Natural History Wanderings

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR  just posted the following Wildflower Bloom Report:

Its been a dry winter so far so not a lot of poppy plants have germinated, but recent rains may encourage a moderate but late season. The hills are currently only tinged green but very few grasses are growing this year, so the poppies that are there are more visible. A handful of fiddleneck, slender-keeled fruit, silver puffs, goldfields, filaree, Mojave suncups, and forget-me-nots are starting to bloom here and there. Grape soda lupines are putting on a nice show, but have already gone to seed on south-facing slopes. See Latest Poppy Reserve Research Field Notes and Observations for more details.The best route at this time is going up the Tehachapi Vista Point trail and back along the South Poppy Loop Trail. Just over the crest at the top, a nice patch of poppies can be seen on the south-facing slope. Coming back on the South Poppy Loop trail, there are more poppies but theyre spread around.  Another good spot to see is Kitanemuk Vista Point, where a lovely patch of purple Lacy Phacelia can be seen.

4/1/12: Mary Wilson at Antelope Valley Latest Poppy Reserve Research Field Notes and Observations reports

On March 18th, there were rain and snow flurries at the Poppy Reserve and on March 25th there was another rainstorm. Even with this latest rain a lot of the annual poppy plants are small. The plant may only be 6 to 8 cm across and will have only one stem with one bud or flower per plant. Occasionally they would have up to four buds or flowers per plant. They are already starting to form their seedpods.

The perennial poppies are making a better showing. Their true leaves can be up to 30 cm and have 12 or more flowers, 33 buds with the calyx still on and 6 seed pods.

Even with the small size of the poppy plants you will start seeing orange patches throughout the Reserve. There is a patch of poppies in bloom to the west of the kiosk. Keep looking west up the butte and more orange is starting to appear.

Trails – Poppy Trail North Loop, Cross Over Trail, Antelope Trail North and Valley Vista Point Trail

The trails have filaree, fiddleneck, lupine, scattered goldfields and poppies in bloom. California asters are starting new leaves at the base of the plants and there are new plants as well. Saw the beginning of wishbone plants and wild cucumber. Cheat and Brome grasses are going to seed. Bunch grasses have grown a couple of inches and a few are starting to produce their seeds.