|
Friday, March 25,
2005
The light sprinkling of rain this past
week is good news for wildflower enthusiasts, as it should help to extend
the season by several weeks.
The
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve is still a week or two from peak form,
but it’s well worth the visit right now. Poppies (Eschscholzia californica)
are in bloom all over the preserve, along with lupine (Lupinus bicolor) and
coreopsis (Coreopsis californica). On the west side of the preserve are
massive displays of goldfields (Lasthenia californica).
Another good place to visit in the Antelope Valley right now is
Saddleback
Butte State Park, located 17 miles east of Lancaster on Avenue “J” East.
This park doesn’t get the crowds the Poppy Preserve does, but it has a nice
showing of brown-eyed evening primrose (Camissonia claviformis), coreopsis,
golden poppy and lupine. The Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) on the butte
itself are also beginning to bloom.
The hills surrounding Gorman are beginning to show color; you can see some
goldfields and coreopsis in bloom. The peak display, which is still a few
weeks away, promises to be spectacular. The
Hungry Valley
State Vehicular Recreation Area near Gorman reports linear-leafed
goldenbush (Ericameria linearifolius), fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata),
and wild parsley (Lomatium monavense) in the Wheatfield area, with
California coreopsis (Coreopsis californica) showing on south-facing slopes.
One of the best places to go right now is
Carrizo Plain National Monument. Entering from the east on Highway 58,
you’ll see massed displays of goldfields with quite a few hillside daisies.
Take Seven Mile Road west off of 58 for some stunning views of goldfields
along with fiddleneck in the vernal pools north of Soda Lake. From the
south, a good road trip would be to take Highway 166 west through Maricopa,
then turn right on Soda Lake Road. This road will take you through the
Elkhorn hills and down onto the Carrizo Plain. Along the way you’ll see
stunning fields of fiddleneck, along with goldfields and hillside daisies,
with lupines appearing further down the road.
In the Santa Monica Mountains,
Charmlee Wilderness Park is worth the visit. This park is in the
foothills near Malibu on Encinal Canyon Road. As you approach the picnic
area, take the trail to the left, along which you will see nearly fifty
species in bloom. This trail takes you to an area that burned recently,
where you’ll find fire-following species such as violet snapdragon (Maurandya
antirrhiniflora), caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria) and Parry’s
phacelia (Phacelia parryi).
A special treat right now is the Loop Trail to the ocean overlook at
Leo Carillo
State Beach north of Malibu. This area is in peak form; among the
sixty species in bloom are morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia), deerweed
(Lotus scoparius), bush sunflower (Encelia californica), sticky monkeyflower
(Mimulus aurantiacus), Parry’s phacelia and blue dicks (Dichelostemma
pulchellum).
Anacapa Island in Channel
Islands National Park has some nice color right now. Wild hyacinth (Dicholestema
capitatum), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), Parry’s larkspur
(Delphinium parryi ssp maritimum), island tree mallow (Lavatera
assurgentiflora ssp assurgentiflora), wild heliotrope (Phacelia distans) and
northern island morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia ssp macrostegia) are
all in bloom. The island tarweed (Hemizonia clementina) is in the early
stages of bloom.
In Orange County, wildflowers are popping up all over
Riley Wilderness Park . On the park’s Oak Canyon Trail are blue dicks,
blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), fiddleneck, pygmy lupine (Lupinus
bicolor), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), sticky bush monkeyflower (Mimulus
aurantiacus), mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia), popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys
nothofulvus) and wild morning glory. Along the Mule Deer Trail you’ll see
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), deerweed (Lotus scoparius),
truncated lupine (Lupinus truncatus), mariposa lily (Calochortus ssp),
scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), wild cucumber (Marah fabaceus) and
wishbone bush (Mirablis bigelovii), among many others. And the Butterfly
Garden has all these plus wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), southern
sun cups (Camissonia bistorta), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) and several
species of California lilac (Ceanothus ssp). The parks trails are typicall
closed for a few days after rain, so be sure to call ahead (949) 923-2265.
Cuyamaca
Rancho State Park in San Diego County is in the very early stages of
what will be an unusually vivid and long-lasting bloom period. Peak season
here will be April and May, but park rangers expect to have flowers all
through the summer and on into early fall. The October 2003 Cedar fire that
raced through the park, coupled with near-record rainfall this year will
produce a riotous wildflower display not often seen.
