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9 May 04
Visited several places this week as part of the Bioregions Festival
and back to work with the Forest Service. Perennials continue to be
the big news, but I did observe a really nice patch of annuals along
Granite Road near Glennville. Photographable landscape shots of
poppies and mixed annuals. Golden stars, wild hyacinth, Douglas
violet, buttercup, fiddleneck, and popcorn flower are blooming along
Hwy 155 just west of the Alder Creek Campground turnoff.
More annuals can be found on the road to Twin Oaks in Walker Basin.
Beautiful golden poppies interspersed within the sagebrush.
A sensual experience of grape soda lupine is almost overwhelming
along Cherry Hill Road on the Kern Plateau in the Sequoia National Forest. There are
several sections where the lupine is in full bloom on both sides of
the road. The blooms are beautiful and the scent is heavenly.
17 Apr 04
Upper Kern River. Although annuals are not very productive this
year, it seems many perennials didn't get the message. All around
the Kern Valley, flannelbush is blooming beautifully. It seems every
bush is covered with large yellow blossoms. Ceanothus are also going
gangbusters. Brittlebush is also enjoying a nice bloom.
Near Limestone there are many annuals still enjoying the lack of
cover after the fire. Western Wallflower is growing better than I
have ever seen. Newberry's Penstemon and three varieties of
buckwheat, California Buckwheat, Inflated Buckwheat, and Nude
Buckwheat are in bloom along the side of the road. Kern Canyon
Larkspur is blooming well across from McNally's Restaurant.
Beavertail cactus is blooming throughout the Kern and Kelso Valleys.
Each plant seems to have many blossoms. California evening-primrose
lines the roadside along Kelso Valley Road.
30 Mar 04
Kern River Valley area.
I am now certain that Baby Blue Eyes are fire followers. Just south
of Sawmill Rd. on Hwy 155 in last year's Sawmill fire scarred area
there is one northeast facing hill covered with Baby Blue Eyes. It
is a veritable carpet, albeit a carpet that your cat has clawed here
and there, so there are patches of open space between the blooms.
Continuing along Hwy 155, Keyesville area continues to blaze with
carpets of goldfields. Many fields also have good pockets of popcorn
flower waving above the goldfields.
Along Hwy 178, between Lake Isabella and South Lake more goldfields
can be found but these are more like area rugs than carpets.
Surprisingly many of the hillsides are showing yellow and orange
high on the slopes.
Sierra Way continues to have a few blooms but was mostly toasted by
the recent heat wave.
25 Mar 2004
Many of the blooms really took a hit with the heat and sadly
have faded. The Keyesville area has plenty of complete carpets of
goldfields. This is the run through the field type of display, even
though the goldfields are more a Berber carpet than shag. ;-) I
found in the higher elevations of the Keysville Road some nice mixed
displays of popcorn flower and goldfield. A few miniature lupine,
grape soda lupine and a lupine sp. are blooming along the road cut.
There were some mule's ears in bloom, a nice surprise, they were a
little bit above the Keyesville village site. There was also some
phacelia, baby blue eyes, thistle, and evening snow. Along the Kern
River near Lake Isabella, there is elegant rock cress and locoweed
in bloom.
Between Lake Isabella and Yankee Canyon on Hwy 178 again the hills
are full of goldfields, although the display is not as impressive as
in Keyesville.
21 Mar 2004
Short Canyon off of Hwy 14 near the junction with Hwy 395, many
species were in bloom but the numbers were not impressive. Evening
snow, evening primrose, Mojave sun cups, California poppy, Bigelow's
coreopsis, Indian paintbrush, lupine, encelia, brittlebush, and
brown-eyed evening primrose were in bloom as well as other species.
The same day, I found western redbud trees in bloom near Cottage
Grove Cemetery on Hwy 178 east of Onyx.
The Kern River Preserve along Sierra Way, still has thistle sage,
chia, popcorn flower, poppy, Bigelow's coreopsis, red maids, granite
monkeyflower, and cream cups in bloom, again though the display is
not impressive.
19 Mar 2004
Along Hwy 178 in the Kern Canyon the following plants were
blooming. tomcat clover, California blackberry, fiesta flower, white
fiesta flower, common madia, Bermuda buttercup, white phacelia,
white layia, fiddleneck, common deerweed, Bigelow's coreopsis,
popcorn flower, lupine, goldfields, caterpillar phacelia, California
poppy, Coulter's jewelflower and others. The display is best near
the entrance to the canyon on the Bakersfield side.
18 Mar 2004
The Kern River Valley is busting a gut trying to get the blooms out.
While the scenes are patchy, it looks to be a very good wildflower
season ahead. California poppies and coreopsis are showing spots
several acres in size near the summit of many of the dry hills along
the South Fork Kern near the Kern River Preserve. Fay Canyon is in
the beginning stages of a grand show. Hopefully the heat won't wilt
everything.
