Natural History Wanderings

Theodore Payne just published a new wildflower report for southern and central California.  Here are some of the highlights.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks  heading east along highway 198 through Three Rivers. The California buckeye (Aesculus californica) is in full bloom… Also in full bloom, and adding multiple shades of golden yellow to the landscape, are California flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum), bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), elegant madia (Madia elegans), and bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus). …along the slopes are the tall spires of white flowers of the chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei). … Giant Forest or General Grant Grove in Sequoia, the Western dogwood (Cornus nuttalii) is showing off its large white and elegant flowers

Pinnacles National Monument. several different clarkias—elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), wine-cup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), and speckled clarkia (Clarkia affinis) Hiking on the Old Pinnacles route … are patches bright red scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius), yellow pretty face (Triteleia lugens), fringed onion (Allium frimbriatum), silver bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons) and butterfly mariposa lily (Calochortus venustus). …. mule ears (Wyethia helenioides)— … Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.), Venus thistle (Cirsium occidentale), golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) and larkspurs (Delphinium sp.)

Placerita Canyon Natural Area. The report is that they are at their peak of the wildflower season. The best trail for wildflowers is the Canyon Trail, flowers  in bloom include elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), paintbrush (Castilleja sp.), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla), blue larkspur (Delphinium sp.), farewell to spring (Clarkia amoena), virgin’s bower (Clematis sp.), California everlasting (Pseudognaphalium californicum), bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon sp.), California wild rose (Rosa californica), bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea), goldfields (Lasthenia sp.), dudleyas (Dudleya spp.)

Hungry Valley SRA masses of flowers now blooming. grape soda lupine (Lupinus excubitus). Spencer’s primrose (Camissoniaopsis sp.),desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata) ,Desert tidy tips (Layia glandulosa) ,forget-me-nots (Cryptantha spp.),  baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), pink Davey’s broad- flowered gilia (Gilia latiflora ssp. davyi) are increasing in numbers after the rain as well. California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are blooming in increasing numbers, especially along the Wheatfield and Salt Lick Trails near Powerline Road.

To see the full report and older reports go to: http://www.theodorepayne.org/hotline.html