Friday, April 15, 2005 The Gorman Hills along Interstate 5 are displaying vast carpets of California coreopsis (Coreopsis california), Bigelow’s coreopsis (coreopsis bigelovii), globe gilia (Gilia capitata) and Bentham’s lupine (Lupinus benthamii), with scattered golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), chia (Salvia columbariae) and yellow pincusion (Chaenactis glabriuscula) mixed in. The area is at peak, and the show should continue for about two more weeks. While you’re in the area, be sure to visit Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. There are no carpets of flowers here, but lots of species are in bloom. There are very good views of goldfields (Lasthenia chrysistoma) along the Salt Lick Trail, and nice displays of Owl’s clover (Orthocarpus purpurascens) along the Condor Trail. You’ll also see tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), globe gilia, Davy gilia (Gilia latiflora), chia, pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Fremont’s pincusion (Chaenactis fremontii), evening snow (Linanthus dichotomus) and bush lupine (Lupinus excubitus) in the park. The flowers are in peak form at Placerita Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center near Santa Clarita. Take the short Ecology Trail for a nice variety of blooming wildflowers including goldfields, suncups, star lilies, golden poppy and five species of lupines. Many of the trails in the park are still closed for repairs; call (661) 259-7721 for further information. In the Santa Monica Mountains, try the Pentachaeta Trail in Semler Park, which is at the end of Triunfo Road, just past Lindero Canyon Road. This easy one- mile trail is named for Lyon’s pygmydaisy (Pentachaeta lyonii), a small endangered daisy found only in the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills. Along the trail you’ll see a profusion of goldfields with lots of owl’s clover and blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) mixed in. In shady areas the Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) are blooming nicely. The section of the Backbone Trail from Kanan Dume Road to Corral Canyon Road has some spectacular splashes of color. Along the trail look for fiesta flowersPholistoma auritum), star lilies, blue-eyed grass, wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum) and globe gilia among the many species in bloom. For those who would rather take a driving tour, try the Angeles Crest Highway, Angeles Forest Highway, Big Tujunga Road or Little Tujunga Road into the San Gabriel Mountains. Lower elevations are blooming well, with lots of black sage (Salvia mellifera) and phacelia, along with Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), lupine, yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) and California lilac (Ceanothus ssp.). The Eaton Canyon Natural Area in Pasadena has bush sunflower (Encilia californica), black sage, phacelia, Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) and sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) in bloom. This area, situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, is off of Altadena Drive just north of New York Drive. The Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve continues to be somewhat disappointing, with sparse numbers of golden poppy, lupine and gilia to be seen. The best places to explore in the area are the hills north of Avenue “D,” where there are some stunning displays of goldfields to be found. In Orange County, now is a great time to visit Riley Wilderness Park and Caspers Wilderness Park. California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), blue dicks, fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata), deerweed (Lotus scoparius), pygmy lupine and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) are among the many wildflowers in bloom.
Deserts In the desert, the place to be right now is Joshua Tree National Park. Pinto Basin is at peak, with barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris), canturbury bells (Phacelia campanularia), creosote (Larrea tridentata), desert chicory (Rafinesquina neomexicana), ghost flower (Mohavea confertiflora) and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) among the more than three-dozen species in bloom. The north entrance near 29 Palms has bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), brown-eyed primrose (Camissonia claviformis), coreopsis, desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), phacelia and pincusion. In Wilson Canyon you’ll see brittlebush (Encelia californica), desert chicory, desert star (Monoptilon belliodes), Mojave aster (Xyloriza tortifolia) and Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera). In the Cottonwood Area you’ll see barrel cactus, brittlebush, brown-eyed evening primrose, canturbury bells, creosote, desert mallow, desert gold (Eschscholzia glyptosperma) and ground cherry (Physalis crassifolia). In Wilson Canyon are bladderpod, coreopsis, desert chicory, desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), desert lavendar (Hyptis amoryi), Mojave aster, Mojave yucca, rock daisy (Perityle emoryi), purple mat (Nama demissum), woolly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei) and yellow cups (Camissonia brevipes) among the dozens of species in bloom. The flowers are mostly gone in lower Death Valley, but are just hitting their peak at higher elevations of the park. Try Highway 178 in the Salsberry Pass area. On the east side of the pass are vast fields of Bigelow’s coreopsis, while on the west you’ll see desert dandelion, brittlebush, desert chicory and desert star. The drive along Greenwater Valley Road reveals lots of desert dandelion, desert chicory, Fremont’s pincusion and coreopsis. At Pipes Canyon Preserve, you can find canturbury bells, desert mallow, desert almond (Prunus fasciculata) and brown-eyed evening primrose in bloom. The preserve can be reached by driving on Highway 247 north of the town of Yucca Valley, then turning west on Pipes Canyon Road. Follow the road to its end where you’ll see the signed entrance to the preserve. The brittlebush bloom is just past peak at the Mission Creek Preserve, but is still well worth the visit. Also blooming are owl’s clover and Fremont’s pincusion (Chaenactis fremontii). The Preserve is north of Interstate 10 along Highway 62. Turn west on Mission Creek Road and follow the road to its end where you’ll see the signed entrance to the preserve.
