Natural History Wanderings

Theodore Payne has posted a new southern and central California wildflower bloom update for  April 27, 2012.

Some of the highlights are:

• Along the foothills of the Southern Sierra Nevada from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is spectacular with it’s reddish-pink blossoms and the blue of lupines, the silver bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons) and spider lupine (Lupinus benthamii). Standing out too are showy yellow of patches of madia (Madia elegans)
• California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are spectacular throughout the Figueroa mountains along Figueroa Mountain Road, while other wildflowers are declining.
• Drive inland from Anza Borrego to western San Diego County. South of Escondido is Lake Hodges. Hike along the southeast side of the lake along Piedras Pintadas Trail and be amazed by slopes ablaze with color! A fire burned through this area about five years ago and the hillsides are still covered in yellow from three fire followers: golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), chaparral beard-tongue, (Keckiella antirrhinoides), and rush rose (Helianthemum scoparium). These are accompanied by quite a few other species in bloom. One of the most spectacular is the showy penstemon, (Penstemon spectabilis). There are large patches of this penstemon in one location at the far end of the trail.
• The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach is ablaze with shades of yellow, gold and red. California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are bright and cheery everywhere in the garden. The Indian mallow (Abutilon palmeri), Nevin’s barberry (Berberis nevinii), Conejo buckwheat (Eriogonum crocatum), bladderpod (Peritoma arborea), brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and beard tongue (Keckiella antirrhinoides) fill in the spectrum of yellows, while fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla), Island snapdragon (Galvesia speciosa) and coral bells (Heuchra spp.) run up their red flags.
• A very nice hike in the Cleveland National Forest along the San Juan Loop Trail, will yield you glimpses of at least 138 species of plants!