Between South Lake and Mtn. Mesa, California Lilac's are blooming
profusely. There are also nice patches of goldfields interspersed
among the California junipers. There is a 40+ acre field covered in
common fiddleneck, Amsinckia tesselata. Between Mtn. Mesa and Lake
Isabella, popcorn flower and a variety of poppies, goldfields, and
filaree dot the hillside.
At the Lake Isabella Visitor Center on Hwy 155 between Lake Isabella
and Wofford Heights, a few baby blue eyes are intermingled among the
profuse displays of filaree, popcorn flower and goldfields.
A report that Short Canyon by Brady's on Hwy 14 north of Inyokern is
coloring nicely as well with many coreopsis on the hillsides.
14 Mar 2004
In the Kern River Valley along Sierra Way new blooms continue. The
Hanning Flat display of filaree has all but disappeared. The
roadside above Stine and Robinson Coves have some nice color.
The Kern River Preserve from Sierra Way to the overlook of the South
Fork forest has several abundant showings of coreopsis and poppies.
The trail next to the river has several plants in bloom but no real
spectacular shows.
High on the hillsides above Fay Creek Rd., Sierra Way, and Weldon's
Short Canyon large areas are blooming with poppies.
The following list are the names of the wildflowers/shrubs I have observed in
bloom so far.
Bigseed Biscuitroot - Lomatium macrocarpum, Annual Mountain
Dandelion - Agoseris heterophylla, Scale Bud - Anisocoma
acaulis, Desert Pincushion - Chaenactis fremontii,
Bigelow's Coreopsis - Coreopsis bigelovii,
Acton Encelia - Encelia actoni, Pringle's Woollysunflower -
Eriophyllum pringlei, Goldfields - Lasthenia californica,
White Tidy Tips - Layia glandulosa, Eastwood's Fiddleneck
- Amsinckia eastwoodiae, Fiddleneck - Amsinckia tesselata,
Popcorn Flower - Cryptantha dumetorum, Forget-me-not -
Cryptantha micrantha, Shepherd's Purse - Capsella bursa-pastoris,
Coulter's Jewelflower - Caulanthus coulteri, Peppergrass -
Lepidium densiflorum, Tumbling mustard - Sisymbrium
altissimum, Hedge Mustard - Sisymbrium officinalem,
Slender Keel Fruit - Tropidocarpum gracile, Bladderpod -
Isomeris arborea, Limestone Dudleya - Dudleya calcicola,
California Man-root - Marah fabaceus, White leaf Manzanita -
Arctostaphylos manzanita, Western Redbud - Cercis
occidentalis, Silver Birdsfoot Trefoil - Lotus argophyllus,
Broadleaf Birdsfoot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus, Lupine
- Lupinus albifrons, Miniature Lupine - Lupinus bicolor,
Stork's bill filaree - Erodium cicutarium, Oak Gooseberry
- Ribes quercetorum, Baby Blue Eyes - Nemophila menziesii,
Douglas' Phacelia - Phacelia douglasii, Yellowthroats -
Phacelia fremontii, Lacy Phacelia - Phacelia tanacetifolia,
White Fiesta Flower - Pholistoma membranaceum, Yellow
Comet - Mentzelia affinis, Henbit - Lamium amplexicaule,
Thistle Sage - Salvia carduaceae, Chia - Salvia
columbaria, Brown-eyed Evening Primrose - Camissonia
claviformis, California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica,
Cream Cups - Platystemon californicus, Globe Gilia -
Gilia capitata, Slender-flowered gilia - Gilia tenuiflora,
Bird's Eye Gilia - Gilia tricolor, Evening Snow -
Linanthus dichotomus, Slender Phlox - Phlox gracilis, Native American Pipeweed - Eriogonum inflatum,
Red Maids - Calandrinia ciliata, Miner's Lettuce - Claytonia
perfoliata, Owl's Clover - Castilleja exserta, Granite
Monkeyflower - Mimulus floribundus, Kelso Creek Monkeyflower
- Mimulus shevockii, California figwort - Scrophularia
californica, Blue Dicks - Dichelostemma capitatum,
Blue-eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium bellum
13 Mar 2004
From Weldon in the Kern River Valley, we took a drive down Kelso
Valley Rd - Jawbone Canyon Rd - Hwy 14 from Jawbone to Inyokern.
Little activity yet, some Kelso Creek monkeyflower, white tidytips,
Fremont's phacelia, Pringle's woolysunflower, brown-eyed evening
primrose were blooming along Kelso Creek.
Jawbone Canyon Road had a few baby blue eyes nudged against the
eastern slope of the Piutes. Hwy 14 north of the junction with Hwy
178 had very few Biglow's Coreopsis.
