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Friday, April 8,
2005
- Best Bets
One of the best places to view wildflowers in the metropolitan Los Angeles
Area right now is at the
Placerita
Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center. The area has over twelve miles
of trails abounding in wildflowers. Much of the area burned last year;
this is an excellent opportunity to see the wonderful processes by which
nature heals herself. About 430 species of native flora have been observed
in the area, and almost half of them are in bloom. Among them are
goldfields (Lasthenia californica), suncups (Camissonia bistorta),
Fremont’s star lily (Zigadenus fremontii), golden poppy (Eschscholzia
californica), five species of lupine, phacelia, fire poppy (Papaver
californicum) and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus).
The Nature Center will be sponsoring two wildflower walks: this Sunday,
April 10 at 10:00 A.M., and again on Sunday, May 8 at 10:00 A.M. The
Nature Center Museum features many exhibits on the natural history of
Southern California. To reach Placerita Canyon Natural Area, take the 14
Freeway north from Los Angeles and exit at Placerita Canyon Road. Turn
right and proceed to the parking area on the south side of the road about
one-and-a-half miles from the freeway. Hours are from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00
P.M.
The south-facing hills surrounding the town of Gorman are now in peak
form. You can see vast splashes of hillside coreopsis (Coreopsis
californica), with golden poppies mixed in. At the nearby
Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area are nice displays of
goldfields and baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii) along with Davy gilia
(Gilia latiflora), popcorn flower, fiddleneck (Amzineckia tessellata),
tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), coreopsis, linear-leaf goldenbush (Ericameria
linearifolius) and Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana).
In Joshua Tree National
Park, the flowers near the south entrance are now past peak; the
Twenty-nine Palms entrance is the place to be now. You will find desert
dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), desert
chicory (Rafinesquina neomexicana), lupine, phacelia, Fremont’s pincushion
(Chaenactis fremontii), whispering bells (Emmenanthe peduliflora) and
beautiful fields of yellow cups (Camissonia brevipes). The beavertail
cactus (Opuntia basilaris)have also begun to show off their stunning pink
blooms. The creosote bushes (Larrea tridentata) are just beginning to
bloom, and those that haven’t look ready to burst, so full are their
branches with plump buds. Along the northeast boundary of the park you
will find brittlebush (Encelia californica), brown-eyed evening primrose (Camissonia
claviformis), desert dandelion, dune primrose (Oenothera deltoides) and
rock daisy (Perityle emoryi) among the many species in bloom.
Joshua Tree provides the most varied palette of wildflowers of any of our
desert parks, as well as the longest lasting wildflower show. This is
because the park exists in a transition zone of two of the three types of
desert found in California. The eastern part of the park, lower in
elevation and generally warmer and drier, is part of the Colorado Desert.
This is a cactus and creosote-dominated desert containing dense stands of
ocotillo and cholla. The western part of the park, higher in elevation and
noticeably cooler and moister, is part of the Mojave Desert, characterized
by the park’s namesake, the Joshua tree. The transition zone between these
two deserts features an astonishing variety of flora and fauna.
As you might guess by its genus, the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is not
a tree but a yucca, a giant member of the lily family. As such, it has no
growth rings, making aging them difficult. You can estimate a Joshua
tree’s age by dividing its height by an average growth rate of one-half
inch per year. The largest specimen in the park is a whopping forty feet
high and is estimated to be over 300 years old.
Most experts believe flowering of Joshua trees is stimulated by winter
freezing, which damages growing ends of branches. Branching then follows
after flowering. Indeed, if while visiting the park if you find a Joshua
tree growing straight up, it means it has never flowered.
Points North
The
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve has golden poppies blooming on
south-facing slopes, along with some lupine and goldfields. The best show
in the area, however, is in the hills north and east of the preserve,
where nice displays of goldfields, golden poppy and owl’s clover (Orthocarpus
purpurascens) can be found.
Carrizo Plain National Monument is now slightly past peak but is still
worth the visit. If you take Elkhorn Road south from Highway 58 you’ll
still see nice fields of phacelia, hillside daisies, goldfields and
fiddleneck. Soda Lake Road south from 58 also has nice displays of lupine,
fiddleneck, golden poppy, goldfields and owl’s clover. West of the
monument, take Shell Creek Road north from Highway 58. Along the first
three miles of this road you can find over fifty species in bloom,
including owl’s clover, yellow blazing star, tidy tips and several species
of lupine.
