I have been collecting information about the summer bloom for my blog and to plan my own wildlflower trips. Let me share some of what I have found. Yosemite currently has flowers in bloom in both the valley and high country as well as along all entrance roads. Check out the Yosemite Park site http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/bloom.htm for details. There is much in bloom in Plumas county in the area near Oakland Camp and Spanish Creek including Leopard Lilies and and Lady Slipper Orchids. Eastern Sierra and White Mountain have bloom at mid and some higher elevations but the highest elevations are still sparse. For more details and links check my recent blog entrieshttp://naturalhistorywanderings.com/
Sandy Steinman Natural History Wanderings
Staying away from the still snowy higher areas most were likely cruising, during last week's holiday, we backpacked about the 5k to 7k elevation into Yosemite NP. Wildflowers were just now peaking everywhere in the landscape in this cool delayed early summer so it was a good choice. The considerable expanses of glaciated granite bedrock, many joint cracks, and granite sand flats between bedrock, had considerable pussypaws, mountain pride penstemon, Sierra onion, whiskerbrush, Bridge's gilia, Layne's monkeyflower, and pretty face. Many flats were covered by just rising short green grasses during this brief annual period of greenery in what by mid summer is bright, hot, brown, and unpleasant. Forest areas and moist meadows had many more usual species including dense mats of Brewer's lupine. Below deep fir forests seasonal streams we passed were occasional snowplants. Along the lake we visited, our large very fragrant Sierra rhododendron species, western azalea, were coming into early bloom.
Abbotts Lagoon at Pt. Reyes
There is still much in bloom at Abbotts Lagoon at Pt. Reyes. We hiked out to the lagoon, went just over the bridge to the beginning of the dunes and then went up to the bluff just before the bridge and continued a short distance along the fence and managed to identify over 60 species today. The most flowery areas were along the boardwalk on the trail and at the edge of the bluff overlooking the ocean. It was a bright foggy day creating good light for wildflower photography. I have put a plant list and some photos on my blog: Natural History Wanderings
Today I returned to Angeles Crest Hwy in the San Gabriel Mts. I had a brief scout last Sunday. There are still many small seasonal streams and seeps along the side of the road. They are past Vincent Gulch but before Old 39 and the tunnels. In one spot there was an abundance of nice flowers, a type of Indian paintbrush, Red monkeyflower ( found in boggy soil unlike the yellow variety). I think the extensive coverage here is the result of the clearing of brush and trees from an old fire ( Not last years Station Fire. ) We went all the way to Buckhorn Campground. The road leading into the campground passes right over a small creek that has an extensive Fern Glade and several mature incense cedars which resemble Sequoia in trunk and bark. My daughter couldn't resist taking an unintentional dip in the cooling waters of the little brook. No damage to her camera, Ipod or herself thankfully. I'll post one image from what we called Paul and Cassie's Idyll. You have to come in through the Wrightwood side the road is closed just past La Canada and Mt. Wilson Rd.
Tioga Pass Road, White Mountain and Rock Creek Road in the Eastern Sierra
I have been botanizing and photographing mountain flowers for the last three days. Wednesday I drove over Tioga Pass from west. There were many flowers out with the lots of Mt. Pride Penstemon along the road. Touloume Meadows was still early. There were patches of Shooting Stars but most of the meadow was pretty sparse.
Yesterday I drove up White Mt. The roads are open all the way up and flowers can be found all along the way. I especially enjoyed photographing the very tiny belly flowers around the Patriarch Grove parking area.
Today I drove the road from 395 to Rock Creek. There were a number of very flowery spots and some flowers all the way to the parking area at Rock Creek Trailhead. It was especially good after 8000 feet to a little over 9000 feet.
Saturday I drove up along Bishop Creek from Bishop to South Lake. Many species are in bloom with the best flowers starting around 8000 feet and continuing to the top. There is an especially nice mix of Red Columbine, Alpine Columbine and mixed hybrids of the two shortly before you get to the top. There are also a good number of blooms at the very beginning of the trail especially at the left turn off the main trail after crossing the two wooden bridges.
