Natural History Wanderings

The Calphoto Yahoo discussion Group had the following postings for Southern California

While driving north Tuesday 2/16 early afternoon on SR58 from
> Tehachipi to Bakersfield, before reaching the SR223 junction,
> noticed an absolutely blazing giant orange patch of
> California poppies in the distance on the south facing canyon
> walls of Caliente Creek. That is above the rural community
> of Caliente on the Caliente Bodfish Road. There were also
> some smaller patches nearby. Then instead of continuing on
> to Bakersfield, took SR223 to Arvin and found the familiar
> cattle range lands of Tejon Ranch that have been much
> discussed herein in past springs, have huge areas of orange
> hued fiddleneck (not vibrant orange like with poppies) and
> white hued meadowfoam rising.
>
> A ways down the road passed through two tall very steep sided
> road cuts that were a clue to the Caliente Creek canyon
> patches. The road cuts were incredibly densely covered with
> short height poppies on both sides of the road on both cuts.
… Further along the road where people normally look over the NO TRESPASSING fences noticed
> the first poppies and lupine were rising. Tejon Ranch would
> make a lot of we flower seekers happy by allowing some level
> of access to those beautiful oak savana grasslands.

See photos at  http://www.pbase.com/pderocco/image/162590304/original

The lower Kern Canyon is starting to bloom as well. Tons of white fiesta
flowers, and quite a few poppies, even some early Coulter’s jewel flowers.