Natural History Wanderings

On March 15, 2011  Visit Kern reports:

“The unusually inconsistent weather experienced in Kern County has caused the wildflowers to emerge much later this year. The sightings have been slow to come in, and those that have been reported are generally small in size.

Blooms are starting to appear at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, located along the Kern / San Luis Obispo County line west of Taft. There have been reports of hillside daisies in the Traver Ranch area, with daisies and tidy tips springing up along Soda Lake Road south of the Goodwin Education Center. Look for goldfields beginning to bloom along Panorama Road, with Jared’s Peppergrass through the center of the monument.

At the nearby Semitropic Ridge Preserve northwest of Wasco there are reports of valley phacelia and goldfields in large numbers. Roadside patches of daisies have been reported along the south side of State Route 119 near the intersection with State Route 43.

Based upon these early sightings, expect western Kern County to show the first real signs of life in within the next couple of weeks.”

“As you travel through Kern County, please respect all signs regarding accessibility and do not trespass on private property to view wildflowers. Picking wildflowers is illegal and interferes with pollination. Please enjoy the blooms responsibly.”

Go to Visit Kern and check Wildflower Map for more information and suggested wildflower drives.