Natural History Wanderings

submitted by Spencer Westbrook, author of A Guide to Wildflower Locations of Central and Southern California

There is a beautiful bloom along Hwy 223 which runs alongside Tejon Ranch property just east of the small community of Arvin (just southeast of Bakersfield). The flowers are mainly fiddleneck which carpet the hills along the road as you climb toward Hwy 58 but patches of poppies and popcorn flower add color. Rain this weekend should help prolong the bloom;  a nice sight after years of drought.

The bloom at Gorman continues toward the east end of the Post Road. Rain, possibly snow, this weekend should help this area as well.