Friday, April 6, 2007

Come join us at the Foundation on Saturday April 7 for our Annual Poppy Day Celebration. Enjoy classes, demonstrations and a native plant sale. To celebrate the day we will be featuring many exhibits in the Theodore Payne Art Gallery, including a spectacular panorama landscape by noted photographer Richard Dickey. Call 818-768-1802 or visit TheodorePayne.org for more information.

The weekend of April 28 and 29 brings us to our 4^th Annual Native Plant Garden Tour. The tour features thirty gardens in and around Los Angeles, including thirteen new to the tour this year. Some highlights include two areas of the Ballona Wetlands in Playa del Rey, a private area of the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach, and Tillman Berm in Van Nuys.

You’ll be guided by knowledgeable docents who will be happy to teach you the myriad ways native plants can be used in any garden situation. Even if you don’t have acres of land to devote to a native plant garden there are plenty of elements to be found that can be used in even the smallest spaces. Admission is $20.00 per person for two days of exploration. Call (818) 768-1802 for further information.

Southern California Wildflower Report

2007 will go down in history as the worst year for Southern California rainfall since they began keeping records. Surprisingly, however, there are still several locations where our hardy native wildflowers, perennials and shrubs have persevered to provide a colorful show for us.

The wildflowers are at peak in the Santa Monica Mountains right now. Try Point Mugu State Park for a chance to look at giant coreopsis (Coreopsis giganteum) in full bloom along the La Jolla Canyon Trail. Also in evidence is a profuse bloom of blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum) and Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), with scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Parry’s phacelia (Phacelia parryi), greenbark ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), coast wallflower (Erysimum ammophilum) and deerweed (Lotus scoparius) among the many other species in flower.

The ceanothus bloom on the Circle X Ranch continues to please. A walk on the Sandstone Trail rewards the flower enthusiast with excellent views of the beautiful blue hairy-leaf ceanothus (Ceanothus oliganthus), with the whitish-blue hoary-leaf ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius) more in evidence further up the slope. Also in bloom in this area are prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum), deerweed and Eastwood manzanita (Arctostaphyulos glandulosa).

The Mishe Mokwa Loop Trail at the Circle X is another good choice for a chance to see three of our California lilacs, or ceanothus, in bloom; big-pod, hoary-leaf and hairy-leaf are all flowering. This year is probably providing the best local ceanothus bloom in at least the last five.

Golden poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are in flower everywhere at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, along with Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) and pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor). The real show-stoppers at the garden, however, are probably the several cultivars of ceanothus in profuse bloom. This is a great time to see how this quintessential California native has been bred by botanists for native plant enthusiasts to use in their home gardens. A couple other native cultivars of note flowering here are a fire-red desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) and a beautiful patch of pink alumroots (Heuchera). Rancho Santa Ana is located in Claremont off of Foothill Blvd., just east of Indian Hill.

El Dorado Park in Long Beach is another local spot to see lots of natives in flower. Along the park’s trails expect to find sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), mule fat (Baccharis glutinosa), Douglas iris, golden poppy, pygmy lupine, western redbud (Cercis occidentalis), wolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), Channel Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii) and flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) among the dozens of species in bloom. The park is located on Spring Street just west of Interstate 605.

I’m afraid not much is going to happen this year at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. Just a handful of poppies are in bloom, but some pygmy lupine is flowering on the north side of the reserve. The few flowers in evidence are going to seed fast.

The Keyesville area near Lake Isabella has a nice display of goldfields (Lasthenia californica), along with sporadic specimins of baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), bird’s eye gilia (Gilia bicolor) and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) along the highway.

The short flower season at Joshua Tree National Park is almost over, but you should still be able to find scattered patches of desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata), desert lavender (Hyptis amoryi) and bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) in flower along with blooming ocotillo Fouquieria splendens) and creosote bushes (Larrea tridentata). The park’s Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) are enjoying a nice bloom this year as well.

Figueroa Mountain north of Santa Barbara continues to be the best spot in Southern California for flowering natives. Indeed, the wildflowers are blooming everywhere you look. Many of the flowers are early and because of the lack of rain and warm weather, the season may be short lived. We strongly recommend that, if you are interested in viewing all of these beautiful blooms, do so within the next month because we do not believe they will last long.

We begin our tour at the bottom of the hill, just as we go across the cattle guard. Most of the flowers, as we start up the hill, are still in bloom. On the hillside to your left, beautiful purple fiesta flowers are in bloom. Other flowers seen in this stretch include buttercups, popcorn flowers, hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), blue dicks, milkmaids (Cardamine californica), lupine, fiddlenecks (Amsineckia tessellata), miners’ lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Chinese houses (Collinsia heteryphylla) and golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) are in bloom. Around the second bend, owls’ clover (Castilleja exserta) is beginning to appear along that left hand curve. In addition to the previously mentioned flowers, Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis) continues to bloom on the rocky area to the right as are Johnny jump-ups (Viola pedunculata) and a plethora of blue dicks. Less than 1/8^th of a mile further, the field of shooting stars is going to seed quite rapidly, however, popcorn flower and miners’ lettuce continue to bloom in this flat area.

