|
Poppy Day!
Join us Saturday, April 17th from 8:30 A.M to 4:00 P.M for our Poppy Day
Celebration. We’ll have an Open House and a Plant Sale, and it’s a great
opportunity to come see our beautiful grounds. Lots of wildflowers are in
bloom – plan to spend the day with us!
Overview
As the season progresses the local mountains continue to show a beautiful
display of shrubs, annuals and perennials and high desert areas are in
full color, while the bloom period in most low desert areas is past. This
is also a great time to visit areas burned by the horrible wildfires last
fall. Many of these areas are again proving nature’s amazing ability to
regenerate and recover from fire.
Los Angeles
In the San Gabriel Mountains, California lilacs (Ceanothus ssp.) and
manzanita (Arctostaphylos ssp.) species continue with one of the more
spectacular blooms in recent memory. From 4000 feet in elevation to about
6000 feet along almost any road you can see the lilacs blanketing the
hillsides. Also in bloom at these elevations are mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus
betuloides), Spanish broom (Spartium junceum), sugarbush (Rhus ovata), and
yerba santa. At lower elevations (from 2000 to 3000 feet) you can find
more yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum), mule fat (Baccharis
salisifolia) and Indian paintbrush, wild cucumber, black sage (Salvia
mellifera), bush poppy (Dendremecon rigida), Mexican elderberry (Sambucus
mexicana) and arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus).
Charmlee Wilderness Park off Encinal Canyon road in the Santa Monica
Mountains near Malibu is reporting dozens of species in bloom. Here you
can see dove lupine (or pygmy lupine-Lupinus bicolor), Chinese houses (Collinsia
heteroyphylla), Catalina mariposa lily (Calochortus catalinae), cobwebby
thistle (Circium occidentale), golden poppies (Eschscholzia californica),
miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), prickly phlox (Leptodactylon
californicum), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), deerweed (Lotus
scoparius), coastal lotus (Lotus formosissimus), bush lupine (Lupinus
albifrons), phacelia, owl’s clover, wild hyacinth (or blue dicks –
Dichelostema capitatum), Parry’s phacelia (Phacelia parryi), greenbark
ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus), purple nightshade (Solanum parishii),
wishbone bush (Mirablis bigelovii), popcorn flower (plagiobothrys
nothofulvus), canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides), California
everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum), two-tone everlasting, common
fiddleneck (Amsineckia tesesellata) and sugar bush (Rhus ovata). For
information call 310-457-7247.
A hike into Zuma Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains yields views of
two-tone everlasting, blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Indian
paintbrush, deerweed (Lotus scoparius), fuchsia-flowered gooseberries (Ribes
speciosum) and canyon sunflowers.
The Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve and the Gorman area are still somewhat
disappointing. In the Hungry Valley area you will find some goldfields (Lasthenia
californica) and fiddleneck but little else.
San Diego County
In San Diego County, now is a great time to witness the effects of last
fall’s disastrous fires on the landscape as well as nature’s amazing
ability to recover. Many California plant communities are closely
associated with fire. As horrible as the fires were, some species require
fire for propagation. Many species of manzanita (Arctostaphylos ssp.) and
California lilac (Ceanothus ssp.) have thick seed coatings that must be
scarified by heat from fire or are germinated by chemicals in the charcoal
left after a fire. Many plants that are burned re-sprout from an
underground burl or root-crown -- chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum),
chaparral honeysuckle (Lonicera interrupta), and many species of manzanita
regenerate this way. Still other species have extensive rhizome systems
that re-sprout after fire.
Some species will only germinate after fire. These “fire annuals” or “fire
followers” leave seeds that may lie dormant for fifty years or longer.
Fire poppy (Papaver californicum) is an example of a fire annual. Fire
poppies germinate profusely after a fire and may thrive on the burn site
for a number of years. Eventually, more dominate species will drive them
out, but seeds from their blossoms remain buried in the soil, awaiting the
next fire cycle.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is still
closed due to the fires, but many wildflowers can still be enjoyed as you
drive through the area. In the meadows north of the park near Sunrise
Highway henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), Johnny jump-ups (Viola pedunculata),
baby blue-eyes, phacelia, caraway leaf gilia (Gilia caruifolia) and
goldfields are massed in large displays. Also present are checkerbloom,
Southern California buttercup, miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), bajada
lupine (Lupinus concinnus), and large fields of cream cups (Platystemon
californicus), common blennosperma (Blenosperma nanum) and popcorn flower.
