Natural History Wanderings

It was time to head back to the Bay Area on I-5, but not without a stop at Post Ranch Road.  This was the area in the February 28 posting: https://sandysteinman.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/gorman-hills-tejon-ranch-and-west-end-of-antelope-valley/ It was early as suspected.  The hills were green, but wanted to scout for future trips.  There were a very few scattered Red Maids, Fiddlenecks, a Cammisonia, a yellow daisy-like composite, and one nice patch of Baby Blue–eyes.  Serious hillsides of color are weeks away.  Below are a few photos so you can see what it looks like .

Coming down from the Grapevine, flowers began to appear along I-5.  First  were fields of Lupine in the valley, Fiddlenecks on the hillsides and patches of Goldfields.  Continuing north there were patches of white that were possibly meadowfoam.  There were also white Daisies that were probably alien, Later on Creamcups appeared and next a patch of Poppies about 8 miles south of Kettleman City.  Fiddlenecks, Goldfields, and Lupine would all appear at various times throughout the drive.  It was a lot more flowers than a week ago when heading south.  All  I-5 botanizing was done at 70 miles an hour.  No photo stops and one brief pullover to checkout a few flowers.  The flowers did make the I-5 trip a little more pleasant .