As you approach the canopy area, look at the hillside on your left, where sky lupine (Lupinus nanus) and blue dicks are filling this hillside in purple. While going through the canopy, you will again find fiesta flowers, fiddlenecks, blue dicks, lupine, Johnny jump-ups, cream cups, milkmaids, buttercups, popcorn flowers and phacelias.

As you continue up the mountain, the Ceanothus is still covered in its’ beautiful white blooms. The Ceanothus continues to bloom throughout the entire mountain. Goldfields and California poppies are in bloom throughout the mountain, with carpets of yellow and orange covering sections of the mountain.

Along the serpentine hillside on the right, you will see the beautiful pink prickly phlox in bloom. Dudleyas can also be seen along these rocky hillsides. Just beyond the serpentine, beautiful shiny yellow buttercups are in blooming throughout the hillside. Across from this hillside, on a downhill slope, buttercups, fiddlenecks and scarlet pimpernel are in bloom. As you near the 9.0 mile marker, on the left is a large patch of goldfields, giving the appearance of a yellow carpet on the slope. In the field, also on the left, just past this goldfield covered slope, one can find chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora) and wild onions; however, you must walk to see them.

Just past the 9.26 mile marker on the field on the right you will find beautiful orange wall flowers along with shooting stars. About ½ mile further, look for beautiful mariposa lilies. As you continue to climb, look on the rock formations for more poppies, shooting stars blue dicks and buttercups.

At Vista Point, the beautiful brown bell shapes of the chocolate lilies are still in bloom through out this area. Be careful not to step on them.. Shooting stars, lomatium and patches of goldfields are in bloom as well. Across the road from Vista Point you will find poppies, blue dicks, goldfields, golden yarrow and coreopsis.

As you pass the Ranger Station, shooting stars and sky lupine are visible along the road. On the rocky hillside, right before Tunnell Ranch Road, buttercups, wallflowers, wild onions and chocolate lilies continue to bloom. The beautiful orange wallflowers are really impressive in this section.

Continuing just past Catway, the hillside with the lupine and poppies is rapidly changing. The lupine is going to seed in this section, but the poppies are still in full bloom, therefore, instead of purple and gold, it is mostly gold.. However, the bush lupine are in bloom along this corridor and their aroma is breath taking. One can also see phacelias in bloom in this area.

While this gorgeous display is taming down in this area, similar displays are visible as one goes up Lookout Road. The lupine and poppies can be seen blanketing hillsides and slopes as you drive up towards Pino Alto Day Use Area. While this display has not quite made it to the top, along the Cumbre Road portion, it probably will by the next week or two. Don’t forget your cameras. Lookout Road is simply beautiful at this time. While traveling on Lookout Road, remember that this is a narrow dirt road, so please, drive slowly, courteously and stay on your side of the road. Look for turnouts as you drive and be prepared to back up into one of these turnouts when the road is to narrow for two vehicles to pass.

As you continue onto Figueroa Mountain Road, California poppies, lupine, bush lupine, phacelias, blue dicks, popcorn flower, fiddlenecks, golden yarrow and goldfields are in bloom. While many shooting stars are still in bloom, most of them are going to seed.

About, ½ mile past the Davy Brown Trailhead, on the left is a field that is covered in goldfields. A little bit further up the road, is a pipe fence area on the left that is covered in goldfields. Among the goldfields, red maids are in bloom as well. If one walks into that field, chocolate lilies and wild onions can be found. Down from this area, right before the first curve, chocolate lilies can be seen on the right.

Just past the gate, before starting up Ranger Peak, baby blue eyes are in bloom on the right hand slope. Fiddlenecks, California poppies and popcorn flowers can also be seen on Ranger Peak.

As one travels from Ranger Peak to Cachuma Saddle, bush poppies are in bloom as well as bush lupine. Look for purple nightshades, California poppies, golden yarrow, popcorn flower, Indian paintbrush and scarlet buglers.

Along Sunset Valley Road, beautiful bush poppies and prickly phlox continue to bloom along the road as well as on the rocky hillsides, making these hillsides vibrant with their yellow and bright pink colors. Other flowers to look for along Sunset Valley include yellow California poppies, lupine, milk thistle, fiddlenecks, golden yarrow, elderberry, mustard, blue dicks, popcorn flowers, chias, purple nightshade, wild morning glories and phacelias.

