04-24-03 UpdateThis week’s must-see spot is the Gorman area, which is bursting with acres of blooms. The hills are splashed with purple, blue, yellow, white, and gold. There are fewer California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) than in some years, but they provide an excellent accent to the abundant lupines. There are also gobs of goldfields (Lasthenia sp.) and phacelia, along with a few late gilias. Gorman is crawling with photographers, so go in the morning or on an off day if possible. For best viewing, make sure to check weather reports for sun and mild winds.
Peak bloom is also continuing at the adjacent Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area just south of Gorman off Interstate 5. Chia (Salvia columbariae), desert goldfields (Lasthenia chrysostoma), and large stands of checker fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata) are providing the brightest color. Remember that Hungry Valley is an off-road vehicle (ORV) area, so on weekends you will face some noise and crowding.
Poppies are fading in intensity at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, although they are still abundant along 170th Street to the west of the Reserve. Highway 138 between Gorman and Lancaster also offers some very good late poppy displays. Given the recent rain and cool temperatures, the display in Gorman and along Highway 138 should last at least a week or two longer—unless high winds desiccate the flowers.
Flowers are at this year’s peak at Placerita Canyon Park and Nature Center in Newhall. The colorful petals of suncups (Camissonia bistorta and C. ignota), mustard primroses (Camissonia californica), and blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) are combining with those of the resident chaparral shrubs such as purple nightshade, chamise, black sage, and elderberry to create one of the best blooms the park has seen in many years. Visit Placerita this Saturday, April 26th, for an open house with food, kids’ activities, nature hikes, and animal shows. Check the Web site for details. Blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), also known as wild hyacinth, bloom in all shades of lilac, blue, and white. (Butterfly Garden at Riley Park) North of Santa Barbara, meanwhile, Figueroa Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest is at maximum intensity. In fact, Ranger Helen Tarbet says that 2003 has been one of the most fabulous wildflower seasons she has ever seen on the mountain. Some of the early varieties, such as prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum), shooting stars (Dodecatheon sp.) and chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora) are fading away, but the rest are still going strong. There are beautiful fields of flowers, some with sky lupine (Lupinus nanus), butter lupine (Lupinus luteolus), and California poppies, others with tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), goldfields, and popcorn flowers. Dozens of other flowers are also in abundance in the area: phacelia, fiddleneck, wallflower (Erysimum capitatum), purple nightshade (Solanum xanti), fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), mariposa lilies (Calochortus spp.), chia, globe gilia (Gilia capitata), golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), Indian paintbrush, Nuttall’s larkspur (Delphinium nuttallii), scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius), baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), and blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum). Figueroa Mountain is continuing to receive rain, which means that the flowers should last at least a couple of weeks longer.
Thanks to the recent cool-down, bloom has picked up a bit at Death Valley National Park. Although there are no spectacular wildflower carpets this year, there are plenty of desert golds (Geraea canescens) along the roadsides, and many belly flowers in the canyons that can be explored on foot. The Park recommends the following areas for flower-hunting: Dante’s View Road in the southeastern portion of the park, Scotty’s Castle Road in the northeast portion, and Greenwater Valley below South Pass. Hiker reports also indicate that wildflowers are at their peak in Echo Canyon (which requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle). Click here for the Park’s online wildflower update.
Peak bloom is past at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, but the park reports that Culp Valley Campground is like a botanic garden bursting with penstemon, Indian paintbrush, our Lord's candle (Yucca sp.), goldfields, buckwheat, and silvery balls of desert chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana) gone to seed. Roadsides in the Henderson Canyon area will treat you to suncups, sand verbena (Abronia villosa), brown-eyed primrose (Camissonia claviformis), dune evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides), and golden poppies. Drivers of four-wheel drive vehicles should head for Fish Creek, which has the widest variety of flowers reported in the park. Click here to read the Park’s online wildflower update.
Flowers have also passed their peak in the canyons near Ridgecrest, such as Short Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, and Nine Mile Canyon. However, if you hike or drive up to the higher canyon elevations, you will find new annuals emerging, such as masses of linanthus (Linanthus parryae and L. aureus) at the 4,000-foot level in Indian Wells Canyon.
In the Kernville/Lake Isabella area, the Old River Road is lined with lotuses, lilies, lotuses, saxifrage, and red and white owl’s clover. The Old River Road is a curvy two-lane road, but there are several pullouts where you can park and investigate.
In the vast Mojave National Preserve, flowers continue to appear here and there (see last week’s report for more). Ranger Ruby Newton reports that there is an abundance of Canterbury bells (Phacelia campanularia) and desert five-spot (Eremalche rotundifolium) at Kelso, and a lovely collection of fragrant desert lilies (Hesperocallis undulata) a couple of miles south of Kelso in the sandy areas off Kelso-Cima Road.
Wildflowers are starting to emerge in the higher elevations at Joshua Tree National Park. Wildflowers are not profuse in the park, so your best bet is to park and hike in to investigate close up. Rangers recommend hiking the High View Nature Trail near Black Rock and the Hidden Valley Trail near Skull Rock. The Barker Dam Trail to Keys View Overlook will treat you to desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), phacelia, and Mojave mound cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus). In the washes in the Cottonwood Springs area, look for chia (Salvia columbariae), desert star (Monoptilon bellioides), purple mat (Nama demissum), canterbury bells. Throughout the park you can find plenty of yellow provided by brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), creosote (Larrea tridentate), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), and desert senna (Senna/Cassia armata). The patch of ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) near Pinto Basin is in brilliant crimson bloom.
