Carol Leigh's
CALIFORNIA WILDFLOWER
LOCATIONS DEVELOPING
YOUR CREATIVE EDGE Back to Photo Explorations home page. ©Carol Leigh |
[Wildflower reports are shown in chronological order, the most recent
being first. Note, since all your e-mails to me arrive in ASCII text
format, I have to reformat your reports prior to posting here on the
Wildflower Hotsheet. If they look "not quite right" to you, well, it's my
fault! Sorry! — Carol Leigh] San Diego - 6/4/09 - Phillip Roullard writes: Please ask all of your readers to call their state senator and assemblyperson to urge them to keep state parks open. There is a very real threat that parks will close. That would be an economic disaster for state park employees like me and communities that generate millions of tourist dollars for the state economy. On that note...if you in San Diego, go to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and take the Milk Ranch Road trail that takes off from Highway 79 near Lake Cuyamaca. The trail is chock full of Bloomeria, manzanita, red maids, stream mimulus, brodiea, wyethia, two kinds of Indian paint brush, California rose, scarlet bugler, foothill penstemon, yarrow and milkweed. With many others that I probably forgot to mention. Take the Milk Ranch trail, to the Azalea glen trail then the left fork that goes back to highway 79. I was just on the trail this past Wednesday the 3rd. Southern California - 6/4/09 - Spencer Westbrook writes: Hi Carol, Seems the reports have slowed or altogether stopped so thought I would report on my mid week outing here in So. Calif area. Thanks to Shirley Grant's report of May 16 I travelled to the Mt. Baldy area to visit Ice House Canyon. The lower elevations of the San Gabriel Mtns are dry and although yucca is in bloom, not much else was along the road on the way up to Mt Baldy Village area. Once at about the 4500' elevation things look better and there is actually a pretty good flow in the creeks. I stopped at the vistior's center in the village to get maps and look at the displays and picnic in the small area at the rear with some historic buildings. Ice House Canyon is just up the road and has plenty of parking, simply start hiking up the trail which parallels the creek. I spent most of the time, about 4 hours, shooting along the creek with lots of small waterfalls and pools. The creek is shaded by alder trees and was cool, in the 60's, with soft filtered light. Although there are flowers along the trail, the best find was the ample crimson columbine which were just beginning to bloom, should be in full bloom in a week or two. They were all along the creek and along damp areas of the trail. The ladybugs Shirley mentioned had dispersed although I did see some flying about. After shooting several hours I returned to my trusty 84 Toyota truck and got my b & w equipment and went back into the area to shoot another hour or so. I left the Ice House Canyon area and drove to the top of Mt Baldy Rd hoping to see San Antonio Falls but the road was closed so I simply drove to the very top of the road where I was surprised to see prickley poppy and yucca blooming, at 6,000' elevation. After a wild night of thunder, lightning, rail, hail, and a dusting of snow at the top of the peaks, and unable to get breakfast since all the power was off in the village, I headed toward the west on Glendora Ridge Rd which turned out to be a great find. This road runs on the north, ie: cool, side of the mountain ridge overlooking the river canyons far below and was loaded with flowers, the best show being the rose colored phlox and the stunning displays of pastel bush monkey flowers which ran the full length of the road, about 20 miles. Perhaps the best display of bush monkey flowers I have seen, in full bloom. Also, another of my favorites, stonecrop, dudleya, in full bloom right down to roadside. I also found a very nice mexican pink in full bloom, over 5' high. There are plenty of additional flowers along the road, lupine, chinese houses, penstemon, yarrow, indian paintbrush, to name a few. The weather this day (Wednesday) was wild with lightning and thunder and rain off to the north, It was great to watch the show from the roadside as the sky was amazing with the lightning far off to the north but the thunder echoing all through the canyons was a thrill to hear. At the junction of the road I elected to head down East Fork Rd (rather than go to Glendora,) this being the east fork of the San Gabriel River, the road dropping to an elevation of about 1500' and back to dry conditions. I did see a lot of campers along the river and this not being an actual campground wondered why they were there. Turns out they are looking for gold in the river bottom and had all their equipment there, I guess they must find something now and then, not my idea of fun but hey. The one thing I did see along the road which parallels the east fork was lots of giant blazing star in bloom, however, the day being cool and cloudy, the flowers were closed. Headed back to Azusa on San Gabriel River Road and was finally able to get some food about 2:30 in town before driving home to Ventura. Sonoma County - 5/20/09 - David Senesac writes: Stopped and hiked about the Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve in northern Sonoma County, last Saturday and noted the big showy rhododendron's are about at peak. Although there are good numbers of those bushy trees on the slopes with many blooms, there isn't an aesthetic complement of large old growth coast redwood trees one will see up in Del Norte groves. Loggers long ago cut down all the old growth trees in the region just as they did in many other areas. Gold Rush Country - 5/16/09 - David Lederman writes: Yesterday, 5/15, we drove Hwy 20 from Exit 160 (161?) off I 80 west to Grass Valley. Then took 49 to Pleasant Valley Road and down to Bridgeport. The trip was glorious. Shortly after turning onto Rte 20 we ran into numerous dogwood in bloom – both white and light yellow. They are easily visible from the road. Probably four to five miles past the the entry to Hwy 20 is a turnoff for Bowman Lake. This was terrific. Drive to the South Yuba River Bridge and stop in the parking area just past the bridge. In addition to a beautiful view of the river, there are great rocks with a variety of lichens in yellows and oranges. There were also a variety of wildflowers on the rocks. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time identifying the various plants, except for pussypaws that were in profusion. After spending some time at the turn off we drove along the road. There were at lest 10-15 different species by the roadside for the next several miles and virtually nothing beyond mile 4. Among the plants were a beautiful purple and yellow lupine, some penstemons, paintbrush, and many others. Most of what we saw was very limited in locations. Maybe 10 –50 feet of plants only. Virtually everything was either in the rocks above the road or on the shoulders. We went back to 20 and continued to the turnoff for the town of Washington. This too was very successful. Again, everything was along the Washington road, which is very steep. Probably another 10 – 15 species, mostly different from those seen on the earlier detour. Saw a lot of dicentra, heuchera, a few iris, some lily types, and a lot of other beautiful specimens I can’t identify. Further down 20 after coming back from Washington, we stopped on the highway near a field of ceanothus and found brodiaea, more iris, and another treasure trove of goodies not seen at higher elevations. Once again, getting on foot just off the highway paid off. I would guess that during the entire day we saw at least 30-35 different species, many of which we had never seen before. Mt. Baldy area - 5/16/09 - Shirley Grant writes: Hi Carol, I’ve enjoyed the treasure hunt for wildflowers because of the reports on your site. Saturday 5/16 I hiked Ice House Canyon trail north of Mt. Baldy Village. Although there were a few flowers such as Western wallflower, snow plant, prickly phlox, monkey flower and sweet broom the star attraction was the Lady Bug bloom. You can see millions of Lady Bugs swarming in the hot afternoon air, and totally covering rocks and stumps. Location: From the 210 freeway above Upland (about where the Los Angeles and San Bernardino County lines meet) make your way north to Mt. Baldy Rd. 1.5 miles north of Mt. Baldy Village is the Ice Canyon spur road to the trailhead (Adventure Pass required). To see the Lady Bugs, hike in and start looking at the rocks about .5 miles up to about 1.5 miles up along the streambed. Carmel area - 5/16/09 - Arleen Tarantino writes: Hi I'm Arleen Tarantino. My husband and I hiked the loop at Garrapata today. Along the creek with saw wild radish, yellow and purple bush lupine, wild morning glories, california hedge nettle, indian paint brush, and going up the hill we saw california poppies, elegant clarkia, monkey flower, checkerbloom, lanathus, going back down on the ocean side we saw massive blooms of spreading larkspur, beautiful batches of thistle. Be sure to keep an eye out for snakes. I was so busy looking at the flowers that I inadvertently stepped on a gardener snake. It was fine, thank goodness. We also saw a ringneck snake in the forest. No rattlers, we know they're out there. Cool/Auburn - 5/5/09 - Jeremy Underwood writes: Northern California, Outside the town of Cool - Sunday I had the opportunity to get outside for a bit when there was a break in the clouds so I ventured up to Dave Moore Nature area. It is a beautiful trail that gently winds it way through the woodland and along the river. I've been waiting for these wonderful little flowers called Fairy Lanterns and they've finally began to bloom. Not your conventional flower that draws you in with bold color and unusual design, the beauty of these flowers is hidden beneath three pedals. When you look inside, you will find some unusual design that makes for some interesting photos. You can see a few that I posted on my blog: http://jeremyunderwood.com/blog/nature-photography/california-wildflowers-dave-moore-nature-area-2/ Directions: From Eastbound Interstate 80 - Take the Highway 49 exit heading south at the town of Auburn. Continue along Hwy 49 through the towns of Cool and Pilot Hill, approximately a 14 mile drive. The entrance will be 3 miles south of Pilot Hill on the right at the cobblestone wall. Kern River Canyon - 5/4/09 - Lara Hartley writes: may 2-3 - the kern river canyon is still abloom with a large variety of species. the road is narrow and winding along the river and there always seemed to be someone behind me wanting to go faster — while i wanted to go slower to look for flowers. the trick is finding a place to pull over to photograph the blooms. several places it is simply too dangerous to stand next to the road. species in full bloom in the lower to mid canyon were: sticky monkeyflower, elegant clarkia, mexicali onion, farewell to spring/speckled clarkia, lupine, lance-leaved live-forever. in the upper reaches of the canyon, along kern canyon road, near mill creek, there was ithuriel's spear, linanthus and some fading delphinium species. Haiwee Reservoir - 5/4/09 - Graham Owen writes: Haiwee Reservoir - 5/3/09 - Exciting news, Kennedy’s Mariposa Lilies are in bloom at Haiwee on 395. I found larger numbers of lilies along dirt roads at the southern end of the lake and their orange coloring is intensely vibrant, and it is hard to miss seeing them. Sierra onion are also in bloom, today was a fun day. I just uploaded several Kennedy’s Mariposa Lily photos onto my website. http://www.grahamowengallery.com/photography/Flowers/Kennedys_Mariposa_Lilies.html Thank you to everyone who contributes here, when I can’t get outdoors, reading Carol’s Hotsheet is the next best thing. Big Sur - 4/30/09 - Alexc Darocy writes: To elaborate on Nancy Collins report of 4/23 on the Big Sur Old Coast Road. Not for the timid driver; it does lend a sense of excitement to wildflowering with road repair vehicles roaring around blind curves. Colette, Deirdre and I found the following: rose and owls clover, globe lilly, wild strawberry, blue dicks, blue eyed grass, creek dogwood, buckwheat, false Solomons seal, giant vetch, Douglas iris, columbine, naturalized lilly of the valley and forget me nots, morning glory, deerweed, monkey flower, ocean spray, wood mint, Pacific pea, Indian paint brush, sky, purple and yellow bush lupine and , of course wonderful poppies. As a bonus, spectacular scenery. Tuolumne River Canyon/State Route 49 areas - 4/28/09 - David Senesac writes: Early Saturday morning on April 25, we drove into Yosemite National Park at Mather at 4500 feet and down to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir at 3800 feet checking on conditions. Although early season hikers and backpackers are swarming over the latter, wildflower conditions were still quite early with little yet showing anywhere roadside, areas that I am very familiar with. Those areas will look far better in a couple weeks as is usually the case before Memorial Day weekend. We then drove back north to the lower elevation Preston Falls trailhead along the Tuolumne River that starts out at about 2600 feet and rises to 2800 feet over 4.5 miles along the north side of the granite geology river. Only the first 3 miles will be of interest to wildflower seekers and note the trail annoyingly continually rises up and down. The North Mountain Fire burned parts of those slopes last summer. Conditions along that trail were about at early peak, nicely green and ought to be delightful for another two or three weeks. River levels are relatively low this year as dam gatekeepers of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir are in a stingy mood due to the drought. Thus no raging spring torrent but rather pleasant easily approached streamsides. Immediately along the old trail was a brief zone with Indian pink. For photographers, the most interesting species among many more species along the trail were bicolor, harlequin, foothill, and bush lupines, wild ginger, blue dicks, buttercups, some areas of goldfields, madia, larkspur, canon dudleya, common and primrose monkeyflowers, gilia, foothill poppies, redmaids, Indian paintbrush, and Nuttal's violet. Areas of lupinus bicolor were often dense on the bottomland flats shared with blue and canyon live oak, manzanita, ceanothus, digger and yellow pine, and incence cedar. And everywhere along the trail is poison oak, though one with an eye out for its sometimes trail overhanging branches or growing between trail rocks, can easily avoid it. On Sunday we moved closer to the valley visiting serpentine areas along highway 49. There are several large exposures of serpentine geology between Chinese Camp and Mariposa along that famed highway. Such areas often have our best wildflowers as the otherwise plague of Old World grasses and grains brought over by livestock grazing settlers does not grow well in such mineral geology leaving native California plants to show their real selves. Goldfields peaked in those areas two or three weeks ago and are now mostly brown leaving the general landscapes with a drier look than I prefer. So we left our big cameras in the car while searching for closeups with our small digital cameras. There were fine areas of grass nuts, blue dicks, madia, larkspur, canon dudleya, bitterroot, chinese houses, farewell-to-spring clarkia, square mariposa lily, white globe lily, caterpillar phacelia, foothill poppy, broomrape, common mokeyflower, linanthus, globe gilia, and paintbrush. Additionally for those willing to ramble about the landscape, orange lichen readily grows on many serpentine outcrops providing possible outstanding background settings. To see some of these species, the following links to a short slideshow taken this weekend with my G10: http://www.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2009/prf_slidesh.html Eastern Sierra - 4/27/09 - Kahlee Brighton writes: Eastern Sierra - Further to my report on the Alabama Hills, I visited the following areas in the Eastern Sierra last week. Photos are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahlee/
Andrew Molera St. Park (Big Sur) - 4/27/09 - Kevin Shuck writes: Andrew Molera State Park in northern Big Sur is a great place for a spring hike right now. The Beach Trail is filled with big, beautiful yellow lupine bushes, carpeted with vetch among the grasses (note, you have to ford a creek to start this hike, or call to see if the seasonal bridge has been put in yet). Wildflowers along the Bluff, Panorama, and Ridge Trails are constant companions, with a terrific variety of species, including seaside daisies, blue-eyed grass, Indian paintbrush, poppy, fairy lanterns, ceanothus, monkeyflower, brodeia, yarrow, cow parsnip, wild onion, wild radish, blue dicks, red maids, checkerbloom, miniature lupine, sage, johnny jump-ups, seep monkeyflower (on the Spring Trail), etc. Everything looked very healthy; only the Zigadene lilies were done. From the Ridge Trail you have excellent views of Mt. Manuel, the upper flanks of which are carpeted in poppies following last summer's fires. Lower north-facing slopes appear to be carpeted in miniature lupines. If only the Ventana Wilderness were open so we could explore those terrific displays up-close! Various locations - 4/27/09 - Susan writes: On April 26 we drove to Shell Creek Road, east of Paso Robles, and the beautiful display of wildflowers were all gone--just brown weeds. We then drove over to the coast and there were lupines blanketing the fields after Cambria on Highway 1. After that vivid display of blue contrasted with the lush green, nothing in Big Sur seen from the road. On Carmel Valley Road past the village, as well as Highway 68 going to Salinas, the lupines are still blanketing the hillsides--gorgeous! Various locations - 4/26/09 - Duncan Carter writes: April 24, around Mariposa.
Various locations - 4/25/09 - Duncan Carter writes: April 23 - SR 178 from Bakersfield toward Lake Isabella, before Kern Canyon Road. Caterpillar phacelia, azalea, encilia, fiddleneck, speckled clarkia, elegant clarkia, thistle, blue lupine, tarweed, broom, layia, white lupine, eriophyllum, elderberry, mimulus, filaree, wallflower, fiesta flower, blue phacelia, Chinese houses, false baby stars, linanthus, miner's lettuce, cryptantha. Kern Canyon Road - must see! Old gold fields, red owl's clover, bird's eye gilia, blue dicks, carpets of linanthus (mostly false baby stars), pink delphinium, lomatium, tar weed, chia, sanicle, wyethia. On Evans Road, SR 155, yerba santa in bloom, ball-headed gilia. Later, buttercups, baby blue eyes. Jack Ranch Road, a field of gold poppies. On Old Stage Road, happy face, wine cups, white linanthus. Kemble Road, off SR 49 south of Mariposa, white nemophila, spoke pod, blue dicks, wallflower, harlequin lupine, popcorn flower. goldfields, woodland star, bird's eye gilia, yellow lupine. (Next, April 24.) Arvin area - 4/25/09 - Duncan Carter writes: April 22, SR 233 from Arvin to SR 58, all dry. Tehachapi pass, one group of lupine and one group of Clarkia. The next three days are better! Palomar Mountain - 4/25/09 - Phillip Roullard writes: I got this from a friend Mary, who is also a member of our local chapter of CNPS. First report from Palomar Mountain: Emily and I saw lupines, including the miniature lupine, on the south grade to Mt. Palomar and I saw large swaths of Baby Blue Eyes under the burnt out trees on Mt. Palomar, same south grade. We also saw large amounts of California Peonies at the turnout overlooking Lake Henshaw but I'm not sure if those were planted by the state. They were in the median of the parking lot turnout and down the slopeside. There were frequent sightings on the east grade of Mt Palomar of Paintbrush, mostly the short brushy kind that grows in clumps. Lots of others but not in great amounts together, included penstemon, monkey flower, phacelia, scarlet buglar, prickly lupine, and tons of CA poppies. All on the roadsides of 75 leading to the south grade of Mt. Palomar. Alabama Hills (E. Sierra) - 4/22/09 - Kahlee Brighton writes: Alabama Hills - Hi Carol -- I was in the Alabama Hills and Lone Pine from April 16 though the 19th and saw some very nice wildflowers. This is NOT a great year in terms of flower density/large displays. Nevertheless, there's good variety and plenty of bloomin' goodies tucked in and among the boulders, even if the area looks barren at first glance. In the few days I was there, I found Indian Paintbrush (several varieties), Fremont's Pincushion, Common Phacelia, Desert Dandelion (lots of it, especially near the Indian Cemetery off Tuttle Creek Road), Apricot Mallow, Desert Trumpet, Shredding Evening Primrose, Brown-Eyed Evening Primrose, Brittlebush, Gold Fields, Chia, Filaree, Black Mustard (non-native), Tamarisk (non-native), Sandblossoms (both purple and white), Bud Eriophyllum (noteworthy yellow ground cover in many areas -- along with Sandblossoms and Purple Mat, these are true belly flowers), Whitedaisy Layia (glandulosa - all white - related to Tidy Tips), Winter Fat, Fremont's Phacelia, Scarlet Locoweed, Purple Vetch, Yellow Turbans, Evening Snow, Parish's Larkspur, Showy Gilia, Desert Star, Jewelflower, Mojave Aster (very few in bloom this year), Hopsage, Scalebud, Purple Mat, Peppergrass and others. Bush Lupine are pretty much a no-show this year. Look for Beavertail Cactus to bloom in the next week or two along with Sacred Datura. Not a lot of Beavertail cactus, but those I saw had nice buds. Note: Movie Road has a few sandy spots, but is easily traversed in a 2WD sedan (avoid the edges of the roadway). Same for Hogback Road (off Movie Road, it connects with Whitney Portal). Other spur roads can require high clearance and be very sandy, rocky, etc. Use caution when venturing off among the rocks if you have 2WD. Whitney Portal Road is open to the top, but Horseshoe Meadow is still closed just beyond the ranch. I'll have a report from other parts of the Eastern Sierra/Owens Valley shortly. A few images are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahlee/ with more to come in the next few days. Thanks everyone! Pt. Reyes/Mt. Burdell - 4/23/09 - Cinda MacKinnon writes: On April 21 we went to Chimney Rock at Point Reyes (north of San Francisco). We lucked out in that it was a relatively warm and relatively low-wind day. (It is usually windy and chilly even in summer). The flowers were great: poppies, iris, blue-eyed grass (waning), Indian paintbrush, checkerbloom and more. I went for the pussy ears (Calochortus tomiei) and was not disappointed – these guys are small, but fun to photograph as they are eccentric with hairy, lilac petals and blue to purple stamen and pistil. Most people probably take HW 1 or Sir Francis Drake but we took scenic Lucas Valley Rd as it has the most flowers. Plenty to photograph (including Chinese Houses, Red Dephinium (waning) and crimson Columbine) if you don’t want to drive all the way to Chimney Rock. Look for turnouts, but watch your back: cars speed along this winding road. On April 22 we went to Mt. Burdell (near Novato, Marin Co.)– let me save you a trip there was not a lot blooming now except Ithuriels Spears and Mule Ears and they were hidden in the tall grass. Ft. Hunter-Liggett (Monterey County) - 4/23/09 - Alex Darocy writes: It is not too late to visit Fort Hunter-Liggett in Monterey County. Del Venturi Road-- Acres of sky lupine and a variety of other lupines including Harlequin and stinging lupine. Many large patches of poppies. Blue dicks, cream cups, larkspur, Bigelow thistle, large patches of chia, scarlet bugler, owls clover, checker bloom, pop corn flower. First couple of miles on Nacimiento-Fergusson road large patches of larkspur and blue eyed grass. Big Sur - 4/23/09 - Nancy Collins writes: I've had countless hours of fun observing and photographing wildflowers thanks to your website. My photos are very amateur but clear enough for ID and invoking wonderful memories of the day's hike. I live in Santa Cruz and always check your site before I head out. One of these days, I hope to see the more remote locations mentioned each year. Last weekend, April 18th, we drove the Old Coast Road which begins at the intersection of Hwy 1 and the Bixby Bridge and ends at the intersection of Hwy 1 and the entrance to Andrew Molera State Park. This road meanders through nearly all our habitats and gives one an excellent look across the (fire ravaged) hills of Big Sur. The spectacular drive on a narrow dirt road is fairly narrow and steep in some places so it is NOT passable in wet weather. It is also subject to slides and fallen trees. There are a few residences en route as much of the adjacent land belongs to the El Sur Ranch who are in process of replacing their fences. Please respect their private property. Lupine and other flowers that like disturbed soils are amazing right now. Poppies are better than I've seen in years and there is a wide variety of other wildflower species along the way. Thanks again for the great website! Salinas/Monterey - 4/23/09 - Rhonda Rocker writes: Hwy 68 from Salinas to Monterey--I only went as far as Ryan Ranch--has carpets of blue Lupine on the hills, especially toward the Salinas side and more so on the left side of the highway than the right (traveling from Salinas). I wouldn't make a special trip, but if anyone is in the area they might want to check it out. Grant County Park (Santa Clara County) - 4/22/09 - John Lamping writes: Grant County Park in Santa Clara County had a wildflower walk on April 19. There were spectacular carpets of lupines. Also well represented were owl's clover, blue eyed grass, curly dock, storksbill, California poppies, and fiddlenecks. The mostly level walk took Snell trail to San Felipe trail to Brush trail, with the spectacular lupines mostly on Brush trail. Photos are at http://picasaweb.google.com/lamping/WildflowersAtGrantCountyPark# Some of the walkers were from Meetup, and posted their pictures at http://www.meetup.com/Walking-thru-the-Valley-of-Heart-s-Delight-Hiking-Around/photos/593286/ (I don't have any connection to them. I just happened on their page when searching for pictures of wildflowers at Grant County Park Death Valley - 4/22/09 - Ranger Charlie Callagan writes: The rich, pink blossoms of the Beavertail Cactus can be found in abundance along the Mud Canyon and Beatty Cut-Off roads near Hell’s Gate, along the Scotty’s Castle Road and many other locations from 2000 to about 3000 feet in elevation. Death Valley Sage, Brittlebush, Rock Nettle, Globemallow, and other perennials are blooming in open wash and protected canyon environments. Bigelow Coreopsis and Desert Dandelions can be viewed blooming in profusion along portions of the Greenwater Valley dirt road. They may also still be putting on a nice display in nearby Gold Valley, which is reached with a four-wheel drive vehicle. The bloom is past its peak at elevations below 3,000 feet, but abundant fields of Desert Gold are still visible along park roadsides. Mt. Burdell (Marin County) - 4/18/09 - Robert Hall writes: I took a hike to the top of Mt. Burdell in Marin County. It's a great time to catch the green hillsides before they turn brown. Bluebirds, Ash-throated Flycatchers and Titmice were calling. The weather was verging on hot. And there was a decent display of wildflowers. My list includes Johnny Tuck, Pacific Pea, Cream cup, Lianthus, Miner's Lettuce, California Sunflower, Silver Puffs, Scarlet Pimpernel, Filaree, Purple Sanicle, Blue Field Gilia, Chinese Houses, Hog Fennel, Cal. Poppy, Blue-eyed Grass, Larkspur, Hill Star, Cal. Buttercup, Tomcat Clover, Blue Dicks, Popcornflower, Vetch, Hill Lotus, Suncups and Iris. You may a view a few photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92236126@N00/sets/72157617065597581/ Joshua Tree - 4/21/09 - Cap van Balgooy writes: On April 