San Diego County The bloom in progressing nicely at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County. Gregg’s ceanothus (Ceanothus gregii) is in color north and west of the lake. In grassy meadows throughout the park are good displays of baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii) and Douglas’ wallflowers (Erisymum capitatum), along with popcorn flower, cream cups (Platystemon californicus) and Johnny jump-ups (Viola pedunculata). Along roadsides you’ll see lots of pygmy lupine and bajada lupine (Lupinus concinnus). The bloom is almost finished in the lower sections of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, but higher elevations of the park continue to have lots of flowers to view. On Road S22 Culp Valley, which is just past Mile Marker 9 has 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.
Points North The flowers continue to be spectacular on Figueroa Mountain north of Santa Barbara. 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 (Dichelostemma pulchellum), yellow buttercups, fiddlenecks, fiesta flowers, miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) and 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 accompanied by miniature lupine, blue dicks and dark purple chias. (The flowers are beginning to fade in this area.) Flaming red Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis) brightens the rock wall to your right. Watch for lupine, lomatium, hummingbird sage, Chinese houses and fiesta flowers as you approach and enter the tree canopy. Also keep an eye out for owl’s clover, which is in bloom at several locations in this general area. The vibrant orange of California poppies continues to spread across the hillsides punctuated by purple lupine and bush lupine. Bright yellow goldfields, Mexican elderberry, chias, golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), popcorn flowers, fiddlenecks, buttercups, blue dicks, yellow lomatium, miniature lupine and poppies put on a spectacular display, too. As you travel between mile-markers 9 and 9.5, watch for the gorgeous Catalina Mariposa lilies (Calochortus catalinae) in the fields along both sides of the road. Purple wild onions are quite visible throughout this area, but the shooting stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum) are declining. Lomatium, blue dicks, buttercups, blue-eyed grass, fiddlenecks and goldfields are thriving at Vista Point, a large gravel turnout about 11.4 miles from the bottom. Watch for red clover, onions and a couple of golden orange wallflowers, too. The serpentine rocks between Vista Point and Figueroa Station are brilliant with golden California poppies, yellow coreopsis, lupine, blue dicks, chias, common and caterpillar phacelias, purple and white 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 (Fritillaria biflora), white wild onions, lomatium, buttercups and blue dicks. Another half-mile up the road brings you to a still-beautiful and fragrant display of lupine and poppies, which are now declining and being replaced with witches hair. The bush lupine, poppies and common phacelias are still going strong, providing a magnificent display along the rocky hillsides. You are in for a treat on Lookout Road and Cumbre Road. Lookout Road is in full bloom from the bottom all the way to the top. Watch for Sky lupine (Lupinus nanus), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons) and poppies. An even more magnificent and fragrant display is found along Cumbre Road as you reach the top of Lookout Road. Watch for globe gilias and phacelias, too. This area should peak within the next two weeks. Chias are in full bloom on the rocky hillsides just before the Davy Brown Trailhead, also fiddlenecks, lupine, globe gilias, popcorn flowers, black sage, common phacelias, bush lupine and poppies. Shooting stars continue to color the fields in various shades of pink, but they are fading rapidly. Indian paintbrush and bush lupine are visible along the serpentine rocks on your right. In the fields to your right, and up to the pipe fence, you’ll see carpets of goldfields and pretty white and yellow tidy tips. Look for a small stand of chocolate lilies in the field across the road. Baby blue eyes are blooming in various areas at Ranger Peak, joined by fiddlenecks, lupine, popcorn flowers, miner’s lettuce, fiesta flowers and phacelias. Bush poppies, bush lupine and sticky leaf monkey flowers are very impressive in the area from Ranger Peak to Cachuma Saddle. Also flowering are purple nightshade, Indian paintbrush, black sage, chias, popcorn flowers, common and caterpillar phacelias, scarlet buglers and fiddlenecks. Still going strong along Sunset Valley Road are popcorn flowers, poppies, bush poppies and fiddlenecks, also purple Chinese houses, goldfields, poppies, purple