Fire is unfortunate for humans, but it is a necessary component to the
health of ecosystems in the chapparal communities of Southern Calfornia.
Seeds of some wildflowers may lay dormant for decades, then germinate by the
thousands following fire. Fire breaks down the seed coating, allowing seeds
to soak up water and germinate. Some species grow better in ash than in
soil. Also, chemicals in the foilage and leaves of some chapparat shrubs
inhibit the germination of wildflowers. Fire destroys these chemicals,
allowing the seeds to germinate.
Now showing at Cuyamaca Rancho is manzanita (Arctostaphylos ssp), henbit (Lamium
amplexicaule) in open meadows, some golden poppies at the south end of the
park, and rock cress in chapparal areas. There are good displays of baby
blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) along Highway 79 north of the lake, and in
the meadows of the park you will find checker-bloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora),
Johnny jump ups (Viola pedunculata) and Southern California buttercup.
North of Santa Barbara, a drive up Figueroa Mountain Road will treat the
visitor to wildflower shows that can only be described as phenomenal. As you
start your tour at the first cattle guard, look for white popcorn flower,
blue dicks, yellow buttercups and fiddlenecks, yellow Johnny jump-ups,
purple fiesta flowers, miner’s lettuce and hummingbird sage (Salvia
spathacea). Light pink Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) have started
blooming as well. The dark pink shooting stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum) are
beginning to decline in this area. Check out pink owl’s clover (Orthocarpus
purpurascens) around the first two sharp bends in the road: the areas to
your left are carpeted in these magnificent beauties, along with purple
miniature lupine, blue dicks and dark purple chias (Salvia columbariae).
Look for red Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis) along the rock wall to
your right. Just beyond, on the flat area to your left, you will see
fiddlenecks, popcorn flowers, Johnny jump-ups and the last of the shooting
stars. Along the canopy area are sky lupine (Lupinus nanus), in their
multi-shades of purple, popcorn flower, hummingbird sage, fiddlenecks,
Johnny jump-ups and fiesta flowers (Pholistoma auritum).
Continue up the hill for a magnificent display of vibrant orange California
poppies on the rocky hillside to your right. Sky lupine and lavendar bush
lupine (Lupinus albifrons) are becoming more visible as you proceed up the
mountain. Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), chias and golden yarrow (Eriophyllum
confertiflorum) are beginning to bloom as well. Goldfields are forming
fabulous groundcover in many places. Fiddlenecks, buttercups, blue dicks,
lomatium, miniature lupine, ceanothus (blue to white), cream colored star
lilies, fiddlenecks, popcorn flowers, poppies and Johnny jump-ups continue
blooming up the mountain. Note the magnificent shooting stars in the fields
to your right at mile marker 10 and beyond. Grass Mountain is a stunning
patchwork of orange poppies and purple lupine. Pink canyon wild peas are in
bloom along the rocky hillsides near Vista Point.
At Vista Point (a large gravel turnout about 11.4 miles from the bottom) the
chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora) continue to bloom, along with
shooting stars, yellow lomatium, buttercups and blue-eyed grass, and
goldfields. The serpentine rocks across from Vista Point support poppies,
yellow coreopsis (Coreopsis californica), buttercups, chias, blue dicks,
common phacelias (ranging from pale lilac to deep purple) and golden yarrow.
Approximately .5 mile from the Figueroa Station, right before Tunnell Ranch
Road, the golden orange wallflowers (Eryisimum capitatum) are starting their
bloom among the rocky area to your right. Shooting stars, blue dicks,
buttercups and lomatium can be seen here as well.
Another .5 mile up the road brings you to slopes carpeted in breathtaking
sky lupine and orange poppies. The fragrance of the lupine is overwhelming.
Bush lupine is in full bloom here and the phacelias continue their show
also.
Chias are in bloom on the rocky hillsides just before the Davy Brown
Trailhead. Shooting stars continue to brighten the fields with their
fabulous colors. Baby blue eyes can still be seen at Ranger Peak, along with
fiddlenecks and fiesta flowers. Bush poppies (Dendromecon rigida) and bush
lupine are still blooming near Cachuma Saddle. Purple nightshades (Solanum
parishii) and Indian paintbrush are becoming more and more visible in a few
places in this area.
Popcorn flowers, poppies, bush poppies and fiddlenecks are present along
Sunset Valley Road. The bush poppies and deep pink prickly phlox (Leptodactylon
californicum) are visible along the south-facing hillsides. As you approach
the Lower Manzana Trailhead and Nira, look for baby blue eyes on the
hillsides to your left.
