Week Ten -- May 7, 2004 |
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The record heat wave this week, along with a lack of rainfall, is combining to shorten this year’s bloom period. However, there are still lots of local areas with nice wildflower displays.
Greater Los Angeles In the Santa Monica Mountains, the Pentachaeta Trail in Lindero Canyon is a good place to visit. There is lots of California buckwheat, yarrow and chamise. On shaded north-facing slopes you will find elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), blue larkspur, penstemons and sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus). When the broad main trail ends, take the narrow trail to the right for speckled clarkia (Clarkia cylindrica), Lyon’s pygmydaisy (Pentachaeta lyonii), wooly blue curls (Trichostemma lanatum), California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum), purple nightshade (Solanum parishii) and lots of globe lilies (Calochortus albus). To reach the trail, take Lindero Canyon Road south from Highway 101; when the road ends at Triunfo, turn left -- the trailhead is on your right. This is an exposed chaparral trail; the best times to visit are either early or late in the day. A road tour of Mulholland Highway, from Cornell Road to Malibu Canyon, reveals Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) and sticky monkeyflower. Topanga State Park, (America’s largest wilderness within the confines of a major city) has wild sweet pea, bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), canyon sunflower (Venegacia carpesioides), sticky monkeyflower, wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia), fuchsia flowering gooseberry (Ribes speciosum), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), deer weed (Lotus scoparius) and both white and purple nightshade. The park also has some nice displays of orange dudleya , blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), hedge nettle (Stachys bullata) and sugar bush (Rhus ovata). The Mishe Mokawa Trail has blue dicks, wooly blue curls, golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), black sage (Salvia mellifera), chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), monkey flowers, popcorn flowers (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), purple nightshade, chia (Salvia columbariae) and wild morning glory. A wildflower walk is scheduled for May 15 at 9:00 A.M., starting at the trailhead at the Circle X Ranch. Trails in Cheeseboro Canyon feature lots of Yerba Santa (Eriodyctyon californicum) in bloom. You should also find scarlet bugler, mulefat (Baccharis salisifolia), Mexican elderberry, wild morning glory, white nightshade (Solanum douglasii), two-tone everlasting, California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatim), popcorn flower, sugar bush, star lily (Zigadenus fremontii) and Catalina Mariposa lily (Calochortus catalinae). The San Gabriel Mountains continue to exhibit some good wildflower displays. At lower elevations along Big and Little Tujunga Canyon Roads, Arroyo Seco Road and Chantry Flats Road you will find black sage, California buckwheat, Mexican elderberry, wild morning glory, Indian paintbrush, popcorn flower, prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum), sticky monkeyflower and wild cucumber still in bloom. At higher elevations we have beard’s tongue (Keckiella breviflora), wild lilac (Ceanothus ssp.), locust, Indian paintbrush and scarlet bugler. On Angeles Crest Highway you should see Indian paintbrush, mountain mahogony (Cercocarpus betuloides) and scrub oak, and the wild California lilac is still in bloom in the Redbox area. The El Dorado Nature Center on Spring Street in Long Beach still has numerous species in bloom, including bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), Hooker’s evening primrose (Oenothera elata), Mexican primrose (Oenothera speciosa), scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri), California wild rose (Rosa californica), baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), bush anemone (Carpenteria californica), butterfly sage, canterbury bells (Phacelia campanularia), Catalina cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii), Catalina tree mallow, Channel Islands bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), coast sunflower, coral bells, deerweed (Lotus scoparius), flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum), fuchsia flowered gooseberry (Ribes speciosum), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia), black sage (Salvia mellifera), Cleveland’s sage (Salvia clevelandii), autumn sage (Salvia greggii) and elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata). Finally, the Butterfly Garden in Orange County’s Riley Wilderness Park still has dozens of native species in bloom. Here you will find cudweed aster (Gnaphalium bicolor), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), bristly ox tongue (Picris echioides), California buckwheat, coreopsis, desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), pearly everlasting (Anaphalus margaritacea), mountain pennyroyal (Monardella odoratissima), showy penstemon (Penstemon speciosus), southern sun cups (Camissonia bistorta) and wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum). A hike along the park’s five miles of trails also rewards the visitor with many native California plants in flower, including prickly pear cactus (Opuntia basilaris), deerweed (Lotus scoparius), California buckwheat, brittlebush, felt-leaf everlasting, pearly everlasting, gold stars (Bloomeria crocea), bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus). To reach the park, exit Highway 241 at Oso Parkway and travel east to the park entrance. Another good place to visit in this area is the sprawling Casper Wilderness Park off of Highway 74.
