Natural History Wanderings

Wildflowers at Hungry Valley reports

Warm weather has brought the wildflowers out early this year at Hungry Valley SVRA. We are already experiencing splashes of color in the park and on the surrounding hillsides. Entering the park at the north entrance off of Peace Valley Road will take you past slopes of golden yarrow. A short way into the park the lupines begin to dot the hills with purple, and baby blue-eyes can be spotted along the roadside. The coreopsis, fiddleneck, bladderpods, and  goldfields add more yellow to the mix as you drive farther into the park. If you look closely, you may be able to spot some Indian paintbrush and scarlet bugler for a few touches of red, but they are few and far between right now. Turning left onto Hungry Valley Road from Gold Hill Road will take you past the Practice Track, which is surrounded by goldfields. Continuing toward the south entrance of the park, the blue dicks are blooming near Aliklik Campground.

If you exit the south entrance to the park and turn north on the frontage road and parallel Interstate 5, you will be able to see the Joshua trees blooming in its most westerly range. Further north, the fields have large patches of purple from the phacelia. More lupine are on the slopes and poppies are showing up on both sides of the freeway. Many flowers are just starting, so there should be a lot more to report next week. If the weather continues to be warm, it may be a short season, so come out soon and enjoy the wildflowers!

see photos at  Wildflowers at Hungry Valley.