Natural History Wanderings

Theodore Payne just posted a new wildflower bloom update with photos at:  http://www.theodorepayne.org/hotline/2012/March9.pdf

A few of the highlights they report are:

• Elizabeth Learning Center in Cudahy: arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus), baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), desert blue bells (Phacelia campanularia), desert marigold (Baileya sp.), chia (Salvia columbariae), owl’s clover (Castilleja sp.), prickly poppy (Argemone sp.), clarkia (Clarkia sp.), tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), goldfields (Lasthenia sp.), bird’s-eye gilia (Gilia tricolor), fern-leaf phacelia (Phacelia sp.) and Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii)
•  Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach has patches of coral bells (Heuchra spp.) blooming along the trails; chaparral section, flannel bush (Fremontodendron mexicanum) is in full bloom
•  Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve  Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) can be found lining the trails.  blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum) and checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia) Yellow carpet (Blennosperma nanum var. nanum) can be seen near the Vernal Pools.

Read full report at:  http://www.theodorepayne.org/hotline/2012/March9.pdf