The drive up to Figueroa Mountain north of Santa Barbara is nothing short
of astounding. Starting at the first cattle guard, be on the lookout for
blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), buttercups, fiddleneck, fiesta
flower (Pholistoma auritum) and hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea). Next
you’ll see a field covered in owl’s clover with some pygmy lupine (Lupinus
bicolor) mixed in. On rocky hillsides are beautiful splashes of the orange
golden poppy. Between mile markers nine and 9.5 you can see Catalina
mariposa lily (Calochortus catalinae) along the road.
At Vista Point, about 11.4 miles from the bottom, are shooting stars (Dodecatheon
pulchellum), blue dicks, blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) and
goldfields. You can also find wild onion and Douglas’ wallflowers (Erysimum
capitatum) here. Between here and Figueroa Station are golden poppies,
coreopsis, lupine, chia (Salvia co.umbariae), buttercups and golden yarrow
(Eriophyllum confertiflorum).
Along Sunset Valley Road are popcorn flower, golden poppy, bush poppy (Dendromecon
rigida), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), baby blue-eyes and wild
morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia). The California lilac (Ceanothus
ssp.) in this area has not yet lost its bloom. Near the Lower Manzana
Trailhead you’ll find the dark blue Nuttlall’s larkspur (Delphinium
nuttallianum), baby blue-eyes, popcorn flower and collar lupine (Lupinus
truncatus).
Deserts
If you take Highway 62 through Morongo Valley on your way to Joshua Tree,
you’ll see nice displays of yellow cups and desert dandelions all through
the valley. A side trip in the valley is well worth the time. Above Yucca
Valley, the
Pipes Canyon Preserve is beginning to show color. To reach the
preserve, take Highway 247 north from Yucca Valley and travel west on
Pipes Canyon Road to the signed entrance at road’s end. Here you’ll find
bladderpod, brittlebush and yellow cups; the peak showing should be in
about two weeks.
In the Coachella Valley, try the Mission Creek Preserve for a stunning
display of brittlebush, with phacelia and yellow cups as well. To reach
the preserve, take Highway 62 north from Interstate 10 and travel west on
Mission Creek Road to the gate.
The upper elevations of
Death Valley National Park are still in spectacular form. You’ll still
find lots of desert gold (Eschscholzia glyptosperma), along with desert
five-spot (Eremulche rotundifolia), canturbury bells (Phacelia
campanularia), phacelia (Phacelia crenulata) and apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea
ambigua). In the Panamint Range, Wild Rose Canyon has Panamint prince’s
plume (Stanleya elata), Bigelow’s monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii),
phacelia, little golden poppy (Eschscholzia minutiflora) and turtlebacks.
Also, the drive down Greenwater Valley Road would be a great route to take
right now.
A drive south from the town of Baker on Kelbaker Road into the Mojave
National Preserve http://www.nps.gov/moja reveals lots of brittlebush in
bloom along with desert chicory, chia, desert dandelion, bladderpod, globe
mallow, Fremont’s pincusion (Chaenactis fremontii), wild heliotrope (Phacelia
distans) and beavertail cactus. Expect the higher reaches of the preserve
to put on quite a show in the coming weeks.
Red Rock
Canyon State Park, north of the town of Mojave on Highway 14, has an
outstanding display right now. You can see bird’s eye gilia (Gilia
bicolor), chicory, fiddleneck, Palmer’s monkeyflower (Mimulus palmeri),
thick-leaf phacelia (Phacelia neglecta), popcorn flower, pebble pincusion
(Chaenactis carphoclinia), Fremont’s pincusion and Mojave suncups (Camissonia
campestris ssp. campestris) in bloom.
North of the town of Trona, which is on Highway 178 north of Ridgecrest,
the area between the Panamint Range and Searles Valley is covered with
desert dandelion, desert larkspur (Delphinium parishii), pygmy poppy (Eschscholzia
minutiflora), rock nettle (Eucnide urens), Mojave aster (Xyloriza
torifolia) and brittlebush.
San Diego County
The bloom is well past peak in the lower sections of
Anza
Borrego Desert State Park, but is still very much alive in higher
elevations. On Road S22, a stop at Culp Valley, which is just past Mile
Marker 9, is worth the time. Here you’ll see pygmy lupine, phacelia,
bajada lupine (Lupinus concinnus), desert lotus (Lotus rigidus), apricot
mallow and blue dicks. Along Road S2 at the Carrizo Badlands Overlook are
blooming ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), desert star (Monoptilon
belliodes), desert five spot, phacelia and popcorn flower.
The bloom is now under way 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 now in bloom near the lake. The park is
expected to begin peaking by the end of April, and experts say the bloom
could last well into June.
