Natural History Wanderings

The Theodore Payne Wildflower Hotline has a new report today for Southern and Central California.  See full report with photos and events as well as older reports at: Wild Flower Hotline | Theodore Payne Foundation. Below are most of the highlights:

The habitat gardens at the Elizabeth Learning Center In the Mojave/Sonoran Desert Habitat Garden enjoy:  Goldfields (Lasthenia sp), Owls Clover (Castilleja sp.), Chia (Salvia columbariae), thistle sage (Salvia carduacea),Canterbury Bells (Phacelia campanularia), Desert Blue Bells(Phacelia minor), Mojave Lupine (Lupinus ordoratus), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Desert Gold Poppy (Eschscholzia parishii), Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), Bladderpod (Peritoma arborea), Desert Chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana), Desert Dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), forget-me-nots (Cryptantha spp.), Desert Pincushion (Chaenactis sp.), Brittle Bush (Encelia farinosa), Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi), chuparosa, yellow flower (Justicia californica) and Sweetbush (Bebbia juncea). White-stem blazing star (Mentzelia sp.) Spanish needles (Palafoxia linearis) and desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus).

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The Chaparral/Sage Scrub Habitat Garden has the rare Santa Rosa Island white-felted Indian paintbrush (Castilleja lanata hololeuca), woolly Indian paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa), black sage (Salvia mellifera), tansy-leaf phacelia (Phacelia tantacetifolia), calico monkeyflower (Mimulus pictus) and woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum)San Diego sunflower (Hulsea californica), Santa Barbara Island giant coreopsis (Leptosyne gigantia), Island bush poppy (Dendromeconharfordii), prickly poppy (Argemone sp.), tidy-tips (Layia glandulosa) and arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus).

New this year is the Vernal Pool Complex Habitat Garden. It has San Diego coyote thistle (Eryngium sp.), Otay Mesa mint (Pogogyne nudiuscula) and some other vernal pool endemics growing on the outer edges of the five pools. Look for San Diego fairy shrimp swimming around in the pools. The water will last another week or two…so if you want to see fairy shrimp, come sooner than later. Visitors can check in at the Main Office and get a visitor pass. We are open from 8:00am to 4:00pm Mon – Fri. We are located in Cudahy on Elizabeth Street between Atlantic and Wilcox.

The best bloom along the Angeles Crest Hwy, Big and Little Tujunga Canyon Roads in the Angeles National Forest, is happening between 2,000 and 3,000 ft. Look for patches of lupine (Lupinus spp.) and Indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp.), bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), and scarlet bugler (Penstemoncentranthifolius) along the roadsides and slopes. You need to pull out somewhere and get out of the car to visit the smaller beauties like miner’s lettuce (Claytonia sp.) forget-me-nots (Cryptantha spp.), wild onion (Allium sp.) and wallflower (Erysimum capitatum).

At Placerita Canyon Nature Center, the canyon trail is exploding with colorful flowers. Look for bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), Bolanger’s woodland star (Lithophragma bolanderi), larkspur (Delphinium sp.), golden yarrow (Eriophyllumconfertiflorum), Western wallflower ( Erysimum capitatum), and baby blue-eyes (Nemophila meniezii).

The Orange County community has been buzzing about fire-follower wildflowers visible on South Main Divide Road about two miles south of Ortega Highway (Hwy 74) in Riverside County. Wind poppy (Papaver californica), lots of phacelia species (Phaceliabrachyloba), (Phacelia minor), (Phacelia parryi), caterpillar phacelia (Phaceliacicutaria), whispering bells (Emmenenthe penduliflora var. penduliflora), blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum var. capitatum), miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), hairy lupine (Lupinus hirsutissimus), deerweed (Acmispon strigosus), baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora), Coulter’s snapdragon (Antirrhinum coulterianum) silver puffs (Microseris lindleyi), red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), chaparral blazing star (Mentzelia micrantha), Jones’ cat-eyes (Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii),(Cryptanthaintermedia) California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), (Gilia angelinsis), slender pod jewelflower (Caulanthus heterophyllus), hairy suncup (Camissoniopsis hirtella), miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), narrow-leaved miner’s lettuce (Claytonia parviflora), common eucrypta (Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia), hairy cat’s ears (Hypochaeris radicata), wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus), Indian tobacco (Nicotiana quadrivalvis), and southern tauschia (Tauschia arguta).

