Week Seven -- April 16, 2004 |
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The local mountains continue to display some nice color, but the best places to view wildflowers at this time continue to be Joshua Tree National Park and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Deserts Joshua Tree is enjoying perhaps its best wildflower spring in a decade. There are huge displays of verbena and brown-eyed evening primrose from the west entrance to Hidden Valley. Ocotillo, desert lavender and many species of cacti are in bloom throughout the park. The 49 Palms Oasis Trail offers bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), brittlebush (Encelia californica), brown-eyed evening primrose (Camissonia claviformis), canterbury bells (Phacelia campanularia), checkered fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata), chia (Salvia columbariae), desert chicory (Rafinesquina neomexicana), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), desert star (Monoptilon belliodes), wild heliotrope (Phacelia distans), Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera), rock daisy, specter phacelia (Phacelia pedicellata), narrow-leafed suncup (Camissonia refacta), notch-leafed phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), whispering bells (Emmenanthe peduliflora) and Arizona lupine (Lupinus arizonicus). It is starting to warm up, so now is the time to go. The show at Mojave National Preserve is a bit more reserved; to really find the flowers you need to get out of the car and do some exploring. In the Kelso Dunes area you can see sand verbena (Abronia villosa) and some desert lilies (Hesperocallis undulata). Around Hole-In-The-Wall the beavertail cacti (Opuntia basilaris) have begun to bloom, along with Mojave yucca, indigo bush, sage, chia and lots of desert mallow.
San Diego County Cuyamaca Rancho State Park has large displays of Cuyamaca meadowfoam, an endangered species, in meadows near the north end of the park. Wild California lilac (Ceanothus ssp.) are blooming on the hills south of park headquarters. Western peonies (Paeonia brownii) and Whipple’s yucca (Yucca whipplei) have popped up in most of the burn areas, and you can find large displays of tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), caraway-leaf gilia (Gilia caruifolia), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), false lupines (Thermopsis macrophylla), bajada lupines (Lupinus concinnus), and false baby stars in meadows near Road S-1 and Highway 79, south of park headquarters. Gregg’s ceanothus (Ceanothus gregii) is in bloom near the lake, and bush poppies Dendromecon rigida show their color along Old Highway 80 near Interstate 8. Our sources say if you look hard you might be able to spy some Arizona bitterroot and southern bitterroot. The park is still closed, but they hope to reopen portions of it by May 1. Agua Caliente Regional Park in San Diego County has desert hyacinth, desert lily (Hesperocallis undulata), chia, apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), sand verbena, thistle sage (Salvia carduacea), creosote (Larrea tridentata), chuperosa (Justicia californica) and brittlebush (Encelia californica). The park’s cacti are flowering: hedgehog cactus (Echinocerus engelmannii), teddy bear cholla (Opuntia begelovii), beavertail cactus, fish hook cactus (Mammillaria tetransistra), and barrel cactus (Echinocactus ssp.) are all showing their bright colors. In addition, the century plant (Agave parryi), mojave yuccas and desert agave (agave desertii) are in bloom.
Los Angeles Few annuals are blooming in the Santa Monica Mountains, but the perennials are still showing some color. A walk along the Rocky Oaks Loop Trail reveals some lupine, mountain dandelion (Agoseris aurantiaca), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), sticky cinquefoil (Potentilla glandulosa), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), and wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum). And the California lilacs, clematis and canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides) are all still in bloom. A good place in greater Los Angeles to see dozens of species in flower is the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens in Claremont. Here you can see profuse displays of Douglas’ Iris (Iris douglasiana), along with several species of California lilac. Golden poppies (Eschscholzia californica), carpenteria (Carpenteria californica), alumroot (Heuchera ssp.), coast sunflower, blue-eyed grass, chuperosa and beavertail cactus are also among the many species flowering. El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach continues with nice displays of wildflowers, including baby blue-eyes, bladderpod, blue-eyed grass, California buckwheat, red buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var rubescens), butterfly sage, canterbury bells, coast sunflower, Channel Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), deerweed (Lotus scoparius), flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum), Douglas’ iris, flag iris, Hooker’s evening primrose (Oenthera elata), Catalina tree mallow, lilac verbena, western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) and lots of varieties of sage (bee’s bliss, black, cleveland’s, Gregg’s and purple). Call 562-570-1745 for information.
Orange County In Orange County, Riley Wilderness Park continues to shine, with its Butterfly Garden showing California buckwheat, California lilac, coyote mint, Mexican flannelbush (Fremontodendron mexicana), Douglas’ iris, showy penstemon (Penstemon speciosus) and several species of sage. The Vista Ridge Trail has popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), purple vetch (Vicia benghalensis), sticky cinquefoil, blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), brittlebush and horehound (Marrubium vulgare), among other species. The Oak Canyon Trail features blue dicks, blue-eyed grass, common fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata), deerweed, Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), felt-leaf everlasting, pearly everlasting (Anaphalus margaritacea), bi-color lupine, horehound, purple vetch, sticky cinquefoil, and telegraph weed. The Mule Deer Trail adds California buckwheat, everlasting bicolor and owl’s clover. In Peters Canyon Regional Park you can find some blue dicks and some nice displays of bush sunflowers.
