Friday, April 27, 2007

Our 4^th Annual Native Plant Garden tour is this weekend, April 28 and 29. The tour will feature 30 gardens across Los Angeles, including thirteen that are new to the tour this year. This is a great chance to see how native plants can work for you in your home garden. Tickets are just twenty dollars for two days of exploration. Call 818-768-1802 or visit TheodorePayne.org for more information.

Southern California Wildflower Report

The Southern Sierra Nevada is probably the best place to see wildflowers right now. A drive along Trimmer Springs Road around Pine Flat Reservoir east of Fresno is particularly pleasing. Among the many species in bloom are golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), pretty faces (Triteleia ixioides), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) and bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons). If you drive to the end of the pavement, cross over the river and continue on the dirt road up the canyon you are rewarded with outstanding displays of bush lupine in full bloom.

The lower reaches of the San Joaquin River are also in fine form right now. Try the Horseshoe Bend Trail off of Madera County Road 225 for dense stands of purple owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta) along with fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), woodland star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) and madia in bloom.

The flowers on Figueroa Mountain north of Santa Barbara have begun to go to seed, but higher elevation areas on the mountain are still worth visiting. Between the Ranger Station and Tunnell Ranch Road are lots of sky lupine (Lupinus nanus), buttercup and chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora) along with some outstanding displays of Douglas’ wallflower (Erysimum capitatum).

Past Catway the golden poppy bloom (Eschscholzia californica) is still good, as are the bush lupines (Lupinus albifrons) with their intoxicating aroma. From Ranger Peak on to Cachuma Saddle look for more bush lupine along with bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), golden poppy, Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) and scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius). To reach Figueroa Mountain, take Highway 154 east from Highway 101 to the town of Los Olivos and proceed north on Figueroa Mountain Road.

Gregg’s ceanothus (Ceanothus gregii), with its pale white flowers, is widespread in the north end of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and is beginning to bloom in the rest of the park as well. In the south greenbark ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus) has begun to flower – as has happened in the Santa Monica Mountains, it looks like a banner year for the wild lilac bloom here as well. In meadows in and around the park there are nice exhibits of tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), cream cups (Platystemon californicus), Southern California buttercup and Johnny jump-ups (Viola pedunculata), while in the same areas such species as Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), bird’s nest thistle, popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) and blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum) have just begun to bloom. Light woody areas of the park have lots of Douglas wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) and summer snow (Gayophytum diffusum) in flower, while the western redbuds (Cercis occidentalis) are still blooming along Sunrise Highway about three miles south of Highway 79.

The trail to Las Virgines Reservoir in Triunfo Creek Park in the Santa Monica Mountains is the best place in Southern California to spy the endangered Lyon’s pygmydaisy (Pentachaeta lyonii), along with golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), wild cucumber (Marah fabaceus), wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), Johnny jump-up (Viola pedunculatum), pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum) and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus). To reach the park exit the 101 Freeway at Lindero Canyon Road and proceed south to Triunfo Canyon Road.

Also in the Santa Monicas, the Backbone trail from the Sandstone Peaks trailhead yields a tremendous variety of species in bloom. You won’t find vast carpets of flowers, but the persistent hiker should find specimins of almost 70 species flowering, including star lily (Zigadenus fremontii), fuchsia flowering gooseberry (Ribes speciosum), wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia), Parry’s phacelia (Phacelia parryi), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons) and prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum).

There are lots of flowers to see at the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. Among the many species in bloom are black sage (Salvia mellifera), Gregg’s sage (Salvia gregii) and Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha). Other natives in flower are canterbury bells (Phacelia campanularia), Douglas’ iris (Iris douglasiana), fuchsia flowering gooseberry (Ribes speciosum), Channel Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) and western redbud (Cercis occidentalis). The Nature Center is located on Spring Street just west of Interstate 605 and a private area of the park is featured in our annual garden tour.

Northern California Wildflower Report

Mt. Diablo State Park just east of the Bay Area has begun to round into form. We have a report from Robert Hall out of San Francisco that a walk from Mitchell Canyon to Deer Flats is particularly pleasing. Look for lots of Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), woodland star (Dodecatheon hendersonii), chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), bush sunflower, California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), pygmy lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Ithuriel’s spear (Triteleia laxa), blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) in bloom. In smaller numbers are examples of Fremont’s star lily (Zigadenus fremontii), winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), wind poppy (Stylomecon heterophylla), scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia) and the endemic Mt. Diablo globe lily (Calochortus pulchellus). There are a few baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziessi), hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum grande), fiddleneck (Amsinechia tessellata) and Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) blooming as well.

Mt. Diablo encompasses almost 20,000 acres and its peak is famous for its views: on a clear day one can see east past the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands far out to see and far to the north to the peak of Mt. Lassen. Just as noteworthy is the park’s flora. Within its confines are California’s northernmost stands of coulter pine (Pinus coulteri), just one of the more than 400 plant species (many of them endemic to Mt. Diablo) found here.

In the Eastern Sierra, the flowers in Mono Basin have just begun to show. At this time are some buffalo berry (Shepherdia argentea) and plateau gooseberry (Ribes velutinum), while we can expect to see Douglas’ wallflowers (Erysimum capitatum) Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis) and desert peach (Prunus andersonii) in bloom soon.

The flowers seem to be fading at Pt. Reyes National Seashore, but you can still find some golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), pussy ears (Calochortus tolmiei), Johnny jump-up (Viola pedunculata), bleeding hearts (Dicentra formosa) and Oregon coltsfoot (Maianthemum dilatatum) in flower.

This hasn’t been the best year on record for Henry Coe State Park wildflower viewing, but the park is still green and sports an amazing variety of natives in flower – just not the vast carpets we sometimes see. Among the dozens of species in bloom look for climbing morning glory (Calystegia prupurata), valley tassels (Castilleja attenuata), virgin’s bower (Clematis lasthiantha), bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothufulvus), buchbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), false baby stars (Linanthus androsaceus), true baby stars (Linanthus bicolor), tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) and Fremont’s star lily (Zigadenus fremontii).

This will be the last wildflower report this year. In most years, we run our hotline through the end of May. Unfortunatly, the record low in rainfall this year has resulted in an unusually short wildflower season. Some places to try in the next few weeks in Southern California include higher elevation areas in the local mountains, particularly recently burned areas of the San Bernardino Mountains, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (which received some snow last week that should prolong the bloom period), and the Southern Sierra Nevada, which should continue to have some decent color for at least three more weeks. In Northern California the Sierra Foothills should continue to be nice for the next few weeks, the Sierra high-country (which will show color beginning in late June) should be good this year, and the east Mono Basin often is pleasing on into May and June. Be sure to join us again next March when we bring you our 27^th annual Wildflower Hotline and Web Report.

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. Tickets are $20.00 for two days of exploration.

The National Forest Service has developed a great wildflower viewing resource they call Celebrating Wildflowers http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/pacificsouthwest/index.shtml . Follow the link for tons of information on wildflower viewing areas throughout California.

The various chapters of the California Native Plant Society http://www.cnps.org sponsor several wildflower walks and shows during the spring season. Check your local chapter website for a schedule of activities.

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.

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.