Natural History Wanderings

Calphoto  (most register to use site) has new posts for the Sierra Region. Here are some excerpts:

Evergreen Road and Hetch Hetchy Evergreen Road from 120 to the Hetch Hetchy entrance, there was an incredible variety of flowers. Not that many vast vistas or hillsides (although there were some interesting spots in some meadows) but quite a few flowers right along the roadside. On Monday early in the morning we drove to Hetch Hetchy and did the 5 mile round trip to Wapama Falls. Even though we started at 8:00 AM it was hot – it was over 95 by the time we got back to our car at noon. The falls are wonderful, and there was (again) an incredible variety of flowers. This was a wonderful hike. More Calochortus in one place than I’ve ever seen.I highly recommend visiting the area soon, but take care with the logging trucks and the heat. Some of the areas on the Falls hike should last quite a long time, there is plenty of water in some areas.

See full post at Evergreen Road and Hetch Hetchy

Caples Creek Region The meadows along the creek at 7600 feet only had a few early season wildflowers like California buttercup and shooting star looking like its main wildflower peak was still a few weeks away. Early July would be usual but this droughty year maybe the end of June. Notice all the corn lily in this image along the stream still leafing out.
In forest areas arrowhead senecio, Sierra wallflower, mountain marsh larkspur, and pretty face,  were early bloomers while ferns were still rather stunted indicating more to come.  In open sunnier rocky areas considerable spreading phlox, mountain pride penstemon, and wild onion, though I also noticed a few other species.  Generally numbers appear below those of wet years.

East over Carson Pass and down into Toiyabe National Forest and Hope Valley.   Sunny meadow areas between 7.5k and 8.5k were still looking rather early with short grasses and areas with dense patches of short stemmed California buttercups.  One familiar zone did have considerable bright yellow-hued arrowlead balsomwood mixed with Indian paintbrush however the more numerous relative mountain mule ears were mostly small still leafing out.

Mormon Emigrant Trail  At mid forest elevations, many species are often more numerous at ridgelines. .. a bit below 6k I stopped at were an impressive number of different forest species including mountain mule ears, arrowhead balsomwood, and narrow-leaf mule ears.  Also lots of pussy paws, senecio, delphinium, fivespot, smoky mariposa, silverleaf lotus,  ceanothus, and large patches of fragrant lupine.

See full post and photo links at Caples Creek and Region