At nearby Elsinore Peak, small displays include rare Hammitt’s claycress (Sibaropsis hammittii) and slender combseed (Pectocarya linearis ssp. ferocula), both tiny and if you know where to look! More showy are grape-soda lupine (Lupinus excubitus ssp. austromontanus), monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), red-skinned onion (Allium haematochiton), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), death camas (Toxicoscordion veneosum), silver lupine (Lupinus albifrons) and across the street from the Elsinore Peak parking, chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora), violets (Viola pedunculata) and California buttercup (Ranunculus californica).

In Death Valley National Park, numerous plants are blooming between 3000-5000 ft, including many milkvetches (Astragalus spp.), such as (Astragalus coccineus)on the limestone slopes. Look too for numerous sun cup (Camissonia spp.) and evening primrose species (Camissoniopsis spp. and Chylismia spp.), as well as phacelias (Phacelia spp.) The Race Track (in DVNP) and the mountains to the west look as if they are about to explode with wildflowers!

Climb up to some high elevation sites (5,000-9,000 ft) in Death Valley National Park, and maybe you’ll find miner’s lettuce (Claytonia. lanceolata var. peirsonii (pictured) on limestone in the pinyon-juniper belt (north-facing slopes in talus). It’s rare and it’s beautiful.

In the Mojave National Preserve there is a long list of wonderful wildflowers and cacti including Mojave mound or claret cup cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus), fishhook cactus (Mammillaria tetrancistra) and silver cholla (Opuntia sp.).Camp Rock Road from south from I-40 is also very nice. You do need to get out of the car and walk around to enjoy all the tiny beauties in among the larger patches of color.

The Mojave Desert list includes: Desert Indian paintbrush (Castilleja angustifolia), scented beards tongue (Penstemon palmeri) the native heron’s bill (Erodium texanum) Ive’s phacelia (Phacelia ivesiana), desert rock live-forever (Dudleyasaxosa ssp. aloides), indigo bush (Psorothamnus fremontii), desert senna (Senna armata) desert purple sage (Salvia dorrii). New things to look for this week in the Mojave include: sand verbena (Abroniavillosa), rayless encelia (Encelia frutescens), desert star (Monoptilon bellioides), desert milkweed (Asclepias erosa), hairy milkweed (Funastrum hirtellum), scalebud (Anisocomaacaulis), silky dalea (Dalea mollis), frost mat (Achyronychia cooperi) and hole-in-the-sand plant (Nicolletia occidentalis). Still blooming in some areas, but more spotty are desert lily (Hesperocallis undulata), Fremont pincushion (Chaenactis fremontii),desert chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana), forget-me-not(Cryptantha spp.),spectacle pod (Dithyrea californica), desert alyssum (Lepidium fremontii), brown-eyed primrose (Chylismia claviformis), evening primrose (Oenothera californica),dune evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides), prickly poppy (Argemone corymbosa), evening snow (Linanthus dichotomus), Indian tobacco (Nicotiana quadrivalvis), desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata), brittlebush (Encelia farinosa),Wallace’s woolly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei), desert sunflower(Geraea canescens), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), checker fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata), bladderpod (Peritoma arborea var. angustata), golden evening primrose (Chylismia brevipes), yellow evening primrose(Oenothera primiveris), desert gold-poppy (Eschscholzia glyptosperma), desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum var. inflatum), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), desert Canterbury bell (Phacelia campanularia), notch-leaved Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), lace-leaf Phacelia (Phacelia distans), lupines (Lupinus spp.),chia (Salvia columbariae), Cooper’s broom-rape (Orobanche cooperi), turpentine broom (Thamnosma montana), Gooding’s verbena (Verbena gooddingii), purple mat (Nama demissum), beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris), and desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua). broad-leaf gilia (Aliciella latiflora), blazing star (Mentzelia sp.), bladderpod (Peritoma arborea), globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) ever seen, notch-leaf phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), Schott’s (Loeseliastrum schottii) and desert calico (Loeseliastrum matthewsii), Fremont’s phacelia (Phacelia fremontii), bajada (Lupinus concinnus) and Mojave lupine (Lupinusordoratus), forget-me-nots (Cryptantha sp.), snake’s head (Malacothrix coulteri), spiny hop-sage (Grayia spinosa), cooper’s goldenbush (Ericameria cooperi), blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), carpets of false woolly daisy (Eriophyllum sp.), common phacelia (Phacelia distans), desert Canterbury bells (Phacelia campanularia), Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera), Cooper dyssodia (Adenophyllum cooperi), Mojave aster (Xylorhizatortifolia), narrowleaf goldenbush (Ericameria linearfolia), desert five-spot (Eremalche rotundifolia), pincushion (Chaenactis sp.), Mojave tickseed (Leptosyne bigelovii), and beavertail cactus (Optunia basilaris).

