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The Scenic Route Home
Monday, 18 January 2016
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 58 F (14 C), Low: 45 F (7 C).
I still have some things to get done before I can get out again. This day I decided to make the best of a trip into town and take the scenic route home. Brought the camera along too. ;D
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Now the drought damage among the trees is becoming very apparent. Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa, is the most susceptible species to drought conditions. During all the other droughts I have lived through, they have always ranked highest on the casualty list. The die-off this year is the worst I have ever seen. Another conifer distressed by the drought but not in such numbers was Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga meniezii.
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Another area of Ponderosa Pine die-off.
I noticed no die-off of our Gray Pine, Pinus sabiniana - certainly a very tough tree in extreme conditions.
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This scene show the die-off of White Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida, on this ridge-line. I generally consider this species just as enduring as California Gray Pine. This day I observed a considerable amount of drought induced damage on this species.
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Much more pleasant were the masses of Foothill Poppy seedlings, Eschscholzia caespitosa. I hope that I can arrive back when they bloom!
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The recent rainfall and mild temperatures have turned everything green, including the moss on the rocks.
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The Polypodium ferns have zoomed into growth.
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Polypodium calirhiza is out in all of its shady hide-outs now.
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Sedum spathulifolium will dry-up into nothing during the summer. Now they are plump and growing well on the shady mossy rocks that they enjoy inhabiting. They will brighten the mossy rocks when they bloom with their yellow flowers in the spring.
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A beautiful silhouette of our Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii.
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The recent rains have brought Rock Creek to flood stage. This is not a big deal - Rock Creek should flood often every year. Nobody lives by the creek either. :) I have not seen Rock Creek with this much water in over 4 years.
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Near Rock Creek masses of Ladybird Beetles are amassing on their annual migration.
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This time of year one can find millions of them concentrated in a very limited space. Maybe this is how the survive the winter? In the spring they will all fly off scattering everywhere.
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Hi Robert,
Nice to see that creek in flood :)
We're longing for our "creek" (the Campaspe River) to look like that again,
cheers
fermi
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Storm clouds exiting to the east of the Sierra Crest.
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The rainfall has brought cascades of water everywhere as the run-off flows down the canyon face to the South Fork of the American River below. These seasonal creeks create many beautiful waterfalls in this area.
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The raging South Fork of the American River as it races towards Folsom Reservoir. The Reservoir (the water source for millions and irrigation for many farms) is filling quickly, however it still has a long way to go before it is even close to being full.
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Storm clouds arriving from the west. More wet weather is to arrive soon. :)
Also, it is now time to get back to the farm.
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Hi Robert,
Nice to see that creek in flood :)
We're longing for our "creek" (the Campaspe River) to look like that again,
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
You bet we are pleased! :)
How long has it been since there has been a good flow in the Campaspe River?
Drought in Southern Australia seems almost perpetual!?
El Nino is said to bring drought conditions to Australia. I certainly hope that this can be avoided this time around.
We are still hoping for much more rainfall. We are only average to-date right now. From the TV news reporters I can tell that they have forgotten what it is like during an average winter here in this part of California. But then there are so many new folks around here, maybe they did not even live here four-five years ago! ??? ::)
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Robert,
Nice to see all the water and the spring-like conditions! Seems you will get more rain the next couple of days also. But I am sorry to see the dead tress and shrubs. This will certainly make room for new plants to sprout from seed?
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Robert,
Nice to see all the water and the spring-like conditions! Seems you will get more rain the next couple of days also. But I am sorry to see the dead tress and shrubs. This will certainly make room for new plants to sprout from seed?
Trond,
The weather has turned very spring like and "warm". Another storm is to arrive tonight and last thru Saturday - then dry and warm for awhile. Typical weather, however I would like to see more rain.
Yes, it is very sad to see the die-off of the trees and shrubs. It will be interesting to see what replaces them. Near the farm there is a town called Coloma where gold was discovered in January of 1848. The gold was discovered in a mill run, the mill being a saw mill. John Sutter built the lumber mill for his settlement at what today is Sacramento. Today there are very few Yellow Pines, Pinus ponderosa, near Coloma. I am sure this is the species they were to mill into lumber. The only other species worth anything as lumber would be Oak and plenty of them grow (grew) in the Sacramento area. Why not mill the lumber (Oak) near the fort in Sacramento? I think that many more Yellow Pine grew near Coloma in 1848.
The same story holds for the hamlet of Shingle Springs down the mountain from the farm. There are very few Ponderosa Pine at this elevation today. In the mid-1800's Ponderosa Pine was milled into shingles at this site.
The climate has changed since then - so today it will be interesting to see what species regrow where the Yellow Pine grew.
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A few more photographs from a recent "ride" in the countryside.
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A very hydric cliff face (dripping water all year) near the South Fork of the American River. Alnus rhombifolia is the dominant tree, with a shrubby under-story of Philadelphus lewisii and Umbellularia californica. Cystopteris fragilis, Polypodium calirhiza, and Aralia californica are a few of the plants clinging to the rock face.
