Natural History Wanderings

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks report

The spectacular foothill yuccas are in bloom now. It takes about 4-7 years for a plant to reach maturity and bloom. Producing this large flowering stalk can take 2-3 weeks. This is the last hurrah for the plant – it dies after it finishes blooming. Sometimes it sprouts clones from its base as another way of producing a new plant. The park protects important low elevation habitats for a variety of foothill plants and animals.