Friday, May 23, 2008

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

Welcome to the 26^th annual Wildflower Hotline, brought to you by the Theodore Payne Foundation, a non-profit nursery, seed source, bookstore and education center dedicated to the preservation of wildflowers and California native plants.

Last week’s hot weather took its toll, and the wildflower season is over or waning in low elevation deserts and mountains. But higher elevations and regions to the north still have plenty to offer

Hesperoyucca whipplei – or chaparral yucca – is still blooming boldly in chaparral, coastal and desert scrub locations below 2500 feet. Watch for its towering spires of large ivory-white flowers. Fremontodendron, or flannel bush, is another late-season star. This large evergreen shrub or small tree with showy yellow-orange flowers grows below 6000 feet on rocky ridges, in chaparral and oak/pine woodland.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County has western blue flax, wine-cup clarkia, purple owl’s clover and more in meadows and on grassy slopes. Southern California buttercup is starting to bloom in lakeside meadows.

The park is home to several species of Mimulus or monkey-flower. You’ll find seep-spring monkey flower in moist areas; wide-throat monkey flower in chaparral along Stonewall Creek Fire Road; and bush monkey flower in chaparral along the highway at the southern end of the park.

Blue-purple mountain blue curls, or Parish’s romero, is blooming on dry slopes in the chaparral. This small shrub has sweetly scented foliage.

Joshua Tree National Monument has some flowering cacti, plus such heat-lovers as desert senna, sacred datura and coyote melon.

Kern County is a great destination, with outstanding and varied displays, particularly at mid- and high-elevations.

Along Rancheria Road, from Bakersfield to Greenhorn Summit, look for Ithuriel’s spear, wind poppy, corn lily and others. Among the pines near Evan’s Camp, you’ll find carpets of miniature lupine.

Sawmill Road, from its junction with Rancheria to the Lake Isabella area, offers Indian paintbrush, golden yarrow, pincushion and several species of lupine, among others. Flannel bush and California buckwheat are also in bloom. Along the way, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Lake Isabella.

The Chimney Peak Byway, especially around Lamont Pass, has two species of gilia, Parry’s nolina, sand blossoms and much more. Watch for pretty displays of desert calico in washes at the bottom of the Byway on Canebrake. It’s a tiny plant with beautiful white to pale purple flowers.

Adventurous drivers will like Breckenridge Road from its junction with Caliente-Bodfish Road to Bakersfield. It twists and turns for 42 miles, with rock falls and trees on the roadway. Rewards include fiesta flower, elegant and splendid clarkias, prickly poppy and more.

The show around Gorman, off the I-5, was short and sweet. To the south, in Hungry Valley, yuccas are spectacular, and California poppies should last another week.

A good show is happening nearby. From Northbound 1-5, near the junction with Hwy. 138, exit at Quail Lake. Head south at the bottom of the exit, then take the first right going west to Copco Road. Continue southbound. The road eventually parallels the I-5 and the aqueduct. There, among others, you’ll find golden yarrow, prickly poppy, scarlet bugler, milkweed and big displays of desert globe mallow.

In the Santa Monica Mountains, spring color persists in shady and protected spots. At Circle X Ranch, along the trail from Mishe Mokwa to Split Rock, you’ll see flax-flowered linanthus, sapphire wool stars, speckled clarkia, willow-herb clarkia and more. Red-flowering Keckiella, also known as heart-leaf penstemon, scrambles over its neighbors. Blooming bulbs include Catalina mariposa lily, soap plant and dick dicks.

California and Matililja poppies are flowering near the entrance and by the pond at Pasadena’s Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Showy penstemon, western columbine, canyon sunflower and others are blooming around the Center, along with a single California buckeye tree. Black and white sages, bush sunflower, flat-topped buckwheat and others are scattered throughout the park.

Lance-leaf dudleya is flowering on shaded rocky cliffs in Placerita Canyon Nature Center, at the western of the San Gabriel Mountains. There is white California sweet cicely in deep oak woodland on the Waterfall Trail; and rose-pink Turkish rugging along the Ecology Trail.

Wildflowers have mostly gone to seed in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, with only a smattering of orange at the south end of the park.

Bush anemone, Matilija poppy, fragrant sages, and many annuals, perennials and bulbs are in full bloom at the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley. Please visit our 22-acre canyon site for a taste of unspoiled California. Take the trail up Wild Flower Hill, browse books in our library, or relax in the shady sycamore grove.

The Foundation’s Wildflower Hotline receives thousands of phone calls and website visits each week. Production and operation of our hotline costs money, and costs go up every year.

You can support our Hotline by making a contribution to the Foundation. Every dollar helps us study and preserve California’s natural habitats – and educate the public about gardening with native plants. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made through this website, by mail or by visiting our retail nursery and bookstore in Sun Valley. We’re open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 to 4:30.

Enjoy your travels, stay on designated paths and please don’t pick the flowers.

Our next report will be posted Friday, May 30^rd. It will be our last report of the season.