19 & 20 I was in Joshua Tree National Park. There are still many flowers. The Desert Dandelions are everywhere along the roads. The Ocotillo and Cholla cactus are in full bloom, so are Desert Senna, Bladder Pod and Desert Mallow. With good eyes you might notice Indigo Bush. Here and there you might see some Desert Aster (Queen Valley). Also watch the "belly flowers" if you are a Macro fan. It is a little bit early for cacti. According to my records they will be blooming late May. A good place to see flowering cacti is along the desert Queen mine trail. I recommend taking the West entrance when going into the park, there you will almost immediately see flowers. Avoid going to Pleasant Valley except if you are interested in big boulders. Visit this park and keep your images for the next generation, because there is a lot of gardening going on and that will destroy the natural appearance of the park. San Bruno - 4/21/09 - Mike Richter writes: I haven't seen any reports about San Bruno. We were there today, April 21. A warm day but the breezes from the ocean were cool and our walk on Summit Trail was very pleasant, lots of flowers and fifteen to twenty varieties. I could identify. I was particularly hoping someone else had been there because I could not identify one orange flower-- the leaves were the color of pimpernel-- and had a brown spot at the base of the leaves and a bright yellow center resembling a dandelion. I thought it was a poppy but the only candidate I came up with was the wind poppy and that does not seem right after looking at pictures of the wind poppy. If any of the gurus out there have any ideas I would appreciate it. Pinnacles National Monument - 4/21/09 - Stacie Wolny writes: Pinnacles National Monument is in its prime right now. On Saturday, 4/18 we made a loop around the Juniper Canyon Trail, High Peaks Trail, down to Bear Gulch Cave and back along Condor Gulch Trail. You can see most of the following flowers along the first half of the hike, or by making the shorter loop around Juniper Canyon/HighPeaks/Tunnel trails. Most of this hike (except perhaps for a baking, exposed stretch of Condor Gulch trail) featured very nice combinations and often impressive quantities of wildflowers: Indian warrior, fiesta flower, indian paintbrush, phacelia, Johnny jump-ups, sun poppies, white ceanothus and black sage were plentiful, along with delightful patches of CA poppies, chinese houses, elegant clarkia, clematis, several types of lupine, blue dicks, larkspur, quite a few wallflowers, linanthus, some fiddleneck, wind poppies, woodland star, some shooting stars (others gone to seed) several members of Fabaceae that I didn't identify and even a couple of jewelflower. Dudleyas were about to bloom, buckwheats still in bud, mimulus were just getting started. The drive in was lined in spots with huge, white ceanothus in full bloom and hillsides covered in black sage. We also saw 4 snakes, including a very large rattler, gopher snake and garter. And there were more people hiking than I've ever encountered there before, so if you can go on a weekday, all the better. Carol: Once again, thank you for maintaining this very valuable site. :) Walker Pass (Kern County) - 4/20/09 - RT Hawke writes: Walker Pass (Kern county) We walked the PCT south from the campground. Nice patches of purple Gila, Tidy-tips, Golden Gila, Scalebud and Coreopis. There were a total of 36 species in bloom. Pt. Lobos - 4/20/09 - David Senesac writes: I went down to Point Lobos State Reserve Saturday April 18. As I was in the area early and the park doesn't open til 8am, I drove south on Highway 1 to a bit beyond Big Sur sizing up this year's wildflowers in that area. Most of these roadside landscapes are bland chaparal that harbors few wildflower species. Between those dominant areas are minor grasslands that have a drier yellow green look than they normally would at this time of mid spring. Conditions in the many small canyons are much greener and that is specifically the case along the Big Sur River. Note the state park has been closed since last summer's huge fire. Wildflower numbers are peaking now and a bit below average just as has tended to be the case for much of the central state this year. Along the immediate exposed to wind coast, many sunny grassland aspects already are rather brown. The current heat spell will only accellerate that drying. At Point Lobos the shaded Monterey pine forest areas are nicely green and many wildflower species are at or will be at peak within the next couple weeks. Thus this is the optimal period for a spring time visit. Meadow areas along the south side of the peninsula have good numbers of California buttercups, beautiful Monterey mariposa lily, calochortus uniflorus, and a few witch's teeth. And the bluffs above the surf zone show paintbrush and seaside daisies. Overall wildflowers numbers are again a bit below normal. http://www.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2009/monterey_mari.jpg On my drive home along SR68 towards Salinas, I noted the usually beautiful at this time of spring lupine covered grasslands west of and at Toro County Park were looking the same yellow green dry I'd seen elsewhere. That area probably peaked in greenery two or three weeks ago despite the fact lupine are now near peak. Montana de Oro - 4/20/09 - Kevin Shuck writes: Nothing to see at Montana de Oro State Park from the roadsides or along the Bluff Trail. Zilch. The only easy hike with good flowers right now is the Dune Trail just north of the visitor center, with beautiful pink sand verbena and poppies overlooking Spooner's Cove, plus lupine and fiddleneck. For better sightings, you have to climb: the southern portion of the Rattlesnake Flats Trail is filled with morning glories, blue dicks, Indian paintbrush, sticky monkeyflower, and bush poppies. This trail switchbacks down to connect with the Coon Creek Trail where there are a variety of species, but unfortunately you’ll spend more of your time watching out for abundant poison oak and ticks. The left turn northward from the Coon Creek Trail up the Oats Peak Trail is easy to miss; a thick patch of dwarf lupine may conspire to distract you. If you reach a conspicuous grove of cedars, you've gone too far. High up on the Oats Peak Trail between Oats Peak and Valencia Peak are the nicest patches of poppies and lupines, and of course great views. The Pinnacles - 4/20/09 - George Rogers writes: This is my first report to you, so please give me feedback if you need different info. I hiked The Pinnacles on Sunday mainly to take wildflower pictures. Going up the Condor Gulch Trail from the Bear Gulch Visitor Center I was surprised to see more flowers along the trail than I remember from several previous years. Silver Puffs, Chia, Mariposa Lily, Blue Dicks. At the trail junction at the top for the first time I took the section of the High Peaks Trail going east towards Chalone Creek, which means downhill, and was very pleasantly surprised by the large number of flowers including Woodland Shooting Stars, Fiesta Flower, Pipestems, Fremont Star Lily, Royal Larkspur, Checker Lily, Miner's Lettuce (with flowers), Western Wallflower, Pretty Faces, Silver Bush Lupine, Chinese Houses, California Poppies, Wild Cucumber, Wind Poppies, Blue Witch, Hill Lotus, Woodland Star, Blazing Stars, Bitterroot, California Everlasting, Johnny Jump Ups, and Cream Cups. Most of these flowers were in great abundance, and all but the Shooting Stars were in prime condition. After that we hiked the North Wilderness Trail, and did not see as much variety, but there were many Poppies in the sun, and Johnny Jump Ups in the shade. Juniper Canyon trail is usually a great wildflower spot in The Pinnacles but was not in very good condition compared to some previous years. The Stone Crop was just starting to bloom and may be at peak in another week or two, but it was dry in the canyon and I don't know how good the display will be this year. Here is a link to my photo album from this trip. If you have any time to verify my naming, as well as the ones I could not name, it would be greatly appreciated. If you have any problems with this link let know. http://cards.webshots.com/ecard/view/147095252YSeBvm Antelope Valley (L.A. County) - 4/19/09 - Dan Pierce writes: On Sat. 4/18, I started off with a great drive over Comanche Point Road in Kern County, between Arvin and Tehachapi (thanks to a tip from your Hotsheet). The dirt road is on private property, with 3 unlocked gates -- but the signs indicate that the property owner grants permission to pass through on the road (high clearance vehicle is desirable). It was a beautiful day, and I got some nice shots of individual flowers, but no large swaths of color. On my way home I drove through the Antelope Valley and took a shot at the same place near Fairmont Butte that I had taken a photo last year on the same day. What a difference a year makes. Last year didn't start off looking so great, but we got a late bloom of poppies. This year started off looking promising, but I guess the conditions were not favorable, because everything dried up and died. You can see my photo comparison here: http://webpages.charter.net/tworunga/antelopevalley/index.html There are some spots throughout the Antelope Valley where the perennial poppies are currently putting on a nice display. And Gorman has some nice combinations of color -- if you're inclined to cross the barb-wire and hike up the hillsides and ravines. Bear Valley - 4/19/09 - Eric Hunt writes: Thanks so much for providing such a wonderful resource for California naturalists, photographers, and wildflower lovers! This was my first serious year out photographing and I'll be using your site to plan a lot of my destinations for next year. I drove Bear Valley Road, Brim Road, and part of Bartlett Springs Road on Saturday, April 18. Bear Valley itself was moderately colorful. I suppose if you'd never seen it before it was stunning but there were only a few places that had horizon and eye-filling complete color. Nothing even close to the impact of Hite Canyon Cove a month ago. Regardless, it's absolutely worth stopping and getting some long shots of the valley and the hills on either side. As mentioned previously, the land is private and there are fences. However, the unfenced land between the fence and road is large enough for most, if not all species, to spill into. Perfect for closeups and no danger of cow patties. The initial ascent of Brim Road into the mountains was my favorite spot of the day. There were Calochortus amabilis, scattered large colonies of Triteleia laxa, numerous tiny pink and white species in the Polemoniaceae, Allium falcifolium, Allium serra, Ceanothus jepsonii var. albiflorus, Castilleja, scattered Iris sp., a good sampling of various Asteraceae in colors yellow, white, and pink, many small Apiaceae, Salvia columbariae, Lupinus spp. galore, Delphinium, Trifolium. I am sure I missed some of the more interesting and tiny things. The end of Bear Valley Road, in the last half mile before it descends into Bear Valley, had some nice things. Collinsia, Erysimum, Plectritis, Lupinus spp. Brim road past the ascent and Bartlett Springs Road were mostly flower free and the terrain was noticeably scrubbier/drier. Very stark and beautiful. I was in a pipsqueak little city car. It desperately needed a carwash when I was done and I was extra careful and slow on the upper parts of Brim and Bartlett Springs road. I would have strongly preferred to drive in a high sightline 4WD vehicle but I didn't damage my vehicle. Photos from this trip and others from this wildflower season at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/ Finally, you might want to pass along this link where a bit of info on the unique ranching conservation agreement and stewardship the floor of Bear Valley is operating under: http://www.rangelandtrust.org/conservation-bear_valley.php Table Mountain - 4/18/09 - Ed Littrell writes: Table Mountain is past its prime, but still worth going to. It may last only another week, though, as temperatures hover around the 90's F. Lupine is the best show, with some goldfields still in the depressions. The approach up the hill is actually very nice. Here the trees are green, the grass is green, and there are small shows of flowers on the road cuts and grassy patches. The valley floor around Oroville actually may be better than the mountain top. The vernal pools are still wet, with some nice displays. Poppies can be seen in various places; no big shows, but nice patches. Birds are very active: Red-wings, swallows, mallards, flycatchers, and the like. Mitchell Canyon (Mt. Diablo) - 4/18/09 - Cinda MacKinnon writes: Went out to Mitchell Canyon on Friday 17th. The Mt. Diablo Globe lilies (Calochortus pulchellus) are putting on a good show about 1mile out along the main fire road (not many on the "Globe lily trail"!); they are found no where else in the world, but look similar to yellow lanterns, C. amabilis. Other species of note : pink alliums, royal delphiniums, poppies, blue dicks and Chinese houses – all at peak. Ithuriel’s spear just starting. It was worth the trip. We are due for a hot spell in the next few days so this may speed the season along however. Also noted Clarkia plants, which will probably be blooming in May. Mitchell Canyon is located in Contra Costa County on the north side of Mt Diablo. Follow signs on Clayton Rd., in Clayton, to the park entrance ($5 fee). Henry Coe State Park - 4/17/09 - Brad Bowen writes: 4/14 through 4/16. We backpacked in Henry Coe (outside Morgan Hill/Gilroy) for 3 days and we counted over 30 different species of wildflowers. There are flowers everywhere. Most of them are accessible in a long day hike from headquarters (Springs Trail, Manzanita Point Road, China Hole Trail, Cougar trail, and return on Poverty Flat Road). If you have more time also check out the narrows, Mahoney Meadows Road and Lost Spring trail. The most common flowers we saw were Arroyo and miniature lupine (fields and fields of the latter), owl's clover, goldfields (Lasthenia), buttercups, shooting stars, blue dicks, baby blue eyes, white baby blue eyes, blue-eyed grass, johnny jump ups or yellow pansies, larkspur, woodland stars, hound's tongue, popcorn flower and linanthus. Also common were indian paintbrush, indian warrior, california poppies, checker lily, ground iris, tri-color gilia (further out from headquarters), miner's lettuce, fuschia flowered gooseberry (ribes speciosum), and scarlet larkspur. Occasionally we saw common star lily, blue nightshade, morning glory, lace pods, two-eyed violet (viola ocellata), chinese houses, yarrow, vetch, scarlet pimpernels, common star lily, and mule's ears. An amazing display of wildflowers. We're still trying to identify some of the ones we saw. Highway 49 (between Mariposa and Hwy 120) - 4/17/09 - Frank and Marian Kishiyama write: We headed toward Electra Rd (near Jackson, Ca) on April 16th via Hwy 49 from Mariposa. Electra Rd was spectacular as reported though we wouldn't recommend it in a wide or long motorhome as the road is single lane most of the way in. We want to highly recommend Hwy 49 from Mariposa to the junction of Hwy 120. It was a sunny clear day and the poppies, purple, yellow and purple bush lupine were everywhere as well as some Paint Brushes. The hills were covered in bright yellow small flowers, (2 kinds name unknown), as well as tiny white flowers. You can even see the lupine growing on the dry shorelines of the resevoirs below the high water lines. The 38 miles of windy road, for those afraid of high places, is best traveled from Mariposa as the cliffs are mainly on the left side of the road. It was worth the drive and there are many places to pull over to enjoy the spectacular blooms. Thanks Carol for your website. We have enjoyed it for several years and this is our first posting. [And it's a terrific first posting. Thank you very much. -- Carol Leigh] Mt. Diablo - 4/16/09 - BobHall writes: On 4/13, four others and I went on a quad-buster of a loop hike at Mt. Diablo SP and saw a wide range of flowers. The hike started in Mitchell Canyon and crossed Eagle Peak summit. Highlights were a couple Mt. Diablo Globe Tulips on the Red Road, two Red Maids among a handful of Baby Blue Eyes on Deer Flat and Chia on Eagle Peak. Also in low numbers were Hound's Tongue, Indian Warrior, Wild Pansy, Chinese Houses, Freemont Star Lily, Checker Lily/Mission Bells, Ithuriel Spear, Hog Fennel, and Cow Parsnip. In greater abundance were Shooting Stars, Cal. Poppy, Blue-eyed Grass, Western Larkspur, Scarlet Larkspur, Indian Paintbrush, Woodland Star, Cal. Buttercup, Owl's Clover, Tomcat Clover, Blue Dicks, Blue Witch, Bush Sunflower, Narrow leaved Fringed Pod, Popcornflower, Yarrow, Wallflower, Miniture Lupine, Vetch, Filaree, Ceanothus, Clematis, Hill Lotus and Yerba Santa. Edgewood Park (Redwood City) - 4/16/09 - Chao Lin writes: We visited the Edgewood Park in Redwood City last weekend, 4/12. There are several patchs of goldfield, blue eye grass, silver lupine and purple owe's clover, on Sylvan trail, and Serpentine trail. On west side of the park, near power line, there were some patches of California poppies blooming, mixed with blue dicks, mules ear, and California buttercups. Trials are very nice, easy access, well maintained. We took a quite few nice pictures, you may look at: http://www.pbase.com/chaolin/wildflower_2009 Here is its address : 10 Old Stage Coach Rd, Redwood City, CA 94062 and a URL for map: http://www.friendsofedgewood.org/StreetMap.pdf Bear Valley - 4/15/09 - John Redman writes: I love your website and have ventured off to many of the Northern California areas mentioned. On 4/11/09 and 4/13/09 I went off to Bear Valley just west of Williams, just off of highway 20. Others have given directions so I will not repeat. I initially went alone and then took my wife after work two days later to catch it during a different part of the day. I felt this was a must see and once she saw the display she agreed full heartedly, despite getting home at 10:00 p.m. Attached are a few samples of what my wife and I observed. I have never seen such displays. I am unsure how long this will last. I described my experience as photographing a sea of wildflowers, something I have never seen in my life. Thanks again and good hunting. Whiting Ranch (Orange County) - 4/14/09 - Luz Torres writes: Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park Orange County - Directions: Take the new Bake exit off of I-5, just at the El Toro "Y". Go east (inland) about 5 miles to Portola Parkway, turn left and go about a half mile. On your right you will see a Ralphs Shopping Center. Immediately past the center is a traffic light; turn right at the light and make an immediate left into the Whiting Ranch parking lot. Parking in the Ralphs lot is not technically legal, but we do it all the time. Park in the back of the lot if you do. http://www.biketrails.com/whiting.html Wildflower Sightings: This wilderness park is a hidden gem for wildflowers. It is mostly known for its mountain bike trails but recently I discovered it for great wildflower and great for viewing butterflies, lilies, and so many other wildflowers especially since the recent fires have created the right conditions for a huge bloom. I would recommend Whiting Loop trial (~6 miles) but when you reach the top at Four Corners it is so worth it. As you continue downhill on Dreaded Hill make sure to keep an eye out to the left, the lilies are abundant is this area and countless but hidden if you walk too fast! The entire loop trial is filled with flowers and a short side trip to red rock canyon (1-mile roundtrip) is worth the side trip. Edgewood Park - 4/14/09 - Ann Rounds writes: We found it just lovely and varied this year on April 12. Edgewood is in Redwood City, along Interstate 280 in San Mateo County. We entered off Edgewood Rd. near Canada Rd. The strip of land that follows the highway before going under the bridge should not be missed. There are poppies, of course, but also utherial spears, royal larkspur, and owl’s clover, in addition to tidy tips and golden fields and lupine. When you climb up to the right on the fire road, you will find lots of cream cups, lupine and poppies. There are little white daisy-like flowers we didn’t identify, but also scarlet pimpernel surrounding the coyote bush stands. We were unable to find trillium this year, although we have in previous years, in the woods. The Indian warrior has faded and the hound’s tongue is mostly gone. Bush lupine is still full of blooms. Blue-eyed grass never left us, and blue dicks were everywhere. We even saw a bit of checker flower beginning. Of course, there were butter cups. Anyway, it was a lovely circular walk through open space, serpentine rocks, and oak studded woods. Stevens Creek Canyon (Cupertino) - 4/14/09 - Ron Wolf writes: During the last three weeks, I stopped by Stevens Creek Canyon outside of Cupertino several times to check on the progress of Canyon Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule) there. This brilliant red larkspur is now on full display in fairly dense patches along first mile of the canyon closest to Stevens Creek Reservoir. This site offers a remarkably easy way to see this plant close to Silicon Valley. There are clusters right beside the road and higher on the canyon walls. Shafts of sunlight into this narrow canyon make for dramatic views of the flowers. From I-280 in Cupertino, go south on Foothill Blvd. After 1.5 miles, Foothills Blvd. turns into Stevens Canyon Rd. Continue another 3+ miles, going past Stevens Creek Reservoir to a stop sign at the intersection of Mt. Eden Rd. Turn right and head up the canyon. You will have to buy a daily parking permit to park within any of the picnic areas run by Santa Clara County Parks, but there is no charge for parking at any of the numerous pull-outs along Stevens Canyon Rd. This short stretch of canyon provides a wonderful progression of flowers. At the moment, there are nice patches to Western Larkspur (D. hesperium), Woodland Star, Chinese Houses and Fiddleneck (both Common and Small-Flower). There are several patches of Common Eucrypta, a small flower that is so fragrant that you usually smell it before you see it. During the next few weeks, the canyon walls will offer good displays of Canyon Dudleya, White Globe Lilies and Red Ribbons (Clarkia concinna). I also saw some Scarlet Monkeyflower that is not yet in bloom. Recent pix of Canyon Larkspur plus other shots from last year are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwolf/sets/72157604633106187/ Bear Valley - 4/14/09 - Mike Heacox writes: Bear Valley in Northern California is happening. The wildflowers are protected behind barbed wire fences on private property, so they haven't been trampled by people. A nice redbud in full bloom is right off the road on the way in. There are currently fields of lupine/owl's clover/cream cups/tidy tips, some areas with lush clumps of California poppy, and nice patches of delphinium before and after the valley. We counted about 27 different flowers, so I'm just hitting the highlights. Directions: Take highway 20 west (at Williams) from highway 5, turn right on Bear Valley Road (behind the concrete barriers for the bridge construction - if you pass the bridge under construction, you went too far). The valley is about 8 miles up the road, although there are some spots worth shooting before you get there. This is a graded dirt road, but passable with two wheel drive. Parts are paved, sort of. Pope Valley - 4/13/09 - Teodora writes: Hi Carol, I sure appreciate your site. I have visited many of the sites that has been recommended here including Antelope Valley, Figueroa Mountain, Carrizo Plain and Shell Creek Road. They are all wonderful and the flowers were fantastic. This weekend, April 12, my husband and I went to Napa and looked for wildflowers. I think that it was the best we've seen yet. It equals or even surpasses Figueroa Mountain poppy and lupine display. Here's where you can go and spend 3 hours easily, that's how long we were there and we ran out of time. Go to Pope Valley which is above Napa and past St. Helena, past the little town of Angwin. The road is winding in some areas but road conditions are very good. Pope Valley is a gorgeous valley with a few wineries around but for the most part, it appears undisturbed. The flowers that are most abundant are lupine, poppies, popcorn flowers. There's also fiddleneck, baby blue eyes and a host of other flowers we have not identified yet( sorry we are new to this still). There are a couple of roads you can pull into and savor the beautiful scenery. Aetna Springs Road and James Creek Road. There are areas, although sometimes you can't go near because of fence, (but telephoto works great) that looks purple because of the lupine growing all over. There are areas with yellow flowers that covered one area and another covered with white. It looks like van gogh came and painted this place There were not a lot of people stopping to shoot pictures like we did- only saw 3 other cars. But it is a well traveled road by many locals who often drive quite fast- caution to all. I think it has not been discovered yet. The other area you can visit afterwards is Chiles Valley Road which is the other direction from Pope Valley but not too far. There's a couple of hills here by the road that is just covered with lupine! There were other gorgeous hills to stop but we ran out of time. Just a note many areas do have a no trespassing sign but some of the flowers are near the road so that you can easily take close up photos. I would guess that it is going to be great for another 2 weeks but after that the grass might become overgrown. Also, on your way back to Napa take Silverado trail Road because there are areas where poppies line the road-beautiful! Be careful though, there's not too many safe places to stop and cars do speed here. I took almost 200 photos but don't have a site yet to show you. Henry Coe State Park 4/13/09 - David Senesac writes: Spent midday Easter Sunday at Henry Coe State Park. From the headquaarters at about 2600 feet, my 6 mile plus route kept to the higher areas of the ridge. Like most of Central California given the mildly droughty rainy season, conditions are somewhat drier than normal and numbers of wildflowers are about 4 on a 10 scale. I saw all the usual long list of species and at elevations atop Pine Ridge where the main facilities are, conditions are at about peak now for 2009 and well worth a visit. That ridge along with Mount Diablo are the highest inland Coastal Range areas available for SF Bay Area hikers thus is usually the last to peak. http://www.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2009/manz_pt_rd_w.jpg Moving out along the shady Corral Trail, I went right to the Forest Trail that is sheltered by the east-northeast lee side of the ridge. The shady environment below blue oak, buckeye, madrone, big-berry manazanita, and California bay stays moist for shade loving wildflowers. There species like shooting stars, buttercups, and hound's tongue were prime among the leafy mossy green ground cover. The last storm, a week ago, recorded a nice half an inch of rain, so the ground in shady areas was still nicely moist. I scrutinized every one of the large big-berry manzanita trunks I passed for interesting G10 closeups of lichen that grow on bare areas between its shiny red bark. Poison oak is a frequent trailside plant though one can easily avoid it if one moves slowly and keeps an eye on greenery growing into the trail. http://www.