Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 26, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Hey Guys,
I would like to get your advice as I make my summer mtn. hiking plans. Although a CA native I never really spent time photographing wildflowers until I moved to CO. In CO many of you may be familiar with places in the San Juans such as Yankee Boy Basin and American Basin. These areas and their surroundings are regarded as the top places in the state to view and photograph wildflowers. They are truly amazing to visit! http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4001545_6a2HT#232804669_n8b4C-A-LB
Crested Butte even has an annual Wildflower Festival. http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4088430_cDWTH#238316153_48t5o-A-LB
CB is the "self proclaimed" Wildflower Capital of CO. However most photogs will agree that the San Juan's have no rival.
Now I know CA is different geographically and actually more diverse with coastal wildflowers, Antelope Valley poppies, etc... But what I am wondering about are the Mtn. Wildflower Locations?
Is there an area or region in the Sierras known as the most abundant for wildflowers? Or is it more hit and miss with no area necesarily better than others? That is something I haven't heard discussed much. But I imagine that there should be regions which are more profuse than others when the conditions are right.
I would appreciate hearing about your experiences/exposures to good Mtn. wildflower locations. And if you can share a picture or two that would be much appreciated.
Thanks for any tips/advice you can provide.
Derek
Posted by Robert Dayton on February 26, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Derek, wildflowers is one of my favorite photo subjects. A good source for California wildflowers that I rely on is http://www.calphoto.com/home.htm. People mail their
observations to her site daily at this time of the year. Since most photograhers
have a day job, they travel on weekends to photograph. The best times to get reports
on wildflower conditions are on Monday. Reports are already being posted for
Anza Borrego Desert SP as well as other Southern California locations. As you know, it's still too cold for mountain wildflowers. Carol Leigh who heads the site also has some
CD's and paperbound books available for wildflower locations.
If it's a good year some of the best mountain locations are in the valleys along state route 395. The same locations that burst in the fall with Aspen color can also be good for
wildflowers. Another source for that area is to contact the Galen Rowell Gallery in
Bishop, CA. They have been very helpful with wildflower information in the past. It's
probably best to call them in late May and through June.
A good mountain location that I've found in Southern CA is Figeuroa Mt. in the Los
Padres National Forest out of Solvang. In Carol Leigh's book, she lists Yosemite NP
in June and July for the following locations: Cook's Meadow and Sentinel Meadow
for Cow Parsnip, El Capitan Meadow for Azaleas, Mariposa Grove and Glacier Road
for Snow Plants, Tenaya Canyon for Wild Ginger, and just beyond Badger Pass Ski
Area is Summit Meadow about the size of a football field. Summit Meadow is right
along the road and easily accessible. However, have boots and mosquito repellant.
I hope that this helps. If you have any additonal questions, don't hesitate to get back
to me.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 26, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your input and observations. Now that you mention it the same is true in CO . Crested Butte and the San Juans are also the best places for Fall Colors! Although places like Aspen really come into their own in the Fall, summer wildflowers are not as impressive by comaprison to other regions.
I am also looking forward to Yosemite this Spring. I already observed some poppies on the drive out of the valley along hwy 140 between El Portal and Mariposa last weekend. Someone else meniotned this as well - not sure who. (Edit) Now I remember. Michael Frye mentioned it on his blog recently here: http://michaelfryephotography.blogspot.com/2009/02/snow-and-poppies.html
Thanks again for the tips. Maybe I should pick up one of Carol Leigh's books/cds. I have visited her website before.
Derek
Posted by Reno DiTullio on February 26, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Derek, with the right amount of rainfall a spring road trip down the Carmel Valley Road to Arroyo Seco will generally give many opportunities for wildflower photos. San Benito County down Hwy 25 to the Pinnacles and south to King City is another good drive for wildflowers as well as a trip through Fort Hunter Liggett to San Antonio Mission, lupine and poppys if the weather is right. In the Sierra, Hwy 88 from about Silver Lake to Hope Valley will also provide opportunities for wildflower photography. If the rainfall and sunshine cooperate, the stretch of Hwy 49 between Mokelumne Hill and Jackson will explode with poppies. Let's get together about April and take a drive locally.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 26, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Posted by Steve Sieren on February 27, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Calphoto will work out for just fine. As for the mountains July is a really good time at the high elevations. You can find sky pilots at 13k ft in August. You're better off getting familiar with all the trails up there first. The real easy trail is Little Lakes Valley at the end of Rock Creek rd. It's usually open by Memorial Day. You just have to be at the right place at the right time. We still need more rain of course. You can find flowers somewhere in California from now until the end of summer. It's not how far you it's how often you go.
And don't forget the dogwoods in Sequoia/King's Canyon.. one of the most beautiful combinations in nature IMO. Try the last two weeks in May - 1st week of June for them, depends on the year of course. Any particular tree will only be 'perfect' for a week or so.
Derek, California is noted for its spring wildflower carpets in its valley and hill country (both coastal and inland) and also its deserts. But you were asking specifically about our mountain country, I believe, and particularly about anything akin to the high open Rockies and their summer wildflower meadows.