Sunday I hiked out McGee Creek as far as the stream that comes down from the waterfall. There were the good displays in later part of trail, especially of yellow Buckwheats and red Paintbrush; the best I have seen so far on this trip. Also lots of Sego Lilies (Calochortus bruneaunis), Scarlet Gilia, colorful Whitney’s Locoweed in fruit and many other species.
I have posted plant lists and some photos from each day on my blog: Natural History Wanderings However, Robert Ruberti's photo posted 7/14 does the best job of capturing the feel of McGee Creek.
Posted by Cory Freeman on July 19, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Was out and about over the weekend fishing with the inlaws. North Lake, iris, paint brush, columbine, South Lake side is going real good with paint brush, tiger lilies, penstamen(sp?) and a bunch more I don't know names of.
Rock Creek is REALLY good right now with everything above and lupine. LOTS of water still, Sabrina is FULL, South Lake is nearly full, RC lake is full. Still lots of over flowing creeks, i.e. north lake.
Tioga Pass Road, Tuolumne Meadows and Belly Plants
Yesterday I drove over Tioga Pass Road from Lee Vining. The Blazing Star,
Prickly Poppy and Evening Primrose were all in bloom. There was a pullout just
before the construction started (the last part of road before Yosemite on the
east side has one-way escorted traffic) that had many flowers. There were also a
number of flowery pullouts on the right side of the road both before and after
Tuolumne Meadows some with small streams that provided habitat for moisture
loving plants. There continue to be lots of Mt. Pride Penstemon in bloom along
Tioga Pass Road.
Tuolumne Meadows had a lot more flowers in bloom than five days ago but not
large displays. One pullout that was especially good was west of Olmstead Point
before you get to the May Lake Trailhead. I have put a plant list and some
photos on my blog: Natural History Wanderings
I also posted photos of some tiny "belly plants" I saw at the Patriarch's Grove
and south of Mono Lake along Highway 120.
Yesterday (7/30/10) I walked from Carson Pass to Frog and Winnemucca Lakes. Today I walked from Woods Lake to Minnemucca Lake and up the hillside above Winnemucca Lake. Both walks have many species in bloom and good displays. Do go up the hillside behind Winnemucca Lake if you can as there are nice displays of the Sierra Primrose and White Heather. Go now as the bloom won’t last long too much longer. For photographers be warned that it can be windy and the sun is harsh. The largest hillside displays are between Minnemucca Lake and the woods along the Woods Lake trail. I have posted photos and plant lists on my blog (http://naturalhistorywanderings.com).
I recently discovered that some people who follow my blog (Natural History Wanderings) using RSS readers such as Google reader were having problems getting current posts. A few weeks ago I added a new URL: (http://naturalhistorywanderings.com) and made it the primary URL. Although both the new URL (naturalhistorywanderings.com) and the old URL (http://sandysteinman.wordpress.com) will work in web browsers. RSS feed readers need to change the feed address to (http://naturalhistorywanderings.com/feed/) This should resolve any problems. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Plenty of of flowers in bloom at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden (Berkeley)
If you are looking for a good location for summer wildflowers to photograph check, out the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley. Clarkias are among the most impressive. Several Clarkia species are in bloom throughout the garden. Also the new rock mound in the desert section is very flowery. The garden is rarely crowded. Many days are foggy this time of year providing nice even diffuse light for flower photography. Also no mosquitoes To see some photos check my blog: Natural History Wanderings
Discussion
13 repliesThe spring wildflower thread was getting a little long, so Preston and I started this instead.
Sandy Steinman
Natural History Wanderings
--P
http://www.davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/kibbie_waz.jpg
http://www.davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/west_azalea.jpg
There is still much in bloom at Abbotts Lagoon at Pt. Reyes. We hiked out to the lagoon, went just over the bridge to the beginning of the dunes and then went up to the bluff just before the bridge and continued a short distance along the fence and managed to identify over 60 species today. The most flowery areas were along the boardwalk on the trail and at the edge of the bluff overlooking the ocean. It was a bright foggy day creating good light for wildflower photography. I have put a plant list and some photos on my blog: Natural History Wanderings
Sandy Steinman
Natural History Wanderings
I have been botanizing and photographing mountain flowers for the last three days. Wednesday I drove over Tioga Pass from west. There were many flowers out with the lots of Mt. Pride Penstemon along the road. Touloume Meadows was still early. There were patches of Shooting Stars but most of the meadow was pretty sparse.
