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Friday, May 20,
2005
Most of the flowers have faded from lower elevations, but there is still
lots of color if you venture into the mountains or the high deserts.
Topanga
Canyon State Park still has a nice variety of flowers in bloom.
The Temescal Ridge Trail boasts California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum),
golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), deerweed (Lotus scoparius),
sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia
cicutaria), canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides), globe gilia (Gilia
capitata), chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), California everlasting (Gnaphalium
californicum), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys
nothofulvus), black sage (Salvia mellifera) and the rare Braunton’s
milkvetch (Astragalus brauntonii).
In Zuma Canyon, a great hike is along the Zuma Loop Trail. Along the trail
you’ll see displays of Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), globe lily
(Calochortus albus), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), purple sage
(Salvia leucophylla), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), heart-leaf
penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia), wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum),
chamise, fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), wild morning glory (Calystegia
macrostegia) and blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum) among the more than
ninety species in bloom.
In the San Gabriel
Mountains the best drive is still up Tujunga Canyon to the Chilao
area, with the bloom really picking up steam at higher elevations. Look for
chamise, California lilac (Ceanothus ssp.), yerba santa (Eriodictyon
californicum), sticky monkeyflower, chia (Salvia columbariae), scarlet
bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius), prickly phlox (Leptodactylon
californicum) and Douglas’ wallflower (Erysimum capitatum). The bloom of
baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii) and popcorn flower in the Chilao area
is the best seen in decades.
A great drive right now is to take Highway 138 east from Interstate 15
towards Silverwood Lake in the
San
Bernardino National Forest . As you begin the climb you should see some
bush lupine in bloom alongside the road. As you reach Horsetheif Canyon you
will come across extensive fields of foothill poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa)
in full bloom, with some scarlet bugler also evident alongside the road.
Finally, as you near Silverwood Lake, look for spectacular displays of
Spanish broom Spartium junceum) on the hillsides, along with some goldfields
(Lasthenia californica), coreopsis and a few golden poppies (Eschscholzia
californica).
The flowers at the
Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area have peaked, but
there is still quite a variety of wildflowers from which to choose. There
are lots of Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) along the powerline road
and the Stipa Trail, along with some early alkalai Mariposa lilies
(Calochortus striatus), some Spencer’s primrose (Camissonia ignota) and lots
of bush lupine (Lupinus excubitus). The rock phacelia (Phacelia imbricata)
is still showing nicely in the north grasslands, along with golden poppy,
and the owl’s clover (Orthocarpus purpurascens) is spectacular along the
Condor Trail.
Cuyumaca
Rancho State Park is now in peak form. The bloom is not quite as
spectacular as expected – perhaps too much rain? – but many areas of the
park are still quite beautiful. North of the lake are tremendous fields of
purple owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), along with death camas (Zigadenus
fremontii) and western blue flax (Linum lewisii). In light shade in the West
Mesa area are moose-horn violet (Viola lobata), false baby star (Linanthus
androsaceus), sanicle, popcorn flower and great displays of cream cups (Platystemon
californicus) and tidy tips (Layia platyglossa). The goldfields are now
blanketing grassy slopes throughout the park. Also widespread and just
beginning to open are the diamond clarkias (Clarkia rhomboidea). Along the
“S” curves south of Green Valley are bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus),
bee plant (Scrophularia californica) and lots of golden ear drops (Dicentra
chrysantha). Gregg’s ceanothus (Ceanothus gregii) is in bloom north and west
of the lake, and western peony (Paeonia brownii) can be found in old
chapparal area. Drive three miles south of Highway 79 on Sunrise Highway to
see western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) in full bloom.
The early and mid-season wildflowers on
Figueroa
Mountain north of Santa Barbara are fading fast in the hot
weather, but late season bloomers are going strong. The time to go is now,
because with the warmer weather even the late flowers will be gone within
two to three weeks.
Throughout the mountain are four types of clarkia in bloom: winecup clarkia
(Clarkia purpurea), speckled clarkia (Clarkia cylindrica),
farewell-to-spring (Clarkia amoena) and elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata).
Our Lord’s candles (Yucca whipplei) are also in bloom across the entire
mountain, as is golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum). Midway up the
mountain are coreopsis, butter lupine (Lupinus luteolus), blue-eyed grass,
red clover, goldfields and purple onion. Between mile markers 9 to 10.5 you
can still see a few Catalina mariposa lilies (Calochortus catalinae). On the
surpentine rocks between Vista Point and Figueroa station are a few golden
poppies, some California buckwheat, chia, caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia
cicutaria) and blue-eyed grass. Along Cumbre Road the bush lupine is very
impressive.
Sunset Valley Road continues to have lots of color, with lots of clarkia,
popcorn flower, scarlet bugler and bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida). Along
Happy Canyon Road are Catalina mariposa lily, butter lupine, Indian
paintbrush, dudleya, fiesta flower, fairy lantern (Calochortus albus) and a
single, large wild California rose bush (Rosa californica) in bloom.