The deserts continue to please.
Death Valley is still
in peak, with seas of desert gold Eschscholzia glyptosperma) in the Ashford
Mills area. The drive along Highway 178 from Shoshone to Furnace Creek is a
real treat, with lots of notch-leaf phacelia (Phacelia crenulata) and
scattered clumps of Canturbury Bells (Phacelia campanularia), yellow cups (Camissonia
brevipes) and Mojave aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia). In the north parts of the
park desert gold is beginning to show between Furnace Creek and Stovepipe
Wells.
Joshua Tree National Park
will be at its peak this weekend. Virtually the entire park is covered in
green, yellow, white, purple and red. Near the south boundary are beavertail
cactus (Opuntia basilaris), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), Canturbury bells,
chia, Bigelow’s monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii), ocotillo (Fouquieria
splendens), Fremont’s pincusion (Chaenactis fremontii) and whispering bells
(Emmananthe peduliflora). From the north entrance to Pinto Basin road are
dozens of species, including brittlebush (Encelia californica), brown-eyed
evening primrose (Camissonia claviflormis), desert alyssum (Lepidium
fremontii), desert lavendar (Hyptis amoryi), desert lily (Hesperocallis
undulata), sand blazing star (Mentzelia pectinata) and Spanish needle (Plafoxia
arida).
A little-known spot worth visiting is the
Desert Lily Sanctuary. Take Interstate 10 east to Desert Center, then
drive north on Highway 177 (Rice Road) to the signed entrance to the
sanctuary. You have to walk about a half mile into the sanctuary to find the
really good displays.
Much of Anza
Borrego Desert State Park is now past its peak, but there are still some
nice displays, particularly along Henderson Canyon Road and in the Pegleg
area of Road S22. In these areas you’ll see dune evening primrose (Oenothera
deltoides), sand verbena (Abronia villosa), lupine and desert sunflower (Garaea
canescens). In much of the park the ocotillo are now at peak bloom.
The Kern River Valley is awash in color. You’ll find phacelia in the canyons
along Sierra Way, and nice splashes of goldfields along Highway 178 between
South Lake and Mountain Mesa. The southwest edge of Mountain Mesa has vast
fields of pygmy lupine and owl’s clover.
At the Lokern Preserve, near the intersection of Highways 33 and 58, are the
rare Kern Mallow (Eramalche parryi ssp kernensis), along with cheeseweed (Malva
parviflora), alkasink goldfields (Lasthenia ferrisiae) and white layia (Layia
glandulosa).
Northern California
At Pinnacles National
Monument, the wildflower showing is now in high gear. The best
places to view them continue to be the Balconies Cliffs Trail and in the
High Peaks area. Among the dozens of species in bloom are baby blue eyes,
black sage (Salvia mellifera), blue fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), bush
lupine, Calfornia saxifrage (Saxifraga californica), Chinese houses (Collinsia
heterophylla), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), Indian warrior (Pedicularis
densiflora), Parry’s larkspur (Delphinium parryi ssp parryi), tomcat clover
(Trifolium willdenovii) and woodland star (Lithophragma affine).
At the
Vina Plains Preserve, which is operated by the Nature Conservancy,
carpets of flowers are putting on quite a show. You can see vast fields of
tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) and goldfields, with quite a few golden
poppies mixed in. The preserve is off of Highway 99 near the border of Butte
and Tehama Counties. Table Mountain in Butte County has lots of goldfields
and lupine, with bird’s eye gilia (Gilia bicolor) and golden poppy also
present.
In the Bay Area,
Sunol
Regional Wilderness has quite a show right now. The strenuous hike up to
Cerro Este and Shell Rigde rewards the walker with lots of shooting stars,
baby blue eyes, violas, golden poppies and buttercups.
Also in the Bay Area, Henry
Coe State Park continues to shine. In the park you will find red maids (Calandrinia
ciliata), shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Indian paintbrush,
woodland shooting star, ground iris (Iris macrosiphon), miniature lupine,
purple mouse ears (Mimulus douglasii), fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (Ribes
speciosum), purple sanicle (Sanicula bipinnatifida) and spring vetch (Vicia
sativa) among the many species in flower.
This is one of the best web sites for identifying wildflowers:
http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/photos/flora
This link takes you to the California Native Plant Society:
http://www.cnps.org
|
