Welcome to the 30th Annual Wildflower Hotline, brought to you by the
Theodore Payne Foundation, a non-profit plant nursery, seed source, book store,
and education center dedicated to the preservation of wildflowers and California
native plants. This a report for April 20, 2012. New reports will be posted each
Friday through the end of May.
Celebrate Earth Day and California Native Plant Week! The late rains nudged the
dormant wildflowers into bloom in some nearby areas, so get outside and enjoy
Earth Day festivities with friends and family.
We’ll start this week in Palos Verdes at South Coast Botanic Garden. This is a
very special garden to visit in the early spring. Most California natives are in the
Mediterranean Garden section. Look for our favorite spring wildflowers, California
poppy (Eschscholzia californica), clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), Canterbury bells
(Phacelia campanularia), arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus), bird’s eye gilia
(Gilia tricolor), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) and five-spot (Nemophila
maculata). Many colorful, bright perennials, including hummingbird sage (Salvia
spathaceae), foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophylla), seaside daisy
(Erigeron glaucus), pitcher sage (Lepinchinia fragrans), Conejo buckwheat
(Eriogonum crocatum), redflower buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens),
California brittlebush (Encelia californica) and blue-eyed grass (Sisyrhinchium
bellum) are at their peak bloom. There is also the outstanding bush anemone
(Carpenteria californica).
Spend Earth Day in Newport Beach walking the trails at the Environmental
Nature Center. A visit here on a beautiful spring day is invigorating. California
poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are bright and cheery everywhere in the
garden. Sit and watch hummingbirds defend territory around their favorite sages,
black sage (Salvia mellifera), Cleveland (Salvia clevelandii), hummingbird sage
(Salvia spathaceae), and Munz’s sage (Salvia munzii). Shrubs and small trees
provide shade and fragrance. California buckeye (Aesculus californica), Island
bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida), fragrant mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii)
and Western redbud are spectacular. Enjoy too, the California wild rose (Rosa
californica) coming into bloom throughout the garden.
Prisk Native Garden located in Long Beach, is having an Open House event on
Earth Day, Sunday April 22. See event notices below for more detail. The
garden is in full bloom and ready to receive visitors. Mojave bluebells (Phacelia
campanularia), meadowfoam (Limnanthes douglasii), globe gilia (Gilia capitata),
blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), wild canterbury bells (Phacelia minor),
woolly blue-curls (Trichostema lanatum), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata),
punchbowl godetia (Clarkia bottae), wind poppy (Stylomecon
heterophylla), apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), popcorn flower
(Cryptantha sp.), coral bells (Heuchera spp.) and four varieties of blooming
penstemon: royal, splendid, desert or Palmer’s and Eaton's penstemons
(Penstemon spp.) are in spectacular bloom. Help Prisk celebrate their hard work
sustaining this beautiful habitat garden by visiting them during the Open House.
Prisk Native Garden, Long Beach. Photos by Mike Letteriello
The Habitat Gardens at Elizabeth Learning Center in Cudahy are “out-of-control
beautiful” and dressed to celebrate Earth Day and California Native Plant Week.
Again, this school garden is a slice of inspiring nature in a concrete and asphalt
city. This week, the three paintbrush species (Castilleja spp.) are vibrantly
electric with purples, oranges, yellows, reds and pinks. The Apache plume
(Fallugia paradoxa) is also popping with white flowers all over. The ceanothus
(Ceanothus spp.) has just released wave after wave of dark blue flowers. The
prickly poppies (Argemone munita) are prolific with flowers. See last week’s
hotline report for the exhaustive list of species flowering at this site. I’ve been told
they are still all spectacular. The general public is always welcome to visit the
gardens at the Elizabeth Learning Center from 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday thru
Friday. Anyone interested in visiting just needs to get a Visitor's Pass from the
Main Office and say they are here for the Habitat Garden Wildflowers.
San Clemente Island White-Felted Paintbrush (Castilleja grisea) and owl’s clover (Castilleja sp.)