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2009/manz_bark.jpg Back atop the ridge along the Spring Trail, the huge isolated black and blue oaks were showing all their new bright yellow-green leaves that looked impressive against the blue skies. Down below in the grainy grasses were all the usual species like johnny-jump-ups, blue dicks, blue-eyed grass, minature lupine, filaree, poppies, and owls clover. However numbers were somewhat low and the tall grasses made them unviewable beyond short distances. The tall alien grains atop the ridge were well past peak, tall, and are increasingly a less aesthetic green and drying as was the ubiquetous filaree. Having looped back, the Flat Frog Trail going north was a weaker version of the Spring Trail flora. Instead of hiking all the way to the Little Fork of Coyote Creek, I took a familiar shortcut offtrail hiking up a prominent rib. The rib had bird-eye gilia, common linanthus, goldfields, Douglas iris, and a giant multi-trunked big-berry manzanita with a base diameter of about 3.5 feet in all orientations. http://www.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2009/manz_lichen.jpg Santa Rosa Plateau - 4/13/09 - RT Hawke writes: Santa Rosa Plateau 4/12- Still good diversity with 77 species in bloom, although no showy flower fields. The Chocolate lilies are past, but the Checker Mallow and Blue-eyed Grass are beautiful. Highway 49 at Electra Road - 4/13/09 - Dave Skinner writes: The hillside poppies on Hwy 49 a few miles south of Jackson are waning quickly, but there is still some show and beautiful closeups to get if the midday sun is shining. The lupine is very strong as is popcorn flower. Spring vetch, glassy onion and red maid were added to my list this trip. You might also spot common sootywing butterflies and some colorful kayakers. The Mokelumne River is beautiful this time of year on Electra Road. Photos of this trip at http://wordydave.zenfolio.com Mt. Diablo State Park - 4/13/09 - Ron Wolf writes: The rare Yellow Globe Lilies (Mt. Diablo Fairy Lanterns) have begun to bloom in Mt. Dialbo State Park near Walnut Creek. This endangered species (Calochortus pulchellus) is endemic only to the park. It is found in relatively few areas there. The easiest, most accessible patch is along the Mitchell Canyon Trail, about 0.6 miles from the Michell Canyon visitor center parking lot. The trail is wide and smooth with gentle grades. Entrance is on the east side of the park, by the town of Clayton. Admission fee required. There are lots of other species in bloom along this trail. Narrowleaf Goldenbush (Ericameria linearifolia) is everywhere. The shady areas are dense with Small Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila heterophylla) a/k/a White Nemophila. Also seen: Western Larkspur, Blue Witch Nightshade, Woodland Star, Chinese Houses, California Buttercups, Serrated Onion, Shining Peppergrass, Owl Clover, Blue Dicks, Common Fiddleneck, White Phacelia (P. distans). Pix are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwolf/sets/72157604435390665/ Pasadena - 4/13/09 - Kahlee Brighton writes: Eaton Canyon Nature Center - 4/13/09 - On Saturday, April 11th, I paid a late afternoon visit to the Eaton Canyon Nature Center in Pasadena. Admission is free. The Center is located at 1750 N. Altadena Drive, off the 210 Freeway, about a block north of New York Drive. Wildflowers are abundant throughout the area, most notably, mass displays of California Sunflowers. I'd say these are slightly past peak, but still quite beautiful. There were many places to explore and hike beyond the grounds of the Center itself. Other species I found, primarily near the entrance and parking lot, were Matilija Poppies, Black Sage, Purple Sage, Bush Monkeyflower, Phacelia, Blue Dicks, Purple Nightshade, Buckwheat, non-native Mustard, Scarlet Monkeyflower and Lemonade Berry. Watch out for Poison Oak! A special treat was the small pink patch of large Showy Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) blooms growing curbside right at the entrance. I'll have pictures up in the next day or so at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahlee/ . Kern County/Gorman - 4/13/09 - D L Barnett writes: A short little drive off I5 near Gorman is Gorman Post Road. Take the Gorman exit from I5 and head east. Turn right at the stop sign. Hills are mostly green but turning to brown with large swaths of goldfields, poppies, lupine and many other flower varieties. Not the most spectacular year but very pretty. I think this is the season peak. Road continues to Hwy 138. Turn right at the junction and you are soon back on I5. Carmel Valley Road - 4/13/09 - Bill McFall writes: The wildflowers are amazing on Carmel Valley Rd. (G16) near Jamesburg. We traveled through on April 12th (Easter Sunday). Fields of lupine, yellow violet, shooting stars (will not last long) and many others flowers are carpeting the oak woodlands. You can access Carmel Valley Rd. from Hwy 1 (west side of G16) or Hwy 101 (east side of G16). Antelope Valley area - 4/12/09 - Malcolm Scott writes: I took a ride on Easter to try to find some California Poppies in the Antelope Valley area. I went west from Riverside across the high desert to Elizabeth Lake Road, west of Palmdale and found hillsides with poppies, goldfield, and lupens. The hills are along the road between Elizabeth Lake and Lake Hughes. If you are willing to climb them, and I did, you can get a full frame of flowers that reach up the hill. Then if you drive away from the lakes, toward Lancaster on Munz Road and you will find big juicy bouqets of poppies which extend from the hilltops down to the road. Great for your wide angle lens. The poppies may last a while because of the hills and the moisture from those lakes. Then I went to the Poppy Preserve and saw brown fields until I arrived at the front gate. There are plenty of poppies along the road at the front entrance. Macro or close-up shots will work, and some guys were taking pictures of their girlfriends with poppies in the background. If anyone wants to do this, better go quickly, it's very dry and the bloom may not last more than 5 or 6 days. Happy Spring! Gorman and Muntz Ranch Road - 4/12/09 - Dan Blackburn writes: As the weather cleared and the winds eased off a bit, we decided to take a look at Gorman, where it actually snowed briefly this weekend, and then along Muntz Ranch Road in search of poppies. The trip proved again that this is not a very good year for poppies in Southern California. Gorman is very patchy. Poppies, many of which are wind battered, are outnumbered by phacelia on a ratio of 20-to-1. The good news is that the phacelia does frame the poppies with some nice purple color. If the display in Gorman two years ago was a 9 on a scale of 10, then this season it is a 4 or very generous 5. On Muntz Ranch Road, to the south of Gorman and above Lancaster, there is a section about 50 yards long that has large clumps of poppies that seem to have escaped much of the wind damage that has plagued the Antelope Valley this spring. These blooms are healthy and beautiful, And that pretty much is it. No sweeping panorama shots here like those we have seen in the past. One thing that really struck us is that we have seen very, very few owls clover anywhere from Highway 223 on south. Lupine and phacelia and goldfields, for sure, but almost no owls clover. Does anyone know why they are missing this season? Overall, the weather pattern this season has not been kind to the poppies. Hopefully, better luck next year. Kudos to Kahlee Brighton - 4/12/09 - Phil Roullard writes: Kudos to Kahlee Brighton! Thanks for getting that tortoise off the road. I don't think wildlife officials would have any qualms about your trying to save an endangered species, especially since it was in immediate danger of being smashed to bits. I have three Calif. desert tortoise that I have had for decades and I can't release them into the wild since they have a chronic respiratory infection. They are registered with Calif. Fish & Game and will remain in our backyard forever. Near Salinas - 4/11/09 - Lane Davis writes: Who: Lane Davis Where: Toro Park, just south of Salinas, CA; from the trail that starts from the equestrian parking lot When: 4/11/09 What: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davis_boyz/sets/72157616647135300/ Fiesta Flower (Pholistoma auritum), Carolina Geranium (Geranium carolinianum), California Buttercups (Ranunculus californicus), Lupine (Lupinus sp.), Johnny Jump-up (Viola pedunculata), Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Footsteps of Spring (Sanicula arctopoides), Blue Witch Nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum), Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Wooly Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa), Sticky Monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), Owl Clover (Castilleja densiflora), Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii), Long-beaked Filaree (Erodium botrys), Coast Larkspur (Delphinium patens), Golden Brodeia (Triteleia ixioides), Suncups (Camissonia ovata), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Woodland Star (Lithophragma affine), Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), Fremont's star lily (Zigadenus fremontii) Not Blooming: California Manroot (Marah fabeceus), California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California Buckeye (Aesculus californica), California saxifrage (Saxifraga californica), Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia var. agrigolia) Vallecito/Jackson - 4/11/09 - Duncan Carter writes: April 10 - Camp Nine Road, off Parrott's Ferry Road near Vallecito. Best roadside bank displays in years! Less interesting, the flat land across from the power station. On Parrott's Ferry Road, fiddleneck, blue lupine, red bud, white ceanothus, monkey flower, popcorn. On the Camp Nine Road, vetch, buttercups, butter-and-eggs, white nemophila, blue dicks, dentaria, shooting stars, clematis, lomatium, lotus, pseudobahia, caterpillar phacelia, brodiaea, castilleja, mock orange, yellow lupine, blue lupine, pink clover, plectritis, dudleya, woodland star, wild onion, silene, madia, orobanche, pineapple weed, yellow astragalus, pretty face brodiaea (small, ragged), layia, goldfields, pussy paws, streptanthus, wallflower, manzanita, valley tassels, miner's lettuce, Chinese houses, saxifrage, blue delphinium. An unidentified flowering shrub at the road's end, many clusters of white flowers, possibly domestic. April 10 - Electra Road, off route 49 just south of Jackson. Excellent poppy displays, as noted by another reporter, but just starting to unroll at 57 degrees F. Blue lupine, caterpillar phacelia, popcorn flower, blue dicks, dudleya, thistle, white globe lily, Ithuriel's spear, woodland star, fiddle neck, cat's ear, valley tassels, filaree, red maids. Down route 88 from Jackson, meadow foam gone, patches of gold fields still in the pastures. San Diego - 4/10/09 - RT Hawke writes: Torrey Pines Preserve (San Diego county) 4/9 RT Hawke writes: Great spot with high diversity. 86 species were in flower, but about 30 percent of that were just a few plants. The Guy Fleming trail had a nice annual wildflower display of popcorn flower, poppy, suncups and tipy-tips. The coast coreopsis is in full bloom, and as far as I know this is its only location in california. Jackson/Highway 49 - 4/9/09 - Tony Siciliano writes: After reading the 4/6 reports of poppies in the Jackson/Hwy 49 area, I drove there and visited Electra Road, just south of Jackson. There are indeed many poppies, but they never opened today. Too cold and rainy I guess. Question for you poppy experts: was it the temperature (max in the low 50's) or the rain that kept them closed, or both? Various locations - 4/9/09 - Kahlee Brighton writes: Gorman/Various Kern County Locations/Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve - Kahlee writes: This past weekend (including Monday), April 4-6, I explored, Gorman, several sections of the Kern River valley and mountains, as well as the Ridgecrest area of the Mojave Desert and the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. Below is a summary of what I found in these different areas and here's a link to some of the images I took on this adventure: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahlee/.
That's it for this week's adventure. Thanks, as always for the wonderful reports everyone posts. If possible, please remember to include driving conditions/optimal traversability by vehicle types on any non-paved roads mentioned. I followed a couple of recent suggestions about desert roads (Short Canyon, Antelope Valley and Rademacher Hills) and my Corolla nearly was swallowed whole in a Herbertesque Dune Trilogy of sand. Various locations (N. Cal.) - 4/8/09 - Bill Hunt writes: 4/4 Mix Canyon off Pleasants Valley Road northwest of Vacaville was well worth the effort. A number of red columbines were blooming on a canyon wall next to the road at one point. Up on the ridge, a mile or two past vineyards, there were a large number of columbine plants mostly not yet in bloom. We saw hound's tongue at several points and some Indian warrior. Lots of lupine, Indian paintbrush, buttercups and some blue dicks. We counted 52 species including a few trees along the Mix Canyon Road. Pleasants Valley Road north of the Mix Canyon turnoff has fields of lupine and wild radish. Highway 16 north of the Cache Creek Casino had many, many western redbuds in full bloom. Plenty of other flowers in bloom too along the highway. Bear Valley Road off Highway 20 near Hwy 16 was mixed. There was a good display or tidy tips at the corral near the start of the road with some red maids at the fences. Much of the roadside in the first few miles had been disturbed by roadwork and slides so there were far few flowers than in 2005. Just before we came to the broad valley floor there were fields of blue dicks and other flowers on either side of the road. radish grass reduced the effect of the flowers. There were some flowers in the creek bed where the road crossing the valley floor and the creek. Farther north past some ranch buildings, there were fields of flowers next to the road. We saw dozens of deep blue delphiniums on the right-of-way. Goldfields, cream cups, lupine, blue dicks and owl's clover were present too. We drove east over mountains from Bear Valley toward Williams on the Leesville Road. Terrible pavement but lots of yellow lupine. 4/6 Sunol Regional Park - On a 7-8 mile hike up the Joe Creek trail and down the View Trail Road to the Canyon View Trail, we saw flowers in great number and variety. Lupine of several species covered some fields and yellow-orange monkeyflower were present in large numbers on rocky hillsides. Owl's clover, blue disks, fiddleneck and mule's ears were common too. We saw checkerbloom in two places high on a ridge. We saw a wet habitat yellow monkeyflower (mimulus guttatus) at the edge of a tiny pond. Blue fiesta flower and purple sanicle were unusual sightings for us. Right now, Sunol is a great place to hike. Various locations: 4/8/09 - Angie writes: Discovered your listings and took it on an extended weekend trip. Sorry, don't know flower names. Ratings on scale of 1-10 from a "photogenic impact" standpoint. Sat., 4/4
Sun., 4/5
Mon., 4/6
Tue., 4/7
Wilder Ranch - 4/7/09 - James and Susan Jacobus write: On April 4, 2009, My wife and I hiked with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks in the Scaroni Ranch section of Wilder State Park. While visiting the coastal prairie and the Douglas fir/ redwood forest we saw the following wildflowers: poppies, stork's bill, soap lily, blue eye grass, buttercup, Queen Ann's lace, miner's lettuce, baby blue eyes, woodland strawberry, redwood violet, monkey flower, thimbleberry, mugwort, cow parsnip, blue dick, owl clover, Indian paint brush, shooting star, trillium, lupine, and Fremont star lily. Some of the features of this area are the Indian grinding stones, a spectacular canyon, magnificent vistas of Monterey Bay from the terraced slopes, and the walk up the road through a verdant Douglas fir/redwood forest to one of the reservoirs for Santa Cruz water. Lake Hughes/Muntz Ranch area - 4/7/09 - Jan Schray writes: We spent yesterday 4/6 in the Lake Hughes area and the poppies are definately at their peak there. For those who haven't found, or tried the dirt road looking down on the lake please do, it is just fantastic now with numerous wildflowers. It is one of the places some photographers like to keep secret, but we finally found it, so I will share the info. Heading east on the main st. thru Lake Hughes on the left side, right before Muntz Ranch Rd. is a dirt rd. up to the observation towers. The road is pretty rutted but easy enough for most vehicles up to the top lake viewing area. You can continue on to the towers but it's pretty bad going, and not much more to see, with no access to continue down to the back valley floor. Muntz Ranch Road is just covered with poppies & lupine, the color is blinding with so many. We traveled on looking for color in the peach orchards but they are barely blossoming now, give it a week or two I guess. Sunday we did Descanso Gardens and the upper hillside behind the lake has a great display of poppies & babyblue eyes, plus all the trees up there have numerous colored blossoms, lots of purple, sorry I don't know my plants too well. The garden too is in full swing with colors galore everywhere. Gorman is now going real strong too, but rattlesnakes are abundant everywhere this year, so please watch out where you walk and stomp your feet when walking, we saw two rattlers and two gopher snakes. Hope this info helps out a bit. We looked for that lost lens, hope he gets it back. Mojave: Red Rock Canyon State Park - 4/5/09 - Scott Lefferts writes: Hi Carol, I have to agree with earlier rants--Shell Creek road was a circus on Saturday the 4th, but I still managed to get a few very nice landscapes by out-waiting the picnickers and getting very nice light around 5 pm. High winds kept the poppies in Antelope Valley closed, so I decided to check out a park I had never visited before, Red Rock Canyon State Park, on Highway 14 north of Mojave (about 60 miles from Lancaster). To continue this year's apparent theme of yellow, I found desert dandelions at peak. There were also patches of goldfields, past peak but still yellow, mixed with other yellow flowers I didn't recognize. If you have never visited this park, the landscape potential is amazing, with sculpted rock in reds and tans for backgrounds--imagine the badlands painted with red stripes. Some OHV traffic, but pretty quiet on Sunday afternoon. Thanks again for this great resource! Various locations - 4/6/09 - Spencer Westbrook writes: Here is the latest from my out and abouts. I took a trip to an area of central California I had not visited in perhaps 6 years and it turned out to be excellent. I travelled to the Springville area (just east of Porterville on Hwy 190) for the purpose of photographing the flowers along the Tule river and to travel the Yokohl Valley Rd, more on this in a minute. The Tule River canyon just east of Springville on Hwy 190 has been a favorite of mine for many years, in particular because I find pretty faces, pink fairey lantern, and best of all, the elusive Munz iris, the Tule River drainage being the only place in the world where it grows and is one of my favorite wildflowers. There are of course other flowers along the river, poppies, fiesta flower, a pale yellow bush monkey flower, and all the usual suspects. Now, the problem is parking. There is one parking area, Lower Coffee Camp, which is day use and has about 14 spaces total. Since the river is right next to the road this is a popular spot for weekend river visits, best to vist during the week. Parking along the hiway is not allowed. Upper Coffee Camp use to be a very nice campground but has been closed for years. In order to find the iris and fairy lantern, and more, park at Lower Coffee Camp and walk east (upriver) along the road all the way to Upper Coffee Camp and continue uphill along the road for perhaps 100 yards or so, then cut into the wooded area on the opposite side of the road from the gated campgroung. Lots of poison oak here but if you go up the road far enough you can get into the area which has a meadow, hop the fence which has been crushed by an oak tree, and start looking aread. The iris love the deep shade so scout around by the rocks and oaks, you will see the 3' high powder blue flowers, some being a pastel purple. The fairy lanterns are in more open areas located in the lower part of the meadow area, all in full bloom. As a bonus, if you like shooting rocks and water, walk along the river (rock hop)there are some great rapids, mini falls here to shoot, the river running well from the snow pack above. (Hwy 190 is closed further up for the winter, opens in May). The next day (Friday)I traveled north from Springville on Balch Park Dr. (turn north at the Springville Ranch big white barn)and follow the road with its grat displays of popcorn and fiddleneck under oaks to a spot on the map marked Milo 9although there is no such actual place but you will see a sign saying Yokohl valley, Exeter pointing to the left, this is where you want to go. Balch Park Road continues up the mountain, more about this in a minute. Well, let me simply say the flower display along Yokohl Valley road is one of the finest displays of roadside flowers I have ever seen in my 25 years of photographing, I would rate it at 8.5-9. I was just amazed at the displays and mixes as the road wound up the hill and then... at the top of the pass as you contine down into the valley below, stop at the second "10 MPH" corner with several large rocks and a pull out and simply walk down the road for a bit, oh my.. the mix of purple chinese houses, fiesta flower, lupine, fiddleneck, brodiaea, madia, white phacelia, just a riot of color. I spent several hours here shooting, Friday being a cool, cloud day the light was soft and very little wind. As you contine down the road, heading north, you will pass through Yokohl Valley, prime California rolling oaks hill country with great landscape shots and poppies, and even some clarkia, I always see it here this early, and I even found 1 mariposa lilly. You can of course travel this road in the opposite direction entering from the Visilia area off Hwy 198.But regardless, it is well worth seeing this display of flowers. I mentioned that Balch Park Rd continued to climb up the mountain and is closed at higher elevations until May. When this opens it is THE place I go to photograph dogwood among the giant sequoia. This area is not well know being overshowded by the 2 Nat Parks, Kings Canyon and Sequoia, just to the north. But this leaves this area uncrowded and thick with dogwood about the 2nd week of May. The giant sequoia here are ever bit as large as in the parks to the north and there are many campgrounds, especially if you go mid week. The next day I travelled Dry Creek Rd off Hwy 198 and will simply say it was very nice, perhaps a rating of 5.5-6. Next I travelled across the valley to Coalinga and another of my backroad favorites, the Parkfield-Coaling Grade road west of Coalinga, a great California backroad that proved to be good (6-6.5) on the north side (Coalinga side) and rather dry on the south or west side (4.5-5) although I did find a nice display of wild onion and some chocolate lily along the road. One of the treats of this road is the rock displays which, if you are like me, like to collect rocks for the garden, this is a great place plus some of the outcroppings are massive ancient seabed serpintine rocks. I travelled down the road to Shell Creek on Sunday and was pleased to see 100+ people there enjoying the flowers. Here is a tip on Shell Creek; go up the small canyons and along the base of the hills, ie, get away from the lower flat areas. these are not sun parched as the lower areas and are out of the wind. I found a great display of cream cups, goldfields, and gilia mixed with blow wives, a stunning combination. Sorry for the lenghty report but glad to share some finds with others. Hello to the 2 women from Visilia I met on Dry Creek Road, hope you enjoy Carol's postings as we all do. Jackson area - 4/6/09 - Jeremy Underwood writes: The hillsides of the Jackson area are ablaze with flowers right now. As you drive a few miles south of Jackson on Hwy 49, first you'll see the bright colors of Poppies blanketing the hills. From there, I just explored around on a few side roads finding the following: Poppies, Lupines, Blue dicks, Popcorn Flowers, Fiddlenecks, Baby Blue Eyes and many more I don't know off the top of my head. The most spectacular views are atop the hillsides so be prepared for some steep hikes (if that is your thing) or you can just admire from below. Well worth taking a day and enjoying a piece of California's beauty. You can see what the hillsides look like here: http://jeremyunderwood.com/blog/nature-photography/california-wildflowers-jackson-area/ Jackson - 4/6/09 - Dave Skinner writes: The poppies have center stage just south of Jackson, where hundreds of cars stop to admire the display. Take Electra Road east (plenty of pull-outs) for great hillside shows and closeups. Even with all of the trampling and newly formed paths here and there, wonderful pictures are for the taking. Along with blue dicks, bush lupine and odds and ends, there was one spot with Indian paintbrush. You can see all this glory here: http://wordydave.zenfolio.com Joshua Tree - 4/5/09 - Barbara writes: Sunday, April 5th - Inside Joshua Tree National Park was lined with Desert Dandelions from Cottonwood, up to White Tank. The Ocotillo is not quite at their peak blooming; but still had a lot of color. Found Hedgehog Cactus in full bloom on the trail of Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree. Not spectacular, still a fun trip. Highway 395: Haiwee Reservoir - 4/4/09 - Graham Owen writes: Highway 395 at Haiwee reservoir is in bloom, and I have a feeling it will continue to improve over the next couple of weeks. I spent Saturday hiking and exploring, with a goal of finding a suitable location to set up a tripod before sunrise, on my next visit. I think I found a great spot, and realized that high desert wildflowers make up for a lack of density with amazing and dazzling variety. I have been pouring through reference books and websites in an effort to learn what was blooming and thriving, and to be honest, this is exciting work. Species encountered include desert mallow, chia, blazing stars, white pin cushions, birds eye gilia, various small lupine, pale primrose, desert dandelion, fiddleneck, Indian paintbrush, white layia, tansy mustard, and more… Most of the flowers are just starting to bloom, are in great shape, and hopefully soon, will include Kennedy’s Mariposa Lilies. I started putting some photos online - http://www.grahamowengallery.com/photography/Flowers/california-wild-flowers-9.html Thanks again, and if everyone prints your wildflower info, we should all buy stock in printer ink suppliers…lol… Arvin - 4/5/09 - Tim Wolcott writes: I agree about the idiots who are out picking the flowers. I recently was photographing out by the Arvin bloom and got in a very heated argument with some idiots who loved them so much they had to kill them and the generations to follow. For every Poppy we lose 60-100 seeds. Unfortunately by the time I saw her they had already had about 25 flowers. The other problem with the Arvin area is that it is owned by Tejon Ranch and they had the duty of kicking me out of there two days in row, why do they see fit to kicking people out when no harm is being done, its sad thing. Even though it's changing hands right now and 240,000 acres are going into a nature preserve seems to be a bit ridiculous. But on the lighter side the bloom was great and the skies provided the addition inspiration, I wish to thank all that post here, as a professional landscape photographer your site is very useful. Mt. Diablo - 4/5/09 - Duncan Carter writes: Today, April 5, up Mount Diablo. Best poppy year in 4 or 5 years! Wallflower plentiful. Violets at Blue Oak campground. Haplopappus, diablo sunshine, clematis, lupines, blue dicks, blue penstemon, morning glory, ceanothus, buttercups, lotus, popcorn flower, filaree, Indian warrior, monkey flower, Chinese houses, blue delphinium, chia, bicolored pea, lomatium, claytonia. Yerba santa leaves blackened. Keckiella, white lewisia, yellow and pink calochortus not showing yet. Nice new color pamphlet on Mt. Diablo flowers, available at the summit for $5. Merced River Canyon - 4/5/09 - Tom Kidd writes: As of Saturday, 4/4, poppies in the Merced River canyon are still impressive, but substantially down from their peak of about two weeks ago. However, redbud appear to be at peak in most places. For an example, click on http://www.mercedcameraclub.org/Gallery/displayimage.php?album=23&pos=5 Hite Cove/Mariposa/Angel's Camp - 4/5/09 - Sathish writes: Thanks for maintaining the wildflower hotsheet (and the fall color hotsheet as well) It is quite an invaluable resource for people looking for such information. Here is my contribution to it. I was out today (April 4th) to Hite Cove and drove around the Sierra foothills a bit. Hite cove still looked quite good. The shooting stars have withered or the lucky ones started fruiting. The entire assortment of flowers including Baby Blue Eyes, Woodland stars, lupine, Indian Paintbrush, poppies, Fiddlenecks, Goldfield, Blue dicks and a whole lot more were present. The poppies opened up in the afternoon lending a nice color to the hillside, but it also got a bit windy (for shooting photographs) I also drove along Hwy 49 from Mariposa to Angels Camp. It was quite a fabuluous and colorful drive - there were a lot of varieties blooming all over the place. Closer to Mariposa, I saw large swathes of fiddlenecks, goldfields and poppies. The stretch between Flyaway Gulch (the bridge on Merced River) climbing upto Coulterville was also really beautiful. There were a lot of poppies, lupine, paintbrush, goldfields and fiddlenecks. Sorry I cannot be more specific, but the flowers were growing all over. It was quite difficult to find places to stop as the road was a bit twisty over there.Just a warning. Though that should not deter the determined flower hunter. Hite Cove - 4/4/09 - Bill McFall writes: There are still plenty of wonderful wildflowers to see on the Hite Cove Trail. Hite Cove Trail starts at Hwy 140 east of Mariposa, near where the highway crosses the Merced River at Savage's Trading Post. Park on side of road nearest the river. The well-marked trail goes uphill from the highway. I was told by more than one person that the "Big Show" of California Poppies is over, but there are many flowers coming on that may not have been as profuse 1-2 weeks ago when the poppies were going crazy. Here is a partial list of the most showy flowers I saw: purple owl's clover, blue dicks, California poppy, goldfields, lupine (several sp.), Gilia sp., Dudleya, baby blue eyes, and shooting stars (going to seed, but there are still some in flower). Fairy lanterns are starting to bud, so the flowers should appear in the new week or so. If you want to see nice diversity, this is a great wildflower hike right now. Three Rivers/Pine Flat Reservoir - 4/2-4/09 - "rbeigertrn" writes: The North Fork Drive in Three Rivers is lovely, lots of flowers including a nice bunch of Chinese Houses, but there is no parking (anywhere, for the whole 7 miles!) so we had to pause and snap a quick pic. North Fork Trail was a glorious smorgasbord of blossoms~ poppies, pretty face, fiddleheads, popcorn flower, shooting stars, baby blue eyes, just to name a few; and the redbud trees are blooming. The trail climbs steeply at first, but then levels out to a relaxing stroll through a grassy park-like area, where the ancient oak trees are just starting to pop out into their spring leaves. The side trail to Yucca flat was amazing, a field of flowers, with old ruins, stone walls, and foundations from the abandoned colony. Driving around Pine Flat Reservoir on Trimmer Springs Road~ an awesome sight. The hillsides are covered with poppies and lupine, with many more flowers around every bend in the road. We drove all the way to Balch Camp in hopes of finding a store for batteries, but there is nothing up there but campgrounds and a few houses. Fill up your gas tank, bring a picnic and spare batteries for the camera, and head on out there! If you drive all the way around the lake, you are rewarded with views of the magnificent Kings River. Pictures here http://www.flickr.com/photos/25319266@N04/ Little Tujunga Canyon - 4/4/09 - Dan Pierce writes: Thanks to Cameron Kennedy for the tip about Little Tujunga Canyon and Marek Motorway. This is out of Lake View Terrace (City of Los Angeles). Its off the Osborne exit of the I-210. Very easy to get to and you can walk around in a couple of acres and see plenty of stuff. Its a beautiful small canyon that is part of a huge area that burned last fall. The mix of different species is wonderful. I photographed 23 different species. It doesn't look like much until you start walking around. A botanist would have a blast here. It is a good example of the variety of species that can be seen in the San Gabriel Mountains after a burn. I would not necessarily recommend anyone driving a long way to see it (since there are not large patches of color blanketing the hillsides as in other places), but if you are in the Los Angeles area, its worth a drive. There are probably other areas like it in the vicinity, but maybe not so easy to get to. There are nettle lupine (L. hirsutissimus) covering the hillsides (but they are about ready to go to seed). Phacelia minor is everywhere. My favorites were the twining snapdragon (lots of them), and a phacelia that I believe is P. brachyloba (some plants have white flowers and some have pink flowers). There are a lot of whispering bells getting ready to bloom. Various locations - 4/3/09 - Duncan Carter writes: April 3 - I-780 at Gold Hill Road, a large carpet of field clover. On Meiss Road (SR 16 from Sacramento southeast to Dillard Rod, right turn on Dillard, then left at Meiss Road) popcorn flower (many), lupine, pink clover, filaree (carpets), fiddleneck, small yellow poppies, gold fields, tidy tips, purple vetch, butter and eggs. In the pasture land southeast of the quarry, acres of yellow sedum (golden rock fringe). beyond there, blue delphinium, lotus, blennosperma, Ithuriel's spear. On the unpaved portion and beyond to Ione Road, vernal pools and running water with water buttercups and checkerbloom. Caution: the unpaved portion of Meiss Road is very rough and one dry ditchbank is probably too steep for low slung vehicles. On SR4 to Copperopolis, scant stands of meadow foam. On Telegraph Road, small yellow poppies, fiesta flower increasing near the culvert, caterpillar phacelia, popcorn flower, fiddleneck, filaree, pink pea, lupine, blue dicks, purple vetch, birdseye gilia, Ithuriel's spear, plantago, montia, lomatium, butter and eggs. On Rock Creek Road out of Copperopolis, gold fields, meadow foam, small yellow poppies, tidy tips, butter and eggs, a profusion of birds-eye gilia. Shortly after the left turn at Felix Road, good displays of meadowfoam, baby blue eyes, blue dicks, popcorn flower. Also purple delphinium, red maids, caterpillar phacelia, onion, white hyacinth, white nemophila. Goldfields in drier spots are shriveled, the usual wildflowers around the lake on Rock Creek Road are not present, the meadow foam along SR 4 below Copperopolis and on Milton Road is scarce. Overall, it looks just past peak in these areas. Gorman - 4/3/09 - Craig Marshall writes: If you're visiting Gorman area (worthy, as noted in another report) you should also take in nearby Hungry Valley OHV area. Goldfields and desert daisy blanket much of the valley floor, but Gold Hill Road in the southern end of the park is in profuse color, especially as it veers west and crosses into Los Padres Nat'l Forest. Visit in the late afternoon and be surprised by the evening-blooming Linanthus carpeting the foothills like so much snow. San Diego - 4/3/09 - Lee Kirchhevel writes: Thanks for the Hotsheet. I've enjoyed exploring new areas from tips I've read there. San Diego still has wildflowers blooming. Today I went to the Torrey Pines Extension and found the hills covered with California Encelia and Black Sage. There are lots of Monkeyflower, Popcorn Flower, Yerba Santa, Everlasting, Purple Nightshade, and Deerweed. I also found some Common Eucrypta, Coast Spicebush, Bee Plant, Golden Yarrow, Early Onion, Tree Poppy, Coast Locoweed, and a couple California Sun Cups. I didn't get a chance to get to the main section of Torrey Pines, but I imagine it's just as good. Angels Camp to Murphys - 4/2/09 - Sue Mace writes: Highway 4 to Murphys from Angels Camp - this hills are loaded to bear with popcorn flower and fiddlenecks. Look closer or check out the roadside and you will see balloon clover, annual lupine and the previously mentioned flowers....At 3500 Murphys Grade Road daffodils are abundant - sadly the daffodils and most of the other bulbs at Ironstone Winery are past peak and nothing else has come out yet. Big Trees State Park still has snow on the ground and many of the deciduous trees are still in hibernation. Various Central California Locations - 4/2/09: Kahlee writes (or maybe I should say "rants" this week): This past weekend, March 28-29, I took a whirlwind wildflower tour through the Central Coast. Here's a link to some of my images from the journey: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahlee/ .
That's it for this week. Again, my thanks to all for their ever-so-helpful reports. Happy hunting! Electra Road off Hwy 49, 6 miles s. of Jackson - 4/1/09 - Sue Mace writes: this area is ablaze with poppies, the hillsides can be seen from miles away. Drive down Electra Rd to the end - vetch, california poppy, lupine - annual and perennial, miners lettuce, blue dicks, popcorn flower, dudleya, fiddlenecks, clasping henbit, pea, harlequin lupine (towards the end - above a rock outcropping), mullein, frying pan poppy, geranium...on hwy 49 baby blue eyes, goldfields, butter and eggs, meadowfoam and buttercups can be seen en masse Dave Moore Nature Area near Pilot Hill - 4/1/09 - Jeremy Underwood writes: Northern California, Dave Moore Nature Area, Outside Cool Area - If you're looking for a gently winding trail to spend a piece of your day, you should check out Dave Moore Nature Area. It is a beautiful little trail that wanders its way along the river and through the forest. Right now, the area is blooming with Buttercups, Baby Blue-eyes, Fivespots, Poppies and other wildflowers. Directions: From Eastbound Interstate 80 - Take the Highway 49 exit heading south at the town of Auburn. Continue along Hwy 49 through the towns of Cool and Pilot Hill, approximately a 14 mile drive. The entrance will be 3 miles south of Pilot Hill on the right at the cobblestone wall. You can see a few closeups I was lucky enough to capture: http://jeremyunderwood.com/blog/nature-photography/california-wildflowers-dave-moore-nature-area/ Gorman Hills and Poppy Reserve - 4/1/09 - Rick Dickey writes: Hi Carol, thank you for the invaluable service this site provides for many and for your efforts to keep it running. I visited the Poppy Reserve and Gorman Hills on Wednesday March 31st. The Poppy Reserve is once again without much color, poppies along 138 are infrequent and mostly short with a few exceptions. Several previous posts had mentioned the large color of poppies and goldfields along 170 St (adjacent west and north of poppy reserve) as being exceptional, they were correct. Some of the goldfields here are starting to brown out, the poppies look to be good for a few weeks. Anyone interested in viewing this area should go soon. The Gorman Hills are predominantly full of coreopsis with very few colors of phacelia, poppies and lupines. Gorman has been struggling to come back from the arson fire of 2006 along with nonstop sheep/cattle grazing since then. The cattle were only removed in February 09 after local residents threatened legal action from property damage caused by cows wondering over burned/downed fences. I believe this year would have been a banner year for Gorman if the plants hadn’t been stunted by grazing in the growing season. As it is, it’s still a great view for Gorman, I’d rate it a 6 or 7 out of 10 (Spencer Westbrook scale). Talking to Gorman residents, they confirmed the coreopsis had been blooming for several weeks already and likely to start waning unless a surprise April shower materializes. Some of the ground hugger plants like filarees and pygmy lupines were showing stress from dry soil and the warming sun. Anyone who wishes to see Gorman in bloom, now’s the time to go, sooner rather than later. Current forecasts only give minimal chances of light rains in the future, so this may be the peak of Gorman’s color. Bear Valley - 4/1/09 - Kathi Keville writes: Bear Valley (Colusa County). Tuesday, March 31. Here's an update on Claire's report. One week later, both yellow and white-tipped Tidy Tips just opened, extra large and colorful and with lots of buds. Fields of Cream Cups still in full bloom. A few striking patches were mixed with Gilia by the little bridge (10-15 minutes past the Wilbur Hotsprings bridge turn-off). I was surprised to see no poppies, even though Bear Valley was was in full sun. None next door at Wilbur, although many were in bloom two weeks ago. In past years, there's been great contrast when poppies bloom with Tidy Tips and Blue Lupine (still to come). Also, very few Goldfields, which are usually carpeting the pastures by now. However, the blue Larkspur, mostly by itself and out in the pasture, was stunning. If any of this weekend's rain falls on Bear Valley, it will hopefully extend the wildflower season. Bear Valley Road does indeed loop back to Hwy 20 and takes 1 1/2 hours driving slowly to enjoy the view. A car can make it, but the road gets windy and is on the side of a cliff part way (where Chia is currently in bloom). If you take it, go left when you get to obvious fork in the road by a farmhouse. Anyone checked out San Luis Obispo area and Monatana de Oro? So. Cal. various locations - 4/1/09 - Ter Sullivan writes: We just returned from Southern California: 1. Drive to east Ridgecrest and pass through the campus of the community college continuing up the dirt road onto BLM land where the desert display is as spectacular as you have ever seen. 2. Hike the Kern River Trial (not Kern Canyon Trail) going west from the trail head just 4 miles east of where Old Kern Road leaves the new expressway. The first couple of miles are at their peak of flowering and will leave you gasping. 3. Short Canyon has fine flowers during the first mile. 4. The Poppy Preserve is looking well past, however some smaller roads nearby have nice displays of poppies, goldfields, grape soda lupine and Davy gilia. 5. Wind Wolves Preserve is burned out on the valley floor, but the preserve increases in altitude to 6,000 feet. We hiked the Mountain View Trail well beyond the first fence and the flowers are by the millions, but you have to like hiking uphill. The fence is a relic of ranching so you can walk through it. Hite Cove - 4/1/09 - Ron Wolf writes: Hite Cove Trail, Merced River Canyon - 3/29/09 - This display along this trail over the weekend fully justified all the superlatives in recent reports. Nearly every step of the way, there were half a dozen species within arm's length. The succession is clearly underway. Fields dense with California Poppies, Goldfields, Bird's-eye Gilia, Blue Dicks, Fiddleneck and Popcorn Flowers were at their peak. The Shooting Stars were past their prime, but Lupine and Owl Clover were just beginning to bloom. There were many patches of Baby Blue-eyes, California Saxifrage, Caterpillar Phacelia and Blue Fiesta Flower. Canyon Dudleya was blooming amid the rock faces along the canyon wall. Waterfall Buttercups were still in bloom at a few of the springs along the trail. Small Baby Blue-eyes (Nemophila heterophylla) were everywhere. There was plenty of Woodland Star (Lithophragma affine) and a few isolated patches of Small-flowered Woodland Star (L. parviflorum). Mustang Linanthus, Tomcat Clover and Indian Paintbrush were beginning to bloom. I'm still keying out a dozen more species. As the temperature climbed during the morning, butterflies became more active. I saw Common Ringlets, Monarchs, Sara Orangetips, Painted Ladies, Spring Whites, Variable Checkerspots, California Tortoiseshells, Anise Swallowtails and at least a couple of unidentified species of Blues. A note of caution: This trail is not for everyone. While the grade isn't particularly steep and the elevation change is modest, the path often traverses very steep slopes on narrow ledges several hundred feet above the river. This is not a good place for toddlers or the acrophobic. It's also not a good trail for dogs. (Your pets may be fine, but even friendly, well-behaved animals can cause difficult problems for other people on single-file stretches of trail where there's no room the pass and steep drops only one step away.) For those who may be uncomfortable on the Hite Cove trail, there's a perfectly flat, smooth, easy alternative nearby where many of the same species of flowers are on more convenient display. Drive about six miles upstream on Hwy 140 to the turn for Foresta Rd. at the west edge of El Portal. Cross the bridge over the Merced River and immediately make a sharp left turn onto Incline Rd. This stretch of road continues for a few miles along the north side of the river. The road banks are nearly as dense with flowers as the Hite Cove Trail. Several spots along this road offered patches of Mountain Jewelflower and Harlequin Lupine not seen on the trip out to Hite Cove. Conditions should still be exceptional for at least another week and perhaps longer. Some photos are posted at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwolf/3402911061/ Mix Canyon (near Fairfield and Vacaville) - 3/31/09 - Duncan Carter writes: March 30, Mix Canyon Road, off Pleasant's Valley Road, near the Pena Adobe on I-80 between Fairfield and Vacaville. Single lane in places. Purple vetch, T. laxa, red bud, lupine, blue Delphinium, blue dicks, poppies, yellow sanicle, buttercups, Wyethia, Bermuda trumpet, hummingbird sage, mission bells(!) at about marker 2.5, canyon Delphinium, Amsinckia, filaree, miner's lettuce, lotus, caterpillar Phacelia, nightshade, Castilleja, elderberry, Ceanothus, Clematis, Indian warrior, star zygadiene, globe lily, baby blue eyes, woodland star, saxifrage, manroot, white Nemophila. Rancho Seco/Howard's Ranch - 3/31/09 - David Skinner writes: Saturday's visit to the Rancho Seco Lake and the Howard Ranch trail to the east provided massive fields of frying pans on the north side of the lake. Vernal pools still have some water in them, and the flower shows around their rims have barely started. Still there were plenty of flowers to see, including butter-and-eggs, blennosperma, blue dicks, tidy tips, hyacinth brodiaea, beautiful red maids, valley lupine, and others that I couldn't identify. You can see my photos of these flowers here: http://wordydave.zenfolio.com Santa Clara County - 3/31/09 - Willie Wool and Jim Jacobus write: March 30, 2009, Rancho Canada del Oro, a Santa Clara County Open Space Authority jewel, south of San Jose, California, was awash in wild flowers. The Mayfair Ranch, Longwall Canyon, Bald Peaks and Serpentine Trails displayed full hillsides of blooming miniature lupine, popcorn, Johnny-jump-ups, fiddleneck, buttercup, shooting stars, goldfields, baby blue eyes, birdseye gilia, and California poppies. Also present but in small displays were snake root (poison sanicle), cud weed, wild cucumber, blue witch, miner's lettuce, milkmaid, white, pink and purple vetch, alium, shepherd's purse, lace pod, hound's tongue, giant trillium (almost gone), woodland stars (a nice stand), larkspur/delphinium, mission bells, clematis, zigadene, Indian warrior, bladder clover, purple sanicle, lomatia, red maid, pineapple weed, saxifrage, succulent lupine, blue eyed grass, scarlet pimpernel, Indian paint brush, morning glory, tomcat clover, buckbrush, checker bloom, redmaid, lotus (deer weed), creamcups, Queen Ann's lace, mule's ear (not blooming yet), filaree, blue dick and a few owl's clover. In addition, the buckeye, hair streak, and painted lady butterflies were migrating through. It’s a magnificent hike. You feel like King of the Mountain because of the trail alignment down a spectacular ridge with great views in every direction. Central California - 3/31/09 - Cinda MacKinnon writes: 3 recent reports in Central CAlifornia: I'm not raving about them, but the info might be useful to anyone in deciding whether to go there or not). If you were expecting to see the flowers of last year at Los Padres via Hunter-Liggett (off 101) forget it – they have closed those campgrounds because of the fires last summer. (Should be great next year). Nonetheless the bit of Los Padres that is open is beautiful and green; with patches of gold fields interspersed with baby blue eyes. Along the rocks, I found the remnants of shooting stars and blue fiesta flowers.3-30 3-29 Found tidy tips and few others at Cottonwood Canyon off 166; shooting stars were past their prime – I only found one worth a photograph. On 166 heading west there are prickly phlox and a couple of other flowers that might be worth stopping for. (Does anyone know a 5-petaled white flower with reddish stripes and red anthers? It had grass-like leaves and stood in the sun, about 2 feet tall – full of ľ"blooms and a 3-part stigma. Contact me at cinda.mackinnon@comcast.net. Thanks!) We drove through the southern part of Carrizo Plains on 3-29 and it is as others have reported: with patches of gold fields etc. but nothing worth a long drive. Long distance shots are still nice. Gorman - 3/31/09 - Doug Bradley writes: Further note, from a friend who drove that road later in the weekend: "We went through the Grapevine pass on the way down to Fontana and the way back - I think the show was even better on Sunday: the poppies have started to come out, I wonder if they will last through the poppy festival in Lancaster at the end of April..." Merced River redbuds - 3/31/09 - Rosemary Rideout writes: They were in bud and just beginning to break last week. Should be nice right about now. Pacheco Pass - 3/31/09 - David Senesac writes: Many wildflowers species about Pacheco Pass are now near peak. Unlike most of the SF Bay Area that is somewhat below normal precipitation, charts have shown that zone received near to slightly above rainfall this winter. Accordingly wildflowers are near normal levels for this time of year. Note the droughty periods have left some species out of sync with others much as is the case throughout our state and it isn't near to levels during the best of springs. The blue oak and coast live oak grassy savana of that summit region is particularly delightfully green now. Because of its more distant location to most people in the urban area, the relatively new Pacheco State Park at the pass receives very light use. It is along the west side of Dinosaur Point Road on the that routes north of SR152 right at the summit. To the east of the road is the San Luis Wildlife Refuge where one can view down towards large San Luis Reservoir. One of the entrances to the refuge is directly opposite the state park's entrance and unlike the park's modest $5 fee, the refuge is free. If it is at least 10am, before visiting the state park as a warmup, I would recommend taking the short Nature Loop Trail at the refuge that follows along a ridge eastward. Good views east down towards San Luis Reservoir and west along the highway. If at the furthest point east one continues east another 100 yards, one may see this display: http://www.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2009/sl_flowers.jpg Flowers species mix is very similar to what one will see atop Russian Ridge with johnny-jump-ups, goldfields, shooting star, purple sanicle, poppies, clover, miniature lupine dominate among several more species. Monterey County - 3/30/09 - Ruth Stiles, Horticultural Consultant writes: Toro Park in Monterey County is bursting with color. There are so many Viola pedunculata (golden violets) that the hillsides are glowing yellow. There are fields of lupines and large patches of shooting stars. The grasslands are the showiest, but the woodland trails have wonderful patches of baby blue eyes, woodland star (Lithophragma), and very occasionally a deep purple delphinium. Chaparral areas aren't as showy, but the migrating painted lady butterflies keep things interesting. Even the ball fields and picnic grounds are carpeted with goldfields. The park is located on Highway 68 between Salinas and Monterey. The developed parts of the park can get crowded on weekends, but the back country is only lightly used. The park map is pretty limited, a lot of fine trails just aren't on the map. Mountain bikes are permitted on many trails. If you're a good rider and don't mind the risk of falling on your camera gear, you can get way up into the hills. On foot or on a bike, the views are great throughout the park. Lake Isabella/Wind Wolves - 3/30/09 - Cinda MacKinnon writes: Lake Isabella 3 areas on 3-28: Fay Creek Rd is beautiful, but plan on landscape shots – these are all small flowers, like gold fields and popcorn flower with a few scattered owls clover etc. My favorite spot was the BLM land (Keynsville?) adjacent to the south side of the Lake Isabella dam. There are fields of baby blue eyes and cream cups sprinkled with goldfields. Bodfish-Caliente Rd is a treat esp. the lower 1/3, but species change as you gain elevation. Many baby blue eyes and blue fiesta flowers. Found a species new to me – always a thrill and yet I can’t identify it: 5 lovely petals, gold with orange center ľ inch across, multiple stamen and scalloped leaves. (If anybody knowledgeable about species in this area please contact me at cinda.mackinnon@comcast.net – I’ll send a photo. Thanks!) Wind Wolves (3-28) is a find, however I can only imagine what it looked like a week ago as their main wildflower walk is now hidden in grasses. We went further up the canyon and had better luck: fiddleneck, blue dicks, phacelia and poppies. For the most poppies head to the south (left at the end of the road); head up the hill to the right for jewel-flower (with the phacelia on your left at the hairpin turn) and more (I didn’t go all the way to the top, but my husband assures me it was worth it.) Mojave - 3/30/09 - Cinda MacKinnon writes: Red Rock Park in Mojave Desert on 3-26. I went up Hagan Canyon just above the visitor center and found gold fields, daisies and a couple of macros, but Last Chance Canyon on the back side of the park was better – it is up a dirt road off Randsberg Rd opposite Saltdale. I found two species I had never seen before: dark blue canterbury bells(?) and satiny white (striped with apricot) Mentzelias 2 inches across. Also Delphinium parryi and other unexpected finds. 3-26 Short Canyon was full of flowers. Purple mat, coreopsis, chicory, Phacelia campanularia, Phacelia sp.and more. I found many Oenothera (sp?) plants, but all the flowers were either just buds or already dying (they close up in the heat of the sun); when I was here in 4-1-2005 the large and lovely flowers were blooming beautifully, but it was cooler. Short Canyon is BLM land, off HW 14 about 5miles north of the HW 178 intersection; you have to drive up a dirt road a few miles. Hiking good too. Pacheco Park/Arvin - 3/30/09 - Cinda MacKinnon writes: These reports are almost a week late now as I did not have internet access. You decide if they are still worth posting.