Deserts
In the high desert, Highway 395 is still a drive worth taking. From the
junction with Highway 14 the roadsides are blanketed with brittlebush (Encelia
californica) along with the occasional desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua).
Drive up Nine Mile Road just north of Pearsonville to see some stunning
displays of two types of bush lupine in bloom. Just as you reach the top
look for some stunning displays of larkspur along the right side of the
road. Another nice driving tour in the high desert would be to take Whitney
Portal Road west from Lone Pine. Turn north on Movie Road, where almost
immediately you’ll see stunning fields of Mojave aster (Xyloriza tortifolia)
blanketing the area. You’ll also see some brittlebush, desert dandelions (Malacothrix
glabrata) and desert suncups blooming along Movie Road.
The wildflower show is fading at
Joshua Tree National Park,
where the blooming cacti have largely taken over the show. Look for barrel
cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris),
calico cactus (Echinocerus engelmannii) and Mojave mound cactus (Echinocactus
polycephalus) in bloom throughout the park. For wildflowers, Lost Horse
Valley still has some color, with brittlebush, Mojave aster, freckled
milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus) and purple mat (Nama demissum) amont the
many species still in bloom. Queen Valley still has California evening
primrose (Oenothera californica), checker fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata),
desert calico (Loeseliastrum mathewsii), desert paintbrush (Castilleja
angustifolia), goldenbush (Ericameria ssp.), freckled milkvetch (Astragalus
lentiginosus), Parry’s nolina (Nolina parryi), paperbag bush (Salazaria
mexicana), scale bud (Anisocoma acaulis), senna (Cassia acutifolia), trixis
(Trixix californica) and wooly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei) in bloom, along
with many cacti species.
A drive up Highway 74 south of Palm Desert reveals many wildflowers still in
color. Starting at the 4000 foot level in the Santa Rosa Mountains you will
see linear-leaf goldenbush (Ericameria linearifolius), silver-leaf lotus,
Fremont’s pincusion (Chaenactis fremontii), mallow, desert rock pea (Lotus
rigidus), wild heliotrope (Phacelia distans), Our Lord’s Candle, Mojave
yucca (Yucca schidegera), beavertail cacti and Indian paintbrush in bloom.
Northern California
A nice loop hike in
Big Basin
Redwoods State Park, near Santa Cruz, would be to take the
Skyline-to-Sea Trail to the Berry Creek Trail and then return via the Sunset
Trail. This loop covers about twelve miles and affords the walker some
outstanding wildflower viewing. In bloom along the trails are redwood sorrel
(Oxalis oregana), redwood violet (Viola sempervirens), milk maids (Cardamine
californica), red clintonia lily (Clintonia andrewsiana) and pussy ears
(Calochortus tolmiei). As an added bonus, this hike takes you past several
waterfalls that are flowing nicely. Big Basin is California’s oldest state
park, having been established in 1902, and it contains the largest
continuous stand of ancient coastal redwoods (Seqouis sempervirens) south of
San Francisco. The park features over 80 miles of hiking trails.
Flowers in the Mono Basin in the Eastern Sierra are rapidly approaching peak
bloom. You’ll find desert peach (Prunus andersonii) at peak, along with
Douglas’ wallflower, Indian paintbrush, plateau goose-berry (Ribes velutinum),
bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), Jepson’s monkeyflower (Mimulus jepsonii),
sulphur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum), prickly phlox, curl-leaf mountain
mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), daggerpod, phacelia and several species
of larkspur.
The early bloomers are gone at
Pinnacles National
Monument , but the late bloomers are still putting on quite a show.
Along the Condor Gulch Trail and the Juniper Canyon Trail you’ll see
California buckwheat, chamise, black sage, blue dicks, Brewer’s senecio (Senecio
breweri), bush poppy, California wild rose, deerweed, elegant clarkia,
farewell-to-spring, winecup clarkia, Fremont’s monkeyflower (Mimulus
fremontii), owl’s clover, Parry’s larkspur (Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi),
rock lettuce (Dudleya cymosa), white pitcher sage (Lepechinia calycina) and
wooly yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum).
Our report next Friday, May 27 2005 will conclude our wildflower reports for
this year. However, just because it will be our last report of the year
doesn’t mean you can’t continue to enjoy wildflowers on into summer. Higher
mountain areas such as the Laguna Range in San Diego County, the San Jacinto
Mountains, the San Bernardino Mountains, the San Gabriels and the High
Sierra should continue to provide a nice show through June and on into July.
In particular, areas that should be peaking within the next two to three
weeks include Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, burned areas in the San Bernardino
Mountains, and in the Domeland Wilderness in the Southern Sierra Nevada try
Rockhouse Basin for some early summer wildflower action.
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