Yesterday I drove up White Mt. The roads are open all the way up and flowers can be found all along the way. I especially enjoyed photographing the very tiny belly flowers around the Patriarch Grove parking area.
Today I drove the road from 395 to Rock Creek. There were a number of very flowery spots and some flowers all the way to the parking area at Rock Creek Trailhead. It was especially good after 8000 feet to a little over 9000 feet.
I have put detailed plant lists and some photos on my blog: http://naturalhistorywanderings.com
Sandy Steinman
Natural History Wanderings
http://naturalhistorywanderings.com
Sunday I hiked out McGee Creek as far as the stream that comes down from the waterfall. There were the good displays in later part of trail, especially of yellow Buckwheats and red Paintbrush; the best I have seen so far on this trip. Also lots of Sego Lilies (Calochortus bruneaunis), Scarlet Gilia, colorful Whitney’s Locoweed in fruit and many other species.
I have posted plant lists and some photos from each day on my blog: Natural History Wanderings However, Robert Ruberti's photo posted 7/14 does the best job of capturing the feel of McGee Creek.
Sandy Steinman
Natural History Wanderings
Rock Creek is REALLY good right now with everything above and lupine. LOTS of water still, Sabrina is FULL, South Lake is nearly full, RC lake is full. Still lots of over flowing creeks, i.e. north lake.
Cory Freeman
Blog
Sierra Impressions
bishopweather.com
shore of Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City. Shown here is a sample.
Yesterday I drove over Tioga Pass Road from Lee Vining. The Blazing Star,
Prickly Poppy and Evening Primrose were all in bloom. There was a pullout just
before the construction started (the last part of road before Yosemite on the
east side has one-way escorted traffic) that had many flowers. There were also a
number of flowery pullouts on the right side of the road both before and after
Tuolumne Meadows some with small streams that provided habitat for moisture
loving plants. There continue to be lots of Mt. Pride Penstemon in bloom along
Tioga Pass Road.
Tuolumne Meadows had a lot more flowers in bloom than five days ago but not
large displays. One pullout that was especially good was west of Olmstead Point
before you get to the May Lake Trailhead. I have put a plant list and some
photos on my blog: Natural History Wanderings
I also posted photos of some tiny "belly plants" I saw at the Patriarch's Grove
and south of Mono Lake along Highway 120.
Sandy Steinman
Natural History Wanderings
Yesterday (7/30/10) I walked from Carson Pass to Frog and Winnemucca Lakes. Today I walked from Woods Lake to Minnemucca Lake and up the hillside above Winnemucca Lake. Both walks have many species in bloom and good displays. Do go up the hillside behind Winnemucca Lake if you can as there are nice displays of the Sierra Primrose and White Heather. Go now as the bloom won’t last long too much longer. For photographers be warned that it can be windy and the sun is harsh. The largest hillside displays are between Minnemucca Lake and the woods along the Woods Lake trail. I have posted photos and plant lists on my blog (http://naturalhistorywanderings.com).
I recently discovered that some people who follow my blog (Natural History Wanderings) using RSS readers such as Google reader were having problems getting current posts. A few weeks ago I added a new URL: (http://naturalhistorywanderings.com) and made it the primary URL. Although both the new URL (naturalhistorywanderings.com) and the old URL (http://sandysteinman.wordpress.com) will work in web browsers. RSS feed readers need to change the feed address to (http://naturalhistorywanderings.com/feed/) This should resolve any problems. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Sandy
Natural History Wanderings
If you are looking for a good location for summer wildflowers to photograph check, out the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley. Clarkias are among the most impressive. Several Clarkia species are in bloom throughout the garden. Also the new rock mound in the desert section is very flowery. The garden is rarely crowded. Many days are foggy this time of year providing nice even diffuse light for flower photography. Also no mosquitoes To see some photos check my blog: Natural History Wanderings
Sandy
Natural History Wanderings