The tidy-tips (Layia platyglossa) and false baby stars are just showing
and should be spectacular. Near the lake you can find lots of western
peony (Paeonia brownii), some false lupine (Thermopsis macrophylla) and
some Gregg’s ceanothus (or desert ceanothus – Ceanothus gregii). Please be
careful in the meadows; many endangered plant species are present here.
The Wilderness Gardens Preserve in north San Diego County is a
little-known wildflower paradise. Here you can see baby blue-eyes (Nemophilia
menziesii), black sage (Salvia mellifera), blue dicks (Dichelostemma
pulchellum), bush lupine (Lupinus longiflorus), California buttercup (Ranunculus
californicus), California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum), golden
poppies (Eschscholzia californica), chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana),
coastal lotus (Lotus salsuginosus), common eucrypta )Eucrypta
chrysanthemifolia) deerweed (Lotus scoparius), dove lupine (Lupinus
bicolor), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), mule fat (Baccharis
glutinosa), nettle lupine (Lupinus hirsutissimus), chaparral yucca (Yucca
whipplei – also known as Our Lord’s Candle), scarlet monkeyflower (Mimulus
cardinalis) and white nightshade (Solanum douglasii) in bloom. To visit
the Wilderness Gardens take Interstate 15 to Highway 76, exit east and
drive 10 miles to the park. Call 760-742-1631 for information.
Agua Caliente Regional Park
in Pleasant Valley has chia, apricot mallow, sand verbena, thistle sage,
Spanish needles, creosote, chuperosa and brittlebush. The park’s cacti are
also in bloom, including hedgehog cactus (Echinocerus engelmanni), teddy
bear cholla (Opuntia bigelovii), beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris),
fish hook cactus (Mammillaria tetransistra), and barrel cactus (Echinocactus
ssp). In addition, the century plant (Agave parryii), mojave yuccs and
desert agave (Agave deserti) are flowering.
The show of annuals in
Anza
Borrego Desert State Park
is about over, but you can still find ocotillo, chuperosa, creosote and
palo verde trees in bloom. The best bets here are the cacti; barrel,
beavertail, hedgehog and fish-hook cacti are in full bloom.
Central Coast
Lots of wildflowers are blooming in Santa Barbara County. At
Lake Cachuma
Recreation Area the
greenbark ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus), or California lilac, are
exhibiting a prolific display of pale blue flowers. Along the Sweetwater
Trail you can find shooting stars, California peony (Paeonia californica),
bush monkeyflowers (Mimulus aurantiacus) and larkspur in bloom. On
Figueroa Mountain the bush lupines (Lupinus albifrons) are in bloom from
the Figueroa Mountain Service Station to Cachuma Saddle. Near the summit
of the mountain are patches of golden poppies. The hills around Ojai are
still alive with California lilacs in flower – sources say this may be the
best bloom of ceanothus in recent memory.
The
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
report dozens of species in color, including baby blue-eyes, blue-eyed
grass, golden poppy, coral bells, five spot (Nemophilia maculata), flannel
bush (Fremontodendron californicum), foothill penstemon (Penstemon
heterophyllus), giant coreopsis (Coreopsis giganteum), hummingbird sage
(Salvia spathacea), island bush snapdragon, meadowfoam (Limnanthus
douglasii) and purple sage (Salvia leucophylla). Also found here are
several species of bush monkeyflower (Mimulus ssp.), California buttercup
(Ranunculus californicus), desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), camissonia,
flowering ash and many species of manzanita (Arctostaphylos ssp.),
live-forever, penstemons, iris, and California lilacs.
Out on Santa Cruz Island in
Channel Islands National
Park,
the giant coreopsis, island lotus, goldfields, island bush poppy, island
monkeyflower, mariposa lily and island deerweed are flowering.