Photos by George Nanoski
Visiting the Inland Empire and the San Jacinto Mountains, you will find many of
the chaparral shrub species in flower along the Webster Trail (about a mile from
Pine Cove and near Idyllwild). The top portion of the trail is in the pine forest.
Sierra gooseberry (Ribes roezlii var. roezlii) is flowering and tucked away here
and there among the shrubs and under trees are baby blue-eyes (Nemophila
menziesii), southern tauschia (Tauschia arguta), and spring draba (Draba
verna).The next portion follows an exposed ridge with chaparral species. It
begins in a forest of manzanitas (Arctostaphylos glandulosa) in full bloom which
transitions into big berry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca). The annuals include
red-root cryptantha (Cryptantha micrantha) and sand cress (Calyptridium
monandrum). On the ridge line you walk through chaparral whitethorn
(Ceanothus leucodermis) with clusters of blue flowers with an intoxicating
fragrance on one side, and a white-flowered ceanothus possibly buck brush
(Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus) on the other. Once crossing the dry ridge
and dipping into the north fork drainage, the flora noticeably changes. Here you
find the yellow flowers of bush poppies (Dendromecon rigida), purple nightshade
(Solanum sp.), blue flowers of common phacelia (Phacelia distans) and bishop's
lotus (Acmispon strigosus). Near the bottom there are chia (Salvia columbariae)
and blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum) in bloom everywhere.
The areas east of Lake Henshaw still look good this week, however the nice
displays of goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis) are fading fast. Around the junction of
S2 and S22 where the PCT crosses S22, there are both white and blue
ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.) in full bloom and the slopes look spectacular.
In Anza-Borrego Desert State Park this week at lower Grapevine Canyon there
are a surprising number of species in bloom right along the road, including tons
of Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata),
pincushion (Chaenactis fremontii) and small flower poppy (Eschscholzia
minutiflora). Hiking in Bitter Creek Canyon just beyond the spring, you find many
flowering plants, including the Wallace’s woolly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei),
California goldfields (Lasthenia californica), desert calico (Loeseliastrum
matthewsii), Bigelow’s monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii), common phacelia
(Phacelia distans) and chia (Salvia columbariae).
The bush lupine (Lupinus excubitus) at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological
Reserve, is very showy now, and along the trails that take you through chaparral,
bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), chaparral beard-tongue (Keckiella
antirrhinoides), American vetch (Vicia americana var. americana), black sage
(Salvia mellifera), are blooming. Trees like the showy blue elderberry (Sambucus
mexicana), and the much more subtle coast live (Quercus agrifolia) and
Engelmann oaks (Quercus engelmanii) are beautiful in flower. Under the trees
are Chinese houses (Colinsia heterophylla), and western buttercup (Ranunculus
occidentalis). Chick-lupine (Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus), owl’s clover
(Castilleja densiflora), popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys spp. & Cryptantha spp.),
suncup (Camissoniopsis intermedia) are edging some of the trails. Tucked in
among the shrubs are small patches of baby blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii),
and woolly lomatium (Lomatium dasycarpum). North Granite Loop Trail has
balloon clover (Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum), California Poppy
(Eschscholzia californica), and colorful splashes of ground pinks (Linanthus
dianthiflorus).
Larkspurs (Delphinium patens) and (Delphinium parryi). Photos by Ron Vanderhoff
A very nice hike in the Cleveland National Forest along the San Juan Loop Trail,
will yield you glimpses of at least 138 species of plants! The showiest include
ropevine (Clematis pauciflora) scrambling up into shrubs and trees, chinese
houses (Collinsia heterophylla), Parry's blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parryi) ) and
woodland star (Lithophragma affine), occupying little shady patches. Larkspurs
(Delphinium parryi and D. patens) stand tall among the grasses. Many-flowered
linanthus (Leptosiphon floribundus), small-flowered meconella (Meconella
denticulate), wide throated yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus brevipes), wild
Canterbury bells (Phacelia minor), chia (Salvia columbariae) valley clover
(Trifolium willdenovii) and five different Lupine species (Lupinus spp.) are
scattered along the trail.
