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Friday, April 11, 2008

Links for the areas below can be found be by using the Wildflower Site Links

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Many areas are gorgeous right now, and we offer a sampling of the best. Go quickly to your chosen destinations, as this week’s warm weather will shorten the bloom.

Our first stop is Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County, with meadow flowers and southern Lewisia around the lake and in the park’s north end. There are ceanothus and manzanita along Highway 79 south of Julian; and western redbud around Julian and Sunrise Highway.

Ocotillo, cacti, Mojave yucca and many annuals are flowering at higher elevations of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Look for them in the upper reaches of Coyote Canyon. Four-wheel drive is suggested above First Crossing.

You’ll also need four-wheel drive on Oriflamme Canyon. The reward includes Indian paintbrush, owl’s clover, poppy and prickly pear.

The west and north entrances to Joshua Tree National Park are dusted with pale yellow desert dandelion. Joshua trees are waning, but Mojave yuccas are at their peak. Roadside treats include orange desert mallow, yellow creosote, Mojave aster and desert milkweed. 

Lime-green cholla and purple hedgehog cactus are blooming fiercely along the Pinto Basin road, between the north entrance and Cottonwood. For a good view, take the short nature walk through the Cholla Cactus Gardens. Ocotillos are flowering with aromatic desert lavender in nearby Ocotillo Patch. 

Annuals are flowering at higher elevations of the Mojave National Preserve. Joshua trees and cacti are showing color, too. Try the Clark Mountain area for desert chicory, desert rock pea and prince’s plume.

The Western Mojave around Ridgecrest is a great destination for quantity and quality. Southern slopes of the Rademacher Hills are smothered in goldfields, desert dandelion, suncups and others.

Calochortus kennedyi, a native bulb with brilliant orange tulip-like blossoms, has been spotted in the El Paso Mountains, midway between Sheep Spring and the EP-15 junction. This trip requires four-wheel drive.

The Red Rooster picnic area in Red Rock State Park sports monkey flower, goldfields and more.

Though spotty, there’s still color in Death Valley National Park. Look for desert dandelion, chia and Booth’s primrose.

There’s treasure outside the park, near Death Valley Junction, along Stateline Road and the eastern end of Highway 190. Watch for masses of desert gold and golden evening primrose.

In San Luis Obispo County, lupines punctuate the view along highways 101 and 1 from Santa Maria to San Simeon, and the 101 south from San Luis Obispo to Los Olivos.

On the Carrizo Plain National Monument, there are goldfields and fiddleneck in abundance at the southern end of Soda Lake Road. Caliente Ridge has California poppy, bush lupine and golden bush.

.Though out of the way, Cottonwood Canyon, off Highway 166 near the town of New Cuyama, is absolutely amazing with hillsides and meadows of coreopsis, phacelia, lupine, poppy, cream cups and others. Go soon before they fade.

Figueroa Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest is both remote and lovely, with color-washed hillsides, mature live oak trees and narrow, precipitous roads. Drive carefully while searching for such floral gems as hummingbird sage, chocolate lily, shooting stars and baby blue eyes.

Dozens of species are flowering in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

At Paramount Ranch, you’ll find purple owl’s clover, blue dicks and collarless California poppy. Look but don’t touch the stinging lupine! Hacienda and Witches Wood trails have Johnny jump-ups, phacelia, Bajada lupine and spring vetch. Medicine Woman Trail is good for globe gilia, black sage, red maids and others.

Topanga State Park offers annuals and perennials, plus shrubby woolly blue curls with fruity-scented foliage – and fuchsia-flowered gooseberry, one of the world’s best hummingbird magnets. 

Placerita Canyon, at the eastern end of the San Gabriel Mountains, is bursting with colorful vines and trees, such as virgin’s bower, foothill ash and mountain mahogany. There’s blue larkspur along the Canyon Trail, and white snapdragon and wild peony along the Ecology Trail.

Intense winds are frustrating visitors to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve but don’t let that stop you! Expect world-famous tapestries of golden orange poppies, bright yellow goldfields, purple lupines, magenta owl’s clover and all the usual suspects. Some say it’s the best show in several years.

Surrounding parcels and roads throughout the valley are also enjoyable with large fields of poppies and handsome Joshua trees.

Do remember to stay on designated trails, and please don’t pick the flowers!  That’s it for now. Our next report will be posted Friday, April 18. Check back each week for the most current information on where to see wildflowers.