Week Eleven -- May 14, 2004 -- Final Report |
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Unseasonably warm weather and a lack of sufficient spring rainfall has all but ended our local spring wildflower bloom. As a result, this will be our last report of the spring. Be sure to check with us next year when we bring you our 23rd Annual Wildflower Report. Still, there are some areas with nice color, and many local botanic gardens and parks are still exhibiting some good wildflower action. 2004 was a mixed year for California wildflowers. Many traditional wildflower viewing areas, such as the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve, Carrizo Plain National Monument and the hills surrounding Gorman recieved little or no rain during the critical winter and early spring months, leading to a decidedly poor wildflower showing. However, other areas shone this year. Experts say the bloom in Joshua Tree National Park was perhaps the best in a decade. Rancho Cuyamaca State Park showed nature’s amazing ability to recover from disaster with a wonderful wildflower display in the park’s burned areas that is still ongoing. The Coachella Valley had a wonderful (though short, unfortunately) bloom period this year, as did Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The bloom still underway in the Kern River Valley was well above average, and the ongoing displays at Pt. Reyes National Seashore are among the best ever observed in the area. Greater Los Angeles In the Santa Monica Mountains, a good place to visit right now is the underutilized Peter Strauss Ranch, off of Mulholland Drive at Troutdale Road. An easy one-mile trail winds through the ranch, and offers views of golden yarrow (Eriophyllum conferiflorum), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), purple nightshade (Solanum parishii), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum), wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) and wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia). Also in the Santa Monicas, the Pentachaeta Trail still has California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), golden yarrow and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). Further up the trail you can see speckled clarkia (Clarkia cylindrica), Lyon’s pygmydaisy (Pentachaeta lyonii), wooly blue curls, California everlasting, purple nightshade and lots of globe lilies (Calochortus albus). Debs Park in the north-east region of Los Angeles reports many plants blooming in the landscaped areas of the Audubon Center and the Native American Terraced Gardens. At the center are several species of penstemons, bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), live-forever and scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius). At the Terraced Gardens are matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri), tarweeds and sages in bloom. For wildflowers in Debs Park the best bet is the Scrub Jay Loop Trail from the center. On the left you will see Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) in bloom, along with California wild rose (Rosa Californica) and golden stars (Bloomeria crocea). Further along the trail is purple vervain. Up the fire road towards the Seco View Trail are farewell-to-spring (Clarkia amoena), deer weed (Lotus scoparius) and golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum). At the overlook of the Seco View Trail is elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata) and heart-leafed penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia). The park is located on Griffin Avenue, between Avenue 43 and Avenue 52 just east of the 110 Freeway. Stop by the center for a map of the park, or call 323-221-2255 for information. In the San Gabriel Mountains, yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum), sticky monkeyflower, prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum) and several broom species are in bloom along the Angeles Crest Highway, with lesser amounts in the Upper Big Tujunga Canyon area. Dudlyea species are in bloom in the rocks near the Chilao Fire Station. Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park in Pasadena still has a wonderful wildflower bloom underway. Here you will find black sage (Salvia mellifera), white sage (Salvia apiana), encelia, bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum). A few showy penstemons (Penstemon speciosus) are in view near the trails, and the Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) is in full bloom. Matilija poppy bushes (Romneya coulteri) are bursting with flowers and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) is also in bloom. In the natural area’s gardens you will find canyon sunflowers (Venegacia carpesioides), Cleveland’s sage (Salvia clevelandii), wooly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) and verbena. The park is at the end of North Altadena Drive in Pasadena; call 626-398-5420 for more information. The El Dorado Nature Center on Spring Street in Long Beach boasts of beggar’s tick, bird’s eye gilia (Gilia bicolor) and globe gilia (Gilia capitata), Catalina cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii), Channel Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii) , flag iris (Iris missouriensis), matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri), rockrose (Cistus creticus) and western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) in bloom. Also flowering are baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), California buckwheat, Conejo buckwheat (Eriogonum crocatum), canterbury bells (Phacelia campanularia), Douglas’ iris (Iris douglasiana), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), and several species of sage including black sage (Salvia mellifera), Cleveland’s sage (Salvia clevelandii), autumn sage (Salvia greggii) and purple sage (Salvia leucophylla). The Nature Center is a great place to spend the day; it consists of over 100 acres and features two lakes, a stream and over two miles of trails. Call 562-570-1745 for information. In Orange County, Riley Wilderness Park reports their Butterfly Garden is still blooming nicely. Here you will find bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), chaparral honeysuckle (Lonicera interrupta), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), pearly everlasting (Anaphalus margaritacea), bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), golden poppy (Eschscholzia californica), southern sun cups (Camissonia bistorta) and wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia) among the many species in flower. On the park’s Horned Toad Trail you should see cudweed aster, prickly pear cactus (Opuntia erinecea), deerweed (Lotus scoparius), gold stars (Bloomeria crocea), red monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis) and vervain verbena. A walk into the Santa Ana Mountain’s San Mateo Canyon reveals several species in bloom, including bush sunflowers, bush monkeyflowers and popcorn flowers. Because of the dry spring San Mateo Creek is dry, with just scattered pools of water, so bring plenty of drinking water if you plan to hike into the canyon. Central Valley In Kern and Tulare Counties there are still lots of wildflowers in bloom. Along Granite Road near Glennville are nice displays of golden poppies and mixed annuals. A trip along Highway 155 just west of the Alder Creek Campground turnoff yields views of golden stars, Douglas’ violet (Viola douglasii), buttercup, fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata) and popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus). In Tulare County, Cherry Hill Road on the Kern Plateau in Sequoia National Forest has wonderful displays of grape soda lupine (Lupinus excubitus ver. austromontanus) on both sides of the road. Leave the car for a total sensory experience – the scent is almost overwhelming in its sweetness.
San Diego County Cuyamaca Rancho State Park continues to shine, and probably will be in great shape for at least two more weeks. Portions of the park have re-opened; call ahead to find out current conditions. In meadows throughout the park baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), Southern California buttercup and blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) are in bloom. There are large displays of tidy tips and miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) near Road S-1, in addition to checkerbloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora), fiddleneck (Amsineckia tessellata), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), false lupine (Thermopsis macrophylla), popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), cream cups (Platystemon californicus), bajada lupine (Lupinus concinnus) and false baby stars (Linanthus androsaceus). In the south end of the park Cuyamaca larkspur, a threatened species, is just starting. In light shade along the park’s roadsides you can see ball gilia (Gilia congesta), and near the lake Rocky Mountain blue flag (Iris missouriensis) and Orcutt’s brodiaeia (Brodiaea orcuttii) are in bloom. Finally, the viewpoint two miles south of Julian has desert mountain phlox, and Dunn’s mariposa lily (Calochortus dunnii) is just starting to bloom.
Northern California The hills surrounding the Eastern Sierra’s Mono Basin have desert peach (Prunus andersonii), bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsomorhiza sagittata), Douglas’ wallflowers (Erysimum capitatum), paintbrush and plateau gooseberry (Ribes velutinum) in bloom. Spring is the best time of the year to visit Mono Lake; right now the lake has tremendous amounts of brine shrimp, drawing dozens of species of birds to the basin. The road up Tioga Pass into Yosemite is now open. The dogwoods are past their peak in Yosemite, and very little else is blooming there due to dry weather. Further south, the Owens Valley near Lake Crowley has desert peach, bitterbrush, arrowleaf balsamroot and Indian paintbrush. In Pinnacles National Monument the early bloomers are gone, but quite a few late blooming wildflowers are still evident along the park’s trails. You will find blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), black sage (Salvia mellifera), bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), bush mallow (Malacothamnus aboriginum), wild rose (Rosa californica), chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), elegan clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), Fremont’s monkeyflower (Mimulus fremontii), holly-leafed cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), mule ears (Wyethis helenioides), rock lettuce (Dudleya cymosa), wind poppy (Stylomecon heterophylla) and wooly yerba santa (Eriodictyon tomentosum). Pt. Reyes National Seashore continues to have nice displays of Douglas’ iris and coast iris (Iris longipetala). Yellow monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus) are blooming, and the yellow bush lupines (Lupinus arboreus) are in flower. Throughout the park you can see brass buttons, golden poppies, wild radish, buttercups, tidy tips, blue-eyed grass and fiddlenecks.
That’s it for this year. Thanks to everyone who calls in or who visits the website for up-to-date information on California native wildflowers. It is the caring and informed wildflower lovers all throughout the state who help provide the inspiration to those of us dedicated to preserving California’s wonderful native flora. Be sure to check with us next spring, around the first of March, when we plan to bring you our 23rd annual wildflower hotline. See you next year!
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 |