Woodland star (Lithophragma affine) and fiesta
flower (Pholistoma auritum). Photos by Ron
Vanderhoff
Still in the Santa Ana Mountains, a walk in the remote Pine Canyon, a tributary of
Silverado Canyon reveals nice displays of climbing snapdragon (Antirrhinum
kelloggii), paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca
whipplei), and long-leaved lupine (Lupinus longifolius) Lastly, but best, is an
unusually large patch of at least 50 rein orchids (Piperia sp.).
Harford Springs Preserve in Western Riverside County has monkeyflower
(Mimulus aurantiacus) and (Mirabilis californica) tucked in among the many large
boulders scattered in the landscape. Patches of the many-stemmed woolly
sunflower (Eriophyllum multicaule) and golden yarrow (Eriophyllum
confertiflorum).
Along the foothills of the Southern Sierra Nevada from Sequoia & Kings Canyon
National Parks, Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is spectacular with it’s
reddish-pink blossoms and the blue of lupines, the silver bush lupine (Lupinus
albifrons) and spider lupine (Lupinus benthamii). Standing out too are showy
yellow of patches of madia (Madia elegans).
At Pinnacles National Monument on the High Peaks trail, enjoy the gold and red
colors of goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis), wallflowers (Erysimum capitatum), and
paintbrush (Castilleja affinis var. affinis). The pretty little bitter root (Lewisia
rediviva) is also blooming on this trail, but keep a sharp eye out because it is well
camouflaged sitting in the decomposed granite and gravelly soil. Check out the
checker lilies (Fritillaria affinis var. affinis) and Johnny-jump-ups (Viola
pedunculata) along the Old Pinnacles Trail and find fringed onions (Allium
fimbriatum var. fimbriatum) as you scale the Balconies Cliffs Trail. Climbing vines
of pipestem (Clematis lasiantha) and purple morning glory (Calystegia purpurata
ssp. purpurata) are hanging out along the Bear Gulch Trail. Cream cups
(Platystemon californicus), gilias (Gilia spp.), chia (Salvia columbariae), California
(Eschscholia californica) and tufted (Eschescolzia caespitosa) poppies, silver
bush lupine (Lupinus albirons), common yellow chaenactis (Chaenactis
glabriscula), popcorn flowers (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) and golden yarrow
(Eriophyllum multicaule) are seen dotting the landscape all around the park.
California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are spectacular throughout the
Figueroa mountains along Figueroa Mountain Road, while other wildflowers are
declining. There are still a few Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla) and
hummingbird sage (Salvia spathaceae) in bloom. A little further up the road you
will see the distinctive red of paintbrush (Castilleja sp.). Cream cups
(Platystemon californicus) are flowering as you approach the second cattle guard
and further, along the serpentine formation, look for prickly phlox (Linanthus
californicus), and golden-orange wall flowers (Erysimum sp). Mariposa lilies
(Calochortus spp.) are coming up among the tall grasses in the meadows. The
poppy bloom on the burned area about a mile up from the Ranger Station is very,
very showy. Continuing on, at a large dirt turnout about a mile beyond the Davey
Bown trailhead, some chocolate lilies (Fritilaria biflora) are still in bloom, and
beyond that are carpets of goldfields (Lasthenia sp.) with tidy tips (Layia
platyglossa), coreopsis (Coreopsis sp.) and buttercups (Ranunculus californica).
Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) is applying flecks of red on the rock wall faces. At
Ranger Peak look for baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), miner’s lettuce
(Claytonia sp.) and purple phacelias (Phacelia spp.). It continues to be colorful to
Cachuma Saddle, then at Susnset Valley, ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.), golden
yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum), chia (Salvia columbariae), poppies
(Eschscholzia spp.), Coulter lupine (Lupinus sp.), Chinese houses (Collinsia
heterophylla), monkeylower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and prickly phlox
(Leptosiphon californicus) are blooming nicely. Happy Canyon has a plethora of
wildflowers— all of the mentioned above and much more! Go see it!
Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) along Figueroa Mountain Road. Photo by Helen Tarbet
At Stough Canyon Nature Center in the Verdugo Mountains take an Earth Day
hike with the family along Stough Canyon or Wildwood Canyon Roads. Enjoy the
colorful and fragrant, black sage (Salvia mellifera), bush sunflower (Encelia
californica), monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), purple sage (Salvia
leucophylla), sugar bush (Rhus ovata) and the arroyo lupine (Lupinus
succulentus).
If you are visiting Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and Nature Center off Hwy. 14,
look for patches of goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis) along the canyon bottoms and
golden bush (Ericameria sp.), monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and black
sage (Salvia mellifera) among the rocks and boulders of the canyon.
Recent rains are encouraging dormant poppies at the Antelope Valley California
Poppy Reserve to come out and show off their colors. Fiddleneck (Amsinckia
sp.), goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis), Mojave suncups (Camissonia sp.), and
forget-me-nots (Cryptantha sp.) are starting to bloom here and there. Grape soda
lupines (Lupinus excubitus) are still putting on a nice show too. The best hiking
route at this time is going up the Tehachapi Vista Point trail and back along the
South Poppy Loop Trail. Just over the crest at the top, a nice patch of poppies
can be seen on the south-facing slope. Another good spot to visit is Kitanemuk
Vista Point, where a lovely patch of purple lacy phacelia (Phacelia sp.) can be
seen. If you're up for a long hike, a lightening-strike fire in September burned the
south-east end of the park, and several healthy patches of poppies can be seen
along the lower Antelope Buttes Vista Point trail. It's about a 3 mile round trip
and it's not a carpet of poppies, but they're good looking flowers without all the
grasses crowding them out.
That’s it for this week. Look for our next report on Friday, April 27 and check
back each week for the most up to date information on southern and central
California wildflowers.
NATIVE PLANT & WILDFLOWER EVENTS:
California Native Plant Society Chapters & California Native Plant Week
Chapters statewide are celebrating California native Plant Week April 15-22 with
events and activities. Go to the CNPS website to check out what is going on in
your area.
CNPS-Los Angeles Santa Monica Mountains Chapter
April 21, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Native Plant Week Symposium, Wildflower Show
and Plant Sale, Sepulveda Garden Center. For more information go to:
http://lasmmcnps.org/
CNPS-San Diego Chapter
April 28 & 29, San Diego Chapter will hold its Inaugural Native Garden Tour
Go to www.cnpssd.org/tour for more information.
CNPS-San Gabriel Mountains Chapter
Eaton Canyon Plant Walks: Second Sunday of each month except July and
August. Meet in front of Eaton Canyon Nature Center at 9:00 a.m. Then go on a
leisurely walk, about 2 hours, through the native plant garden that surrounds the
Center and into the nearby wild areas. The walk is different each time — what's
leafing out, flowering, in seed, etc., determines what your leader will talk about —
and different leaders bring different points of view.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve
Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center opens on, March 18th from 10am - 4pm
weekdays and 9am – 5pm weekends for the duration of the wildflower season.
Hungry Valley SRA
The first weekend of Hungry Valley Wildflower Tours will begin on April 21st &
22nd due.
Figueroa Mountain
There will be a guided drive and stroll wildflower tour of Figueroa on Saturday,
April 21, 2012. Interested parties are asked to meet at the Figueroa Station by
9:15. The tour will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring water, a lunch, comfortable
shoes and a camera (ok, the camera is optional, but you’ll wish you had)!
Prisk Native Garden Open House is on Sunday, April 22 (Earth Day), 1:00 – 4:00
pm. Prisk Native Garden is located in Long Beach near the corner of San Vicente
and Los Arcos. (Around corner from school address at 2375 Fanwood Ave., Long
Beach 90815.) Admission free. Take Palo Verde turnoff in Long Beach. Further
info: letteriello@charter.net or Mike at 562-481-5216.