Welcome to the 20th anniversary season of the Wildflower Hotline!

The Hotline brings you weekly updates on flowers from more than 40 sites across Southern California. Our goal is to help you come to know and appreciate the beautiful diversity of California's native plants.

May 16th Update

Welcome to the 12^th and final report of the 2002 Wildflower Hotline. As this year’s sparse wildflower season winds rapidly to a close, we turn our sights to next year—when El Niño storms may bring us a season as flower-filled as that of 1998.

 As has been the case all season, our botanic gardens are the top local spots for flowers. At the RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN in Claremont, California buckeyes (Aesculus californica) are in bloom and are particularly beautiful right now. Reach the Garden at (909) 625-8767.

 Moving east to the LIVING DESERT in Palm Desert, garden manager Dave Heveron tell us that the perennials are finishing up for the season, although the smoke trees (Dalea spinosa/Psorothamnus spinosus) are gearing up to bloom at the end of May and the beginning of June—they never disappoint, even in a dry year. The Living Desert also has other flowers dotting its grounds, including those of beavertail and barrel cactus (Opuntia sp. and Ferocactus sp.). For visitor information, call (760) 346-5694.

 Another nature center, the EL DORADO NATURE CENTER in Long Beach, continues to report a wide range of blooms including sulphur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum), California rose (Rosa californica), island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), coral bells (Heuchera x maxima), Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri), Hooker’s evening primrose (Oenothera hookeri), and many sages. They anticipate that most of these plant will continue to be in bloom for the next few weeks. You can reach the Center at (562) 570-1745.

 In Orange county, the ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER in Newport Beach says that the season is rapidly winding down for them as well, with scattered shrubs still in bloom such as island bush snapdragon (Galvezia speciosa) and white-flowered yerba mansa (Eriodictyon crassifolium). The highlight is the large stand of flowering Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri) in a large area in the front. You can reach the Environmental Nature Center at (949) 645-8489.

 In Altadena, EATON CANYON reports only a few new bloomers. The Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri) are at their peak, and showy penstemons (Pentemon spectabilis) are popping out along the marked trails. Little suncups (Camissonia sp.) are blooming faithfully as well; they are here and there and everywhere, although in small quantities. More yellow is also provided by deerweed (Lotus scoparius) and elderberry (Sambucus mexicana). A nice display is still provided by the cultivar garden around the nature center. Eaton Canyon Nature Center can be reached at (626) 398-5420. The same variety of plants—penstemon, deerweed, elderberry—is blooming here at the THEODORE PAYNE FOUNDATION in Sun Valley, directly west of Eaton Canyon. We are located at 10459 Tuxford Street and can be reached at (818) 768-1802.

 In the adjacent ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, Trail Canyon Trail has minimal flowers, although the Humboldt lilies (Lilium humboldtii) have some buds that should be unfolding in a week or two. At Lone Pine Canyon near Wrightwood, there are just a very few flowers, primarily Indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) and a few lupines and poppies. However, Ranger Gerry Reponen tells us that flowers are finally perking up between the foothills and Chilao Visitor Center. Flowers will continue to emerge for the next month or so, particularly above 3,500 feet.

 Now for the SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST. Ranger Linda Stamer tells us that on the slopes along Highway 330 heading up the mountain, bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) is still cranking out its little pink flowers, and the bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida) is still going strong as well. (Alas, there is also much nonnative, invasive Spanish broom.) The same area also boasts flaming red desert paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa) and pale yellow bush monkeyflower (Mimulus longiflorus). At the base of Highway 330 there is also a collection of brilliant yellow brittlebush (Encelia farinosa). Just above the Mill Creek Ranger Station, along Highway 38, look for a great display of Our Lord’s candle (Yucca whipplei) sending up its long creamy stalks. In addition, patches of popcorn flowers (Cryptantha sp.) can be found around Fawnskin and Big Pine Flats (at 6700 feet), while the Bigelow’s coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii) is still turning the old Willow Fire burn off Forest Service Road 3N14 a bright yellow. You can reach the Big Bear Ranger Station at (909) 866-3437.

