Natural History Wanderings

The Press Enterprise has an article on the wildflower bloom of the San Jacinto and San Bernardino mountains for June. Excerpts from the article

• May weather that repeatedly dropped snow and rain in the San Jacinto and San Bernardino mountains preceded the attractive crop.
• “It certainly made another profusion of flowers and extended our season,” said Scott Foster, a hardworking volunteer with the Idyllwild Nature Center.
• Flowers thrive by trails this week. They stand out by roadways, too.
• Fair warning, however. Unlike the blossoms below in the valleys and desert — which created broad swaths of color — mountain wildflowers are more like bright, scattered accents.
• “Lots of lupine and firecracker penstemon. It looks like about six to eight yellow species, including golden yarrow and brittlebush. I even saw several patches of doddler.”
• I witnessed a strong June bloom a week ago in Big Bear, where the forest shrubs and trees seemed extra green following May rain and snow, though the forest obviously remains dry. It’s unknown what impact this week’s Lake Fire had on them.
• “It is absolutely spectacular.”

Read full article at BOB PRATTE: Mountain wildflowers follow majestic spring bloom: Blog: Bob Pratte.