The short answer is generally no. The only mountains in California with extensive alpine country and high glaciated peaks - ie the Sierra Nevada - do not experience the carpet blooms that California's lowlands do. Neither do they experience the thick alpine meadow blooms of annuals like the Rockies.
Above 6000-7000 feet, where the Sierra alpine scenery begins, there are mostly small meadows - some wet, some dry - forest (thinning at treeline at 8500-11000 feet depending on how far north or south you are), and dry open expanses with thinly-spaced, short bunchgrasses and a lot of rock, from gravel to boulder fields to scree to slickrock. The brilliant summer California weather means the monsoon that keeps the Rockies lush summer-long usually doesn't raise its head in California more than a few weeks total each summer and fall, if that.
So the generally dry conditions mean that only the marshy meadows around some lakes develop good annual wildflower blooms. These are mostly small and patchy. If you're looking for carpet blooms of annuals, you're generally not going to find anything in the summer comparable to the Rockies in the High Sierra, let alone anything comparable to California's low country in the spring.
That's not to say you can't find flowers. Perennials like bush lupine in the eastern canyons (eg above the Owens Valley) are a good bet. Flowering dogwood at the mid-mountain elevations (like in Giant Forest) are often excellent in late spring / early summer. Small but thick patches of belly flowers at those elevations can also be found in early summer, at openings and fringes of the forest (again, Giant Forest comes to mind). The Sierra foothills and western low-to-mid-elevation canyons like the Merced and the Kern can in a good year get the kind of carpet blooms of poppies, etc, in March and April for which California is famous.
Up in the high country like you were asking about, wet meadows ringing some lakes or marshy spots produce annual lupine, owls clover, bistort, Indian paintbrush, and mule ears, generally scattered and patchy, but occasionally thick (most of these are lucky finds out in the backcountry). However after having backpacked once or twice every summer for the last 10 years in the High Sierra, I've never seen anything comparable to the spring lowland carpet blooms.
Hope this helps.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 28, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Thanks eveyone for the input!
Scott, you finally said what I was waiting to hear - An answer regarding high alpine flowers in CA. And while I knew there was a difference between the Rockies and the Sierras your explanation makes a lot of sense. That is why CA really doesn't have an equivalent to wildflower hotbeds like Yankee Boy Basin in the San Juans or Mt. Rainier displays.
I think this trip report by Lars Jensen is a good visual depiction of what you have described: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jensenl/visuals/album/2006/thousand/. While TI lake is a visually stunning lake it is not a place one would say is exploding with wildflowers. That is not to say it is not a great photographic destination without flowers. Its unique geography make it an amazing place.
And yes, CA has flowers which CO could never have like Calla Lilies in Feb. and poppies in March. I also look forward to the dogwoods and rhododendrons in the redwoods.
Steve, I ordered one of Carol's cds on wildflowers in CA. Her website is great.
Thanks again all!
Derek
Posted by David Senesac on February 28, 2009 at 11:59 PM
http://davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/carson_pass.jpg
There are an abundance of wildflowers in the granitic Sierra Nevada. However in higher elevations they are not as dense as the best locations in the Rockies. There are many foothill areas that receive blankets of spring wildflowers in March and April. Some of the better high elevation locations are south of the High Sierra where more fertile volcanic geology dominates, like on the above link to the Carson Pass area.
David, nice photo. I believe you meant to say "north of the High Sierra", like around Sonora Pass and Carson Pass as you mentioned. Derek, the trail in the Carson Pass area heading southish to Lake Winnemucca and Round Top is one of the best (relatively speaking) wildflower areas in the alpine mountains of California, and is locally well-noted. Peak is in July.
Discussion
10 repliesI would like to get your advice as I make my summer mtn. hiking plans. Although a CA native I never really spent time photographing wildflowers until I moved to CO. In CO many of you may be familiar with places in the San Juans such as Yankee Boy Basin and American Basin. These areas and their surroundings are regarded as the top places in the state to view and photograph wildflowers. They are truly amazing to visit! http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4001545_6a2HT#232804669_n8b4C-A-LB
Crested Butte even has an annual Wildflower Festival. http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4088430_cDWTH#238316153_48t5o-A-LB
CB is the "self proclaimed" Wildflower Capital of CO. However most photogs will agree that the San Juan's have no rival.
Now I know CA is different geographically and actually more diverse with coastal wildflowers, Antelope Valley poppies, etc... But what I am wondering about are the Mtn. Wildflower Locations?
Is there an area or region in the Sierras known as the most abundant for wildflowers? Or is it more hit and miss with no area necesarily better than others? That is something I haven't heard discussed much. But I imagine that there should be regions which are more profuse than others when the conditions are right.
I would appreciate hearing about your experiences/exposures to good Mtn. wildflower locations. And if you can share a picture or two that would be much appreciated.
Thanks for any tips/advice you can provide.
Derek
observations to her site daily at this time of the year. Since most photograhers
have a day job, they travel on weekends to photograph. The best times to get reports
on wildflower conditions are on Monday. Reports are already being posted for
Anza Borrego Desert SP as well as other Southern California locations. As you know, it's still too cold for mountain wildflowers. Carol Leigh who heads the site also has some
CD's and paperbound books available for wildflower locations.