San Diego County Down south, the best place to see wildflowers is still Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, portions of which are now open, and where areas burned in the horrific fires of last fall continue to make astounding progress towards recovery. Near the northeast end of the lake the downigia is in bloom. Also near the north end is Rocky Mountain blue flag (Iris missouriensis), a species naturalists thought had been destroyed by fire. In burn areas all over the park the mariposa lilies and white fairy lanterns (Calochortus albus) have returned with splendid displays. You can see desert mountain phlox (Phlox stansburyi) at the viewpoint two miles south of Julian, and Weed’s mariposa lily (Calochortus weedii) and golden bowl mariposa lily should be blooming by the time you hear this message. Off of Highway 76 ten miles east of Interstate 15 is the Wilderness Gardens, a wonderful place to view native California flora. Here you will find bush lupine (Lupinus longifolius), California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum), deer weed (Lotus scoparius), white nightshade (Solanum douglasii), wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia), common phacelia (Phacelia distans), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). Also in bloom are baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), blue dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), California buttercup (Ranumculus californicus), common eucrypta (Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia), dove lupine (Lupinus bicolor), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), nettle lupine (Lupinus hirsutissimus), scarlet monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis), canyon pea (Lathyrus laetiforus), Navajo tea (Thelesperma megapotamicum), owl’s clover (Orthocarpus purpurascent), scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), snapdragon pentstemon (Keckiella antirrhinoides), sugar bush (Rhus ovata), coast phacelia (Phacelia californica), yellow chaenactis (Chaenactis glabriuscala) and several other species in bloom. Santa Barbara-Ventura County The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden continues to have dozens of wildflowers on display. Among them are baby blue-eyes, black sage, bush monkeyflower, California buckeye, golden poppy, California lilac, desert lavender, fairy duster, flannel bush, island bush snapdragon, matilija poppy, seaside daisy and white sage. Also in bloom are blue-eyed grass, bush anemone, bush sunflower, California buttercup, canyon sunflower, coral bells, crownbeard, desert mallow, desert marigold, five spot, foothill penstemon, giant coreopsis, hummingbird sage, mojave jucca, Our Lord’s Candle, purple sage and several species of iris. Call 805-682-4726 for information or directions to the garden. Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park has golden star (Bloomeria crocea), blue dicks (Dechelostomma capitatum), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), northern island morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. macrostegia), island red buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), Parry’s larkspur (Delphinium parryi ssp. maritimum), island ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. asplenifolius), island cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii), golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum), tidy tips (Layia platyflossa) and cobwebby thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale). The Channel Islands are a great place for amateur naturalists to visit because they contain dozens of endemic species found nowhere else in the world. North of Santa Barbara, Figueroa Mountain still has some areas with decent displays. The best is probably from Range Peak to Cachuma Saddle, with bush lupine, bush poppies, sticky monkeyflower and golden yarrow. Other flowers include wild snapdragons, scarlet buglers, Indian paintbrush, wallflowers, clarkias and purple nightshade. On Sunset Valley Road you can find bush poppies, sticky monkeyflower and golden yarrow, as well as scarlet buglers, elegant clarkia, fiesta flower, clematis and Indian paintbrush.
Deserts The north side of Joshua Tree National Park is still exhibiting some decent wildflowers, with lots of pincusion, desert senna and desert marigolds, but the flowers are fading fast due to the recent heat wave. Near the town of Landers, you can see nice displays of sand verbena, desert calico and desert marigolds about three miles off of Highway 247. The drive up Highway 395 from Victorville is still worth the effort, with creosote bushes is full bloom north of the town of Johannesburg.
Northern California Pt. Reyes National Seashore continues to enjoy its best wildflower bloom in years. There are abundant displays of Douglas’ iris and coast iris (Iris longipetala). Yellow monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus) are blooming, and the yellow bush lupines (Lupinus arboreus) have burst forth with color. At Chimney Rock is a great place to visit, with goldfields, blue iris, tidy tips, brass buttons (Cotula coronopifolia) and sea thrift (Armeria maritima). At Abbots Lagoon there are lots of fiddlenecks and poppies, and the bush lupines are in color. The Tomales Point Trail is a good hike to see Douglas’ iris, golden poppies, wild radish, buttercups, tidy tips, blue-eyed grass and fiddlenecks.
The flowers at Pinnacles National Monument are fading fast in the heat, but there is still some good wildflower viewing along the High Peaks Trail, from the Condor Gulch junction to Chalone Creek. Here you will see black sage (Salvia mellifera), bladder parsnip (Lomatium utriculatum), blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), Brewer’s senecio (Senecio breweri), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), Fremont’s monkeyflower (Mimulus fremontii), fringed onion (Allim fimbriatum), gaping penstemon (Keckiella breviflora), Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), purple nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum), rock lettuce (Dudleya cymosa), tomcat clover (Trifolium willdenovii), wind poppy (Stylomecon heterophylla) and withered snapdragon (Antirrhimun multiflorum).
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 |
