, yellow fiddlenecks, purple fiesta flowers, miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) and those stunning, light pink Chinese houses. After the first two sharp bends in the road you’ll see in the fields to your left a striking carpet of Owl’s clover (Orthocarpus purpurascens) accompanied by miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), blue dicks and dark purple chias. Flaming red Indian paintbrush brightens (Castilleja affinis) the rock wall to your right. Watch for lupine, lomatium, hummingbird sage, Johnny jump-ups, Chinese houses and fiesta flowers as you approach and enter the tree canopy.
The vibrant orange of California poppies continues to spread across the rocky hillsides punctuated by splashes of lupine and lavender bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons). The ceanothus has stopped flowering on this side of the mountain, but the bright yellow goldfields, Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), chias, golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), popcorn flowers, fiddlenecks, buttercups, blue dicks, yellow lomatium, mustard, miniature lupine, poppies and Johnny jump-ups are putting on a spectacular display. As you travel between mile-markers 9 and 9.5, watch for the gorgeous Catalina Mariposa lily (Calochortus catalinae)along both sides of the road. Grass Mountain is a lovely patchwork of purple lupine and orange poppies. White wild onions are making their appearance in many areas, and dark pink shooting stars continue to adorn fields all the way to the top.
At Vista Point (a large gravel turnout about 11.4 miles from the bottom) the chocolate lilies are past their prime now, but shooting stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum), lomatium, blue dicks, buttercups, blue-eyed grass, fiddlenecks and goldfields are thriving. Look for red clover, onions and a couple of golden orange wallflowers (Erisymum capitatum), too. The serpentine rocks between Vista Point and Figueroa Station are brilliant with golden California poppies, yellow coreopsis, lupine, blue dicks, chias, common phacelias (ranging from pale to deep lavender), wild onions, buttercups and golden yarrow.
Approximately one-half mile from the Figueroa Station just before Tunnell Ranch Road, you will find wallflowers, chocolate lilies, wild onions, shooting stars (ranging from white to deep pink), lomatium, buttercups and blue dicks. Another half-mile up the road brings you to a magnificent and fragrant display of lupine and poppies. Bush lupine and phacelias continue to bloom here, too.
Lookout Road has reopened just in time for the bloom. The flowers have taken longer to flower here because of the higher elevation. Gorgeous sky lupine (Lupinus nanus), poppies and bright yellow bush poppies (Dendromecon rigida) are beginning to carpet the hillsides along with globe gilias and blue dicks. You will see a lot of lupine and some bush lupine on your way to the Cumbre Day Use area, but it’s still early for other flowers.
Chias are in full bloom on the rocky hillsides just before the Davy Brown Trailhead, also fiddlenecks, lupine, globe gilias, popcorn flowers, phacelias and poppies. Shooting stars continue to color the fields in various shades of pink. Indian paintbrush and bush lupine are visible along the serpentine rocks on your right. In the field to your right, surrounded by pipe fencing, are popcorn flowers, goldfields and shooting stars as well as the pretty white and yellow tidy tips. Look for a small stand of chocolate lilies, too. Baby blue eyes continue to bloom in various areas at Ranger Peak, joined by fiddlenecks, lupine, popcorn flowers, fiesta flowers and phacelias.
Bush poppies and bush lupine are taking hold in the area from Ranger Peak to Cachuma Saddle. Also flowering are purple nightshade, Indian paintbrush, chias, popcorn flowers, phacelias and fiddlenecks. The pretty scarlet buglers and sticky leaf monkey flowers have just appeared.
Still going strong along Sunset Valley Road are popcorn flowers, poppies, bush poppies and fiddlenecks, also Chinese houses, purple nightshade, baby blue eyes, ceanothus and morning glories. Look along the south-facing hillsides for bush poppies and deep pink prickly phlox. Watch out for the cactus-like needles of the beautiful spiny lupine---don’t touch! Also flowering along this stretch are collar lupine (tall and narrow flower with dark purple and white above maroon), blue dicks, chias and golden yarrow. Popcorn flowers cover the hillsides here giving the appearance of snow. Chias carpet some areas. As you approach the Lower Manzana Trailhead and Nira, watch for Chinese houses and the beautiful deep purple/dark blue flowers of the Nuttles larkspur (delphiniums). Baby blue eyes, chias, popcorn flowers and collar lupine can also be seen along this stretch.
Northern California
The flowers are at peak in Pacheco State Park. You’ll find blue dicks, pygmy lupine, golden poppy, miner’s lettuce, goldfields, checkerbloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora), popcorn flower and buttercup among the dozens of species in flower. This Saturday (April 2) the state park celebrates Wildflower Day, with self-guided tours and experts on hand to help you identify the flowers. There is no charge for the event, and the park entrance fee is just $5.00, so this is a great, inexpensive way for the whole family to enjoy this year’s wonderful bloom. To reach Pacheco State Park, take the Dinosaur Point Road exit off of Highway 152, approximately 18 miles west of Los Banos and 22 miles east of Gilroy.
A great driving tour right now is through Bear Valley in Colusa County. Take Highway 20 west from Interstate 5, then turn north on Bear Valley Road. Virtually the entire valley is covered with blue-eyed gilia and goldfields, with butter and eggs (Linaria vulgaris), tidy tips, Douglas’ wallflowers, cream cups and owl’s clover mixed in.
At Pt. Reyes National Seashore a wildflower show that promises to be outstanding is just underway. You can find star tulips, lupine, Douglas’ iris and mules ear in bloom, but the peak will probably be the last two weeks of April.
Near Fairfield, Rockville Hills Regional Park has quite a show right now; you won’t see it from the parking lot, though, so get out and walk. Near the park’s lakes you’ll see lots of lupine and blue dicks, with some nice fields of goldfields.
Pinnacles National Monument continues to please. The best places are the Balconies Cliffs Trail, the Juniper Canyon Trail and in the High Peaks area, where black sage, blue fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), bush lupine, bush poppy, deerweed (Lotus scoparius), hedge nettle (Stachys bullata), linanthus (Linanthus parviflorus), Parry’s larkspur (Delphinium parryi ssp parryi) and tomcat clover (Trifolium willdenovii) are among the dozens of species in bloom.
Wildflower Walks and Events
Theodore Payne Foundation: Native Plant Garden Tour, Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 from 10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Tickets are $20.00. (818)768-1802. Poppy Day: Open house and sale April 16 from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Santa Monica Mountains: Pt. Mugu State Park sponsers Adventure With a Ranger every Saturday at 9:00 A.M. For information, call (805) 488-1827. Leo Carillo State Beach also has Adventure With a Ranger every Sunday at 9:00 A.M. For information call (805) 488-1827. Charmlee Nature Center has a Wildflower Walk every Saturday in April, starting at 10:00; meet at the information kiosk.
El Dorado Nature Center: Butterfly Walk, April 9 and May 14 from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., charge is $5.00.
Kern River Valley: The Woodlands Conservancy has several Wildflower Walks scheduled at the Wind Wolves Preserve: April 2 at 9:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.; April 3 at 1:00 P.M.; April 17 at 1:00 P.M.; and April 24 at 1:00 P.M. Please RSVP by calling (661) 858-1115.
Pacheco State Park: Wildflower Day, Saturday, April 2
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