The west Mojave has good sightings of wild flowers as well. The region around Hwy. 138, east of Palmdale, to the Hwy 18 junction and including Saddleback Butte State Park to the north, are very nice. Look for many of those species listed above as well as the hairy goldenhead (Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus), tansy-leaf phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), two colored phacelia (Phacelia bicolor var. bicolor), Mojave sand verbena (Abronia pogonantha), Fremont’s mimulus (Mimulus fremontii), Great Basin wooly star (Eriastrum sparsiflorum), rosy gilia (Gilia sinuata), goldfields (Lasthenia sp.), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), Mohave sun-cups (Camissonia campestris), Parry’s linanthus (Linanthus parryae) are among the commonest.  Also showy are, fiddlenecks (Amsinckia tessellata), phacelias (Phacelia spp.), broad-leaf gilia (Gilia latifolia), several species of popcorn flower and/or forget-me-nots (Plagiobothrys spp.), (Cryptantha spp.), and Bigelow’s coreopsis (Leptosyne bigelovii).

If you are visiting Joshua Tree National Park, enter through the West Entrance, North Entrance or south at Cottonwood for the best sightings of wildflowers. In addition, various species of cactus are beginning to bloom throughout the park. Bladderpod (Peritomaarborea) and creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) provide the background color in the landscape. Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), fiddleneck (Amsinckia tesselata), chuparosa (Justicia californica), ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) are showy with red and yellow. Sand fringepod (Thysanocarpus curipes), scented crypthantha (Cryptantha utahensis) white tidytips (Layia glandulosa), scorpionweed (Phacelia distans), chia (Salvia columbariae), Mojave desert parsley (Lomatiummohavense) and Canterbury bells (Phacelia campanularia), are scattered about with California evening primrose (Oenothera californica) and desert golden poppy (Eschscholzia glyptosperma). In the sandy washes and flats, lots of Wallace’s woolly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei) can be found. Pincushion (Chaenactis spp.) is everywhere and towering above the wild flowers, the Joshua Trees (Yucca brevifolia) and Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera).

The natives are blooming at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada-Flintridge. Greeting you at the entrance are coral bells (Heuchera species and cultivars) and California poppies (Eschscholzia californica ). Within the El Portal structure shade, you’ll find the Pacific bleeding heart, (Dicentra formosa) and amazing California buckeye (Aesculus californica). Throughout the garden, monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), red fairyduster (Calliandra californica), lilac verbena (Verbena lilacina), Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana) and chuparosa (Justicia californica) are in full robust bloom.

Down in coastal Orange County at the Environmental Nature Center you will find many favorite natives in bloom. Enjoy the several species of wild lilac (Ceanothus spp.) which are in full blue-hue bloom and spring fragrant. Contrasting the blue of ceanothus is the golden yellow of flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) and Mexican flannel bush (Fremontodendron mexicannum). The sages (Salvia spp.) are scenting the air along with their cousin woolly blue-curls (Trichostema lanatum). Keeping with the fragrance theme, visit the Channel Islands section and walk by the Catalina currant (Ribesviburnifolium). Tiny flowers, but a huge fragrance. While in the Chanel Island section, check out the Island snapdragon (Galvesia speciosa), Island mallow (Lavatera assurgentiflora), and Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), all very colorful.