03-13-03 Update |
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Welcome to week two of the Wildflower Hotline. First a quick check of the Antelope Valley. The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is turning more and more orange, but poppies aren’t yet covering the hillsides—it won’t be a banner year unless more rain comes soon. Peak bloom is still forecast for later in March, rather than the usual mid-April. West of here, at Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area in Gorman, naturalists say that nothing much is blooming yet aside from goldenbushes (Ericameria linearifolia) and some bush lupines on the sunnier slopes. The area is still getting occasional freezes and won’t color up until warmer weather hits. The good news, though, is that the area got five and a half inches of rain in February, the best it’s seen in years. Now to the heart of Kern county, which continues to be in high color. Along Highway 223 east of Arvin on the Tejon Ranch property (private land), flowers are the best they’ve been in years. There are hundreds of acres of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), lupines, and fiddlenecks (Amsinckia sp.) mingling with owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), brodiaea, and red maids (Calandrinia ciliata). The flowers may last up to two more weeks if this weekend brings more moisture. There are many stunning drives in the north part of Kern County. East of Bakersfield, along Bena Road/Edison Highway just east of Tower Line Road, you’ll find a symphony in orange, white, red, and purple—hillsides of lupines, owl’s clover, white tidy tips (Layia glandulosa), California poppies, chia (Salvia columbariae), fiddlenecks, and phacelia. Just east of the spot where Bena Road intersects Highway 58, the hills are covered with the sharp orange of poppies and the burnt orange of fiddlenecks. The hillsides along Kernville Road just west of Kernville (off Sierra Way) continue to host beautiful displays of gilia and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys sp.), along with bird’s-eye gilia (Gilia tricolor), owl’s clover, blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), jewelflower (Caulanthus californicus), rock cress (Arabis sp.), and flaming red desert paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa). Another good spot is the drive along Sierra Way from Kernville toward Weldon (or vice versa). Look for caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria) covering the hillsides along with California poppies, coreopsis, and lupine. In Kelso Valley, southwest of Lake Isabella, there are delicate Kern monkeyflowers (Mimulus shevockii) and diminutive desert stars (Monoptilion bellidiforme) along with Fremont’s phacelia (Phacelia fremontii). Look for a grand display of owl’s clover at Hanning Flat, which is just off Lake Isabella’s northwest corner. As reported last week, fields of baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) and cream cups (Platystemon californicus) are adorning the road to the Lake Isabella Visitor Center off Highway 155. Short Canyon, about 30 miles east of Lake Isabella, is still spectacular, although warm temperatures are causing the season wind down fast. In addition to all the usual friends—poppies, phacelia, fiddlenecks, goldfields (Lasthenia californica), chia (Salvia columbariae), Indian paintbrush, popcorn flower, blue dicks, lupines—look for desert dandelion, brown-eyed primrose (Camissonia claviformis), Mojave sun cups (Camissonia campestris), bird’s eye gilia, jewelflower, and purple mat (Nama demissum). As you drive up Highway 14 to Short Canyon, keep an eye out for desert chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), phacelia, and desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) cloaking the hillsides. Want to know even more about Kern flowers? Click here to access several in-depth reports about Kern County wildflowers courtesy of Alison Sheehey. There is one bright spot in the low desert, which didn’t receive much rain this year. A tipster tells us that the Palm Canyon trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is absolutely coated with wildflowers. Among the most beautiful are checker fiddleneck, desert canterbury bells, desert poppy, little gold poppy, and silver cholla. (Scroll down to the end of the text to see a full list.) Another hot spot is Hagen Canyon Nature Trail in Red Rock Canyon State Park, where an underground spring is nourishing dozens of gorgeous species. Look for phacelia, blazing stars, gilias, primroses, and woolly daisies, among others. (Scroll to the bottom of this page to see a full list.) Nearer to the coast in Santa Barbara County, wildflowers continue to burst out on Figueroa Mountain, as well as in the adjacent Pozo and Colson Canyons—in short, throughout the whole northern Los Padres National Forest. They are exceptionally beautiful at Figueroa, with all shades of the color wheel: orange California poppies and fiddlenecks, purple fiesta flowers (Pholistoma auritum), blue wild hyacinth (Dichelostemma capitatum) and baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), violet-blue lupines (Lupinus excubitus, L. nanus, L. bicolor), pink prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum) and shooting stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii), crimson owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), dark maroon chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora), and bright yellow buttercups (Ranunculus californicus), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), and bush poppies (Dendromecon rigida). The first mariposa lilies (Calochortus spp.) are emerging for the season as well. At Pozo, there is also an abundance of shooting stars in different colors of pink, lavender, and purple, plus clusters of Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) on a burn area. Colson Canyon, across La Brea to Miranda Pines, has shooting stars, prickly phlox, sky and bush lupines, California and bush poppies, buttercups, popcorn flowers, purple nightshade, and owl’s clover, plus occasional California peonies (Paeonia californica) and sticky phacelia (Phacelia viscida). Figueroa Ranger and wildflower expert Helen Tarbet tells us that this season’s wildflower tours will take place on April 12th at Figueroa Mountain, on April 19th at a location to be announced in the Santa Barbara district, and on May 17 at Pozo. Plan to attend! Nearby, at the
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, spring is always spectacular. The most
eye-catching plants in bloom this week include species and cultivars of
California lilac (Ceanothus spp.), various hybrids of Iris,
monkeyflowers (Mimulus spp.), canyon sunflower (Venegasia
carpesioides), three kinds of penstemon--showy, foothill, and cardinal (Penstemon
spectabilis, P. heterophyllus, P. cardinalis), giant coreopsis (Coreopsis
gigantea), several species of phacelia (Phacelia spp.),
meadowfoam (Limnanthes douglasii), several species and cultivars of
coral bells (Heuchera sp.), large-flowered linanthus (Linanthus
floribundus), and flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum, F.
