The Theodore Payne Wild Flower Hotline just published their final wildflower report of the season
There is still a nice variety of color along Hwy 33, from Hwy 166 south to Ojai. Seems to be a little pocket of lush greenery and bloom in dry Southern California and probably worth a satisfying Sunday drive.
If you are enjoying some leisure time along the Orange County coast, stop by the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach. They have all of the late season beauties blooming in one place; and have a diversity of trails to explore. Look for clarkias (Clarkia unguiculata, C. purpurea) and desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) showing their shades of pink and purple. The succulent live-forevers (Dudleya spp.) are showing off their tall spikes of yellow-pink flowers. Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.) are everywhere and in full bloom along with colorful red chaparral beard tongue (Keckiella antirrhinoides), orange-yellow sticky leaf monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and coyote mint (Monardella spp.). Stand under the bright yellow flowers of a palo verde tree (Parkinsonia aculeata) and catch a waft of the fragrant mock orange (Philadelphus lewesii) and woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) nearby.
Griffith Park is always a good place to spend a weekend get-away for family and friends. Many of the late season favorites are flowering along Zoo drive. California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are still popping alongside a few remaining Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) and farewell to spring (Clarkia unguiculata). The Zoo parking lot is full of blooming California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and a variety of salvias, including white sage (Salvia apiana) and Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii), which are particularly aromatic right now. The hillsides around the zoo are splashed with the orange of monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and showy white and creamy sprays of California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) and blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra).
If you want to take a little hike an a cool morning, Stough Canyon Nature Center is a nice environment to do just that. Along your walk, you will see bush sunflower (Encelia californica), sticky-leaf mondeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea), and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) just beginning to bloom. Right now the copious white flowers of California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) splashes the gentle slopes like sea foam.
The best bloom along the Angeles Crest Hwy, Big and Little Tujunga Canyon Roads in the Angeles National Forest, is above 4,000 ft. in elevation. Chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) are showy with their tall spires of white flowers towering above the vegetation. There are still a little bit of ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.) flowering above 5,000 ft. You will see honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata) branches cascading out between the other shrubby species. Patches of the Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) are spectacular in places. Bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), dudleya (Dudleya sp.) and bright pink prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum) also can be seen along the roadsides and rocky outcrops. Look for colorful patches of golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) and paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) and gorgeous blue larkspur (Delphinium sp.).
Placerita Canyon Nature Centeris a great get-away for the family any weekend. The Ecology Trail holds quite a display of blooming chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). The woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) are abundant and there are numerous bright yellow slender stem sunflowers (Helianthus gracilentus). The holly leaf cherries (Prunus illicifolia) are beginning to form their cherry-like fruit. Hillsides are covered with the lavender flowering yerba santa (Eriodictyon crassifolius) and common caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia). Branches of the heart-leaf penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia) drape over the trail. Scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius), monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), and golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) are bright yellow and red.
At Hungry Valley SVRA, some of bright blooms still around include (Castilleja chromosa), Mariposa lilies (Calochortus venustus), prickly poppy (Argemone corymbosa), and the intense orange red color of (Calochortus kennedyi). The Oak Woodland Natural Preserve is a serene place to walk and commune with ancient Oak trees. With a natural spring nearby and shade from the oaks, wildlife or their tracks can often be found here. Scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) fans will find quite a few of these along the wood rail fence at the entrance to Smithforks Campground from Gold Hill Rd. Free guide brochures are provided at kiosks as you enter the park, be sure to ask for one. This self-guided tour begins at the north entrance area Visitor’s Center. Golden Poppies on pale blue signs mark the route. The brochure provides a map to help you stay on track and information on our most prevalent wildflowers. OHV traffic on the trails can be busy on spring weekends. Weekdays are recommended for leisurely viewing of the colorful flower displays. The district office phone line can give you updated information at (661) 248-7007 or check this web page before visiting the park. Admission to the park is $5
In the San Jacinto Mountainsis another haven for scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) and is in full bloom. You will be delighted by the number of hummingbirds seen here. You will also be rewarded with a peak bloom of blue larkspur (Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi). Along trail (many excellent trails near Idyllwild) edges you will likely find golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), some small dainty gilias (Gilia spp.), still some bush lupine (Lupinus excubitus), paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) and milkweed (Asclepias sp.) just starting to bloom).
At Descanso Gardensthe sulphur flower Conejo buckwheat (Eriogonum crocatum) and golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) make a nice splash of yellow. The Matilija poppies (Romenya coulteri) are still waving their large white flowers and along with the blues of the Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) and foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophylla) are quite stunning.
Mock orange (Philadelphus lewsii) disperses a wonderful fragrance along the trails at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. The Humboldt lilies (Lilium humboldtii) are also lighting up the dark shade under oaks. Heart-leaf penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia) and bush penstemon (Keckiella antirrhnoildes) are flowering along side many woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum). Don’t forget to visit the Butterfly Pavilion at the garden as well.
The Habitat Gardens at Elizabeth Learning Center are still colorful. Look for Otay Mesa mint (Pogogyne nudiscula), fasciculated tarweed (Deinandra fasciculata), and owl’s clover (Castilleja sp). Around the pools are gum plant (Grindelia sp.), sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus). The school’s desert and chaparral habitat gardens also have dozens of flowering species including Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri), buckwheat’s (Eriogonum spp.), milkweed (Asclepias sp.), Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), Apache plume (Fallugia paradox) and bladderpod (Peritoma arborea). The pretty desert lavender (Hyptis emoryi) and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia aculeata) stand above these desert beauties. Look for the spectacular Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri), desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), and white sage (Salvia apiana). There are many other flowering species as well.
Natural History Wanderings 
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