If it's a good year some of the best mountain locations are in the valleys along state route 395. The same locations that burst in the fall with Aspen color can also be good for
wildflowers. Another source for that area is to contact the Galen Rowell Gallery in
Bishop, CA. They have been very helpful with wildflower information in the past. It's
probably best to call them in late May and through June.
A good mountain location that I've found in Southern CA is Figeuroa Mt. in the Los
Padres National Forest out of Solvang. In Carol Leigh's book, she lists Yosemite NP
in June and July for the following locations: Cook's Meadow and Sentinel Meadow
for Cow Parsnip, El Capitan Meadow for Azaleas, Mariposa Grove and Glacier Road
for Snow Plants, Tenaya Canyon for Wild Ginger, and just beyond Badger Pass Ski
Area is Summit Meadow about the size of a football field. Summit Meadow is right
along the road and easily accessible. However, have boots and mosquito repellant.
I hope that this helps. If you have any additonal questions, don't hesitate to get back
to me.
Thank you for your input and observations. Now that you mention it the same is true in CO .
I am also looking forward to Yosemite this Spring. I already observed some poppies on the drive out of the valley along hwy 140 between El Portal and Mariposa last weekend. Someone else meniotned this as well - not sure who. (Edit) Now I remember. Michael Frye mentioned it on his blog recently here: http://michaelfryephotography.blogspot.com/2009/02/snow-and-poppies.html
Thanks again for the tips. Maybe I should pick up one of Carol Leigh's books/cds. I have visited her website before.
Derek
Those are some great suggestions. Lets definately do some local shooting as well. I already shot some local Calla Lilies at Garrapta. They are in bloom right now! This was taken two weeks ago with a lot getting ready to bloom:
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/7049912_hqPLs#471692475_ZMbA6-A-LB
Derek
The short answer is generally no. The only mountains in California with extensive alpine country and high glaciated peaks - ie the Sierra Nevada - do not experience the carpet blooms that California's lowlands do. Neither do they experience the thick alpine meadow blooms of annuals like the Rockies.
Above 6000-7000 feet, where the Sierra alpine scenery begins, there are mostly small meadows - some wet, some dry - forest (thinning at treeline at 8500-11000 feet depending on how far north or south you are), and dry open expanses with thinly-spaced, short bunchgrasses and a lot of rock, from gravel to boulder fields to scree to slickrock. The brilliant summer California weather means the monsoon that keeps the Rockies lush summer-long usually doesn't raise its head in California more than a few weeks total each summer and fall, if that.
So the generally dry conditions mean that only the marshy meadows around some lakes develop good annual wildflower blooms. These are mostly small and patchy. If you're looking for carpet blooms of annuals, you're generally not going to find anything in the summer comparable to the Rockies in the High Sierra, let alone anything comparable to California's low country in the spring.
That's not to say you can't find flowers. Perennials like bush lupine in the eastern canyons (eg above the Owens Valley) are a good bet. Flowering dogwood at the mid-mountain elevations (like in Giant Forest) are often excellent in late spring / early summer. Small but thick patches of belly flowers at those elevations can also be found in early summer, at openings and fringes of the forest (again, Giant Forest comes to mind). The Sierra foothills and western low-to-mid-elevation canyons like the Merced and the Kern can in a good year get the kind of carpet blooms of poppies, etc, in March and April for which California is famous.
Up in the high country like you were asking about, wet meadows ringing some lakes or marshy spots produce annual lupine, owls clover, bistort, Indian paintbrush, and mule ears, generally scattered and patchy, but occasionally thick (most of these are lucky finds out in the backcountry). However after having backpacked once or twice every summer for the last 10 years in the High Sierra, I've never seen anything comparable to the spring lowland carpet blooms.
Hope this helps.
Scott, you finally said what I was waiting to hear - An answer regarding high alpine flowers in CA. And while I knew there was a difference between the Rockies and the Sierras your explanation makes a lot of sense. That is why CA really doesn't have an equivalent to wildflower hotbeds like Yankee Boy Basin in the San Juans or Mt. Rainier displays.
I think this trip report by Lars Jensen is a good visual depiction of what you have described:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jensenl/visuals/album/2006/thousand/. While TI lake is a visually stunning lake it is not a place one would say is exploding with wildflowers. That is not to say it is not a great photographic destination without flowers. Its unique geography make it an amazing place.
And yes, CA has flowers which CO could never have like Calla Lilies in Feb. and poppies in March. I also look forward to the dogwoods and rhododendrons in the redwoods.
Steve, I ordered one of Carol's cds on wildflowers in CA. Her website is great.
Thanks again all!
Derek
There are an abundance of wildflowers in the granitic Sierra Nevada. However in higher elevations they are not as dense as the best locations in the Rockies. There are many foothill areas that receive blankets of spring wildflowers in March and April. Some of the better high elevation locations are south of the High Sierra where more fertile volcanic geology dominates, like on the above link to the Carson Pass area.
David
http://www.davidsenesac.com
Scott