mexicanum). The sages are popping out as well, particularly
hummingbird sage, Channel island endemic Brandegee’s sage (like black
sage, but with dainty lavender flowers and grayish calyces), purple sage,
black sage, and the beautiful cultivar ‘Bees’ Bliss’ (Salvia spathacea,
S. brandegei, S. leucophylla, S. mellifera, S. leucophylla x ‘Bees’
Bliss’) The Santa Barbara chapter of the Sierra Club is sponsoring a wildflower photo hike this Saturday, March 15. Check the Web site for more. Northeast of here, in San Luis Obispo County, Carrizo Plain National Monument is also at its peak right now—go this weekend before the flowers fade. Flowers are particularly beautiful driving into the Monument along Highway 58, with tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), goldfields, and baby blue eyes making a lovely display. In the Shell Creek area, look for fiddlenecks (Amsinckia sp.) and cream cups (Platystemon californicus). The hillsides all around the Monument are in high color. As everywhere else, spring is two to three weeks early at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center in Guadalupe near Santa Maria. Chief blooming attractions on the dunes now are giant coreopsis, beach morning glory (Calystegia soldanella), twinberry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata), Hooker’s evening primrose (Oenothera elata), and a beautiful showing of dunes paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), yellow tree lupine (Lupinus arboreus), and silverweed (Potentilla anserina). This Saturday, March 15, there will be a four-mile botanist-led wildflower hike at the dunes from 10 am to 2 pm. The Dunes Center can be reached at (805) 343-2455. Closer to home in the Santa Monicas, flowers continue strong at Charmlee Wilderness Park, where beautiful clover and cinquefoil have joined many others blooms including lupines, paintbrush, monkeyflower, and mariposa lily. Things haven’t really gotten going in the San Gabriels yet. Eaton Canyon Natural Area in Pasadena/Altadena reports just a few flowers as yet: California bush sunflower (Encelia californica), some phacelia, golden currant (Ribes aureum), black sage (Salvia mellifera). They hope to have more exciting report as the season progresses. The demonstration gardens by the nature center, however, do have a nice variety of blooms including monkeyflowers (Mimulus longiflorus), Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) and a few others. In Orange County, the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Conservancy reports a whole host of wildflowers including mariposa lilies (Calochortus spp.), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja spp.), California buttercups, collar lupines (Lupinus truncatus), and the occasional checkerbloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora). The season’s final shooting stars are also waiting to be discovered. This Saturday, March 15, from 1 to 5 pm, a naturalist will lead a wildflower hike at the Conservancy. Call (949) 489-9778 for reservations. Finally, in Riverside County at the Santa Rosa Ecological Preserve, every trail now is a good one for flowers, which are in abundance all over the Reserve. Notable displays include ground pinks (Linanthus dianthiflorus), chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora), and rusty-haired popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) on the Vernal Pool Trail, bush lupines (Lupinus excubitus var. hallii) along Via Volcano Road a bit north of the Vernal Pool Trailhead, and California poppies in a beautiful display on Hidden Valley Road. There are thousands of California poppy blossoms open at once, including over 500 in just two patches along the Vernal Pool Trail. Baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii vars. integrifolia and menziesii), meanwhile, are producing their best show in years along the South Granite Loop Trail. Throughout the Preserve, keep your eyes peeled for Johnny jump-ups (Viola pedunculata). Click here for a detailed report courtesy of Tom Chester. That’s this week’s report. Check back on March 20th for our next update.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Species observed blooming in Palm Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park:
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