nightshade (Solanum parishii), baby blue eyes, Mexican elderberry, ceanothus and morning glories (Calystegia macrostegia). Look along the south-facing hillsides for bush poppies (Dendromecon rigida) and deep pink prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum). Watch out for the cactus-like needles of the beautiful spiny lupine. Also flowering along this stretch are collar lupine (Lupinus truncatus), blue dicks, Mexican elderberry, black sage, sticky leaf monkey flowers, globe gilias, miniature lupine, 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 Nuttle’s larkspur (Delphiniums nuttallianum). Baby blue eyes, chias, popcorn flowers and collar lupine can also be seen along this stretch. Watch for a clematis bush (Clematis lasiantha)in full bloom just before Nira Campground. As you head out Happy Canyon Road, look for the following: collar lupine, chias, popcorn flowers, poppies, bush poppies, common phacelias, globe gilias, vetch, blue dicks, lupine yarrow, stinging lupine (Lupinus hirsutissimus), morning glories, Indian paintbrush, black sage, bush lupine, fiesta flowers, Chinese houses, prickly phlox, sticky leaf monkey flowers, canyon peas, goldfields, blue eyed grass and mariposa lilies. One Our Lord’s candle (Yucca whipplei) was seen on the left hand side of the road, just below the old Cachuma Station. At Channel Islands National Park, Anacapa Island has northern island tree mallow, golden yarrow, red paintbrush, wild hyacinth (Dicholestema capitatum), wishbone bush (Mirablis bigelovii) and northern island morning glory in bloom. Wildflowers in bloom on Santa Rosa Island include Parry’s larkspur (Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi), blue-eyed grass, purple owl’s clover, common monkeyflower, island nightshade (Solanum clokeyi), wild hyacinth, Nuttal’s snapdragon (Antirrhinum nuttallianum), northern island morning glory, canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides), fragrant pitcher sage (Lepechinia fragrans), island deerweed (Lotus dendroideus var. dendroideus) and silver lupine (Lupinus albifrons). You can still see some giant coreopsis (Coreopsis giganteum) in bloom in shaded canyons. The bloom is finished at Carrizo Plain National Monument. However, just west of the monument, Shell Creek Road off of Highway 58 is worth a visit. Lupine, blazing star, owl’s clover and tidy tips are among the many wildflowers you’ll see. In the Kern River Valley, the alluvial fan below Cook Peak on into Mountain Mesa shows lots of owl’s clover and pygmy lupine. The hills between Mountain Mesa and South Lake have nice displays of goldfields, pygmy lupine and owl’s clover. The Kern River Preserve still has a nice showing of Bentham’s lupine (Lupinus benthamii).
Northern California Henry Coe State Park south of San Jose has a profusion of wildflowers right now. The best hike is probably the Hunting Hollow Trail, where you’ll find vast carpets of goldfields (Lasthenia californica), cream cups, Johnny jump-ups and butter and eggs (Linaria vulgaris). Also in bloom along this trail are scarlet pimpernel (Anagalis arvensis), sticky monkeyflower, baby blue-eyes, blue-eyed grass, red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), fiddleneck, pygmy lupine, blue dicks, woodland star (lithophragma heterophyllum) and owl’s clover. In Redwood City, now is a great time to visit Edgewood Natural Preserve. This park is located off of Interstate 280 on Edgewood Road. The park is sponsoring wildflower walks on the next four Saturdays: April 30, May 7 and May 14. The walks, beginning at 10:00 A.M., start from the Clarkia Trailhead, which offers the easist access to grassland wildflowers. In bloom at the park are tidy tips, golden poppy, popcorn flower, blue dicks, owl’s clover and blue-eyed grass. Most of Yosemite National Park is still blanketed by this winter’s deep snowpack, but in Merced Canyon the western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) are now in bloom. You can also find nice pockets of lupine in the canyon along Highway 140 west of Yosemite. The early bloomers are beginning to fade at Pinnacles National Monument, but late bloomers are beginning to show, including Mariposa lily (Calochortus venustus) and wine-cup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera). Also in bloom along the Condor Gulch Trail and the Juniper Canyon Trail are black sage, Brewer’s senecio (Senecio breweri), bush poppy, Douglas’ wallflower, Fremont’s monkeyflower (Mimulus fremontii), fringed onion (Allium fimbriaturn), pretty faces (Triteleia lugens) and virgin’s bower.
Wildflower Walks and EventsSanta Monica Mountains:
Placerita Canyon Natural Area:
El Dorado Nature Center:
Riley Wilderness Park:
Kern River Valley:
Sunland-Tujunga:
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