Natural History Wanderings

Latest Poppy Reserve Researcher Field Notes for Antelope Valley reported on April 1, 2015

The above average heat and high winds we had recently have blown a lot of the petals off the Poppy and Goldfield plants. There are petals drying up on the ground around the plants. The poppy flowers that still have the calyx attached have survived this bout of wind and they will have their flower petals when the calyx comes off.

To the east and in front of the Visitor Center the Beavertail Cacti are starting to bloom. The Joshua tree bloom is going to seed. There are new green plants with small yellow flowers and they are Mustard.

You will find an occasional Fiddleneck and Filaree that have flowers but for the most part they have gone to seed.

As you walk the trails you will still see some Poppies, Forget-me-knots, Suncups, and Lupine.  Cheat Grass and Red Brome grasses are taking over large portions of the park and are going to seed. Goldfields are at the cone stage. Silver Puffs have gone to seed and they are dispersing them.

Poppy Trail South Loop: found a wild cucumber plant ¡V not blooming yet.

North Loop Trail past the wooden fence: there are still some Cream Cups, and Evening Snow. Blue Dick are finishing their season. In the area of the Rubber Rabbitbrush there are still some Owl’s Clover.

Eastside of the Reserve: there are some Poppies and Goldfields but other wildflowers are finishing up for the season and are going to seed. Pineappleweed are starting to appear.

WILDFLOWER SIGHTINGS:

Lancaster Road: There are still Poppies in bloom going to the Reserve.

110th St. West: Goldfields have gone to the cone stage. There are a few Poppies. The predominant plant coming up now is Mustard.

A.V. Indian Museum: Avenue M and 150th St. East not much happening wildflower wise but there are Goldfields that have lost their petals and are few Coreopsis at 170th St. East.

Saddleback Butte State Park: a few Fremont Pincushions, patches of Goldfields, and some of the Creosote Bushes are starting to bloom. There are Desert Dandelion and Primrose along 170th St. East and Avenue J.

Alpine Butte Wildlife Sanctuary: Desert Dandelion, Fremont Pincushions, Suncups, Davy Gilia, a few Goldfields, and Wallace Eriophyllum. The Tamarisk trees are starting to bloom and there is California Dodder.

Jack Rabbit Flats Wildlife Sanctuary: Fremont Pincushions, Goldfields, Desert Dandelion, Davy Gilia, Cucumber has buds and Suncups.

Longview Sanctuary: Tidy Tips, Goldfields, Suncups, Creosote Bush starting to bud, Blue Sage, Desert Dandelion, California Dodder, and Joshua trees have some flowers.

Devil’s Punch Bowl – Linear-leafed Goldenbush, Scrub Oak, Wallflowers, Fremont Phacelia, Popcorn Flower, Miner’s Lettuce, Blazing Stars, Baby Blue Eyes, Spencer Primrose, Mountain Mahogany, and Squaw Bush.

Aliso Canyon: Bush Poppy, Scarlet Bugler, Linear-leafed Goldenbush, Yerba Santa, Mountain Lilac, and Elderberry trees.