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Friday, May 27,
2005
Hot weather over the past week and a half has
just about ended this year’s wildflower bloom in Southern California. But
what a year it was, with once-in-a-lifetime displays in Death Valley, Joshua
Tree and on the Carrizo Plain, among others. However, there are a few places
in the southland with good wildflower viewing for at least the next couple
of weeks.
Let’s start with Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County, which is
now in peak form. In meadows throughout the park are western blue flax,
navarettia, Douglas’ wallflower, popcorn flower, false baby stars and lots
of cream cups and tidy tips. Bitter cherry is in bloom on Cherry Flats, and
just above the flats are two Pacific Dogwoods exhibiting more flowers than
have been seen in recent memory. Purple owl’s clover is thick in meadows
north of the lake and along Road S2 near Highway 79. At the viewpoint south
of Julian are desert mountain phlox and Dunn’s mariposa lily. Expect the
bloom at Cuyumaca to last at least three more weeks.
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 Horsethief Canyon you will come across extensive fields of
foothill poppy 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 on the hillsides, along with some
goldfields, coreopsis and a few golden poppies. The upper reaches of the San
Bernardino Mountains should still be in bloom for two or three weeks.
Topanga Canyon State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains still has a nice
variety of flowers in bloom. Try the Temescal Ridge Trail for California
buckwheat, golden yarrow, canyon sunflower, deerweed, caterpillar phacelia,
globe gilia, chamise, sticky monkeyflower, California everlasting, popcorn
flower, hummingbird sage, black sage and the rare Braunton’s milkvetch.
In the San Gabriel Mountains the best drive is still up Tujunga Canyon to
the Chilao area. Lower elevations are turning brown, but higher up look for
chamise, California lilac, yerba santa, sticky monkeyflower, chia, scarlet
bugler, prickly phlox and Douglas’ wallflower. The bloom of baby blue-eyes
and popcorn flower in the Chilao area is still going, and it’s the best in
years. Higher elevations in the San Gabriels will probably be in flower
through June.
The lower portions of Figueroa Mountain Road are through blooming, but
higher up there is still some color from the late bloomers. There are four
types of clarkia in flower: winecup clarkia, speckled clarkia,
farewell-to-spring and elegant clarkia. Our Lord’s candles are also in bloom
across the entire mountain, as is golden yarrow. Midway up the mountain are
coreopsis, butter lupine, blue-eyed grass, red clover, goldfields and purple
onion. On the surpentine rocks between Vista Point and Figueroa station is
California buckwheat, caterpillar phacelia and blue-eyed grass. Along Cumbre
Road the bush lupine is very impressive.
Sunset Valley Road continues to have lots of color, with clarkia, popcorn
flower, scarlet bugler and bush poppy in flower. Along Happy Canyon Road are
butter lupine, Indian paintbrush, dudleya, fiesta flower, fairy lantern and
a single, large wild California rose bush in bloom.
It’s a long drive to reach the Mono Basin in the Eastern Sierra, but right
now it’s worth it; the area is in peak bloom. Desert peach and Indian
paintbrush are spectacular right now. Other species flowering in the basin
include sulphur buckwheat, Douglas’ wallflower, plateau gooseberry and
Jepson’s monkeyflower.
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