Not wildflowers, but the best part
of this trip besides spending the day in the company of my friends
Terri and Ron, was the sighting of a life bird - Scott's Oriole at
Butterbredt Spring. We also saw 2 Chukar, 2 LeConte's Thrashers,
Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned
Warbler, Cactus Wren, Western Kingbird, Great Horned Owl, House
Finch, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, California Quail, Mountain
Quail, White-crowned Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow,
Black Phoebe, California Thrasher, White-throated Swift, and others
I am sure to remember later.
12 Mar 2004
In the Kern River Valley, Sierra Way from Weldon to just north of
the Kern County line appears to be the hotspot of wildflower
activity so far. I noticed the first thistle sage on the hill above
Migrant Corner trail (Sierra Way bridge over the South Fork Kern) on
the Kern River Preserve.
Poppies are littering the hillside with their blaze of orange, some
good landscape shots are available sporadically along the road.
Lupine, chia, globe gilia, white fiesta flower, brown-eyed evening
primrose, Biglow's coreopsis, popcorn flower, Kernville poppy,
filaree, caterpillar phacelia, and owl's clover are all blooming.
The most numerous flower by far is filaree.
Hanning Flat is a literal carpet of pink with the tiny delicate
flowers of the non-native storksbill filaree (Erodium cicutarium).
Between Stine Cove and Rocky Point there are nice displays of
caterpillar phacelia, coreopsis, and poppy. Use caution when driving
and stop at pull-outs to observe or photograph. Before noon is best
for photography, as wind is an issue almost every afternoon in the
Kern Valley.
There is a nice display of goldfields by Camp 9, but a better
display is found north of Kernville. Near Owens Boy's Camp there is
a particularly nice field of goldfields interspersed with popcorn
flower. Near the flume above the Kernville hydroelectric plant, the
hills are beginning to blaze with color.
Further up the road just beyond the Kern County line there is a
small dirt road that seems to double back upon itself (look for a
chimney from a burnt out house), up this road there are fields of
assorted wildflowers. Ceanothus and manzanita are also blooming up
this road.
4 Mar 2004
Rancheria Road from Hwy 178 to 6 miles above the Kern River:
Eastwood's Fiddleneck, Milkvetch, Goldfields, Baby Blue Eyes,
Bigseed Biscuitroot, Common Fiddleneck, Blue Dicks, Popcorn Flower
blooming in profusion in some fields. At the Rio Bravo Hydroelectric
mitigation parking lot: Douglas' Phacelia, White Fiesta Flower,
Annual Mountain Dandelion, Blue Dicks, Shepherd's Purse, Tumbling
mustard, Hedge Mustard
California Living Museum: Blue-eyed grass, manzanita, western
redbud,
2 Mar 2004
Terri Gallion reports:
North of Kernville - Sierra Way up river. Goldfields and popcorn
flower.
Keyesville - Baby Blue Eyes beginning in the Keyesville area.
Ellen Schafhauser reports: Short Canyon beginning blooms of
Coreopsis, desert dandelion, poppies, and chia. Lots of recent
moisture and rain today indicate a good bloom this year.
28 Feb 2004
Kern Canyon - Baby Blue eyes and fiddleneck
26 Feb 2004
Although not in abundance yet... I saw several species of
wildflowers blooming along Sierra Way between Weldon and Kernville
in the Kern River Valley.
Goldfields are relatively abundant by the turnoff to Camp 9
campground. Popcorn flower, miniature lupine, fiddleneck and filaree
are blooming at this location as well.
Along the lime dike wall overlooking the northwest edge of the South
Fork forest blooming plants. Brown-eyed evening primrose, Biglow's
coreopsis, California Poppy, lupine sp., globe gilia, popcorn
flower, miniature lupine, fiddleneck and filaree.
The Kern Canyon has fiddleneck in bloom but little else yet.