Now to our local Santa Monica Mountains. Botanist Barbara Collins tells us that Point Mugu State Park is experiencing a good bloom. Park in the main parking lot and take the main road down toward the beach. Once you head down the hill, look for California bush sunflower, Catalina mariposa lily (Calochortus catalinae), golden yarrow, Indian pink (Silene laciniata), hummingbird sage, blue dicks, and many others.
Ranger Linda Stamer reports that the flowers are continuing strong in the Big Bear area of the San Bernardino National Forest. On Highway 330 around 2,000-3,000 feet in elevation, look for flaming yellow carpets of brittlebush (Encelia farinose) interspersed with an occasional bright purply-pink prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum). Moving up in elevation to 3,500 to 5,000 feet, look for our lord’s candle (Yucca whipplei) sending up its lovely cream stalks, Eastwood manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa) twinkling its little pink bells, and California lilac (Ceanothus leucodermis and C. crassifolius) perfuming the air with white and lavender flower clusters. On the hillsides, see if you can distinguish the yellow cups of the elegant bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida) from the yellow clusters of invasive and much-detested Spanish Broom.
On Highway 38 near the Mill Creek Ranger Station (phone (909) 794-1123), at an elevation of 2000, look amidst the yellow carpets of nonnative mustard for great displays of lovely purple lupines, flaming red Indian paintbrush, and purple phacelia. In the pebble plains area of Big Bear Valley, a few flowers are poking their heads up, including pink Parish’s rock cress (Arabis parishii), white wild carrot (Lomatium sp.) tiny-flowered pink annual phlox (Phlox gracilis), and yellow Douglas’ violets (Viola douglassii). Some meadow flowers are also blooming at Juniper Point across from the Big Bear Ranger Station, including buttercups (Ranunculus sp.) and more Douglas’ violets.
New bloomers in this area as of late April include a lovely show of Bigelow’s coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii) at the site of the 1999 Willow fire burn. This is north of Fawnskin off Forest Service road 3N14. Also, down the back side of the mountain on Highway 18 toward Lucerne Valley, you’ll find a trio of red, purple, and yellow provided by desert paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa), several species of phacelia, and abundant linear-leaf golden bush (Ericameria linearifolia). Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) are also in creamy bloom in spots.
Now a brief report on Orange county. The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach reports a colorful mix of spring bloomers including baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), poppies, blue flax (Linum lewisii), island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), and hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea). You can reach the Center at (949) 645-8489.
There’s also a lot to see in south Orange county’s Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, reports Michael Butler. Look for the deep lilac of aptly-named splendid mariposa lily (Calochortus splendens) along Dripping Cave Trail, which also has a scattering of winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea) amidst continuing ground pinks (Linanthus dianthiflorus), golden stars (Bloomeria crocea), blue-eyed grass, blue dicks, and California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus). Catalina mariposa lily (Calochortus catalinae) can still be seen in smaller numbers on upper Meadows Trail. Osmadenia (Osmadenia tenella) is now blooming, as are many pea-flower species such as lupines, vetches, lotuses, and clovers. California rose (Rosa californica) is getting underway as well. The steep sun-facing slope running along lower Mathis Canyon Trail has masses of flowering black sage (Salvia mellifera) and California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) along with fiesta flower, sticky monkeyflower, Parry’s phacelia (Phacelia parryi), and wishbone bush (Mirabilis californica). Woolly blue curls, white sage, and showy penstemon bloom riotously in the butterfly garden at Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park in Orange county Ranger Ginny McVickar of Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park tells the Hotline that the park’s one-acre butterfly garden is in exuberant bloom (see photo). Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii), woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), and showy penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis) are particularly eye-catching now. Throughout the untended areas of the park, look for lovely displays of owl’s clover, masses of purple vetch, and blooming prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.). The two best trails in the park are Horned Toad Vista and the Mule Deer Trail.
As we reported last week, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park east of San Diego boasts a collection of blooms in all colors—baby blue eyes in pastel blue, checkerbloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora) and red maids (Calandrinia ciliata) in strong pink, Johnny jump-ups and goldfields in golden yellow, cream cups and Cuyamaca meadowfoam (Limnanthes gracilis var. parishii) in ivory white, owl’s clover in crimson, and miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) in blue and violet. Nothing new has blossomed this week, however, because of cold temperatures and intermittent snow.
Flowers have peaked for the season at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, but color is still present all over the Reserve. The Vernal Pool Trail is lit up by blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), western buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis), and thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia). Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) are producing beautiful displays along the Torino Trail and Granite Loop Trails and on Sylvan Meadows Road between the Torino Trail and the Tovashal Trail. Silver bush lupines (Lupinus excubitus var. hallii) line the west side of Via Volcano Road a bit north of the Vernal Pool Trailhead, contrasting beautifully with gobs of California poppies on Hidden Valley Road. You can reach the Reserve at (909) 677-6951. Click here for extensive information on what’s blooming at the Reserve, and click here for a full list of plants observed along the Torino Trail.
Here at the Theodore Payne Foundation, showy penstemons are blooming in all shades of pink, purple, and blue, and the giant fried-egg flowers of our Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri x trichocalyx) are simply amazing. On Wildflower Hill, sages (Salvia leucophylla and S. mellifera) and woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) are in fragrant bloom. Throughout our grounds and nursery, shrubs such as California lilac, bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), and flannel bush (Fremontodendron spp.) are mingling with annuals such as phacelia (Phacelia campanularia and P. tanacetifolia) and farewell-to-spring (Clarkia spp.).
We look forward to seeing you!
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