Friday, April 21, 2006

The recent spell of warm weather is really bringing forth the wildflowers in our local mountains. Look for the peak bloom period to occur between now and the end of the month.

On the north side of the San Gabriel Mountains, the flowers are beginning to bloom in the canyons. Try Soladad Canyon, San Fransisquito Canyon and Texas Canyon for lots of chia (Salvia columbariae), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), phacelia, popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) and fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata), along with scattered patches of golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and globe gilia (Gilia capitata).

In the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, try the Rocky Oaks area for a bloom that seems to be progressing well. In areas surrounding the meadow look for popcorn flower and crypantha. As you progress into the chaparral areas, you’ll find California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum), golden poppy, mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides) and a lot of hairy-leaf ceanothus (Ceanothus oliganthus) in bloom.

At Point Mugu State Park, the La Jolla Canyon Trail features dozens of species in flower, including giant coreopsis (Coreopsis giganteum), brittlebush (Encelia californica), deerweed (Lotus scoparius), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides), Douglas’ wallflower (Erysimum capitatum), wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia), mule fat (Baccharis glutinosa), black sage (Salvia mellifera) and bigpod ceanothus (Ceanothus megacarpus). The area doesn’t sport any tremendous carpets of blooms, but does boast a wide variety of species that are flowering, more than forty in all.

Carrizo Plain National Monument is a treat right now, with the flowers in peak bloom. As you descend the Temblor Range on Highway 58 you’ll see lots of goldfields and tidy tips. North of Soda Lake, the California coreopsis (Coreopsis califonica) is carpeting the fields, with some goldfields and tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) mixed in. If you’re in the area, make sure to travel west about 20 miles on Highway 58 from the monument to Shell Creek Road. Go north for some beautiful views of goldfields, baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii) and tidy tips.

In the Walker Pass area off of Highway 178 the southeast facing slopes have lots of golden poppy and California coreopsis. Further west, try Caliente-Bodfish Road in the Walker Basin for nice displays of pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), goldfields and caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria). In the Kern Valley near the Main Dam off of Highway 155 are goldfields, California coreopsis and golden poppy.

The Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve continues to be so-so. West of the preserve, however, are wonderful displays of goldfields and golden poppy along Avenue “I” near 170^th Street. If you’re in the area the best place to visit is still the northewest corner of the valley. Vast fields of California coreopsis, goldfields and desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata) continue to please, along with some scattered patches of golden poppy. The best viewing is still around the Gaskell Road area. Drive north from Highway 138 on 170^th Street West to the first dirt road past Avenue “A”. This is Gaskell Road, which is unsigned at this junction. Turn west to the best wildflower viewing.

The hills surrounding Gorman have come alive with a beautiful bloom of California coreopsis, but few other species are present. As the weather continues to warm, expect the bloom to accentuate and last for the next couple of weeks.

Down south, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park should begin to show signs of life in the next couple of weeks, with the warm weather beginning to bring out some of the early bloomers. For now, look for Gregg’s ceanothus (Ceanothus gregii) and yuccas blooming along the South Boundary Fire Road, lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) and various species of ceanothus along Highway 79, and bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida) near the intersection of Interstate 8 and Old Highway 80.

Joshua Tree National Park doesn’t have the outstanding displays seen last year, but might still be worth the trek for people who don’t mind walking a bit. Don’t expect lots of flowers next to the roadsides except for a bountiful showing of bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), but if you wander around in the Pinto Basin area several species are in sporadic bloom, including brittlebush (Encelia californica), desert lavender (Hyptis amoryi), ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) and chia (Salvia columbariae). At the north entrances to the park Joshua Trees (Yucca brevifolia) are in flower.

In the Death Valley area the west entrance of the park continues to exhibit some nice displays. Lots of gravel ghost and Bigelow’s monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii) are in bloom, along with chuperosa (Justicia californica) and Panamint daisy (Enceliopsis covillei). Also, the beavertail cacti (Opuntia basilaris) in the area have begun to flower.