Arvin/Antelope Valley/Figueroa Mountain - 3/30/09 - Chao Lin writes: 3/28/09, our first stop was Arvin. Beautifull purple owl's colver is still in full blooming, but lupine seems barried in weeds. There are a few patches of poppies along the trail. However, it seems poppies are starting blooming on high elevation. Next stop was Antelope Valley. Poppies are fully bloom in areas of northern Antelope California Poppy Reserve. However, there are not much poppies blooming in Poppy Reserve. When driving through Gorman along Gorman post road, we saw mountains covered with gold field and some area with lupine, very colorful. 3/29/09, we visited Figueroa mountain in Los Padros National Forest area. While driving on Figueroa mount we noticed there are large patches of poppies blooming on the mountain. We didn't see this scene last year about same time. The best place is the location near Forest ranger station the poppies and lupines are in full blooming which covers a large hill side area, very colorfull and impressive. You may take look our photos at: http://www.pbase.com/chaolin/wildflower_2009 http://www.pbase.com/chaolin/root Antelope Valley - 3/30/09 - Dan Pierce writes: Saturday was a perfect day in the Antelope Valley -- warm temperatures, no wind, and a nice mix of colors including a lot of green foliage still. The only problem was the the poppies that had been around for a week or more were all beat up. It was about impossible to find a mix of poppies that had all nice flowers. I got some great shots on both Friday and Saturday, although it was windy on Friday. Some of my photos are posted here: http://webpages.charter.net/tworunga/antelopevalley/index.html The only negative to the weekend was that I lost my best lens (a macro) when I stopped in Gorman on the way home. I went back up there today (Monday), but it was gone. [If anyone knows where this lens might be, please e-mail me and I'll help get it back to Dan. One fall in the eastern Sierra someone left a camera bag behind and when I found out, I posted it on the Fall Foliage Hotsheet and (yay!) we managed to get it back to the owner. -- Carol Leigh] Gorman is dominated by yellow coreopsis (as seen from some of the photos posted to your hotsheet). There are some large patches of blue/lavender high up on the slopes, which is probably a phacelia. I can't tell if the lupines, poppies and globe gilia are going to make a good showing in the next couple of weeks or not -- but it doesn't look like an incredible year like 2003. My guess about the Antelope Valley north and west of the Poppy Reserve is that the goldfields are going to start turning brown soon, and the green foliage will start drying up. The mix of colors you see in my photos will probably not last past this coming weekend, if that. The poppies may continue to increase in the next couple of weeks. Hite Cove query - 3/30/09 - Moira Johnston Block writes: 3/29/09: Your Hotsheet, as always, is inspiring. I have one query: Currently Hite's Cove Trail is reported as being fantastic. We'll be there mid-April. Do any veterans of the Hite's Cove/Yosemite area know if we're still likely to get great shows of flowers two week from now? Thanks so much for any tips your people might have! Hite Cove Trail, Merced River Canyon - 3/29/09 - Barbara Lee writes: I hiked about a mile and a half up this trail today. The wildflowers are beyond amazing. Carpets of poppies are covering the hillsides along with blue dicks, mostly. There are still some shooting stars and Indian paintbrush. I am not a wildflower expert – there were at least 15 different varieties, whites, blues, yellows, and purples. The trail was packed with photographers. I was told that this is the best display for at least 30 years. Park at the designated area on highway 140, across from Savage’s Trading Post and begin the hike here. You can go the full length of the trail – 4.5 miles – but all of the best color is within the first mile. Merced River Canyon/Hwy 140/Hwy 49 - 3/29/09 - Marlene Werra writes: 3/27/09 Merced Canyon Hwy 140 is still spectacular. Hite Cove trail behind Savage Trading Post on Hwy 140 is the "Best in the West". Park in front of Trading Post. First 100 yards...trail goes through flowering banks of poppy and gilia. Continue on for about 2 miles to base of river where there are patches of baby blue eyes. Trail goes through intermittant banks of poppies, gilia and spring wildflowers. 3/28/09 Hwy 49 north of Mariposa between bear Valley and Couterville on east side of road...big knoll of white tidy tips and gold fields. 3/28/09 Hwy 49 S. of Jackson to Mokelumne Hill about 4 miles on east side of road..huge hill of poppies, oaks, and old fence. Big turnout to park. Just a short distance south on Hwy 49 is Electra Road on east side. This road is about 3 miles in following Mokelumne River. Single lane in spots but many turnouts. Steep banks of poppies and rocks. Many poppy vignettes, ridge top poppies, back lit flowers and diagonals. Afternoon viewing best. Happy hunting. Lake Isabella - 3/29/09 - RT Hawke writes: Lake Isabella- 3/29/09- RT Hawke writes: While most the area appears brown and early from Walker pass/ Kelso valley to the lake. We were lead (Southern California Botanist field trip) to a hillside near the lake with 79 species in bloom. A lot were 'mini-flowers', but a lot of other species put on a nice display. Mimulus shevockii was the find for the day. On the way home (Highway 395), there were nice displays of Desert Dandelion, Gold Fields and Coreopsis between Ridgecrest and Kramer junction. Desert Candle's were blooming south of the Prison- but no place to pull off. Pinnacles National Monument - 3/29/09 - Rhonda Brown writes: The hikes at Pinnacles Park currently have a variety of wildflowers. We saw fields of shooting stars, gold field, Indian warrior,chia, and fiddleneck. Also, a scattering of wallflower, paintbrush, blue dicks, blue flax, gold yarrow, lupine bushes and poppies. The trails are lined with flowering buckthorn, which fill the air with a sweet scent. Very nice time for a hike here. Death Valley (hottest spot in the country on Sunday) - 3/29/09 - Ranger Charlie Callagan writes: Here's the update. Lot's of hot wind lately. March 29, 2009 - The wildflower bloom in the valley's lower elevations is now at its peak. Along the roadsides and up the nearby alluvial fans are patches of Desert Gold, Notch-leaf Phacelia, Desert Fivespot, Gravel Ghost, Evening Primrose (Brown-eyed, Shredding, and Golden) along with several others. Lack of any recent rain and several days of drying wind will make the show quickly pass. Look for flowers along Highway 190 north of Furnace Creek, along the Scotty's Castle Road north of the Titus Canyon junction, and along the Mud Canyon Road. The Evening Primrose may already be gone in some places, eaten up by larvae of Sphinx Moths. Watch for mass migrations of these plump caterpillars with a prominent horn on their back end, crawling across the desert floor, looking for more wildflowers to eat. Fortunately, the adult moths are one of the flower's primary pollinators. In the mid-elevations the show is just now starting, but localized. Look for Fremont Phacelia and Desert Dandelion in Greenwater Valley. On the hills around Gold Valley there are impressive displays of Goldfields, but a four-wheel-drive vehicle is necessary to get there. Merced River/Hite Cove - 3/29/09 - Jim Bass writes: Based on the tip from you site, my wife and I headed up to the Merced river near Briceburg last Thursday. Spectacular show of poppies and other flowers at the beginning. But the best was taking the (easy) Hite Cove trail that starts at Savage's Trading Post a few miles east. I posted some samples here. http://bassimages.com/bassimages/new/Wildflower/ PS -- Thanks for your site. If not for it, my wife and I never would have played hooky and driven up from Thousand Oaks. [And what makes you think your boss doesn't follow this site? Busted! -- Carol Leigh] Gorman/Little Tujunga Canyon - 3/28/09 - Cameron Kennedy writes: March 28, 2008 - Today I visited two locations. My first stop was in Gorman. What a beautiful day for wildflower photography. Crystal clear blue sky, I am glad I brought my polarizer. The hills are mainly covered with yellow Bigelow’s Tickseed (Coreopsis bigelovii). Many other wildflower varieties are sprinkled throughout the area. Some wildflower displays are accessible at the roadside but it is a good idea to bring a powerful telephoto lens and tripod to capture the displays on the distant slopes. For my second stop I visited an absolutely beautiful wildflower area I recently discovered near my office in Sylmar. Following a report from the Theodore Payne Foundation Wildflower Hotline website dated March 20, 2009; I explored the recent burn area along Little Tujunga Canyon Road. I found an absolutely gorgeous hidden canyon full of a wide variety of wildflowers. The canyon is located approximately 1000 ft. west of the intersection of Marek Motorway and Little Tujunga Canyon Road. This area is the entrance to the Angeles Shooting Ranges. The Canyon is located just north of where Marek Motorway splits off to the left at a "Y" in the road. There is a place to pull off at the "Y". I am amazed at the variety and abundance of flowers at this location. There is at least 10-15 different wildflower varieties including Lupine up to two feet in height. There are beautiful clusters of poppies and thousands of blue and purple wild Canterbury bells. The drainage ravines allow wonderful macro opportunities. Please be very careful at this location. Watch out for snakes. There are many bees, butterflies and caterpillars. Footing can become treacherous further up the canyon. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. There are many burnt branches. There is no official trail leading up the canyon and there was only one other set of footprints leading up the canyon when I first discovered it. This area might be at or near it's peak. Highway 140/Hite Cove Trail area - 3/28/09 - Robert Adler writes: March 27th - This trail is in full bloom and many of the hills along Highway 140 just west of Hive Cove are painted with green grass and poppies. Photos here: http://www.raflexions.com/HiveCove . And the falls inside Yosemite are gushing too!! Vina Plains and Table Mountain - 3/28/09 - Lou Regenmorter writes: Great web site. I visited the Vina Plains northwest of Chico on Saturday, March 28. Still good displays along Lassen Road between 99 and Meridian but they are starting to turn. Table Mountain is going strong. Lots of flowers (and loads of people). Plenty of space for all. Table Mountain - 3/28/09 - Jason Branz writes: Table Mountain near Oroville (03/28): Lots of flowers out on Table Mountain. Poppies are more profuse than last year, and they surround the rock outcroppings. There are blue dicks, owl's clover, lupine, California poppies, and the usual goldfields. The greater variety of flowers are closer to the waterfall. One particular slope at the end of the trail is beautiful, with a great mix of poppies and owl's clover. While the display is great, it does look a little early right now, as the lupines and especially the owl's clover are just getting started. Bear Valley - 3/28/09 - Claire writes: Last Tuesday, March 24th, a friend and I decided to treat ourselves to some wildflower viewing. We drove up from Sacramento on HWY 5 and cut east on HWY 20 to Bear Valley Road where the flowers began. We drove north on Bear Valley Road which somehow hooked us back onto HWY 20 near Williams. We saw and photographed the following flowing in bloom – which being a novice I had to search for on line and in my wildflower books, but I’m reasonably sure of my IDs:
Not bad for a couple of amateurs I thought. Padrone Canyon/Carrizo Plain - 3/28/09 - La Trina Smith writes: This is for the one who was looking for padrone cyn in corrizo planes. If you're coming in from the 166 as you enter the park you'll see the sign posted on the left side of the road not too far in, maybe a mile or so but just be on the ball and you can't miss the sign. As you drive up the road you'll come to a closed gate but you can open that it's unlocked and continue up the road. Stay right and as you get very close to the mountains you'll see a sign saying you can't go on and right there you'll see another road to the right, take that and drive out about a mile and you'll come to areas of carpeted gold fields, best in all the park. Don't worry about getting locked in, no one is out there, I do it every year. As you leave through the gate right before it on the left is a nice large patch of blue and you'll get a good shot of the mountains in the back round as well. Outside of that the rest of the area is not as good as last year but still nice. Quick note, let your readers know that off the road in any thick areas like Arvine are rattle snakes. A local in Arvine told me to be extra carefull and unless you have knee high thick boots not to wonder off in the fields. Also, if you go into Wind Wolf during the week the ranger locks the gate at dusk without warning! Lucky I had a couple in there that new the combo to unlock the lock. If you get stuck in there it's 2888. Good luck all! Gorman - 3/28/09 - Doug Bradley writes: Drove I-5 yesterday (Fri) afternoon; lots of yellow in hills south of Gorman, with some patches of lupine. Not much orange or blue visible from highway. For pictures, see http://mrjumbo.blogspot.com/2009/03/gorman-wildflowers.html . In the Grapevine ascent, south of Grapevine, south of the ramp that leads up into the hills, in the actual cleft of the pass, but well below the first "crest," are a few patches of orange California poppies on green grass. In the afternoon, these are in shadow; for photography, you'd want to catch them in morning or midday. These are along a stretch of road where it's inconvenient to stop, but not impossible. Thanks for posting the great tips from everyone for wildflowers everywhere! NE Joshua Tree National Park - 3/28/09 - John Marquis writes: This is from my explorations on March 27: I concur with Paul Lally's report (below). An excellent bloom is occurring right now along CA Highway 62, roughly 40 miles east of Twentynine Palms (or 12 miles west of the junction with CA 177). Millions of desert dandelions and pincushion carpet the floor of a valley at the northern end of the Coxcomb Mountains, in the northeastern corner of Joshua Tree National Park. A little monotonous, but fantastic nonetheless, especially given the mountainous backdrops. The dandelion bloom looks to be peaking soon, so best views of the carpet may last only another week or two. Those seeking more diversity are in luck, however -- walking to the granitic hills (I tried the bouldery ones to the southwest of the valley's center) reveals a diverse array of species, including brittlebush, desert senna, whitestem milkweed, arrowleaf, sweetbush, desert fir, globemallow, slender poreleaf, desert trumpet, pygmy poppy, Wallace's woolly daisy, desert star, datura, Mojave aster, three species of spineflower, indigo bush (*just* starting to bloom) and many others. This area clearly received generous rainfall this winter; everything looks very healthy. Dry Creek Road, Lemon Cove- 3/28/09 - Paul Anderson writes: Holy cow, Batman! In our wildwest imagination, we could not make our drive up Dry Creek Road better than it was today (Friday, March 27). We drove through Lemon Cove to Road 216 just below the Lake Kaweah Dam. Left on 216 for 1/8 mile and right on Dry Creek Road toward Badger. After a mile or two you think you died and went to heaven. The hillsides are close to Gorman at its best - they look like various shades of gold to yellow paint were splashed from the heavans. The fields leading up to the hillsides are fiddlenecks, poppies, lupine and popcorn - the popcorn is so thick it looks like snow. Even the cutouts for the road look like the garden of eden. The creek is running, noisy and beautiful. The birds and frogs are singing like the Morman Tabernacle Choir And we saw 2 wild turkeys and a bobcat to boot. It doesn't get better than this - while the word awesome is unfortunately way overused, this is it. Don't miss it. Paul Anderson, Maura Whitmore and my 99 year old mother Chris. Temecula - 3/27/09 - Ed Burbee writes: In Temecula, CA, a small field of California poppies and scattered Lupines lies in a small field along Ynez Road, just north of the Target Center mall. One can reach it by car and foot. Park in the extreme northwest area of the parking lot. Then climb a short slope that ascends from the parking lot edge. Antelope Valley - 3/27/09 - Dan Pierce writes: I'm out in AV right now. The wind has been a bit to much, but I think tomorrow is suppose to be calm. If so, it should be an amazing bloom -- if you know the right places to go. The mix of goldfields and poppies is beautiful -- especially because there is a lot of green foliage still (mostly due to pigmy lupine). Lots of other things too. Millions of purple owls clover. Anywhere on the north side of Antelope Buttes is great -- and the flat areas NW of Fairmont Butte. Santa Rosa Plateau/Anza-Borrego - 3/26/09 - RT Hawke writes: Santa Rosa Plateau- Fairly good diversity with 66 species in bloom. The Chocolate Lilies are full on. Some nice wildflower patches on the vernal pool mesa. Overall nice- but nothing that knocks your socks off. The aesthetics of the place is ruined with Army helicopters flying over all the time. Anza-Borrego- Glorietta canyon had 61 species in bloom, quite a drop from last week, and 10-15 more will drop off in a few days. That said- the Brittle-bush display is still great and more species are just starting to bloom, such as Larkspur and Senna. The valley floor up to the canyon is covered with Desert Dandelion. East of Fresno - 3/26/09 - Floris van Breugel writes: I went out to the foothills in the King's river canyon last weekend and was greeted by a lovely display. The hillsides everywhere were speckled with poppies to rival the images I've seen from the Merced river canyon (access is difficult though) and other flowers (sorry, not great with ID's on flowers!), as well as lupines in a number of places. I didn't have a chance to send a report till now, but they should still be great. Specifically, E Trimmer road East of Fresno, and Elwood road are great. Photos here: http://florisvanbreugel.smugmug.com/keyword/california-wildflowers Thanks for the great resource! Red Hills/Sierra Foothills/Carrizo Plain - 3/27/09 - Ellen Simms writes: March 23, Red Hills (near Chinese Camp): Sweeps of goldfields among grey ceanothus. Blue dicks and occasional paintbrushes. Lewisias by parking area with fat buds, but not yet open. March 24, Hwy. 49 between Coulterville and Bear Valley, serpentine outcrops yellow w/ tiny tips, gold fields, yellow Layia. Spectacular. Best north of Merced River bridge. Poppies on slopes viewed from Fremont's fort historical stop and view of Merced R bridge just N of Bear Valley, Mariposa Co. Hwy 41 S of Coarsegold, (1000ft elev) hills frosted with popcorn flower, fiddlenecks, phacelia, bicolor lupines, also tall dramatic bush lupines in bloom. March 25, Carrizo Plain, vast sweeps of yellow. Goldfields are drying up but Coreopsis are peaking. Facets of slopes on Temblor Range are yellow. Areas at south end of park are also yellow. Small patches of purple Phacelia in many places. In some places in Caliente Range , a few patches of orange Mentzelia pectinata. Occasional examples of thistle sage, but they're small. Best views along Padrones Springs Rd. At south end of monument. Everything is short-cropped. European grasses could not hack the mid-winter drought! Cottonwood Canyon/Shell Creek - 3/26/09 - Graham Owen writes: Yesterday I visited cottonwood Canyon and Shell Creek and took some close up macro photos of the flowers. Shell Creek has gorgeous patches of Baby Blue Eyes, even larger patches of Goldfields, and one sizable patch of Cream Cups on the hillside. The poppies are just starting to bloom, still rather small, and not in numbers yet. There a quite a few Tidy Tips scattered all over, and a few Blue Dicks. The hills of Cottonwood Canyon remain mostly brown and green, but they are starting to brighten up with vibrant yellow patches. Lupine are sprouting all over the place, as are Goldfields and there are still several nice patches of Padres Shooting Stars just past the second cattle guard. The highlight of cottonwood was photographing an Indian Paintbrush growing close to the shooting stars. The drive through the Carrizo plain from HWY 166 to 58 was gorgeous, a family of Antelope was grazing on green grass, there is a gorgeous patch of Baby Blues very close to the 166 on the Soda Springs Road, and much of the valley floor is covered with rich deep yellows and oranges. There is quite a variety of flowers blooming on the plain, but I didn’t stop, as Shell Creek was my next destination. The drive between Cottonwood and Shell Creek was delightful, the un-paved road is open, and I easily drove through in a small car. There are quite a few patches of Blue Eyes on the hills and roadside, as one approaches Shell Creek from the East. I ended the day driving through Arvin, the flowers are thicker and more abundant there than anywhere else I’ve seen so far. I put a few macro photos of yesterday’s flowers, including the Indian Paintbrush online. http://www.grahamowengallery.com/photography/Flowers/california-wild-flowers-7.html Thanks for feeding my spring obsession. Mt. Diablo - 3/26/09 - Ter Sullivan writes: March 26 The waterfall loop on the East Side of Mt. Diablo appears to be around the peak of flowering. For the best viewing with the greatest diversity, do not take the usual Donner Fire Road up or back. Instead go up Back Canyon to the waterfall loop and return via the Bruce Lee Trail though a beautiful oak savannah. This loop starts and ends where you park at the end of Regency Drive in Clayton. N. Cal., Bear Valley Road, Colusa County - 3/26/09 - Jeremy Underwood writes: Northern California, Bear Valley Road, Colusa County - So far this year, things are a little slow for the area. Still a spectacular bloom but nothing what I've seen for the area in past years. As you venture down the gravel road, the first large area of flowers you will encounter is filled with Adobe Lilies. Continue on and you will hit a few large areas of Cream Cups. Red Maids are sprinkled around the area as well. You can find Owl's Clover and California Poppies if you poke around. I'm hoping that it is just early in the season (you never really know mother nature's schedule) and there is much more to come. Cross your fingers! Directions: To get to Bear Valley Road, take Highway 5 to the town of Williams. Travel 11 miles west of Williams on Highway 20. Turn right (north) on Bear Valley Road and follow it into a little piece of paradise. This is an old windy gravel road...be careful not to miss the turn. I drove right by it many of times Here are a few images I took if you want to see what the area looks like so far: http://jeremyunderwood.com/blog/uncategorized/california-wildflowers-bear-valley-road-colusa-county/ Knight's Ferry - 3/26/09 - Robert Dayton writes: Wednesday, 3-25-08 Yesterday I traveled to Knights Ferry on HWY 108 east of Oakdale. The bloom is spectacular with Bush Lupine and Poppies at peak. Unless you like Civil War re-enact- ments avoid going this weekend. It will be very crowded there and because of restricted areas for this event, you may not even be able to access the flowers. Traveling east on 108 for approximately 15 miles turn left at a light on to O'Brynes Ferry Road. Then make an immediate right on to Peoria Flat Rd. Travel about 4 miles until you come to a locked gate. Park there and enter through the fence opening to the right. There's a labyrinthian like walk through area in the fence to keep the cattle from escaping. Right beside this entrance is a regular gate with a lock on it. If you choose this way, be sure to lock up. The terrain and flora are much different here than Knights Ferry. I saw no Bush Lupine but plenty of Popcorn and the Poppy bloom was prolific among the Oaks set against green hillsides. It was beautiful; go now. There is a level trail and a very strenuous trail leading to a tower on top of the hillside about a mile from where you park. I took the road less traveled to the top. I'm still recovering today, but it was worth every foot of the way. Even if you aren't a photographer, these locations are well worth the trip. Red Hills/Tuolumne County - 3/26/09 - Dr. Steven J. Wolf writes: The wild flowers at Red Hills in Tuolumne County off of La Grange road are as good as I've seen them in many years. They should be at peak this weekend. As you know this place has a very short wild flower season and with warm weather on the way it will probably not last more than two weeks. Fields of Gold Fields, Poppies, Bird's Eyes, several Indian Paintbrushes, an abundance of Douglas Monkey Flowers if you get down low and look for them, Five Spots, Bitter Roots near the parking lot, and many others too numerous to mention. Most of the flowers are practically right along the road side going from the big parking lot going east for 1 - 1.5 miles. Bear Valley - 3/25/09 - Judy Bellah writes: A friend and I drove up Bear Valley Road west of Williams last Saturday (3-21), but we didn't see many wildflowers. I'm not sure whether there is a specific area that we may have missed, or perhaps our expectations were unrealistic as we had never been there before, but we drove the unpaved road all the way to the end and saw only scattered flowers here and there. Would be interested in hearing if anyone goes up there in the coming weeks and reports on the conditions. I read that it is the "jewel in the crown" of Northern California.... Carrizo Plain - 3/25/09 - Tom Deyerle writes: Carrizo plain has some spectacular areas, but overall a fairly good showing of Goldfields and not a lot of much else. I drove Elkhorn Road yesterday and the entire length of the Plain today. Grasses are short and thin and are beginning to dry out. I suspect it was not a banner rain year for Carrizo. From there I drove to 223 E of Arvin and yes, it is spectacular. Not many places to pull over unfortunately. Mohave Desert - 3/26/09 - Paul Lally writes: There are still some excellent blooms in those areas that produced over 100% of annual rainfall from Sept-Mar. (see earlier posting). Take I-10 E. of Joshua Tree to Highway 177 N. Once you get to Highway 62 go east and you will find an assortment, including many very striking Desert Lilies. To get away from traffic, turn north on Cadiz Road (along the tracks) for another 15 miles or so. Beyond that may require 4wd or high clearance. There's a stretch of very soft sand, where I assisted one very stuck father and son. From 177, going west on Highway 62 to the Sheephole Mountains, the higher elevations are carpeted with desert dandelions on both sides of the highway. It dies out quickly as you head down further east towards Wind Valley. Southern California - 3/25/09 - Kahlee Brighton writes: Various Southern/Central California Locations – Hi Carol – Here’s my latest report from this past stormy Sunday, March 22nd. I have images and a short video posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahlee/
Again, many thanks to all for your helpful reports. The adventure continues… Carrizo Plain - 3/25/09 - Greg and Scotia Fey write: Carrizo Plain---Entered Soda Lake Road from Hwy 166. Dirt road well maintained with very little washboard. Passable in a street vehicle without upset ar 25-30mph. The Goldfield patches at the southern end of Soda Lake Rd. are interspersed with the grasses forming a visually stunning quilt. About 10 miles in the Goldfields dominate and form brilliant, nearly chrome yellow carpets which, in places, extend for 2-3 miles. The first 10-12 miles are, though, dominated by a sea of Fiddlenecks which on 3/24 (brilliant sunshine, about 50-55F ) were not in bloom but appeared about to pop. Had 3 pronghorn antelope pacing the car at about 35 mph a quarter mile off and parallel to my travel. Breathtaking in their effortless grace and power. Tried to find Padrone Canyon Rd. ( as per your correspondent Tom Lotts' instructions ) but couldn't find it. Tom, could you help me out? ( we're going back for the fiddlenecks). Ride on Hwy 58 to Santa Margherita was loveley with vast patches of Goldfields dotting the hillsides. Thank you so much for this site Carol. It accounted for one of the most pleasurable days of our life. Mojave - 3/25/09 - Erick Pfaff writes: Hello Carol and happy 2009 spring wildflower season, which for us here in socal is in full swing. I finally got out to check some spots in the Mojave this past weekend As I traveled out the 14 . I noted a lot of green in Antelope Valley but still early for any real color though. Some patches of goldfields in the highway divider and other perennials blooming along the road, but pretty dull until Red Rock Canyon State park. At the park, there was a nice bloom started and sure to get better over the next couple of weeks. The ranger said they had got a good amount of rain though the website for the park says not. I saw more than I can name but here is a quick list, gilias( a yellow one I had never seen), crypanthas, phacelias, monkey-flower, rangers buttons, asters, lots of dandelion, some greenish-yellow sulphur? flowers covering big areas. Chicory, evening primroses and yellow throats. Went over to Randburgs and by Red Mountain, both further along bloomwise with nice patches of color and green. Finally, I went to the desert tortoise natural area. Hoping to see one. Alas by the time I found it, it was too dark. On the way did see a big patch of desert candles and lots of great annuals right along the Randsburg Mojave road. Looks like a good year for that part of the Mojave. I posted some photos at http://wildflowlolers.blogspot.com/ Calistoga - 3/26/09 - Luda Fiske writes: Yesterday, March 25th, I hiked from Robert Louis Stevenson SP along the Palisades trail down to Oat Hill Mine Road at the junction of Highway 29 and Silverado Trail road. This area is just outside of Calistoga. Lupine, penstemon, poppies, shootingstars, paintbrush and lots of others dotted the trail the entire way. You can take a portion of this 11 mile hike from either end and be happy with the sightings. Most people do the trail from the bottom and turn around when they've had enough walking. Antelope Valley - 3/24/09 - Dan Blackburn writes: We decided to take advantage of clear skies to scout out Antelope Valley after the latest rain. The results were mixed. There are entire hillsides covered with goldfields and they are the dominant bloom throughout the area. The poppy preserve is sketchy, at best. As often is the case, the best poppy blooms are outside the preserve. Currently, those blooms are mostly northwest of the preserve near some of the interior dirt roads. However, some of those roads currently have quite a bit of unsettled silt and we needed our four wheel drive a couple of times. The key points are that the poppies are shorter, closer to the ground right now. Short stems. Maybe because the weather has remained fairly cool. Also, it has been pretty windy – a common problem in the area -- and many of the blooms show serious wind damage close up. Lupine is very scarce. No owls clover. Hopefully, the weather will continue to warm up. That is the forecast. Best blooms probably are a week or two away, wind permitting. Nonetheless, we did get a few respectable images and the goldfield covered hills provide a very nice backdrop, as does the snow on the ridges to the north. South Bay/Monterey Bay - 3/24/09 - David Burckhard writes: South Bay shooters have had a great month with the wildest showing of charlock (wild mustard) in years. While fading on the Santa Clara valley floor, there are still many huge stands in the foothills of the Hamilton range. Because your site has been helpful to me in the past, I'll share the Garrapata "secret." The calla lilly display at the park is usually the most impressive setting of such blooms you'll see anywhere outside a Diego Rivera painting. Except this year. I visit the park annually in March to check out the lillies and on March 21, they were past peak and more sparse than in years past. What makes the setting worthwhile is easy access, density of the plants, and its proximity to the Pacific. The lillies stretch along the bottom of only one of the gulches. Find it at entrance gate #1 on the southern side of the part along Highway 1 It's a two minute walk down to the stream. Even in bad years, you can still find good stuff to shoot. Sometimes you can find expanses of periwinkle (vinca minor) but this year they weren't around. It's native to and used to warmer temps and 2008/2009 has been a cooler than average Winter. While pretty, I wouldn't want the stuff in my yard as it's invasive and crowds out everything else. At Point Lobos on March 21, the Winter hasn't fully left the area so flower blooms have yet to fully develop. Still, you can find a few Blue Blossoms, wild iris, and monkey flower. It'll be another month before they're in their own. Antelope Valley - 3/24/09 - Milt Stark writes: Goldfields throughout the Valley are very good but the huge fields of goldfields on 60th St. West between Ave. I and Ave. H are spectacular! As to the early poppies on Ave. D (Highway 138) near 140th St. West which Spencer Westbrook spoke about, I say wonderful. The best of those mixed with goldfields are on land where the proposed race track is supposed to be. I am keeping a record of flowers growing on that land which may help defeat the plan when there is a public hearing. The hills west of the aquaduct inspection road are covered with coreopsis which can be seen from far away. Many flowers are just beginning to come into bloom. I expect the next couple of weeks will be a good time to see them. Anza-Borrego - 3/24/09 - Jerry and Bessie write: March 20th we visited the Anza Borrego State Park area. We found very little color in most areas. We did not hike up Palm Canyon, however. The best color we found, accessible by vehicle, was in the Glorietta Canyon area. There was a nice carpet of yellow flowers, with blooming ocotillo and an occasional blooming cactus. This is accessed via a dirt road on the south side of the community of Borrego Springs. Anza-Borrego, Desert Center, Laughlin NV - 3/23/09 - John Garbutt writes: Last week, traveled to Anza Borrego; Desert Center; Laughlin,NV areas. Display at the Northern foot of the Grapevine (Truck inspection Station) SB I-5 was STUNNING! Shame I did not feel comfortable stopping on the freeway, a carpet of blue and gold! Best show of a 2,400 mile trip!
