Gregg
03-14-2007, 08:22 PM
...my wife and I made for southern California during our four days off,
hoping a mix of environments would enhance the opportunity for more
wildflowers, but it was dry pretty much everywhere.
On Hwy 74 out of Palm Desert (where it was 99deg yesterday!) chuparosa,
Incienso, Creosote bush, Ocotillo, rosy-colored Globe Mallow, Arizona lupine,
Desert Rock pea, and Bottle Washer were all in bloom. We also spotted a
phacelia and evening primrose species in bloom but didn't stop to investigate
further...
We began to run into California buckwheat on Hwy 371.
After a stop at Mt. Palomar ... which was very interesting ... we ran
into some lupines in bloom as we drove down San Diego Co. Rd. S6. Coulter's,
Grape Soda, and Collar lupine were all in bloom, and we found Stinging
and Arroyo lupine plants not yet flowering. We also saw Orange bush
Monkeyflower, Cal. lilac, Wild radish, a few Cal. poppies, Common butterweed,
and paint brush along that route.
The only wildflowers we spotted driving through Anza-Borrego which we hadn't
already seen were Sweetbush and Desert Marigold.
Along I-8 we spotted blooming Flannel bush.
At Torrey Pines State Park Wand Chicory, Coastal Tidy Tips, Bush sunflower,
Tree poppies, and White Coast Ceanothus got added to the list of blooming
wildflowers.
Down on the border, at the Tijuana Estuary Preserve, the Tidy Tips were
abundant and lovely, as was the San Diego County Viguiera. There was also
quite a lot of Deerweed about. (And a beautiful Vermillion flycatcher.)
...and heading northward again, along I-15, there was a section painted blue
with Cal. lilac...
As for our next wildflower treks, which will be in early April and late April,
I'm holding out hope for Kern County and perhaps last years' stomping grounds,
Monterey County. We may even go as far north as Point Reyes...
hoping a mix of environments would enhance the opportunity for more
wildflowers, but it was dry pretty much everywhere.
On Hwy 74 out of Palm Desert (where it was 99deg yesterday!) chuparosa,
Incienso, Creosote bush, Ocotillo, rosy-colored Globe Mallow, Arizona lupine,
Desert Rock pea, and Bottle Washer were all in bloom. We also spotted a
phacelia and evening primrose species in bloom but didn't stop to investigate
further...
We began to run into California buckwheat on Hwy 371.
After a stop at Mt. Palomar ... which was very interesting ... we ran
into some lupines in bloom as we drove down San Diego Co. Rd. S6. Coulter's,
Grape Soda, and Collar lupine were all in bloom, and we found Stinging
and Arroyo lupine plants not yet flowering. We also saw Orange bush
Monkeyflower, Cal. lilac, Wild radish, a few Cal. poppies, Common butterweed,
and paint brush along that route.
The only wildflowers we spotted driving through Anza-Borrego which we hadn't
already seen were Sweetbush and Desert Marigold.
Along I-8 we spotted blooming Flannel bush.
At Torrey Pines State Park Wand Chicory, Coastal Tidy Tips, Bush sunflower,
Tree poppies, and White Coast Ceanothus got added to the list of blooming
wildflowers.
Down on the border, at the Tijuana Estuary Preserve, the Tidy Tips were
abundant and lovely, as was the San Diego County Viguiera. There was also
quite a lot of Deerweed about. (And a beautiful Vermillion flycatcher.)
...and heading northward again, along I-15, there was a section painted blue
with Cal. lilac...
As for our next wildflower treks, which will be in early April and late April,
I'm holding out hope for Kern County and perhaps last years' stomping grounds,
Monterey County. We may even go as far north as Point Reyes...