Natural History Wanderings

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

San Jacinto Mountains. taking a ride up the Palm Springs Tramway to hike the Long Valley Trail. There are showy patches of Burlew’s onion (Allium burlewii), purple root cryptantha (Cryptantha micrantha), and one seeded pussypaws (Calyptridium monospermum) at one or two places along the trail. Scattered about are wallflower (Erysimum capitatum), Brewer’s fleabane (Erigeron breweri var. jacinteus), and pumice alpinegold (Hulsea vestita var. callicarpha).

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  best wildflower viewing…long the Los Pinetos Trail…the amazing number of wildflowers blooming make the hike well worth the effort. There are big stands of Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon sp.), California everlasting (Pseudognaphalium californicum) and bush monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) to be seen, with heart-leaf penstemon (Keckiela cordifolia) and soap plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) starting to bloom. The surrounding hills have many yuccas (Hesperoyucca whipplei) poking up through the chaparral. A real treat is a large patch of very fragrant giant lupine (Lupinus sp.) about a third of the way up to the top.

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