Central Coast North of Santa Barbara, Figueroa Mountain is not as impressive as in years past, but is still well worth the visit. At the bottom of Figueroa Mountain Road you can find Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), sky lupine (Lupinus nanus) and some owl’s clover (Orthocarpus purpurascens). Further up the hill there are golden poppies, golden yarrow, fiddleneck, prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum) and wild onions, while the Mariposa lilies (Calochortus ssp.) are just beginning to bloom. At Vista Point, you will see blue-eyed grass and golden yarrow, and the serpentine formation across from the point has lots of golden poppies. On the right side of the road just before Tunnel Road is a beautiful display of Douglas’ wallflowers. Fiddlenecks, blue-eyed grass and golden yarrow are also in color in this area. On the stretch between Catway Road and the Lookout, the bush lupine is in full flower. Up the hill towards the lookout the bush lupines are joined by globe gilias and golden poppies. The hillsides approaching the Cumbre Day Use Area have sky lupine and golden poppies. On the way to Cachuma Saddle are some beautiful specimens of bush lupine and bush poppies. Indian paintbrush (Castilleja exserta), scarlet bugler (Penstemon purpurascens), phacelias, golden yarrow and fiesta flower (Philistoma auritum) can also be found in this area. On Sunset Valley road you will see golden poppies, chia, scarlet buglers, bush poppies and bush lupines. On Happy Canyon Road these species are joined by blue dicks and wild peas. In shady areas across from Cachuma Campground are fiesta flowers, Chinese houses, blue dicks, prickly phlox and Indian paintbrush. Near Chicken Springs is a field of Mariposa lilies and blue dicks. The Forest Service is sponsoring wildflower tours the next two weeks: May 1 at 9:00 A.M. at the Los Prietos Ranger Station; and May 8 at 9:30 A.M. at the Pozo Ranger Station. Contact Helen Tarbet at 805-925-9538, extension 246 for more information.
Central Valley Along the upper Kern River the flannelbush are blooming beautifully. Almost every bush is covered with large yellow blossoms. Ceanothus are also blooming profusely in this area, as is brittlebush. Near Limestone Douglas’ wallflowers are enjoying a spectacular flowering period. In this area you can also find Newberry’s penstemon, California buckwheat, inflated buckwheat and nude buckwheat. Across from McNally’s Restaurant the Kern Canyon larkspur is blooming well. Beavertail cactus is flowering well throughout the Kern and Kelso Valleys, and California evening primrose lines the roadside along Kelso Valley Road. The bloom period is over on the Carrizo Plain; the hillsides have turned to shades of burnt brown.
Northern California On Highway 65 between Wheatfield and Lincoln there are emmense displays of white brodiaea, and meadowfoam lines the roadside. In the Bay Area, the Sunol Regional Wilderness is a good place to visit right now. You can see Indian paintbrush, buttercups, golden poppies, woodland stars, blue dicks and popcorn flower. Along the Eagle View Trail you should see some red maids, Chinese houses, golden poppies and lots of lupine. Pt. Reyes National Seashore continues with spectacular displays of Douglas’ Iris, along with some blue-eyed grass, lupines and Indian paintbrush. Also, the wild California lilacs (Ceanothus ssp.) are putting on a great show this year. The Chimney Rock Trail is probably the best place to see the show. Pt. Reyes is truly a national treasure. Over twenty percent of California’s native flowering plants can be found here, and forty-five percent of known North American bird species have been sighted here. It is home to several endangered plant species (some of which are flowering now) including Sonoma alopecurus (Alopecurus aequalis var. sonomensis), Sonoma spineflower (Chorizanthe valida), beach layia (Layia carnosa), Tidestron’s lupine (Lupinus tidestromii), Pt. Reyes meadowfoam (Limmanthes douglasii ssp. sulphurea) and San Francisco popcornflower (Placiobothrys reticulates var. rossianorum). In addition, more than a dozen Species of Special Concern call Pt. Reyes home. In Pacheco State Park has decent displays of goldfields as well as checkerbloom, buttercups, brodiaea and larkspur. Down Highway 152 to the valley floor the fields are mostly brown, but you will see some brodiaea and larspur here also. Pinnacles National Monument has had a very warm spring, limiting the intense displays sometimes seen, but a decent show is underway nevertheless. The Old Pinnacles Trail and the High Peaks remain the best places to view flowers. Here you will find Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), linanthus (Linanthus parviflorus), baby blue-eyes (Nemophilia menziesii), black sage (Salvia mellifera), owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), bladder parsnip (Lomatium utriculatum), blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), Parry’s larkspur (Delphinium parryi), yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus), blue fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum var. auritum), buck brush (Ceanothus cuneatus), pretty faces (Triteleia lugens), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), white lupine (Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus), woodland star (Lithophragma heterophyllum), golden poppy, chia (Salvia columbariae), cream cup (Platystemon californicus), Douglas’ wallflower (Erysimum capitatum), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), Fremont’s star lily (Zigadenus fremontii), hedge nettle (Stachys bullata) and Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa).
Links Cal Berkeley site accesses over 43,000 plant images by either scientific name or common name. http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/photos/flora CalFlora allows searches by county as well as scientific or common name. http://www.calflora.org/species/index.html http://www.calflora.net Nice site that gives Latin name meanings and their derivations. Lots of photos and explanations of botanical terms. Not to be confused with the above site. California Academy of Sciences allows searches by flower color, common or scientific names, plant family and location. http://www.calacademy.org/research/botany/wildflow
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