Natural History Wanderings

Yesterday afternoon was a drive out highway 120 east of 395 this is an area that is rarely explored but has some interesting finds. We especially hope to find fields of Skunky Monkeyflowers.

At corner of 120 and 395  there were

Eriogonum spergulinum

Eriogonum umbellatum

Ericameria nauseosa

Lupine sp.

Skeleton Plant/Stephanomeria spinosa

Heavenly Blue or Blue Mantle/ Eriastrum densifolium

A morning glory

Purshia

Artemesia tridentada

Along the road we passed Blazing Star and Prickly Poppy.

We did see some Skunky Monkeyflower/Mimulus mephiticus, Mono Lake Lupine/Lupinus duranii  and a yellow composite. However the Skunky Monkeyflower didn’t appear in great numbers until we passed through the Jefferey Pine Forest. At 7.6 miles east of the turnoff for the Mono Lake South Tufa there were abundant displays of the small, pink Skunky Monkeyflower with Mono Lake Lupine, Eriogonum spergulinum  and a few yellow composites mixed in. The area is between a 35 MPH curve sign and cattle crossing sign.