Merced River Canyon - 3/23/09 - Floyd Hopper writes: The Merced River Canyon is a blazed with a California poppies and popcorn flowers. Some of the hillsides are beginning to fade but, other areas are just coming into their prime. Hites Cove is also outstanding. The redbuds are just beginning to bud out. Here is an image taken on 3/21: http://www.naturequestphotography.com/naturequestphotography/detail.asp?photoID=8011139&cat=112780 San Luis Obispo County - 3/23/09 - Nancy Winkenbach writes: Last Saturday I went out to Shell Creek Road near Highway 58 which is about 20 miles east of Santa Margarita in San Luis Obispo, CA. There I found numerous areas carpeted with blue, yellow and gold flowers. I think most of the blue patches were baby blue eyes and the yellow and gold patches were tidy tips, goldfields, and fiddlenecks. I also saw a few bush lupines, but didn't see any owl's clover blooming yet. Thanks so much for posting the wildflower sightings on your website. I find them very helpful. Carmel Valley - 3/23/09 - Zack Bradford writes: March 21-22 --
Carmel Valley Garland Ranch Park -- the lupine are just getting started on the valley floor along the lupine loop, and will probably be great in a week). Other flowers just getting started include fiesta flower and Pacific pea. In the forest along the upper side of the lupine loop there are some nice patches of shooting stars that are on their way out, plus lots of buttercups! Robinson Canyon road -- again a little early, but there are a lot of johny-jump ups on the hillsides as well as buttercups and some miniature lupine. Table Mountain area - 3/23/09 - Dennis Geiszler writes: Highway 108/120 a few miles before Jamestown, in the Table Mountain area, was showing really well last week. Specifically, the hillside between O'Byrnes Ferry Rd and Yosemite Junction (108/120 split) was loaded with poppies, as well as some other species. Hope the rain didn't diminish their splendor, and on the way out on Sunday, they were mostly closed up and hopefully protected. O'Byrnes Ferry Rd. between 108/120 and Copperopolis was said to be great viewing as well, and I also heard about the Ward's Ferry display. Arvin - 3/23/09 - Jason Thomas writes: 3/21/09 I wanted to add a couple of notes about the wildflower areas others have talked about near Arvin. First is that it would be best to visit either in the early morning or afternoon if you want Bear mountain the background of your photos. If you go in the late afternoon or sunset time your shadow will be almost impossible to remove from your scenic shots. The angle of the sun at this time of year will put you or your tripod's shadow directly in line with the large Bear Mountain. Unless you can visit when there are clouds over the sun, shooting late in the day will be problematic if you want the scenic backdrop. If you just want closeups, it won't matter. Lastly if you want a map of where the place to find the most concentrated wildflowers, you can use this link: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=35.211773,-118.738936&spn=0.046353,0.067463&t=h&z=14&msid=108055951132049387165.000465cb27f2027d9a314 Or use the short version.. http://tinyurl.com/c27j2s Various locations north of Santa Barbara - 3/22/09 - Carol Patterson writes: Saturday, 3-22-09, I drove from Santa Barbara up to hwy 166. From the 101 is looks like the lupines are starting from Buellton to Los Alamos, I will explore more this week.
A pretty day, the clouds were dramatic in the sky, but windy. Wind Wolves Preserve - 3/22/09 - RT Hawke writes: 3/22 Wind Wolves Preserve, RT Hawke writes: It was great, lush fields of green as far as the eye can see, with painted slopes of different colors. There were 43 species in bloom, eight of which made great displays. Coulter's Jewel flower was my favorite one, along with Blue dicks, Phacelia, Fiddleneck, Popcorn flower, White Fiesta flower, Lupine and Bird's Eye Gila. The valley floor is starting to dry up, but as you walk the three miles up the canyon, the top part hasn't even started yet. Also the Lupine at the bottom of the Grapevine are spectacular. Carrizo Plain - 3/22/09 - Tom Lott writes: I visited the Carrizo Plains on Saturday and the wildflowers were fabulous. The southern valley floor was a carpet of golden yellow flowers with patches of purple on a backdrop of lush green grasses and crisp blue sky. My drive started on HW 166 at Cottonwood Canyon. The arroyo floor (a few miles up the paved road) was filled with goldfields; the hillsides were covered with the subtle orange of fiddlenecks. Further up the road (Bates Canyon, rough dirt road, sharp rocks, rugged vehicle suggested), there were patches of shooting stars on the hillsides, and many of the bushes were just stating to bloom. HW 166 through Cuyama had great fields of yellow contrasting with the badland hills of the Caliente range. Heading north on Soda Lake road from HW 166, the southern Carrizo hills were completely covered with fiddlenecks. Patches of yellow and lavender painted the north facing slopes of the Temblor range. The valley floor south of the Goodwin visitor center gave grand vistas of yellow goldfields right up to Soda Lake road. The best displays I saw were a few miles up Padrone Canyon road (dirt, 2 wheel driveable, good clearance suggested) just beyond the BLM gate. The hillside vistas looking north and east toward Soda Lake were spectacular. Desert Hot Springs area - 3/22/09 - Joan Carroll, Master Gardener, UC Riverside writes: Desert Hot Springs brittle bush, pincushion, desert dandelion, desert sunflower, also in county towards Sky Valley, in Desert Edge area (where I live) and Edom hill lupines not quite ready for blooming. Glenn County - 3/22/09 - Andy Tomaselli writes: We were only able to locate 2 adobe lilies in bloom in a usually reliable patch at the as of yet, closed section of camping at Stoney Gorge Reservoir, about 1 mi east of Elk Creek, Glenn Co. From Elk Creek, heading south on Rd 306, the heavily grazed hills are velvety with popcorn flower species, with a few roadside Cal and Fryingpan poppies, lupines (various blue ones and a few of the yellow foothill, L. microcarpus?). On the same Rd 306, we looked at several private properties between Stonyford and Lodoga (Colusa Co.) for other reliable patches of adobe lily to no avail but were delighted to find some beautiful pastures holding birds eye gilias, and fields of cream cups (Platystenum califorinicus), popcorn flowers, gold fields and purple owls clover, with the best display at a small church close to Century Ranch, Lodoga. Lodoga is several miles north/east of the more famous Bear Valley (which we did not vist yesterday). Sacramento area - 3/21/09 - Jeremy Underwood writes: You have a wonderful thing going with the Wildflower Hotsheet. It has brought me much joy visiting the various locations that you and your contributors have provided. Thank you. The Rancho Seco Howard Ranch Trail is an easy walking trail with gentle rolling hills as you make your way through the grassland. The trail stretches about 7 miles roundtrip around the Racho Seco Lake. It is located 25 miles southeast of the Sacramento area, off of Highway 104. Poppies are beginning to blanket the area in patches as if a painter dolloped the landscape with a paintbrush. Also, vernal pools are forming and you can hear the ribbits of frogs as you pass by. It was a tranquil walk today... as I passed only a couple of fisherman as they made their way around the lake. You can enjoy a few of the images here: http://jeremyunderwood.com/blog/nature-photography/california-wildflowers-rancho-seco-howard-ranch-trail/ Antelope Valley area - 3/21/09 - Mary Wilson writes: Indian Museum – museum still not open.. Nice field of yellow peppergrass. Saddleback Butte State Park - There are desert dandelion blooming and there are a lot of fiddleneck. There were some goldfields starting to open up. Took the new Dowen Nature Trail, it is a concrete trail with benches and a great trail to see the different plants in Saddleback and the snow covered mountains. Saw Davy gilia, tiny forget-me-not, mustard and a few tidy tips. The pincushions were still in the bud stage, as were the dune primrose. A few of the Joshua trees were blooming. Butte Valley Wildlife Sanctuary - Saw fields of goldfields, coreopsis, wild rhubarb, tidy tips, white pincushions and a few Davy gilia. Made a left on 200th Street East and go to Avenue G. There are carpets of goldfields on 200th Street East – absolutely beautiful! Phacelia Wildflower Sanctuary - This area lived up to the sign’s name. There were a lot of blooming lacy phacelia (it seems to like growing in among the creosote bushes) along with goldfields, blazing stars, fiddleneck, tiny gilia, slender keel fruit, golden gilia and YES there are Desert Candles this year. Gerhardy Wildlife Sanctuary - Almost missed the sign for the Gerhardy Wildlife Sanctuary as it is being replaced with a new sign. Look for the rock structure with wooden slats that will have the sign in the future. This dirt road has spots of washboard driving and unfortunately people are still using this as a dump. The wildflowers don’t seem to mind, as there were some fiddleneck, creosote bushes, some coreopsis, small fields of goldfields and a few Davy gilia. Not much blooming here. Alpine Butte Wildflower Sanctuary - There are several plants in the area that are still to small to identify but there were a few dune primroses, pin cushions, and purple mat. Jackrabbit Flat Wildlife Sanctuary - not much is happening here. Last year there were numerous flowers in bloom and almost nothing at this time. Did see some lacy phacelia, grasses, a few goldfields, mustard and the beginning of the wild cucumber plant. Blalock Wildlife Sanctuary - not much happening here either. To early to see the yucca in bloom. Bacchus Road - nice areas of goldfields, lacy phacelia, fiddleneck, desert dandelions, brown-eyed primrose, tiny forget-me-not, and blue dick. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve –“ California poppy, goldfields, fiddleneck, slender keel fruit, forget-me-not (Western and tiny), filaree, grape soda lupine, pygmy-leaf lupine, lacy phacelia, coreopsis, brown-eyed primrose, red maids, hairy lotus, evening snow, tiny gilia, mustard, fringe pod, desert parsley, blue dicks, Suncups, tiny phlox, pincushions, locoweed, pineapple weed, cream cups and Davy gilia. There are wildflowers out there to be seen and each day will bring even more. If you do go out driving to see the wildflowers, you might want to take along some window cleaner and paper towels as there are a lot of painted lady butterflies out and really made a mess of the windshield. Also, be aware that the snakes are out now also. Santa Rosa Plateau - 3/21/09 - Jan Maguire writes: Just a short report on Santa Rosa Plateau, south of Lake Elsinore off I-15. (Take Clinton Keith Rd) It's a big place covered in grasses, with lots of flowers mixed in. We hiked from the Hidden Valley Trailhead onto Los Santos Trail, to the Vernal Pools trail, to the Historic Adobes, then back across to our starting point. Lots of individual flowers along the Los Santos Trail, and, BTW, watch out for hundreds of caterpillars on the trail... I was looking specifically for the Chocolate Lily, which we found on the Vernal Pool Trail between the large Vernal Pool and the Adobes. The lilies were in prime condition, with more just budding. This was my first time to this place. I lugged way too much equipment for my 6.5 mile hike ... shoulda taken one camera and the macro lens, small tripod maybe. Arvin/Tehachapi/Antelope Valley - 3/20/09 - Spencer Westbrook writes: Thought I would add some comments about my mid-week trip to the Arvin, Tehachapi, Antelope Valley areas on Wednesday, Thursday. I will not add further comment regarding the wonderful bloom at Arvin, I spent all Wednesday afternoon hiking among the rolling hills on this part of Tejon Rnach property. Those of you wondering about the security guard, I saw none but as I have over the last 20+ years I have photographed here, saw the ranch workers who always just say 'hi". This part of the same Tejon Ranch you see along I-5, the largest (279,000 acres)and one of the oldest ranches (1843)in California; they own a vast block of the Tehachapi Mtns. Check out their website, www.tejonranch.com for interesting information. It was great to see this area in bloom again after several years of no bloom or stunted bloom, I would rate this year a 7-7.5, to see it as a 10 is a jaw dropper. I camped at Tehachapi loop, the world famous train watching spot just off Hwy 58 above Keene, I am an avid rail fan and have met train lovers from all over the world here over the years. On Wednesday I took the time to travel one of my favorite California back roads just west of Arvin, this being Comanche Point road,(located at the end of Herring road and you enter through a farm area), a graded dirt road passable by passenger car (with care)but easily by truck. This road climbs the face of the Tehachapi Mtns in a series of switchbacks and loops with beautiful views and vistas although it was very hazy on this particular day. The wildflowers here are great (not equal to Arvin however)with owl clover, brodeia, poppies, wind poppies, gilia, lupine, popcorn flower, sage thistle, red maids,sun cups, and more spotted during my outing. The 100+ year old oaks are stunning among the rolling hills. There are several gates that you can pass through, neither were locked, just close after passing to keep livestock from roaming. Allow several hours to do this trip, this narrow road being so remote it is unlikely you will see anyone else during the day. Don't attempt the trip if the road is wet. You wind up on paved roads in the Stallion Springs area just west of the town of Tehachapi. I headed toward home (Ventura) by going to the Antelope Valley via Willow Springs Road then to the Fairmont Buttes area, I was very suprised to see a very large area of poppies in bloom at 140th Ave west by the buttes, March 19th, seem way to early for such a large display. Milt Stark (the dean of Antelope Valley wildflowers), you have any thoughts on this early bloom? I also noted large areas of poppies along several backroads and out on Tejon Ranch property (those guys again) about 170th Ave. Anyone have a report for the Hunter Ligget area west of King City although it is still a bit early? Thanks Carol, hope you make it down to So Cal for the bloom, with rain this weekend the timing could be perfect for a dazzling April show. Death Valley - 3/20/09 - Ranger Charlie Callagan writes: Death Valley Wildflower Update: March 21, 2009 - Temperatures have warmed to the low 90s along the valley floor, but no rain has fallen for weeks. Due to this, the spring bloom may peak in the lower elevations at the end of the month. Many wildflowers are bolting—rushing to produce seeds—so the plants are often tn tiny with few flowers. Although most wildflowers are primarily along the roadsides, there is quite a bit of variety if you look closely. Visitors are finding roadside wildflowers along the Mud Canyon Road, Scotty’s Castle Road, Highway 190 east of Furnace Creek and along the Badwater Road. Those with high-clearance vehicles are finding spring wildflowers along the Echo Canyon Road, Hole-in-the-Wall Road, and Titus Canyon Road. Some wildflowers currently in bloom: Desert Five-spot, Broad-flowered Gilia, Brittlebush, Panamint Daisy, Globemallow, Mojave Aster, Brown-eyed and Golden Evening Primrose, Lesser Mojavea, Notch-leaf Phacelia, Desert Gold, and Gravel Ghost. Arvin area - 3/19/09 - Tom Kidd writes: The following link is to a photo I took today (3/19) on Highway 223 about 6 miles east of Arvin. I spoke to a couple who said the blooms had looked a little better last weekend, so you might want to go soon if you are going. http://tomkiddphoto.com/Visgallery/displayimage.php?album=14&pos=16 Sonora/Jamestown - 3/20/09 - Chris Henson writes: Anyone living in or planning to visit the Sonora area can see amazing displays of poppies on Ward's Ferry Road southeast of Jamestown in the Tuolumne River Canyon. The poppies here are just as spectacular as the ones on Hwy 140 near Yosemite without the two-hour drive. The only drawback is that the road is very narrow and winding along very steep hills with few turnouts. (I found it a little scary, but I am terrified of heights.) I drove from Sonora to the Tuolumne River and turned around there although the road goes all the way to Big Oak Flat on Hwy 120. There were a few lupine blooming and other flowers that I can't name, but the poppies are the main attraction. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lithcanine/3369808448/ Desert Center/Anza-Borrego - RT Hawke writes: Desert Center 3/19 RT Hawke writes: Good displays and diversity (84). Showy patches of Brittle-bush, Poppies, Sun-cups, Pincushion, and Desert Dandelion. The best area was when I turned off I-10 at Desert Center and went south. The diversity is between the transmission lines and the base of the mountains. Its marginal car access so mostly walking up a wash. Eagle mountain road was nice to drive. I wouldn't recommend going to Corn Springs unless you are going to spend the night. It did have a nice flowery wash that headed south into the mountains. Anza-Borrego-- Glorietta canyon was showy and diverse (98 species in bloom). Again though, complicated access and mostly walking. Lake Isabella - 3/19/09 - Lorree Bullard writes: Drove around Lake Isabella from Highway 14. The Joshua trees below Walker Pass have extensive blooms. Branches are quite heavy. Expect them to pop in the next couple of weeks! There are flowers all the way around the lake. The fields are not as extensive as other years, but the flowers are certainly in evidence. There was enough sun for the poppies to be open in the area near the bridge on the South Fork of the Kern River. Also lots of lupine, coreopsis, several varieties of phacelia and many others in this area. Lots of baby blue eyes near the dam on the road to the visitor center. Only thing I did not see in this area was the owl's clover -- perhaps a bit early. Lake Elsinore - 3/19/09 - Craig Gillette writes: The poppies on the hillsides east of I-15 near Lake Elsinore are coming in. The road south alongside the freeway at Lake Street exit has a number of intense patches quite close to the road. The hills look to be very intense near the hilltops and back in along the gated preserve road, but that would be a serious walk/hike to most of them.. There also look to be some areas accessible from exits farther north. I've started uploading a few pictures here: http://www.pbase.com/gillettecraig/cawildflower09 Southern California Deserts - 3/19/09 - Kahlee Brighton writes: Hi Carol -- Below is my latest wildflower report. This looks to be a very exciting year. Don't know what I'd do without your wonderful hotline and all the generous contributors. Various Desert Locations: Over the weekend of March 14th through the 16th, I traveled out to several hot spots in the Southern California deserts. Some of my images from this trip are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahlee/ The following flower species were found in all of the locations noted below (those exclusive to a given area are noted in the description for that area): Apricot Mallow (Sphaerica ambigua); Arizona Lupine (Lupinis arizonicus); Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus acanthodes); Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basiliaris); Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa); California Fagonia (Fagonia laevis); Cheese Bush (Hymenoclea salsola); Chia (Salvia Columbariae); Chuparosa (Justica californica); Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata); Desert Chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana); Desert Dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata); Desert Gold Sunflower (Gerea canescens); Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi); Desert Pincushion (Chaenactis fremontii); Fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata); Gold Poppy (Eschscholzia parishii); Heron’s Bill Filaree (Erodium cicutarium); Notchleaf Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata); Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens); Popcorn Flower (Cryptantha); Spanish Needles (Palafoxia arida); Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia distans) and Yellow Cups (Oenothera brevipes). Corn Springs Road/Chuckwalla Mountains. (Approximately 8 miles east of Desert Center on Interstate 10, take the Corn Springs Exit.) Corn Springs Road is a graded but rough dirt and gravel road. Some rocky areas to watch for, but definitely passable in 2WD sedan with care at least as far as Corn Springs. High clearance or 4WD recommended beyond the Springs. Area was near peak bloom on Sunday, March 15th. This was my personal pick of the entire weekend for best desert wildflowers in terms of variety and density as well as having the least number of people sharing the road. Some slopes and hillsides were truly carpeted with flowers. The washes were just packed with both big displays and isolated pockets of beautiful blossoms. Several panels of glorious rock art were an unexpected bonus. Along with the primary list above, the following species were located in this particular area (plus many more I couldn’t identify): Bigelow's Monkey Flower (Mimulus bigelovii); Brandegea (Brandegea bigelovii); Broom Rape (Orobanche cooperi); Deer Weed (Lotus rigidus); Desert Five Spot (Malvastrum rotundifolia); Desert Suncups (Camissonia boothii ssp. desertorum); Woody Bottlewasher (Camissonia boothii ssp. Condensata); Golden Gilia (Gilea aurea); Goldenhead (Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus); Mountain Mist (Erigonium Parishii); Purple Bush (Tetracoccus hallil); Rock Daisy (Perityle emoryi) and Yellowhead (Trichoptillum incisum). Joshua Tree National Park - Cottonwood Canyon – Southern Entrance. This area is easily accessible on paved roads off of Interstate 10. As of Sunday, March 15th, I would rate this area as past peak and it appears there was minimal blooming here to begin with. Along with a smattering of most of the species on the primary list given above, you’ll find Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentus) and Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea). From here, the road south to Mecca through Box Canyon is not worth taking in terms of flowers. Anza Borrego Desert State Park – Northern & Central Borrego Valley. Visited Monday, March 16th. Coming in on S22 (Borrego-Salton Seaway) from 86S was very picturesque with flowers lining the roadsides along the badlands above the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area. As soon as I turned onto Henderson Road, any easily accessible wildflower areas at roadside were packed with people, as were the trailheads for all the western canyons and the ABDSP Visitor Center. The Desert Gold bloom along Henderson Canyon was past peak. Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail had nice displays of Desert Dandelion, Arizona Lupine, Ocotillo, Sand Verbena and others, but caterpillars were fast devouring the flowers. Plus, except for cactus, high temperatures this week should make everything toast in short order. You can drive the Jeep Trail with care in a 2WD sedan as far as Desert Gardens, but high clearance is recommended and you’ll need 4WD beyond the Second Crossing. Watch for areas of soft sand and lots of oil pan biting rocks! Other nearby areas to explore are Gallete Meadows (loaded with Desert Dandelion) and any of the canyons around the Visitors Center. Along with the flower varieties noted in the primary list above, this part of Borrego Valley featured Bigelow's Monkey Flower (Mimulus bigelovii); Desert Lily (Hesperocallis undulata); Dune Evening Primrose (Oenothera Deltoides); Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia); Brown-Eyed Evening Primrose (Camissonia claviformis ssp. Rubescens); Sand Verbena (Abronia villlosa); Spectacle Pod (Dithyrea californica); and non-native Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima). Anza Borrego State Park – Glorieta Canyon, Southern Borrego Valley. Finding the access roads to Glorieta Canyon is challenging, but once located, they are drivable with care in a 2WD sedan. You will have to maneuver through some large rocks in the roadway at various points, so know your vehicle’s clearance limitations really well. To get to Glorieta Canyon, go south on County Road S3 from Christmas Circle/Palm Canyon Drive for about 3 miles. You will pass through a residential area and be in open desert at this point. On your right, you'll see an unnamed dirt road with a small pumping station surrounded by a fence and covered with a corrugated steel roof. Do not turn here; this is only mentioned as a point of reference. Go approximately .25 mile farther to the next unnamed dirt road and turn right. Approximately .8 mile down that road you will come to a "T" intersection. Turn right. Go approximately .2 miles to another "T" intersection and turn left. Go for another .8 miles and you’ll see some State Park signs. Turn right and follow the road to Glorieta Canyon for about 1.5 miles to the trailhead. Throughout this area, the amazing flower show includes all of the species noted in the primary list above as well as Bigelow's Monkey Flower (Mimulus bigelovii); Desert Agave (Agave deserti) and Spiny Senna (Senna armata). In particular, Desert Dandelion blankets large areas among Mesquite, Agave, Ocotillo and many kinds of cactus, with creamy yellow spreading out all along the drive up to the canyon itself. Brittlebush densely populates the red rocks around the canyon trailhead along with big colorful patches of Phacelia and Chuparosa punctuating the landscape. There are some huge red barrel cactus here and several of them are in bloom. Watch out for Cholla everywhere. These are Teddy Bears you don't want to hug. That's it for this week. Let the good times and great flowers roll! Cottonwood Canyon - 3/18/09 - Graham Owen writes: Cottonwood Canyon report – 3/17/09. I drove up to cottonwood yesterday morning, noticed more yellow on the hills around Gorman, the fields at the bottom of the Grapevine are ablaze with purple, and the hillsides west of Maricopa are beginning to come alive with goldfields, lupine and fiddleneck. Cottonwood Canyon is still in early stages of wildflower development, the hillsides are yet to be emblazoned with color, looks somewhat bland, until exiting the car and walking around. The ground is covered with baby wildflowers, tiny purple lupine sprouts mixed with goldfields, and other ground flowers, create a veritable smorgasbord of color and delight. Photographing the flowers was fun, although 99% of the day was spent lying on my stomach, enjoying the scenes through my lens. I put a few of yesterday’s pictures online… http://www.grahamowengallery.com/photography/Flowers/california-wild-flowers-5.html Chico - 3/18/09 - Jennifer Kalt writes: Just returned from the Chico area, where the wildflower display is spectacular. At Vina Plains, the goldfields and shooting stars are in full glory; at Dye Creek, the adobe fritillary and death camas are is full bloom. At North Table Mountain near Oroville, the Lobb's poppies, goldfields, Blennosperma, bicolored lupines, and monkeyflowers are putting on a beautiful show. Hog Lake is still fairly behind, with pipevines and shooting stars in bloom, the clematis and redbud just starting. The deciduous oaks are just barely starting to leaf out. Merced Canyon, Hwy 223 and more - 3/17/09 - Clayton Mansnerus writes: Encouraged by reports of great blooms, I set off on a wildflower photography road trip this past weekend and wasn’t disappointed. The following are reports from areas visited. A few pics from both Merced Canyon and Hwy 223 are posted here: http://photo.net/photos/clayton.m Merced Canyon - As already reported, the poppies are dense, numerous, and spectacular on many of the mountain sides along the river. The best blooms were between Briceberg and Hites Cove, before the detour bridges. I expect the bloom will move up the canyon and to higher elevations as it progresses. Good light for photography in the canyon is tricky as you get shadows to contend with when trying to shoot in the warm morning or afternoon light. There are so many angles from which to view though, that if you are creative, there should certainly be some great photo ops. Hwy 223 East of Arvin - is blooming wonderfully as described. I was warned about the dreaded ranch security guard who dutifully evicts carefree folks who have ventured onto the ranch side of the fence, but I didn't see him on either my late afternoon or early morning visits. Even if viewing from behind the fence, I was able to make some nice compositions at a few spots. There were also some dense covered hillsides traveling south on Hwy 58 before the intersection with Hwy 223. Unfortunately, it didn't appear that there were any safe, legal turn-outs. Hwy 58 just East of McKittrick there were dense hills of mostly fiddleneck with splashes of lavender and coreopsis. Continuing West to the intersection with Shell Creek Road, which was spectacular in 2005, there was very little blooming in this area. There were a few patches of goldfields and baby blue eyes, but so far not worth the trip just for the flowers. Perhaps it's just too early, but it did seem a bit dry there to expect much more to happen. Interestingly, it seems like fiddlenecks are the theme flower this season. They are much more prevalent than I ever recall seeing before. Every location I visited that was blooming had them in abundance. Many places had only fiddlenecks. They also seemed much larger and flashier than normal. Typically I would not consider a fiddleneck to be very photogenic, as it has more green and stem than blossom, but this year I’ve seen some monster fiddlenecks that look impressive in photos. Southern California - 3/17/09 - Zack Bradford writes: Thanks again this year for the hotsheet. A little late to report on a trip this past weekend, but I have few details that the other reports didn't include. First, made it out to Anacapa Island on Saturday, March 14th. On the boat ride over the docent said the giant coreopsis were about 25% in bloom, but I'd say a little more than that. Also found phacelia, goldfields, and a few other flowers on the island. On the mainland, the coreopsis are just getting started around Pt. Mugu. Poppy hills preserve -- Sunday, March 15th, poppies seems to be just getting going and were closed that day due to the cold. Nice blooms of goldfields on the surrounding hillsides. Sunday, March 15th -- HWY 223 from the 58 south to Arvin has been well covered in the other reports so I can only second the amazing bloom that's going on there. If anyone figures out how to get closer to the orchards several miles to the northwest along the base of the hills it would probably be worth it -- color seems thickest over there... hills are awash with red, orange, purple, white, and any other color imaginable! Also, Sunday, March 15th, Wind Wolves was incredible, with fields and fields and fields of blue dicks, and then fields of fiddleneck, blue dicks, and some lupine and poppies further up the road into the hills. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the hike at the end of the road in the preserve. Short hike up some switchbacks on the "mountain view trail" gets you to some California jewelflower!!! Clovis/Merced River Canyon - 3/17/09 - Vincent Kosorek writes: Traveling East out of Fresno and Clovis, into the Sierra foothills, the hills are carpeted with popcorn flowers and Fiddlenecks. The photo is on Tollhouse road 10 miles outside of Clovis. The Merced River Canyon, East of Mariposa on Hiway 140 is showing carpets of poppies on the hills above the river. Outside Yosemite - 3/17/09 - Barry Breckling (retired California State Park Ranger) writes: Merced Canyon poppies out of control! Highway 140 into Yosemite – 3/16/09 The poppy display along Hwy 140 between Briceburg and El Portal on the way into Yosemite is outrageous! This is one of the most spectacular wildflower displays I’ve ever seen. Most of the display is due to last year’s Telegraph Fire which burned much of the area north of the Merced River. There was, however, one unburned area on the south side of the river that was as bright or brighter than the rest of the display. This is a must-do trip within the next couple weeks. Don’t forget the camera and plan to stop at many of the turnouts along the way. Various locations - 3/17/09 - John Engels writes: Carol- I'd highly recommend visiting Wind Wolves. I'd never been there before, but spotted someone's reference to it in the calphoto email. Great place and they are having a very nice year. They've got a nice mix of flowers and locations. Flowers include poppies, lupines, blue dicks, fiddlenecks and several others I haven't seen much of before. The fields of blue dicks at the edge of the hills looks very nice, especially since some hills have nice color on them as well. I did spot a few nice looking locations from the airplane yesterday as well. There appear to be some nice yellow fields in Carrizo plain, particularly south of Soda Lake along the road. It looked like the south west edges of the hills might be getting some yellow as well. About ten miles east of Grapevine, there appear to be some amazing poppy fields up on the hills - the challenge is that it appears to be Water and Power land, as it's right above where the aquaduct enters the mountains. Would be an awesome place if you can figure out how to get there. Finally, there's a number of very brilliant yellow mustard fields stretching from south San Jose down here and there to Gilroy. Most should be visible from the road. BTW - there's also a very nice one right east of the north end of the San Jose airport - nice if you don't want a big drive. Various locations - 3/17/09 - Jason Branz writes: Hi Carol, Hwy 223 east of Arvin is spectacular, as advertised. Right as you start to climb the grade east of town, the color starts. One gentleman said the colors are visible from the Grapevine, and I believe it! The lupine are dense in the lower reaches, then the poppies get more numerous as you go up until the fiddleneck takes over near the top. If you go, please, please be careful. Yesterday (Monday) I saw people milling about in the road despite oncoming traffic. This is a heavily-traveled road, and there are lots of big rigs that use it, so be careful. Kaweah Lake was very pretty as well. There are a couple of good poppy groups along the road cuts on the south side of the lake. I did mainly macro shots here due to the sun angle and power lines overhead. A friend told me that Table Mountain near Oroville is starting to look nice, so I'll head up there next week. Any info on that area is appreciated. Thanks to all that post reports, and to you for this great site! Santa Monica Mountains - 3/17/09 - Steve Sieren writes: The Pantachaete Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains - The trail running through Truinfo Canyon is full of wildflowers. You can park at the end of Triunfo Canyon just as it crosses Lindero Canyon in Westlake Village. There are lots of gold flowers that you will see first then some white flowers. As you go further down the trail you begin to see some light purple flowers and some shooting stars but the shooting stars seem to be past their peak unless some rain comes around because there are plenty of buds ready to sprout.. There are homes on the left side of the trail but none to the right. The further you go the less homes there will be in view unless you turn around and look back. The video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlOM14HS4r8 was taken on Monday afternoon March 16th, 2009. I wouldn't expect to find any grand vistas here but the ground is covered in numerous places along the 1.5 mile trail. You can see some snapshots from earlier today here at this link http://sieren.smugmug.com/gallery/7627465_9tim7#493190065_d2AhF I wouldn't drive far to see this but if you're local it's worth a short drive. Angel's Camp/Sacramento - 3/16/09 - Jim writes: Saturday I drove from Vacaville to Angel's Camp via Highways 113, 12, 26 Silver Rapids Rd, Hogan Dam Rd, Hunt Road, and Highway 4. I saw yellow owl's clover on either side of highway 113 near Lindsay Slough about 10 miles south of Dixon. There are nice displays of yellow owl's clover, a bright yellow orange composite, baby-blue-eyes, popcorn flowers, and fiddleneck on East Acampo Rd, North Cord Rd, and on south side of highway 12 between Clements and Burson. Good displays of California poppies south of Valley Springs along the north side of Silver Rapids Rd and Hogan Dam Road. I suspect there are more displays of California Poppies along highway 12 east of Valley Springs as they were there last year. I headed south on Hogan Dam Road to Highway 4. but saw not great displays there. Monday I drove from Angel's Camp to Sacramento vis Highways 49 and 16. I saw displays of yellow owl's clover along highway 49 north of San Andreas, and less impressive displays several places along highway 16. I saw a hillside covered with California Poppies just north of the Mokelumne River. There were nice displays of popcorn flowers and fiddleneck near Drytown, mustard near the interesection of 16 and 49, and lupines along highway 16 east of the Cosumnes River. [Jim, somehow your map links don't get translated. Didn't want you to think I was ignoring them. -- Carol Leigh] Wind Wolves update - 3/16/09 - Sylva Blackstone writes: Hi Carol, I was just on the phone with Windwolves Preserve. They are ONLY open to the public on weekends. The incredible swath of lavendar/blue on the slopes is something to behold. But it has to be viewed from the 166 unless it is Saturday or Sunday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Santiago Oaks Regional Park - 3/16/09 - Gretchen Crumpacker writes: We hiked the Windes Trail in Santiago Oaks Park on 3/16 (moderate 20-minute hike) and there is quite a bit in bloom, principally California poppies, eucrypta and other purple, yellow and white blooms. The area around the nature center at Upper Newport Bay (Irvine Avenue side) has a great deal of mustard, brown-eyed Susans and other varieties in bloom. Fairfield - 3/16/09 - Tom Hilton writes: Thanks for running the hotsheet--it's a great resource! Did a short hike in Rockville Hills Park on my way up to Sacramento Saturday morning, and was well rewarded for the detour. Tons of fiddleneck, popcorn flower, blue dicks, shooting stars, and buttercups. Some California saxifrage here and there, and a lovely patch of California golden violet. Miner's lettuce was just barely beginning to bloom; same with the lupines. This is going to be prime wildflower viewing territory over the next few weeks. Pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomhilton/tags/rockvillehillspark/ Wind Wolves Preserve - 3/16/09 - Carol Leigh writes: I just got off the phone with Gene Waller, who sent me a wildflower report last week that somehow I didn't receive. He's reporting that as of last week the preserve wildflowers were looking great. Here's a link to their website: http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/twc_preserve_wind_wolves.html It's near the Grapevine, Highway 166, 10 miles west of Interstate 5. He says that blue dicks, fiddlenecks, lupine, and owl's clover are blooming along with ground pinks and caterpillar phacelia. Fields of purple stretch out in front of you. I didn't know about this preserve, and probably many of you didn't, either, so this is good info for us all. You can see Gene's photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/wallygene Arizona - 3/16/09 - Mike Maloney writes: I know it's a little far afield but I just got back from a weekend at the Kofa Wildlife Refuge in Southwest AZ. The drive from L.A. to Blythe had lots of color East of Indio; Brittlebush and some Apricot Mallow adorn the corridor, with Sand Verbenia and dune Primrose at Wiley's Well. The big story is the US 95 corridor south of Quartzsite AZ. The bloom is peaking now with Lupine, more Brittlebush and Mallow, plus Chicory, Beavertail, Sun Cups and Ocotillo showing off. Lake Martinez road from US95 to just West of the Yuma Proving Ground border has so much Desert Lily in bloom that the scent while driving down the road is quite intense. If it doesn't get to warm this week, the bloom should be good for the coming weekend and is definitely worth the drive. Also, CA62 East of the Sheephole Wilderness to Vidal Jct. is showing quite nicely, with the usual suspects: Brittlebush, Chicory, Desert Daisy. Carrizo Plain - 3/15/09 - Nathaniel West writes: There is a good display of wildflowers right now along highway 58 from interstate 5 west to the Seven Mile turn off on the west side of the Temblor range. The southern end of the Carrizo Plain on Soda Lake Road north of 166 also has a good display. The southern end of the plains has Fiddleneck everywhere with large swaths of Goldfields; also saw some Lupines in a couple of the washes. As you head north on Soda Lake road from 166, the wildflowers peter our once you pass the KCL campground. Also, no blooms yet along the Caliente range. In any case, the southern end of the plain and highway 58 are definitely both worth a visit and are sure to get better over the coming week. Mt. Figueroa/Los Olivos - 3/15/09 - Carol Patterson writes: I went to Mount Figueroa above Los Olivos today, March 15th, it seems to be early for this years wildflowers. There were small patches of a many of the regulars, but more seem to be coming, my guess in the next couple of weeks. I did find: Johnny-Jump Ups, Fiesta Flowers, Miners Lettuce, Fiddle Necks, Shooting Stars, Popcorn Flowers, Poppies, Lupines, lomatium, cream cups, blue dicks, henbit, pitcher sage, Star Lilies, Chocolate Lilies and a few others. The big showy hillside was not as showy as last year, but I think it must just be too early. The drive to the La Cumbre look-out (4300 feet) had a very few lupines and little else. I am posting photos here: http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7612892_G23Dx#492289189_DeVXf As a reminder, you do need your adventure pass-you can buy on line now http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/ap/ I was told the National Parks Interagency on a hang tag is fine too. Drive carefully; there are a lot of people looking at flowers, riding bikes and much of the road is hardly 2 cars wide. Also, if your planning a trip up Hwy 1 to Nac-Ferg or the other state parks, check first, because most of the parks on the east side of the road have some kind of closure because of the fires last summer. Limekiln, Pfeiffer Big Sur and several others are closed. Point Lobos had Star Lilies a couple of weeks ago and is open. Thanks and looking forward to reading everyone's reports Sunol Regional Wilderness - 3/15/09 - Karen Cross writes: Following a tip from a news article http://sfgate.info/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/SPLM16CJ0V.DTL&type=travel , I went to Sunol Regional Wilderness near Livermore. The trails were spotted with shooting stars, fiddlenecks, a few poppies, red stemmed fillaree, California buttercups, and Johnny Jump-Ups. The water was raging, and it looks to be a solid start to the wildflower bloom. I expect a lot of lupine and crown vetch in about 2-3 weeks -- the lupines were just beginning. Thanks for your wonderful site, Arvin/Hwy 223 - 3/15/09 - Dan Blackburn writes: As always, thank you for your marvelous tip sheet. Highway 223 east of Arvin continues to be “the” hot spot in Southern California. Yellow fiddlenecks are the dominant bloom but lupine, poppies, owls clover and popcorn flowers all can be found in abundance. Much of the area is behind barbed wire fence but there are places where it is possible to enter though a gate and get up close and personal with the blooms. Happily, people seemed to be really careful about where they stepped and damage was at a minimum. One good tip. If you forget to pack a lunch, as we did, you can get an excellent meal at Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant in Arvin. Well worth it. Pt. Reyes/Chimney Rock - 3/15/09 - Sue Mace writes: Wildflowers seem slow to wake up. Iris, checkerbloom, violets, buttercups were the dominant flowers, interspersed with mission bells, footsteps of spring I would wait at least 2 weeks before going. E. San Luis Obispo County - 3/15/09 - Tom Lott writes: Hi Carol, I spent the weekend driving around San Luis Obispo County in search of wildflowers. While the hillsides are lush green, the flowers are scarce but appear to be coming in the next few weeks. California Valley had very many tiny yellow flowers just starting to spring up on the valley carpet. The valley floor was very green, and Soda Lake was about 1/2 full of water. Shell Creek Rd. had few flowers; hopefully it will be better in a few weekends. The weather was warm (60's) and sunny most of the weekend, so maybe that will encourage the blooms. The Parkfield area also was verdant green but with little in the way of colorful flowers. Ditto for the Las Pilitas/Parkhill/Pozo area east of Santa Margarita, CA. The only place I found a few bursts of color was in the Las Pilitas fire burn area. Hopefully I'll have more to report in the next few weeks. Chico - 3/15/09 - Andy Tomaselli writes: Report for flowers observed in Upper Bidwell Park, North Rim Trail on 3/14/09: Profusion of yellow carpet, gold fields, and butter and eggs. Blue dicks are starting to appear in greater numbers. A few Royal Larkspur are opening as are the 1st fiddlenecks and popcorn flower species. Lower down in grassland/vernal pool habitat: a few birdseye gilia, the Mimulus, Mouse Ears, a Colinsia: blue eyed Mary, lots of Douglas Pogogyne, a few common meadowfoam, douglas violets, cowbag clover. Small lupines and Tidy Tips in both habitats mentioned are also starting to appear. A very good year in the lowlands for Zigadanus fremontii. Three Rivers - 3/15/09 - "shadow jewels" writes: The hills around Lake Kaweah are lovely with abundant fiddleheads and popcorn flowers, with the poppies just getting started. The drive down Yokohl road was especially nice, absolutely covered with flowers and songbirds everywhere. Things are just starting to pop up along the hiking trails. Found one lovely white flower along the Paradise Creek trail, anyone know what it is? I've looked everywhere, and can't identify it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25319266@N04/3357402806/ Arvin - 3/14/09 - Desert Rat writes: Howdy Carol, Was out in Arvin on Friday and flowers were just as spectacular as 2003 bloom Problem was I got chased away from the area by someone who said he was security for somewhere.. guess hopping the fence i snot a good idea even though there are ZERO no trespassing signs anywhere... Daffodil Hill (Gold Rush) - 3/14/09 - Dick James writes: Daffodil Hill (near Volcano, northeast of Jackson off State Route 88 in Amador County) opened today and is expected to remain open until the end of the month. Entry is free, but donations are requested. It is a 4 acre hillside farm that contains an estimated 300,000+ daffodils of about 300 named varieties. A photo shoot here can be tons of fun. It's almost impossible not to come home with several excellent images. With the rain (and snow) we've been having here on the western slope of the Sierra, the bloom should be excellent. To learn more about Daffodil Hill, Google "Daffodil Hill" and you will come up with many good websites. Anza-Borrego - 3/13/09 - David Lederman writes: I was in Anza Borrego on Monday for the day. It was very windy, so most shots had to be at 1/1000 – 1/2000 to get any detail. I stopped at the Palm Canyon Visitors Center asking about desert lily locations. Both of the ranger’s suggestions were pretty worthless. However, I did go back to a place I had found a few desert lilies after El Nino some years back. They were in profusion Monday. The location is on the road to the city dump. Drive east from Borrego Springs until the road turns left. At that point there is a side road to the dump area. Take this road a few hundred feet. There is a fairly elaborate roadside memorial on the right. Stop near there and take a short walk into the desert. I found a large number of lilies in that area. Mt. Diablo - 3/13/09 - Willie Wool writes: Wildflowers just starting at the top of Mt. Diablo: wall flowers, fields of baby blue eyes, lomatia, popcorn, blue witch, red maids, milk maids, Mt. Diablo aster (just starting), buttercups, buck brush, filaree, a few Indian warrior and Indian paintbrush at the top of Bald Ridge and a report of yellow pansies out in the sun along Summit Trail. In a week or two hound’s tongue and zigadene will bloom. So. Cal. various locations - 3/12/09 - Graham Owen writes: March 12th report - I departed from Burbank at 7:30 am, didn’t see any color driving through Gorman, but the fields at the bottom of the Grapevine are carpeted with vibrant purple. I kept driving to my first destination, cottonwood Canyon off Rt166. At first, I was rather disappointed, the hillsides are not ablaze with yellow, yet, perhaps in a week or two. I found some nice shooting stars and a few tidy tips close to the second cattle crossing on the west end of the road. The ground was also covered with tiny little purple flowers that I need to learn the name of. After spending a couple of house at Cottonwood I decided to drive Arvin, the report on your website made it sound so exciting. On the way to Arvin I found a gorgeous patch of poppies at the top of the grade, about 15 miles west of Maricopa. The poppies are mixed with phacelia and they are in perfect condition, and I’m glad I stopped to snap a few pictures. I didn’t see much color between Maricopa and Arvin, but I knew things would be good upon seeing the poppies blooming along the roadside in the town of Arvin. About five miles east of Arvin the wildflower show is incredible, fields glowing with lupine, poppies, popcorn, etc. It was absolutely delightful, and I can’t wait to go back. I put some of yesterdays flower photos on a webpage. http://www.grahamowengallery.com/photography/Flowers/california-wild-flowers-4.html Thanks, for all that you do for us wildflower lovers… Death Valley - 3/12/09 - Ranger Charlie Callagan writes: There's flowers are blooming, but it's not looking great. The park has received little rain from recent storms. It is likely that the wildflower bloom will be very spotty in Death Valley this spring. The Creosote Bush is now blooming parkwide with other perennial shrubs also blooming in protected canyon environments. Park roadsides and some of the drainages south of Badwater remain the best spots for locating annual spring wildflowers. Flowers currently in bloom include Brown-eyed and Golden Evening Primrose, Lesser Mojavea, Notch-leaf Phacelia, Desert Gold, and Gravel Ghost. The peak blooming period this spring is expected to be late March to early April. Shell Creek (San Luis Obispo County) - 3/12/09 - Kelda writes: Highway 58 from Santa Margarita to Redhill Rd.: Very few flowers out as of yet. The two places with flowers are Shell Creek Rd about a mile down the road by the big oak tree on the left, a few patches of baby blue eyes are in bloom, nothing else at this point however. The other place is on both sides of the road at Redhill Rd. and Highway 58 quite a few shooting stars and a nice patch of popcorn flowers with some majestic oaks on the north side of the highway. The shooting stars are about 1/2 the height they were last year at this time but their are lots of plants that with moisture still could produce flowers. Arvin/Carrizo Plain - 3/12/09 - Steve Sieren writes: Hwy 223 - A really good mixture of all flowers mention in the earlier posts can be found just east of Arvin as you begin to go up hill. It was cloudy when I left so that should keep them alive and fresh a little longer. There is a fence along all of the road along highway 223. youtube video showing the mixture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEf2QOYLAuE Carizzo Plain Southern end - Lot's of gold carpet flowers and purple flowers also. Tons of the of the popcorn flowers too. I thought Hwy 223 was a lot better. Kern County - 3/11/09 - "papawaron" writes: I think this is going to be a great wildflower season................ I went out on a short flower scouting trip this afternoon (3-11) and was amazed at the profusion and variety of wildflowers in Kern. I will attach a few pics, but tell your people not to be satisfied with them, rather get out ASAP to see the best display I've witnessed since '05. Anywhere on 223, from Hwy 58 south to Arvin is spectacular......thousands of acres of poppies, fiddleheads, popcorn, lupine, and so many others. Then onto Wind Wolves Preserve, along 166 about ten miles west of Hwy 5 and one mile west of Old River Road. Lots of popcorn, goldfields and lupine are blooming right now. Anza-Borrego - 3/10/09 - Philip Simon (not to be confused with Phillip Roullard) writes: Hi Carol, I went out to Borrego this last Saturday (Mar 7). A couple things to add to the others reports: Shelter Valley and Blair Valley are carpeted in green. The grasses aren't a foot tall like in 2005, but "Blair Meadow" is still a nice sight, and should be worth a trip after the bloom in lower elevations is past peak. Another very nice spot is near the Tamarisk Grove campground. Along the Yaqui Well trail that leads from the campground the hills are covered in Parish's poppy, with lots of chuparosa & phacelia nearer the trail. Also saw barrel cactus and fishhook cactus in bloom. I went as far as trail marker 5, and the bloom was best between markers 4 & 5 - not even a 1/4 mile walk to get to the good stuff. Be careful if you venture off trail, as the hills there are also choked with cholla cactus. Joshua Tree - 3/10/09 - Bessie & Jerry Reece write: There is not much of a show yet at Joshua Tree National Park. We started at the south entrance and spent the day throughout the park. In fact the color is sparse. If you look carefully you can find a flower here and there. We did have a successful day shooting macro of individual flowers, but the carpet of color and the mass of color is yet to come. The rangers tell me the weather has been a little cold for the spring flowers to burst forth. Hopefully the future has color to show us. On another note the Joshua Trees themselves show little evidence of bloom. One of the rangers said that they do not really bloom in mass each year and that this appears to be a lean year. Antelope Valley - 3/10/09 - Milt Stark writes: The Jane Pinheiro Interpretive Center at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve will open Saturday March 14th. It is a little early for much bloom but a lot of poppies are blooming along side the road from Munz Ranch Road to the Poppy Reserve. There not many on the Reserve as of today. Goldfields are beginning to blanket Fairmont Butte. The Valley looks very green. Rains have been good so we are hoping for as good year which might peak about the first or second week in April. Merced River - 3/9/09 - Michael Frye writes: The poppies in the Merced River Canyon west of Yosemite are fantastic right now. Probably the best poppy display I've seen in 25+ years here. Most are in the area burned by the Telegraph Fire last summer, so they're on the north side of the river, on the opposite side from the Highway. There are some on the south (road) side as well, but the across-the-river views are actually pretty good. I've posted some photos and more info on my blog: http://michaelfryephotography.blogspot.com Mariposa to Yosemite entrance - 3/9/09 - Maryann Hazel writes: I just got back from a trip to Yosemite on Friday (3/6/09) and there are some very nice areas of color developing on Hwy 140 about 20 miles outside of Mariposa to the park entrance. Most of the southern facing hillsides are lined with poppies. Unfortunately, the views are from the opposite side of the river, but with all the color developing, it is well worth the trip. Thanks for providing the Wildflower Hotsheet - it is fabulous!!! Central California - 3/9/09 - Susan Beveridge writes: March 8: Figueroa Mountain. Everything was really green and pretty, and there were a couple of isolated hillsides full of lupine, a few patches of shooting stars, and a bunch of little white ones I don't know all over the place. Fiddlenecks are out and plentiful as well. No fields of color yet though, and only isolated poppies. March 7: Route 150 from Carpinteria to Ojai and beyond to Santa Paula. Along the roadside of 150 there were a few small bunches of lupine, and a few poppies here and there. Big fields of Mustard all over. March 8: Lower Santa Ynez Valley: Not too much blooming yet (at least viewable from the highway) but everything is very green. N. California, various locations - 3/8/09 - Duncan Carter writes: March 2nd, Dry Creek road from Healdsburg to the Skaggs Springs-Stewart's Point road, detouring to Annapolis, then to Bodega Bay. Some stunning mustard between grapevine rows, blue iris in good condition at Salt Point State beach. March 3rd, via Cal 1 to the bottom of Steep Ravine trail in Mt. Tam State park. Near McClure's beach, thousands of fresh blennosperma and about 2 dozen baby elk. At Steep Ravine, some dentaria, a few weak-looking trillium, wild onions, a few salmon berry blossoms. Running water and mud on the path. Trail clearing has cut into the salmon berry patch, and slash has been thrown over the area where mission bells used to be found. A bit early everywhere! Highway 226, Tehachapis - 3/8/09 - Dave Weber writes: The stretch of hwy 223 between hwy 58 and the town of Arvin is in full bloom and is quite spectacular this year. Popcorn flowers are in particular abundance, but there are plenty of lupine, owl's clover, poppies, blue dicks, and fiddlenecks to keep many a photographer busy. The flowers are in such abundance that they carpet the earth on both sides of the highway. Anza-Borrego - 3/8/09 - RT Hawke writes: Henderson canyon road (paved, off of S22) had fields of Desert Sunflower along with Sand Verbena and Evening Primrose. Henderson canyon had a great display along with Surprise canyon. We saw 92 species in bloom. Chico - 3/8/09 - Jason Branz writes: Hi Carol, Here is my first report of the year : Chico (3/7/09) - Went on a short hike into Upper Bidwell Park in Chico on a sunny Saturday. It's still early, but the goldfields were starting to pop along the Upper Trail. There were a few blue dicks here and there, but other than those and the occasional fiddleneck, the goldfields were about it for now. It's still nice and damp up there so hopefully that'll help the others along. The orchards along Highway 99 around the Sutter Buttes area are still in the early stages of blooming. Midpeninsula Regional Park District's Pulgas Ridge - 3/8/09 - Willie Wool writes: This park has an amazing diversity of plant communities in a relatively small space—riparian creek, chaparral, oak woodland and the spring flowers are up! Fetid adder’s tongue, gooseberry, buck brush, shooting star, scarlet pimpernel, zigadene, Manzanita blossoms, trillium, blue dick, Indian warrior, hound’s tongue, sticky monkey, saxifrage, wild cucumber, buttercup and mustard. Hike the newly constructed dusky-footed Woodrat Trail for chaparral, Polly Geraci for creek side and manzanita forest, and Dick Bishop for oak forest and meadow. Indio - 3/8/09 - Janet Schray writes: Hi Carol, For those who love to gamble, but enjoy the wildflowers too, take time out from Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, and head east about a quarter of a mile to Dillon Rd. The sand verbena is starting to come on strong, plus just the roller coaster road is enough to make everyone happy too. Jan Santa Rosa Plateau - 3/7/09 - Raphael Mazor writes: The Santa Rosa Plateau is fantastic now. Ground pinks, shooting stars, yellow carpet, red maids and popcorn flowers are abundant near the vernal pools, and chocolate lilies are blooming on the trans preserve trail. Blue dicks are blooming throughout the preserve. Sticky monkey flower is blooming in the chaparral areas. Also saw milk maids, California plantain, and a few poppies blooming. (Poppy fields are plentiful just outside, along Clinton Keith Road and around Lake Elsinore). The pools are still full, so it's a good chance to see the fairy shrimp for so late in the year. Anza-Borrego - 3/7/09 - Phillip Roullard writes: I took my photo workshop from San Diego Natural History Museum yesterday to Coyote Creek, Henderson Canyon and Glorietta Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I think the bloom has hit peak. There is a very large field of desert gold off of DiGiorgio road. Henderson canyon was still good and so was the Coyote Creek area. If the weather stays cool the flowers may last a little longer, however if the weather warms up then the flowers will probably wither. So if anybody wants to see a good bloom go to Anza-Borrego now. Has anyone seen anything happening in Antelope Valley? Temecula/Lake Street - 3/7/09 - P. Lascha writes: This week I have been several times to Lake Street in Temecula, bloom is well in progress, very short stemmed poppies low to the ground this year in most places, grass is very abundant everywhere and seems to blunt the bloom. As with everywhere I have been the bloom is not as good as last year. Half as many lupines at Railroad Canyon as last year, none at Lake St. yet. The huge field of rape weed/mustard has hardly no blooms this year, very sparse but the field across the road has quite a lot. At Lake Poway there are many poppies, blue bell flowers, and magenta pea flowers, again not nearly as many as last year, most poppies are very high up the hills. At Lake Hodges there are few poppies blooming, very high up behind the far end of the lake, the entire patch of blue wildflowers by the parking lot last year has no blooms, no buds, nothing there this year. Profuse mustard everywhere. Definitely not as good a year this year down here as it was last year so far at least. Anza-Borrego - 3/7/09 - Michael Charters writes: A recent trip to Little Surprise Canyon in Anza-Borrego revealed the following species in bloom: bearded cryptantha, rock daisy, desert lavender, curvenut pectocarya, bigelow's monkeyflower, little gold poppy, desert dandelion, brittlebush, desert stars, ghost flower, sand blazing star, rock hibiscus, barrel cactus, star gilia, creosote bush, fishhook cactus, california mustard, smallflower notchleaf phacelia, desert chicory, checker fiddleneck, smooth-stemmed fagonia, whispering bells, yellow comet, purple mat, parish's poppy, chuparosa, narrowleaf ditaxis, common phacelia, fremont's pincushion and desert chicory. Marin County - 3/6/09 - Sue Mace writes: China Camp State Historic Park Turtle Island Take 101 to Marin just north of Central San Rafael, Take the north San Pedro Road east towards the bay Friday - March 6 2009 Beware of the poison oak and ticks. California poppy, purple sanicle and blue dicks greet you at the trailhead, continuing down the trail you will find the trail ined with geraniums, California poppies, blue dicks, coast sun cups and pea. Towards the point shooting stars, buttercups, millk maids and miners lettuce appear. There is also a small stand of fiddlenecks to the right of the trail. Iris is also on the hillside if you look carefully. Where the boardwalk starts the hillside is loaded with a nice stand of shooting stars vetch and a bit farther on is Tauchia kellogii...Along the roadway shooting stars, buttercups and milkmaids are all in abundance Desert Center area - 3/6/09 - John Marquis writes: A look at rainfall data from the past six months (see http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/anomimage.pl?cal6mPpct.gif ) shows an anomaly of high rainfall near Desert Center, so on Wednesday I went off to explore this zone. Sure enough, as you drive east on IH-10 from the south (Cottonwood) entrance of Joshua Tree, the bloom begins to look progressively more healthy, really taking off near the Eagle Mountain Road exit, with brittlebush and globemallow catching the eye. My first stop was Corn Springs in the Chuckwalla Mountains south of the interstate (exit about 8 miles east of Desert Center -- you'll drive through some fields of desert dandelion along the way). The road to Corn Springs is a dirt road, but easily passable in any vehicle. As you drive up a dissected alluvial fan, you can find a wide variety of flowers in the various soil conditions -- washes, slopes, even desert pavement. Look carefully and you can find alkali phacelia, depressed fiddleleaf, and Parry's marina, along with more obvious flowers like the desert poppies and pebble pincushion that blanket slopes in some places. You'll also see some of the happiest-looking sun cups ever, deep blue common phacelia, desert chicory, trailing four o'clock, and much more. Near the Corn Springs Campground (and palm oasis) you can find desert starvine, box thorn, yellowhead, rock daisy, and two species of Fagonia, among others. Some slopes above the wash to the north are densely covered in notch-leaf phacelia, and slopes adjacent to the local washes are sometimes littered with sand blazing star. If you're really lucky, you'll find the Bigelow monkeyflower slope! Desert lilies are starting to bloom at the Desert Lily Sanctuary northeast of Desert Center, off CA Hwy. 177 (Rice Road). Plenty of other wildflowers can be found in this location, including spectacle pod, sand verbena, and dune evening primrose. Just north of the Sanctuary, where the highway skirts the southern end of the Coxcomb Mountains, is a good place to find more annuals in bloom. As evening falls, look for Jones linanthus in the washes here. This peach-colored relative of evening snow opens at night and has a wonderful scent akin to butterscotch. Nearby are desert threadplant, dalea, desert star, purple mat, desert gold, gravel ghost, desert five-spot, and others. In all, I highly recommend a visit to this remote corner of California, especially if your first impressions of Joshua Tree's south entrance leave you disappointed. Head east and enjoy! San Joaquin Valley Foothills - 3/6/09 - Don Pagh writes: Hi Carol.. Just a note to let the "Bloom Browsers" know that the foothills around Kaweah lake , are waking up from a long winter.. the white popcorn flowers are on most slopes facing south or west. the mustard,and fiddle neck are out in abundance . and the fruit trees in the valley are at peak. The poppies are beginning to cover some of the hillsides . one area in particular that will be a mass of orange soon , is the mountain just north of Horse Creek bridge. on the east end of the lake Also in the same area drive into Three Rivers,And take the North Fork road , In the middle of town , You turn left to the big concrete bridge and cross the river Follow the road up stream.,Its rather narrow but a good road ,Also keep your eyes open about 3 miles up the road for the Kaweah Colan Post Office, Built in 1910 ..A State Historical Landmark Its been in continuous use longer than any in Calif .Very rustic and quite photogenic.. On up the road the canyon narrows and the river runs nearby. The canyon walls can be quite spectacular if caught at the right time... One other area is the Fraiser valley road east of Strathmore, Around the north side of Success Lake , It will be great in a few more sunny days.. Most of the roads going east into the foothills are a good bet,From now until the middle of April , If you miss the blooms early , just keep on going up the mountain and you will find them a little higher. It's always a great place to take an adventure trip or personal photo tour.. Some of the species to be found , Poppys , Popcorn flower ,Indian paint brush ,Lupine Chinese houses Ithurials spear.,miners lettuce,Baby blue eyes, Shooting stars, Candy bells . Adobe lilys , Monkey flowers, { yellow , red , and calico} and many more if the timing is right,,, Will update in a week or so. .Thanks for your site... Lake Elsinore/Tehachapi - 3/4/09 - Rick Crippen writes: Hello Carol, I now live next to Lake Elsinore. The flowers have started this week and should really get going by next week. Today I drove up to Bakersfield then east through Tehachapi. Approaching from the west going up hill were some of the biggest hills totally covered with poppies I have ever seen. Unfortunately I had my camera but it was raining so they were mostly closed. I wish I were going to be there tomorrow in the sun. It will be magnificent. There was nothing showing in Gorman yet, of course, but the green hills with misty clouds still made some good shots. It rained all day and with rain every week for several months now it should be a good year even after last year's great showing! Kern County: Bodfish Road and Bena Road - 3/4/09 - Nate West writes: I took a drive form Los Angeles up through the desert to Caliente Bodfish Road in Kern county this past Sunday. A lot of early wildflowers were just starting to appear(Fidlleneck, Popcorn flower, a few Poppies and a Lupine or two) but we're probably still a week or two away form peek in this area.. I saw saw some nice stands of Poppies and Popcorn flowers along Bena Road south of 58. Orange County - 3/3/09 - YoJimbo writes: The Red Rock Trail is in full bloom. A one-half mile section of the upper Borrego Wash contains a nice mix of wildflowers. If you're into hiking as well as photography, it's definitely worth a look if you live in Southern Orange County. Limestone/Whiting Ranch is an Orange County Wilderness Park located near the Foothill Ranch neighborhood of Lake Forest. The main intersection is Bake and Portola Parkways. A small parking lot is next to Market Place across the street from a McDonalds. Take the Borrego Trail for approximately 1.5 miles to the Red Rock Trail. Since this is a popular park, it's best to visit it on a weekday. One other note, like several other parks that abut the Santa Ana Mountains, mountain lions are an issue here. So, don't go alone! Santa Rosa Plateau - 3/3/09 - Santa Rosa Plateau- RT Hawke writes: (with information from Mary Blackburn). Chocolate lilies are blooming along with Shooting Stars and Ground Pink. Carrizo Plain - 3/2/09 - Kimberly Perkins writes: I went up to Carrizo Plain National Monument on Saturday, February 27th. The day was cloudy, so photo ops were few and far between. I still did manage to take a few pics tho. The Highway 166 side is starting to bloom. I came across lots of Filaree, Goldfields, Fiddleneck and Phacelia. I even came across a small herd of Pronghorn antelope, too, as well as several hawks (Red Tailed and Ferruginous) . I couldn't go on some of the side roads, because of the mud. The Highway 58 side is still pretty brown, but I imagine it will liven up with color in the next few weeks. There is a lot of Fiddleneck blooming from Buttonwillow up to Carrizo Plain on the Highway 58 side, and the hillsides and fields are turning into seas of gold. I posted some pics on my blog (http://kimmerzy. blogspot. com/) if you want to see. Los Gatos - 3/2/09 - Willie Wool writes: Sierra Azul from the Kennedy Road Access in Los Gatos - Pick a cool, clear day and you will be rewarded with an entire rock face covered with shooting stars. We hiked there on Feb. 27 and also saw Indian Warriors, a few fiddleneck, blue dick, red maids, buttercups and poppies. Near Mariposa - 3/2/09 - Rick Kelly writes: The bloom on the northern hillsides along route 140 (on Feb 28) just above Briceburg (outside of Mariposa) is huge. I spoke to locals who said it is the best bloom in 10 years in that location. It goes on for about 2 miles, and appears to extend into the "wild area" of the Merced, but the bridge into that area is closed to auto traffic--a bit of hiking would be called for. All manner of flowers in in bloom in profusion. See attached representative image, no adjustments at all, I havent had the time! Anza- Borrego - 3/2/09 - Phil Roullard writes: Hi Carol, I traveled to Anza-Borrego Sunday March 1 as well and visited several of the locations that the other Phil visited. I would agree with Phil that there are several locations where peak bloom has not occurred yet. Some flowers like brown-eyed primrose have gone by. Others like the desert lily have plenty of buds that have not popped yet. I also agree with Phil that peak bloom will probably be this coming weekend. San Diego county is supposed to be having a cooling trend this year and possibly some precipation. The cooling trend should make the flowers last longer into the weekend. Don't miss Glorietta canyon just outside of Borreg Springs proper. It is not highly visited and has a great variety of flowers such as whispering bells, phacelia, mammalaria, Mohavea, desert dandelion, desert chicory, chuparosa, fagonia and barrel cactus. Suprise canyon, just off the Hellhole canyon parking lot, is good as well. Lake Elsinore - 3/2/09 - Julie Clark writes: Hi Carol: I was out at the Lake St. exit in Lake Elsinore yesterday. It was a bright, sunny, and very warm morning. It looks like we are a week away, or perhaps a bit more, from the poppies making their full appearance. The lupine is yet to show. Due to lots of February rains, I think we have the potential for a great display this season. The forecast calls for more rain this week. I will be returning next weekend to check it out and will report what I find then. Kern County - 3/1/09 - Sindee Irelan writes: Today we took this route as this is usually the first place to find wildflower displays in our part of Kern County. We sat in a little patch of lupine, popcorn flowers, poppies and fiddlenecks to have a little picnic. The green velvet of the Tehachapi hills provided a beautiful backdrop for gorgeous photographs. No owl’s clover yet but very large fields of popcorn flowers. Air quality was good today so photos looking across this part of the San Joaquin Valley were lovely. Usually we see several hawks and some years a bald eagle or even two at the end of that route just before joining highway 58 but not today. Thanks to our frequent rains, this is a great year for wildflowers in Kern County. Kern County - 3/1/09 - Sindee Irelan writes: Yesterday while driving up the Kern River Canyon to Lake Isabella and Kernville, we saw large displays of popcorn flowers, fiddlenecks and high up on the green velvet hillsides were huge blankets of our bright orange poppies. The poppy display is really outstanding. After making the turn towards Kernville, we saw a nice display of baby blue eyes. It was a beautiful drive and a nice day to walk by the river in Kernville. Thank you for your website. Riverside County - 3/1/09 - RT Hawke writes: Harford County Park open space- Riverside county. Nice fields of popcorn flower and fiddleneck with poppys coming in. Lots of Tropidocarpum (native mustard) with lots of stuff coming into bloom. Thirty one species are currently in bloom. Death Valley - 3/1/09 - Ranger Charlie Callagan writes: Wildflower Update for Death Valley National Park March 1, 2009 Continuing light rains and cool temperatures have enhanced the prospect for a moderate display of wildflowers this spring. It is still a bit early to see much but pockets of Desert Gold and Brown-eyed Evening Primrose along the roadsides south of Badwater and the Encelia bushes blooming along the road to Scotty’s Castle. The peak blooming period is hard to predict but currently we believe late March to mid-April will afford the best wildflower viewing opportunities below 2,000 feet. Los Angeles County - 3/1/09 - Raphael Mazor writes: The only blooms going on (2/28) at the Devil's Punchbowl in LA County this weekend were the bigberry manzanitas (Arctostaphylos glauca), which made for very fragrant hiking. We saw seedlings of chia, muilla, delphinium, and calochortus, so we can expect a decent show in a few weeks. Anza-Borrego - 3/1/09 - Phil Simon writes: Hi Carol, I took a drive through Anza-Borrego this afternoon. In some of the usual hot spots (Henderson Canyon Road, and the mouth of Coyote Canyon), there are lots of blooms but peak is still to come, judging from the number of unopened flowers. The desert sunflowers along Henderson Canyon road are looking pretty good, but still thinner than last year. I think next weekend will be the peak. Sadly, the invasive mustard seems much more widespread than last year. On the plus side, I was sharing that field with less than 10 people, as opposed to hundreds like last year. Further east along Henderson Canyon road (where it curves around the base of Coyote Mtn) is the densest stand sand verbena I've seen this year. Not huge compared to the mouth of Coyote Canyon in a good year, but still nice with the mountain as an immediate backdrop. Coyote Canyon is full of blooms, but also not at peak yet the sand verbena and dune evening primrose are still rather sparse but should improve in the next week. There too the invasive mustard seems much more prevalent than last year. Also the bloom doesn't seem to extend as far up canyon as last year, but I only drove in about a mile. On the way east to Coachwhip Canyon, there were many ocotillo in bloom, around mile 32-33 (near Palo Verde wash). Coachwhip Canyon, as Tom Chester said, had much variety. It's a great place to soak up the desert silence while marveling at the tortured landforms and delicate flowers. Preferably with a beer. On S-3 just to the south of Montessoro/Ram's Hill, there are a number of barrel cactus just about to burst into bloom. I'm looking forward to seeing them next weekend. Lastly, there have been some strange "wildlife" sightings in the Borrego Valley. Some rich paleontology buff who owns a bunch of land in the valley commissioned a sculptor to create larger than life sculptures of prehistoric creatures. I haven't seen them all, but some are seen from Borrego Springs Road and the western end of Henderson Canyon Road. So you have the opportunity to photograph wildflowers next to, say, a 12 foot tall giant sloth. Thanks again for your service to all us flower and foliage lovers. All information copyrighted © by the individual authors and may not be reproduced without their individual permission. |
