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It's mid-March, and still dry in the Los Angeles area.
Flower lovers will want to head north to Kern or Santa Barbara counties for
their annual wildflower fix.
This week's best flower tip comes from Kern County, where the Sierra foothills
are offering a glorious feast of color. In Kern County on Highway 223, a few
miles past Arvin, there are spectacular fields of poppies (Eschscholzia
californica), lupines, fiddlenecks (Amsinckia intermedia), and other flowers
creating swaths of purple, orange, and white across the rolling hills.
Heading northeast to the Kern River Valley, just above Lake Isabella and
Kernville, the hillsides near the town of Riverkern are full of color, with
fields of tiny but glowing wildflowers such as owl's clover (Castilleja exserta),
popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys sp.), lotus, lupine, and phacelia.
The Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area in the Los Padres National Forest, located
in northern Santa Barbara county, is now home to a fabulous display of
wildflowers, including poppies, sky lupines (Lupinus nanus), shooting stars (Dodecatheon
clevelandii), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), milkmaids (Cardamine
californica), fiddlenecks, and buttercups (Ranunculus californicus). Rangers
warn, however, that a blizzard is likely to strike at any moment, killing the
flowers in their prime.
Staying in Santa Barbara county for a moment,
CACHUMA LAKE
RECREATION AREA reports that the Sweetwater Trail, a moderate 5-mile
roundtrip, offers such floral delights as Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora),
buttercup, and the marvelously scented hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea).
If you are heading further upstate, aim for the Hite Cove Trail in the Sierra
National Forest just west of Yosemite Valley, which has a gorgeous show of
Tufted Poppies (Eschscholzia caespitosa), Gilia, Blue Dicks, Fiddlenecks (Amsinckia
sp.), and Goldfields (Lasthenia sp.).
Back down in our local Santa Monica Mountains, flowers are best in the moister
spots. You can also get a look at the
delicate inflorescences of our native grasses (Nassella spp.) in one of the last
local areas of native grassland. In Malibu,
CHARMLEE
WILDERNESS PARK invites you to see Indian paintbrush, hummingbird
sage, popcorn flower, and deerweed (Lotus scoparius). At
FRANKLIN
CANYON PARK at the eastern end of the Santa Monicas, arroyo lupine (Lupinus
succulentus) and poppies are coming out to join the purple and white nightshade
(Solanum xanti and S. douglasii), California lilac (Ceanothus spinosus and C.
crassifolius), and primrose (Oenothera hookeri) already in bloom.
The East Canyon Trail in the
SANTA CLARITA
WOODLANDS PARK, which takes you up 1,000 feet to a view of the Santa Clarita
Valley, is lush and verdant right now and makes a wonderful hiking, biking, or
equestrian trail. Flowers, however, are still few and far between. Rangers
expect lupines and baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) to be out in a couple of
weeks. To reach the East Canyon trailhead, exit Interstate 5 at Calgrove and
loop back south on the Old Road for a mile and a half.
One of the surest bets this weekend is the
RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC
GARDEN, nestled at the base of the San Gabriel foothills in Claremont. It is
colorful all over, with many species bursting into their full bloom, including
California lilac, manzanita (Arctostaphylos of many types), redbud (Cercis
occidentalis), California poppies, and irises (Iris douglasiana and other types
as well). Make sure to check out their cultivar garden, a great spot to see new
horticultural introductions. The Garden's phone number is (909) 625-8767.
In the San Gabriel foothills further west, at
EATON CANYON
NATURAL AREA in Alta Dena, the season is just getting underway with some
lovely California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and golden currant (Ribes
aureum). The bloom is slowly climbing up the adjacent San Gabriels, with
California lilac, fragrant California bay (Umbellularia californica), and bush
poppy (Dodecatheon clevelandii) blooming up to the 3,000-foot level. It's still
too early for much colorful bloom along the canyon trails, although one tipster
tells us that the Old Mount Wilson trail is worth a hike for its brilliant
collection of hot pink Wishbone Bush (Mirabilis californica).
Moving east, the best bet at the
SANTA ROSA PLATEAU ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE in Riverside is the Vernal Pool
Trail, which boasts a well-rounded collection including goldfields, ground pinks
(Linanthus dianthiflorus), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), buttercups, and
about 20 chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora). Reach the Preserve at (909)
677-6951.
On Catalina Island, meanwhile, it has been dry and warm, but California bush
sunflower, heart-leaf penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia), wishbone bush (Mirabilis
californica), and silver bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons) are putting on a brave
show. Oak lovers will want to seek out the endemic island scrub oaks (Quercus
pacifica), which are now in full catkin. The Catalina Island Conservancy is at
(310) 510-2595.
Closer to home, Prisk Botanic Garden in Long Beach, an inspiring example of a
school garden dedicated to natives, reports a range of lovely plants in blossom
this week, including coral bells (Heuchera maxima x), tidy tips (Layia
platyglossa), giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea), arroyo lupines (Lupinus
succulentus), and poppies. Ceanothus ‘Concha’ and ‘Ray Hartman’ are particular
highlights. The garden is open this Sunday, March 17, from noon to 2 P.M. The
garden is at Prisk Elementary School, 2375 Fanwood Avenue in Long Beach. Call
562-439-6002 if you need more information.
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