Natural History Wanderings

Where to photograph in California – Yahoo Groups (Calphoto) has a new reports yesterday for New Cuyama, Wind Wolves and Jepson Prairie.

New Cuyama today (or there abouts).  Conditions were excellent! Not as good as 2010, but plenty of Hillside Daisies and Lupines close to the road.  A good mix of Tidy Tips, Cream Cups, Goldfields, Blue Dicks, mini Lupines (not sure of the official name), a scattering of Owls Clover and Poppies (if you looked real hard).
Definitely worth a drive:https://flic.kr/p/S6rZiv

Wind Wolves today.  There are some patches of color on the distant hillsides, but nothing much along the trails.  Wildflower trail was past peak.  Fiddlenecks are most predominate in the valley with scattering of Lupine.  Some Tansy leaf Phacelia (past peak) in the first mile of the Canyon View Trail and Blue Dicks further in.  I saw less than a dozen of poppies along the trail.  The grasses were tall and thick (and beautiful in the wind).  It was a great hike, but not for color.

Jepson Prairie If anyone is planning on heading out to Jepson Prairie this week or next, a recommendation. Flowers in the public area are looking good, but to see the most spectacular display you need to walk (or drive) down the road from the main parking lot as it crosses the lake, going to the end (it is about 1.2 miles) near the barn. The display of Meadowfoam mixed with Yellow Carpet is amazing right now. Keep in mind, though, that you can’t go into the field as that area isn’t open to the public. You have to stay on the road side of the barbwire fence. Also, if you want to get close to the fence, bring your boots as the water in the ditch is calf deep (look for Chorus Frog tadpoles there)…. the meadowfoam is as good as I’ve ever seen it. Also note that you want to be there more or less mid morning to midday, because Meadowfoam closes up at night and it takes time to open up. 

It can be windy (today was amazingly calm), so check conditions at the Travis AFB weather station.

Side note: A reminder that there are public tours now through Mother’s Day on Saturday/Sunday 10:00 am to noon. You will see more interesting things if you go on the public tour.

Consider signing up for Where to photograph in California – Yahoo Groups (Calphoto) to see more reports and discussions of nature and photography in California.