Along Highway 14 north of the Highway 58 cutoff are lots of brittlebush and desert mallow along the roadside. The area between Freeman Canyon and the Dove Springs Off Highway Vehicle Area are some bountiful carpets of goldfields.

Locally, a good spot to visit is the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. Among the species in bloom are bladderpod, blue-eyed grass, Channel Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), Hooker’s evening primrose (Oenothera elata), sticky monkeyflower, showy penstemon (Penstemon speciosis), black sage (Salvia mellifera), purple sage (Salvia leucophylla) and woolly blue-curls (Trichostema lanatum). The park is located off of Spring Street just west of Interstate 605.

Northern California

The western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) are in bloom along Highway 140 west of Yosemite National Park. Expect to see lots of golden poppy and pygmy lupine in bloom along the roadway.

Henry Coe State Park near Morgan Hill continues to have a wonderful bloom this year. Look for Johnny jump-up (Viola pedunculata), butter and eggs (Triphysaria eriantha), fring pod (Thysanocarpus curvipes), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), slender phlox (Phlox gracilis), pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), bird’s eye gilia (Gilia tricolor), checker lily (Fritillaria affinis), golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum grande) among the dozens of species in bloom.

Northeast of the city of Oroville, Table Mountain has a nice display of wildflowers right now. Expect to find lots of goldfields, tidy tips and butter and eggs (Linaria vulgaris). The main entrance to the area is south of the town of Cherokee off of Cherokee Road.

In the Bay Area, north of the city of Marin a great place to view wildflowers is Ring Mountain. Along trails in the area you should see lots of goldfields, purple sanicle (Sanicula bipinnatifada) and Oakland star tulips (Calochortus umbellatus) along with a few patches of golden poppy, shooting stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum), Douglas’ iris (Iris douglasiana), milk maids (Cardamine californica), blue-eyed grass and phacelia.

Also in the Bay Area, Mt. Diablo State Park continues to please. Among the species in bloom include the endemic Mt. Diablo globe tulip (Calochortus pulchellus), bird’s eye gilia (Gilia bicolor), golden poppy, sticky monkeyflower, hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum grande), larkspur, red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), shooting stars, Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) and Fremont’s star lily (Zigadenus fremontii). To reach the park, exit Interstate 680 at Diablo Road and drive three miles east.

Pinnacles National Monument doesn’t have the carpets of flowers seen last year, but there are an astounding variety of species in bloom right now. Among more than four dozen native plants in color are chaparral broom-rape (Orobanche bulbosa), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), redspot clarkia (Clarkia speciosa), bush poppy (Dendormecon rigida), golden eardrops (Dicentra chrysantha), bush mallow (Malacothamnus aboriginum), hedge nettle (Stachys bullata) and chia (Salvia columbariae). Look for the flowers to peak this week and stay in bloom for the next three weeks or until hot weather arrives.

Wildflower Walks

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area:

Leo Carillo State Park – Adventure With a Ranger – Every Sunday at 9:00 A.M.

Pt. Mugu State Park – Adventure With a Ranger – Every Saturday at 9:00 A.M.

Los Padres National Forest

Pozo Wildflowers – May 13 at 9:30 A.M.

Call (805) 925-9538, ext. 246 for more information, or Email htarbet@fs.fed.us

Kern River/Southern Sierra:

Bioregions Festival – April 29 and April 30 – Tour the eastern Kern River Valley and the Eastern Sierra on Saturday the 29^th, and visit the Southern High Sierra on Sunday the 30^th. From 7:00 A.M. until dark. Cost is $45.00 for one day, $75.00 for both days. Email natureali@ixpres.com for information.

Placerita Canyon Nature Center:

Wildflower Walk – Saturday, May 14 – 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Eaton Canyon Nature Center:

Field Trips In Nature – a two hour class for children 5 and up. Cost is $5.00 per child. Call 626-398-5420 for information.

El Dorado Nature Center:

Discovery Tours – two-hour guided tour. Cost is $4.00 per person. Call 562-570-1745 for reservations.