 South of here in San Diego, TORREY PINES STATE RESERVE reports that most things are blooming reliably, just in much fewer numbers than usual. Take the Guy Fleming trail to look for poppies (Eschscholzia californica), tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), purple sand verbena (Abronia villosa), Indian pinks (Silene californica), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp.), bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), prickly pear (Opuntia basilaris), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), and suncups (Camissonia sp.), among others. You can reach the reserve at (858) 755-2063.

 As is this season’s trend, the Central and North Coast regions of California continue to provide the best wildflower shows. The flowers at Figueroa Mountain in the LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST have mostly faded for the season, although specimens are still to be found at HIGH MOUNTAIN in the Pozo Valley area across the San Luis Obispo county line. Ranger Helen Tarbet tells us that the prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum) is lasting positively forever this season. Other flowers still in abundance are white whorl lupine (Lupinus microcarpus), mariposa lilies (Calochortus sp.), and Indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp.). The Santa Lucia District’s wildflower hotline is now off for the season, but it will start up again as blooms reemerge in early 2003.

 In the VENTANA WILDERNESS of the LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST, the San Carpoforo Creek area just above San Simeon near the Monterey/San Luis Obispo county line has abundant quantities of lupine, owl’s clover, and farewell-to-spring (Clarkia spp.). Pine Valley is at its peak with sky lupines (Lupinus nanus) in the high meadows by the cartload. California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) with different colored centers abound too, interspersed here and there among the lupines. The display is made all the more beautiful by plenty of owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta/densiflora) and chia (Salvia columbariae), along with baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), mule’s ears (Wyethia sp.), and goldfields (Lasthenia californica). Bush poppies (Dendromecon rigida) are also abundant in the firebreak areas from the 1999 fire. To reach the Pine Ridge trailhead, exit Highway 101 on County Road G16. Go west for 29 miles to Tassajara Road, then turn south to China Campground, where there is parking. (To find out on your own what's blooming and where in the Ventana area, you can post a query to the forum on the Ventana Wilderness Alliance Web site and tap into the aggregate knowledge of avid hikers in the area.)

 In northern California, Bureau of Land Management botanist Al Franklin tells us that the canyons and north-facing slopes of the Sierra foothills in the BLM’s Folsom Field Office, which covers a vast swath of territory east of Sacramento. The RED HILLS MANAGEMENT AREA, a 7,000-acre area of serpentine soil in Tuolumne county, is now boasting a large collection of later-season flowers, including manyflower brodiaea (Dichelostemma multiflorum), two-lobed clarkia (Clarkia biloba biloba), white brodiaea (Triteleia hyacinthina), and milkwort jewelflower (Streptanthus polygaloides). Some of the rare species are just now blooming, or will being to soon—look for Rawhide Hill onion (Allium tuolumnense), yellow-orange Red Hills ragwort (Senecio clevelandii heterophyllus), Red Hills soaproot (Chlorogalum grandiflorum), and pale lavender-pink California verbena (Verbena californica). The Red Hills are located south of Sonora. To reach the area, travel south on Highway 49 for 10 miles from Sonora to Chinese Camp, then about 2 miles further south on Red Hills Road.

 That’s our report for this week and for the season. Other spots that will continue to merit a visit for the next several weeks include the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Point Reyes National Seashore, Salt Point State Park, and Annadel State Park.

 As we move into June, many of our lovely late-season shrubs will begin to flower, too. Keep an eye out for heart-leaf penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia), California fuchsia (Epilobium canum/Zauschneria californica), wild buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum, E. crocatum, E. cinereum), milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis and A. eriocarpa), scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), goldenbushes (Ericameria spp.), and the creamy plumes of the indestructible laurel sumac (Malosma laurina). Come visit us at the Theodore Payne Foundation Wednesday through Sunday to learn more about native plants and native ecosystems. We look forward to seeing you.

 That’s all until next year! Explore the sites we’ve covered this season by clicking on Wildflower Site Links, above. Also browse our Book Reports to learn more about native plants and native plant gardening. Thanks for visiting