On Happy Canyon Road, as you go down the hill, look for blue dicks, golden yarrow, bush poppies, yellow California poppies, wild peas in both pink and yellow, spiny lupine, fiddlenecks, clematis, and bush lupine. As you go across the creek crossing, before getting to Cachuma Campground, the area on your right will be filled with fiesta flowers. Fiesta flowers enjoy shade, so look at all the shaded places as you go through the Cachuma Campground area to find these beauties. Also, look for pink wild peas, purple nightshades, blue dicks and fiddlenecks.

Just past Cachuma Campground, look at the rocky slopes on the right side to find about three different colors of Indian paintbrush, ranging from deep red to orange. As you continue down Happy Canyon, look for mariposa lilies on the fields to the right and for seep spring monkey flowers as one approaches the lush green spring section on the right, about ½ before the Chicken Springs Shooting area. Past the Chicken Springs Shooting area, some of the cactus is in bloom. As you continue down the hill, look for clematis, blue dicks, Johnny jump-ups, shooting stars, fiesta flowers, buttercups, wild peas, morning glories, elderberry purple nightshade, prickly phlox, Indian Paintbrush, California poppies, mustard, lupine, lomatium fiddlenecks, golden yarrow and chias. As you can see, from the last update Happy Canyon and Sunset Valley came to life with the beautiful colors of spring.

Northern California

The wildflowers and shrubs have exploded in color at Pinnacles National Monument south of Hollister. The best hike right now is probably the Juniper Canyon Trail. Among the many flowers on display you’ll find golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), Douglas’ wallflowers (Erysimum capitatum), Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), wild cucumber (Marah fabaceus), common phacelia (Phacelia distans), blue fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), white fiesta flower (Pholistoma membanaceum), chia (Salvia columbariae), blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), Fremont’s star lily (Zigadenus fremontii), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Parry'’ larkspur (Delphinium parryi) and buck brush (Ceanothus cuneatus).

A walk along the monument’s Balconies Cliffs Trail yields views of Douglas wallflower, wild cucumber, both blue and white fiesta flower, blue dicks, bush poppy, golden poppy, buck brush and California buttercup (Ranunculus californica). The High Peaks Trail is quite pleasing as well, with lots of goldfields, wild cucumber, common phacelia, Fremont’s star lily, golden poppy and buck brush in bloom.

Although Henry Coe State Park didn’t receive its normal rainfall this year the park continues to please with an astounding variety of wildflowers. Along the park’s trails expect to see such varied species as Johnny jump-ups (Viola pedunculata), winter vetch (Vicia villosa ssp. varia), Douglas’ violet (Viola douglasii), silver puffs (Uropappus lindleyi), tomcat clover (trifolium willdenovii), purple sand spurry (Spergularia rubra), black nightshade (solanum nigrum), California saxifrage (Saxifraga californica), white baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii ssp. atomaria), Fremont’s star lily, chia, California buttercup, popcorn flower and blue fiesta flower.

The flowers at Pt. Reyes National Seashore are at peak right now. The best spot to see them is at Chimney Rock, where, among the many species in bloom you can see goldfields, blue flax, suncups, scarlet pimpernel, sky lupine, pygmy lupine, Douglas’ iris, bush lupine, golden poppy and tidy tips.

The drive up Highway 140 towards Yosemite National Park isn’t quite as pleasing this week, as the western redbud bloom (Cercis occidentalis) is now past peak. However, there are still outstanding fields of golden poppy to be found along the Hite’s Cove trail.

Nature Festivals and Wildflower Walks

The Theodore Payne Foundation http://www.theodorepayne.org/Tour/tour.html presents its 4^th Annual Native Plant Garden Tour on April 28 and 29. Visit 30 native plant gardens in the Los Angeles area.

The Kern River Valley Spring Festival http://kern.audubon.org/bioregion.htm will be held on April 26 through April 30. Follow the link for more information.

Adventure With a Ranger at Leo Carillo State Park every Sunday at 9:00 A.M. Call 805-488-1827 for more information.

Adventure With a Ranger at Pt. Mugu State Park every Saturday at 10:00 A.M. Call 805-488-1827 for information.

Wildflower Show http://www.rsabg.org/component/option,com_extcalendar/Itemid,62/extmode,view/extid,149 at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Sunday April 8.

Figueroa Wildflower Tour, April 14 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Call 805-925-9538 for more information or Email Helen Tarbet at htarbet@fs.fed.us.

Traditional Uses of Native Plants, Los Padres National Forest, April 21 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Call 805-925-9538 for more information or Email Helen Tarbet at htarbet@fs.fed.us.

Pozo Wildflower Tour, Los Padres National Forest, May 12 from 9:30 to 2:00 P.M. Call 805-925-9538 for more information or Email Helen Tarbet at htarbet@fs.fed.us.