The recap of some of last year's wildflower bloom
KERN VALLEY DESERT
KELSO VALLEY
KERN CANYON
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
NORTH FORK KERN
SIERRA NEVADA
SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS
KERN VALLEY
Lake Isabella
Visitor Center @ Hwy 155: Late February - Mid April
baby
blue eyes, blue
dicks, cream cups, cushion catseye, fiddleneck, goldfields, hill sun
cup, owl's clover, popcorn flower, red maids, spreading fleabane, storksbill
filaree, Tropidocarpum
Sierra
Way between Kernville and Weldon (Hwy 178): Late February - Late
March
bird's eye gilia, blue dicks, brown-eyed evening primrose,
California poppy, caterpillar phacelia, chia, coreopsis, deer vetch, encelia,
evening snow, fiddleneck, globe gilia, goldenbush, goldfields,
Kernville poppy, miniature lupine, mustards, owl's clover, popcorn
flower, stick leaf, storksbill filaree, thistle sage, Tropidocarpum,
white fiesta flower, Wright's deer vetch
Kernville to Wofford Heights: Early March - Early April
bird's eye
gilia, Coulter's jewelflower, rock cress,
Indian paintbrush, wild hyacinth, popcorn flower, and deer
vetch
DESERT
Walker Pass to Hwy 14:
Later February to Late March
Joshua tree, phacelia, Mojave sun cup, brittlebush
Hwy 14 to Short Canyon: Early March - Mid March
desert chicory, desert dandelions, phacelia, desert mallow
Short Canyon: Late February - early April
alyssum,
arroyo lupine, bajada lupine, bird's eye gilia, birds foot evening
primrose, bladder pod, blazing star, blue dicks, brittlebush,
brown-eyed Primrose, California poppy,
caterpillar phacelia, Charlotte's phacelia, chia, coreopsis, cream
cups, desert chicory, desert dandelion, desert mallow, desert
paintbrush, desert primrose, elegant lupine, Fiddleneck, four-wing saltbush, goldenbush,
golden poppy, golden linanthus, goldfields, grape soda lupine,
Indian paint brush, inflated buckwheat, iodine bush, Joshua tree, jewelflower, lacy phacelia,
miniature lupine, Mojave evening primrose, Mojave sun cups, nude
buckwheat, Parry's larkspur, pepper grass, pincushion, purple mat, popcorn flower,
sage thistle, sand verbena, spectacle pod,
tansy phacelia, yellowthroats, white fiesta flower
Red Rock Canyon
State Park: March
coreopsis, sun cups, primrose, goldfields
KELSO VALLEY
Kelso Creek: Early
March - Early May
Bigelow's monkeyflower,
bird's eye gilia, desert dandelion, desert star, Fremont's
phacelia, goldfields, Joshua tree, Kelso Creek monkeyflower, Mojave
sun cup, Pringle's wooly sunflower, purple mat, pygmy poppy,
sandblossoms, silver cholla, sinuate gilia,
storksbill filaree, white layia, white tidy tips,
Jawbone Canyon (east
slope of the Piute Mountains): Late March - Early April baby
blue eyes, California poppy, locoweed, miniature lupine, popcorn flower.
KERN CANYON
Hwy 178: Early March
- Mid May
baby blue eyes, bindweed, bladderpod,
California poppy, coreopsis, Coulter's jewelflower, fiddleneck,
gilia, lupine,
miner's lettuce, mustard, owl's clover, popcorn flower, sour grass,
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Hwy. 99: early - mid February
stone fruit orchards
Rancheria Road: Early March
blue dicks, California poppy, fiddleneck, lupines, popcorn flower
Northeast Bakersfield: Early March
blue dicks, owl's clover, phacelia
Bena Road - east of Bakersfield:
Early March
bladderepod, California
poppy, chia, fiddleneck, locoweed, lupine, owl's clover, phacelia,
popcorn flower, white tidy tips
Caliente Creek Road:
Early March
lupine, fiddleneck
NORTH FORK KERN
Mtn 99: (north of Kernville Kern and Tulare Counties):
Mid April - Late May
bajada lupine, bush monkeyflower, California
Yerba Santa, common monkeyflower, death camas, dudleya, fiesta
flower,
fleabane, golden violets, golden poppies, granite monkeyflower,
grape soda lupine, Ithuriel's spear, Kern
County larkspur, phacelia, popcorn flower, red maids, western wallflower,
wooly pod
SIERRA NEVADA
Sherman Pass Road: Early May - Mid July
blue dicks, columbine, death camas, golden ear drops, Monardellas, shooting stars
Nine-mile Canyon Road (Hwy 14. to Kennedy Meadows): mid May -
mid June
grape
soda lupine, pink gilia
Cherry Hill Road:
Sequoia National
Forest: Mid June - Late August
butterfly mariposa
lily, lupine,
mountain collomia, harlequin monkeyflower, pink gilia, phacelia,
monkeyflower, Indian
paintbrush, clover, lotus, tinctureplant, snow plant, crimson columbine, mountain blue bells, Parry's
larkspur, cinquefoil, shooting stars, wild onions, blue-eyed marys,
knotweed
Piute Mountains:
Sequoia National Forest: early June - mid July
brodiaea, desert calico, Horkelias, mariposa lily, monkeyflowers, milkweeds, Monardellas,
Palmer's mariposa lily, penstemon, phacelia, Spanish bayonet, vetch
SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS
Antelope Valley Poppy
Preserve: mid March - late April California poppy,
coreopsis, cream cups, Davy gilia, fiddleneck, globe gilia, golden
carpet, goldfields, paintbrush, lupine, phacelia, thistle sage,
yellow throats |