Orange County
Orange County wilderness parks are still reporting nice wildflower shows.
The best place to visit continues to be
Riley
Wilderness Park’s
Butterfly Garden, with bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), California buckwheat
(Eriogonum fasciculatum), coral bells, Shasta daisy, Mexican flannel bush
(Fremontodenron mexicana), Douglas’ iris (Iris douglasiana), southern sun
cups (Camissonia bistorta), lilac verbena and several species of sage all
in bloom. Also in color at the garden are bush sunflowers (Encelia
californica), several species of California lilacs, Mexican elderberry,
fuchsia-flowered gooseberry, showy penstemon (Penstemon speciosus), and
wooly blue curls (Trichostemma lanatum).
On the park’s Oak Canyon Trail you’ll see blue-eyed grass, deerweed,
curly-leafed dock (Rumex crispus), felt leaf everlasting, pearly
everlasting (Anaphalus margaritacea), horehound (Marrubium vulgare),
miniature lupine, mule fat, popcorn flower, sticky cinquefoil (Potentilla
glandulosa), and wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia).
Deserts
Joshua Tree National
Park is enjoying a
spectacular wildflower season. At the south entrance near Cottonwood
Springs you will find desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), desert
poppies (Eschscholzia glyptosperma), chia (Salvia columbariae), brown-eyed
evening primrose (Camissonia claviformis), canterbury bells (Phacelia
campanularia), ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), chuperosa (Justicia
californica) and brittlebush (Encelia californica) in bloom. The 49 Palms
Trail adds phacelia to the list, and at the west entrance the Mojave yucca
and Joshua trees are still in full bloom. Another place to visit in the
area is Pipes Canyon Road off of Highway 247, north of Yucca Valley
The season is in full swing at
Mojave National Preserve. In the area south of Baker off ZZYZX Road you can find encelia, desert
marigolds (Baileya multiradiata), desert lillies (Hesperocallis undulata),
yellow cups (Camissonia brevpipes), brown-eyed primrose, fremont’s
pincussion (Chaenactis fremontii) and desert dandelions.
In Death Valley National Park, the wildflowers are
just past peak along the valley floor, but peaking nicely between 1000 and
3,000 feet in elevation. At the southern end of the Badwater Road between
Jubilee and Salsberry Passes you can find desert dandelion, chicory, chia,
and fremont phacelia, both east and west of Salsberry Pass. Ubehebe
Crater, Scotty's Castle, Butte Valley and the southern end of Greenwater
Valley are good right now.
Northern California
Up Highway 190 about ten to fifteen miles east of Springville the lupines
are in brilliant display. In this area you'll also find madia, popcorn
flower and deer brush (Ceanothus integerrimus).
At Point Reyes
National Seashore, Douglas’ iris,
Mariposa lillies, western blue violets, coastal phacelia (Phacelia
californica), golden poppies, goldfields, checkerbloom and seaside daisies
(Erigeron glaucus) are now in bloom along the areas trails.
In Yosemite National
Park, the western redbud (Cercis
occidentalis) are still in color along the Merced River, joined by
lupines. The flowering dogwoods have just begun to bloom in Yosemite
Valley.
Henry Coe State Park flowers now blooming include
gray mule ears (Wythenia Helenioides), cream cups (Platystemon
californicus), Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), bush monkeyflower
(mimulus aurantiacus), wooly Indian paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa),
hill sun cups (Camissonia graciliflora), scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis
arvensis), royal larkspur (Delphinium variegatum), miniature lupine (Lupinus
bicolor) and arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus) and white baby blue-eyes
(Nemophilia menziesii ssp. atomaria). The recent light rains don’t seem to
have helped much, however, so the bloom could be short-lived.
A decent bloom continues at
Pinnacles National
Monument, with the best areas being the High Peaks and the Balconies Cliffs. Here
you should find bush monkeyflowers, bush poppies, buck brush (Ceanothus
cuneatus), purple nightshade, black sage, blue dicks and cream cups. Along
the North Wilderness Trail are some nice offerings of goldfields, along
with scattered golden poppies, buttercups and shooting stars.
Links
|
