Natural History Wanderings

Where to photograph in California – Yahoo Groups has the following new report

ARVIN: 3/14 – Still dominated by fields of fiddlenecks. Other wildflowers starting to form (e.g. poppies and lupines) appear small and stunted.

CARRIZO PLAINS: 3/14 – I concur with David’s assessment from 3/11. Areas that showed some promise a week ago have now mostly begun to dry up as the hot temperatures with no rain, have taken its toll. Isolated patches along Simmler (San Diego Creek) Road, early part of the road leading to Selby Campground and the fields of Phacelias (mixed with some Fiddlenecks) as you head north on Soda Lake Road just before you hit Hwy 58, may be worth a stop. Hwy 58 east of Carrizo Plains also has a number of spots worth a stop.

ANTELOPE VALLEY 3/15: The promising southern faces of the Poppy Reserve have pretty much dried up due to the heat. The reserve reports that some wildflowers can be found on the northern slopes, but I didn’t check them out. The good news is that there are a number of spots around the reserve that makes this a ‘GO NOW’. A visit to the dirt road off W Ave L just south of the 80th St W junction (thanks to David and Jodice for your recommendation) was very fruitful. An abundance of wildflowers (including Poppies, Fiddlenecks, Gilia Tricolor and Filarees) can be found here and if you continue further south on the dirt road away from the maddening crowd, you will be rewarded with dense fields of Poppies (some yellow) and Gilia Tricolor.

Please be aware that Rattlesnakes have been reported in this area, so be careful. The other reported hot spot west of 110th St W just north of the W Ave K junction also did not disappoint. In both these areas, you have to work to keep the power lines from the solar plant out (or in, if you so desire J) of the picture. Last year’s beautiful showing at the corner of Elizabeth Lake Road and Munz Ranch Road appears to be taking a break this year. The popular Poppy patch on the eastern side of Munz Ranch Road (northern end) is nice. The dirt road section just to the east of the South East section of the Reserve (turn north from Lancaster Road to Myrick Canyon Road) has patches that might be worth a quick visit, but no un-ending fields of poppies seen in the better years. The east side of the south end of 170th St W (junction with W Ave F8) is beautiful and if you are adventurous, you will enjoy taking the dirt road 160th St W (east of 170th St W) as far as you are comfortable (the road gets slightly rutted as you progress). If you get north enough to see the solar panels, you may want to turn back and enjoy a different perspective of the scenery.

See more reports at Where to photograph in California – Yahoo Groups. (must register to use)