Orange County
In Orange County, the wilderness parks are all in fine form right now. Try
the Mule Deer Trail in
Riley Wilderness Park off of Oso Parkway for blue dicks, California
Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), fiddleneck, deerweed (Lotus scoparius),
pygmy lupine and owl’s clover among the dozens of species in bloom.
Caspers Wilderness Park is also nearing peak bloom right now.
Riley Wilderness Park is sponsoring a program in its Butterfly Garden
called Bugs & Butterflies. Several specialists will be on hand to examine
the intricate connections between bugs, butterflies, birds, bees and
wildflowers. There will also be a class in native plant gardening. The
program is on May 15 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. The program is free, and
parking is just $3.00. This is a wonderful chance for people of all ages
to learn more about how ecosystems operate. Call (949) 923-2265 for more
information.
Los Angeles County
In the Santa Monica
Mountains, the Zuma Loop Trail features bush sunflower (Encilia
californica), canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides), scarlet pimpernel
(Anagallis arvensis), black sage (Salvia mellifera), fiesta flower, Indian
paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons) and
blue-eyed grass. Zuma Creek is still flowing strongly, so you might get a
bit wet at the stream crossings.
At Point
Mugu State Park, don’t be disappointed by the first mile or so of the
La Jolla Canyon Trail, where high heat has turned off the bloom. Once you
reach to confines of the canyon, you’ll find Parry’s phacelia (Phacelia
parryi), greenbark ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus) and Indian Paintbrush in
bloom. Turn left onto the Lower Loop Trail for nice fields of Mariposa
lily and blue-eyed grass.
In the Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyon Preserve, the China Flat Trail is a
worthwhile adventure. Starting almost right at the trailhead you’ll begin
to see popcorn flower, bush sunflower, scarlet pimpernel, mule fat (Baccharis
glutinosa), blue dicks, dove lupine (Lupinus bicolor) and owl’s clover.
Further up canyon you’ll find California buckwheat, fern-leaf phacelia,
chia, wishbone bush (Mirablis bigelovii), yellow monkeyflower and both
golden poppy and collarless poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa). In all, over
80 species have been observed in bloom. This is a strenuous hike, a
four-mile loop with over 1000 feet in elevation gain. To reach the
trailhead, exit the 101 Freeway in Westlake Village at Lindero Canyon
Road. Take Lindero Canyon north four miles to the signed trailhead; it’s
located between King James Ct. and Wembly Ave.
In Long Beach, the
El Dorado Nature Center has many species in color, including baby
blue-eyes, bladderpod, California buckwheat, Conejo buckwheat (Eriogonum
crocatum), Catalina tree mallow, California lilac (Ceanothus ssp.),
flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum), scarlet pimpernel, black sage
and autumn sage (Salvia greggii).
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. 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.
Bear Valley in Colusa County continues to have a nice showing of
wildflowers. 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.
The dogwoods in Yosemite
National Park are still several weeks away, but the Western redbuds (Cercis
occidentalis) are in bloom along the Merced River Valley.
Pinnacles National
Monument is exploding in wildflowers this year. The best hikes
continue to be the Balconies Cliffs Trail, the Condor Gulch Trail and the
Juniper Canyon Trail. Among the species in bloom are black sage, Brewer’s
senecio (Senecio breweri), buck brush (Ceanothus cuneatus), California
saxifrage (Saxifraga californica), Douglas’ wallflower, elegant clarkia
(Clarkia unguiculata), Fremont’s star lily, Parry’s larkspur (Delphinium
parryi ssp. parryi), venus thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. venustum) and
yarrow-leaf gilia (Gilia achilleifolia).
In the Bay Area, Henry
Coe State Park has numerous species in bloom, including scarlet
pimpernel, red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), Indian paintbrush, Chinese
houses, mosquito bills (Dodecatheon hendersonii), arroyo lupine (Lupinus
succulentus), Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), slender phlox
(Phlox gracilis), blue nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum) and spring vetch
(Vicia sativa).
Wildflower Walks and Events
- Theodore Payne Foundation: 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.
- Placerita Canyon Natural Area:
Wildflower Walks: Sunday, April 10 at 10:00 A.M., and again on Sunday, May
8 at 10:00 A.M.
- 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.
- Riley Wilderness Park: Bugs &
Butterflies: Sunday, May 15 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
- Kern River Valley: The Woodlands
Conservancy has Wildflower Walks scheduled at the Wind Wolves Preserve:
April 17 at 1:00 P.M.; and April 24 at 1:00 P.M. Please RSVP by calling
(661) 858-1115.
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