Friday, May 19, 2006

An excellent driving tour right now is Highway 138 east from Interstate 15 towards Silverwood Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest. At the bottom of the hill is lots of fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata) along with a few goldfields (Lasthenia californica). As you crest the hill and drop into Horsethief Creek, look for some nice fields of foothill poppies (Eschscholzia caespitosa) on the left. Then as you begin to approach the lake, the bush poppy bloom (Dendromecon rigida) takes over. Many hillsides are a solid yellow with this prolific bloom. South of the lake are nice displays of California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum) along with a few ceanothus in bloom.

In the San Gabriel Mountians a good place to try is Liebre Mountain. To reach this area, take Highway 138 east from Interstate 5 near Gorman. Turn south on Ridge Route, then east on Liebre Sawmill Road. Look for lots of chia (Salvia comumbariae), pitcher sage (Lepichinia calycina) and Bigelow’s coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii). The best flower displays are along the series of switchbacks just before you crest Liebre Mountain.

Towsley Canyon Park near Santa Clarita has some nice color. The park is located off of the Old Road from the Calgrove exit off of Interstate 5. Several species of phacelia are in bloom along with blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), chia and yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum). The park features a six and a half mile loop trail that will take you past the best flower displays.

Chino Hills State Park has some wonderful wildflowers right now. To reach the park, take the Soquel Canyon exit off of the 71 expressway in the town of Chino Hills. Proceed west to Elinvar Street, which you take south to the park entrance. As you drive into the park it might not look like much, with only invasive mustard in evidence, but further along the road are some outstanding displays of sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus). The best flower show seems to be at the campground, with large fields of common sunflower and golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), along with lots of blooming black sage (Salvia mellifera).

Many places in the Santa Monica Mountains continue to please. One place in particular, the Chesebro Canyon Trail near Agoura Hills, is the best it’s been in years. Much of this area burned last September, and the fire following wildflowers have really come to life. Look for lots of wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia) and Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri), along with Mariposa tulip, penstemon, Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis) and fire poppy (Papaver californicum). To reach the trail, take the Chesebro Road exit from the 101 Freeway and drive about one mile south to the parking area.

The Stunt High Trail near the Cold Creek Preserve is another nice spot in the Santa Monica’s right now. You’ll see lots of bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), heart-leaf penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia) and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) among the dozens of species in bloom. To reach the trailhead, exit the 101 Freeway at Las Virgenes. Turn left on Mulholland Highway and then right on Stunt Road. Proceed about three miles to the parking lot on the right.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County has really rounded into form. In meadows throughout the park are lots of tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), cream cups (Platystemon californica), California buttercups (Ranunculus californicus) and Cuyamaca meadowfoam. California mahonia is blooming along the fire road above Green Valley, as is summer snow (Gayophytum diffusum), and the western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is beginning to flower along Sunrise Highway about three miles south of Highway 79.

If you take Nine Mile Canyon Road west from Highway 395 towards Kennedy Meadows you’ll be rewarded with some nice late-season wildflower viewing. Along the roadside are lots of bush lupine in bloom (Lupinus excubitus), along with chia (Salvia columbariae), coreopsis, showy penstemon (Penstemon speciosus), globe gilia (Gilia capitata) and prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum).

And we have one last little blast from the deserts: the burned areas at higher elevations in Mojave National Preserve have burst forth in a sea of blooming apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua). Because of the advancing spring heat, expect this bloom to only last a week or two.

Northern California

The flowers are beginning to show in the Mono Basin. Among the many species in flower are desert peach (Prunus andersonii), bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), plateau gooseberry (Ribes velutinum), Douglas’ wallflower (Erisymum capitatum), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis) and mule’s ear (Wyethia mollis).

In the Owens Valley, the Alabama Hills west of Lone Pine are at absolute peak. Mohave aster (Xyloriza torifolia) is the main star of this show, joined by Fremont’s pincusionChaenactis fremontii), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), yellow tackstem (Calycoseris parryi), beavertail cacti (Opuntia basilaris), Cooper’s goldenbush (Ericameria cooperi), Wallace’s woolly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei), desert alyssum (Lepidium fremontii), Booth’s evening primrose (Camissonia boothii), desert calico (Loeseliastrum matthewsii) and desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum). A great driving tour is to take Whitney Portal Road west from the town of Lone Pine, then travel north on Movie Road. This road will link up with Moffat Ranch Road which will take to east back to Highway 395.

The flowers are still in evidence on Mt. Diablo in the East Bay Area. Look for lots of fire poppy (Papaver californicum), along with Ithuriel’s spear (Triteleia laxa), globe lily (Calochortus albus), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) and winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea).

Garrapata State Park, A little-known park near Big Sur, is worth a visit right now. Try the Rocky Ridge Trail for lots of wildflower variety. Among the species in bloom are pretty faces (Triteleia ixioides), blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), sky lupine (Lupinus nanus), fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata), winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus), fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata) and goldfields (Lasthenia californica). The park is located about ten miles south of Carmel off of Highway 1.

The wildflower season is beginning to wind down at Pinnacles National Monument, as evidenced by the emergence of the late-blooming Clarkia species. You should find Brewer’s Clarkia (Clarkia breweri), farewell to spring (Clarkia cylindrica), wine-cup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera), redspot clarkia (Clarkia speciosa) and elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata) in bloom along the Juniper Canyon and High Peaks Trails. Also seen are lace parsnip (Lomatium dasycarpum), yellow pincusion (Chaenactis glabriuscula var. lanosa), golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), Douglas’ wallflower (Erysimum capitatum), stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium), deerweed (Lotus scoparius), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), wild heliotrope (Phacelia distans) and black sage (Salvia mellifera).

Wildflower Walks and Tours

Forest Festival – San Bernardino Nationa Forest – June 10, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Lake Arrowhead Village Peninsula.

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.

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.