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Polystichum californicum is another species found growing here.
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On the north facing slope of the canyon there are many rocky ledges. During the summer this is a very xeric environment. Heuchera micrantha, Polypodium calirhiza, Pentagramma triangularis, and Lonicera interrrupta are a few of the species frequently found in this environment.
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Occasionally Polystichum imbricans ssp. imbricans can be found in such sites.
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Another photograph of Polystichum imbricans ssp. imbricans.
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It has turned very mild, 64 F (17.5 C) today 21 January. The snowline was at 5,000 feet (1.524 meters).
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A few days ago it was raining here, however there is still some snow remaining.
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The Crystal Range with a good blanket of snow, maybe 3-4 meters by now.
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Storm clouds from the next storm arriving. The first wave is to be quite warm again with high snow levels. Even at this elevation (5,000 feet) there is much to investigate this time of year. There is much genetic variation just in the Arctostaphylos species. Soon I will have time to investigate all of this thoroughly. :)
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The next frontal band will bring snow down to 4,000 feet (1,219 meters).
Time to retreat to the lower elevations. Even with mild weather the roads were still icy in shady locations. With lower snow levels there will be 1-2 feet of snow on this road by Saturday.
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Good to see all the wet cliffs, cascades and snow backdrops!
The mossy ledges with ferns, and other species, are great; I can imagine how everything will change come summer time though. I am totally unfamiliar with Pentagramma triangularis ???
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The polystichum species are delightful ferns Robert. This is a genus we grow quite a number of and they are generally very tolerant of our dry summer climate, but these smaller rock ferns are even more interesting. Really makes me want to develop trough plantings with rock crevices in shadier spots and to grow more ferns from spores again.
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Good to see all the wet cliffs, cascades and snow backdrops!
The mossy ledges with ferns, and other species, are great; I can imagine how everything will change come summer time though. I am totally unfamiliar with Pentagramma triangularis ???
Gabriela,
The rocky ledge will progress through a succession of native flowering species. It is truly a floral glory we have here in California.
Gold Back Fern, Pentagramma triangularis, is a very commonly seen species in this part of California, however I very much appreciate that you brought this to my attention. Sometimes I think that I will be just repeating myself if I photograph and comment on a common species year after year. What is common here my be unknown elsewhere. We also always have new members to the forum. To do a good job, even I should learn to examine the common species carefully and comment on my observations in this forum. I will include some photographs of Pentagramma triangularis in the near future. It is their season.
In addition, what is common or well known elsewhere might be completely unknown to me. I am always learning on this forum - something from everyone. Sometimes one detail is shared that helps me with the cultivation of a beloved species.
This is all very 8) Thank you for your comments. :)
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The polystichum species are delightful ferns Robert. This is a genus we grow quite a number of and they are generally very tolerant of our dry summer climate, but these smaller rock ferns are even more interesting. Really makes me want to develop trough plantings with rock crevices in shadier spots and to grow more ferns from spores again.
Tim,
I have been gathering samples of some of our native Polystichum species for a client here in the U.S.A. This has been a very rewarding project that I have enjoyed greatly. Observing the subtleties of the subspecies and the habitat preferences of the various taxa has been very enlightening.
We have some beautiful native rock ferns here in California. They can be very rewarding to grow. Some are xeric, others mesic, and there are those that prefer a hydric environment. Some are shade loving, others are 100% xeric even in full sun. I have observed their behavior under various cultural situations in the garden as well as in the wild. It is always very fascinating.
Some species are very appropriate for a tough planting or the rock garden.
I will keep posting photographs and comments on all of our fern species, as well as everything else I come across.
From your comments and those of Gabriela, I can see that I can make a ride with my 90 year old mother much more productive.
Thank you. :)
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Both the cliff faces and ferns have my vote also ;D
When I am out I always study the cliffs and rocky outcroppings especially on rich ground. Mostly the bedrock around is acidic and poor so when I am on richer ground I am very eager.
Two examples:
Cystopteris fragilis is common also on poor substrate and Polystichum lonchitis and Asplenium viride are rarer and always on rich substrate.
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Glad to hear, Robert, that your Polystichum searches have been so successful!
For those who are interested, there is a recent paper on the taxonomy of Pentagramma:
http://pryerlab.biology.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/schuettpelz-et-al-2015.original.pdf (http://pryerlab.biology.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/schuettpelz-et-al-2015.original.pdf)
Pentagramma pallida is another particularly interesting species that I think grows in Robert's area.
Ed
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In addition, what is common or well known elsewhere might be completely unknown to me. I am always learning on this forum - something from everyone. Sometimes one detail is shared that helps me with the cultivation of a beloved species.
Agree 100% :) so thanks for posting. When I see a new genera name I cannot abstain to find out more about it - so I googled about the Pentagramma of course, but would love to see pictures with it in the native habitat.
I think ferns are a bit under-cultivated in the gardens (at least here), maybe because one can find so many in the wild.
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Glad to hear, Robert, that your Polystichum searches have been so successful!
For those who are interested, there is a recent paper on the taxonomy of Pentagramma:
http://pryerlab.biology.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/schuettpelz-et-al-2015.original.pdf (http://pryerlab.biology.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/schuettpelz-et-al-2015.original.pdf)
Pentagramma pallida is another particularly interesting species that I think grows in Robert's area.
Ed
Hi Ed,
My end of the Polystichum project has gone very well. Part of the project has been extended and I will be traveling south to gather samples from other locations. It turns out the the Jepson's key does work well for P. imbricans ssp. curtum, however I do suspect that there is some hybridizing going on between the two subspecies. This will most likely be of interest to Mr. Barrington. I am quite interested in what I might find too.
Silver-Back Fern, Pentagramma triangularis does grow in our area. It is not as common as the Gold-Back Fern in our area. I am quite interested in the latest information. Thank you. I have seen P. pallida tossed back and forth as a species then and subspecies of P. triangularis over the years.
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Agree 100% :) so thanks for posting. When I see a new genera name I cannot abstain to find out more about it - so I googled about the Pentagramma of course, but would love to see pictures with it in the native habitat.
I think ferns are a bit under-cultivated in the gardens (at least here), maybe because one can find so many in the wild.
Gabriela,
Our native ferns are definitely under-cultivated in our region. ??? Something I do not understand as they are generally easily cultivated and there is such diversity in the various species.
I will be out very soon now. :)
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Both the cliff faces and ferns have my vote also ;D
When I am out I always study the cliffs and rocky outcroppings especially on rich ground. Mostly the bedrock around is acidic and poor so when I am on richer ground I am very eager.
Two examples:
Cystopteris fragilis is common also on poor substrate and Polystichum lonchitis and Asplenium viride are rarer and always on rich substrate.
Trond,
I see Cystopteris fragilis somewhat frequently in our area. Polystichum lonchitis grows in the northern end of the Tahoe Basin. It is rarely found and is said to be a relic of the last Ice Age.
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Ione California
Monday, 25 January 2016
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High: 55 F (13 C), Low: 34 F (1 C)
Today was a reconnaissance trip to Ione, California. Ione is located about 35 miles (56 km) south of our farm in Amador County. Some of the soil types are very unusual in this area, so not surprising there are a number of rare and endemic species in this area.
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I drove some of the back roads in this area to see if I could find anything promising to explore later on.
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Ione is located in the transition zone between the Sacramento Valley and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Looking west is the flat expanse of the valley.
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The rainfall has turned the countryside green and very promising for many wildflowers come spring.
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In addition, this area is still somewhat less developed. There are still vernal pools, now a rare and quickly vanishing habitat for many species of unique annual wildflowers as well as habitat for many other creatures. There were still a few around - a must to check on later in the season.
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Looking east the snow capped Sierra peaks can be seen far in the distance.
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There are many very busy roads in this area. When I was a teenager I would go Bass fishing in some of the farm ponds that I knew about. I still remembered many of the back roads and one was still extremely quiet and with no traffic.
This turned out to be the correct road for me today. The first pristine flowers of Arctostaphylos manzanita - and a very good form.
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A close-up of the flowers. This plant was very dense and full - loaded with flowers. I just do not understand why this species is not grown in gardens here in California. ??? Well I grow it and love it in our garden. ;D
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Another great find was the rare endemic Ione Manzanite, Arctostaphylos myrtifolia. Front and center with Arctostaphylos viscida on each side.
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Ione Manzanita is another extremely beautiful species. In general, this species grows somewhat low, dense and mounding. The evergreen leaves are small relative to most other Arctostaphylos species and the the twigs are covered with distinctive long hairs. This plant was loaded with flowers making it a fine example of the species. I was very over-joyed to find this species again. The last time I observed it in the wild was in 1975 - way to long.
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Typical habitat of Ione Manzanita. In general this soil type is very acidic and low in nutrients. Despite the soil conditions, this species is easily grown in the garden - at least here in California.
This trip was just a quick reconnaissance. I will be back to check on other endemic species in this area later in the season.
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Trond,
I see Cystopteris fragilis somewhat frequently in our area. Polystichum lonchitis grows in the northern end of the Tahoe Basin. It is rarely found and is said to be a relic of the last Ice Age.
There you see, Robert. It is not much which is restricted to my area only ;)
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This turned out to be the correct road for me today. The first pristine flowers of Arctostaphylos manzanita - and a very good form.
A close-up of the flowers. This plant was very dense and full - loaded with flowers. I just do not understand why this species is not grown in gardens here in California. ??? Well I grow it and love it in our garden. ;D
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I can't understand why they are not grown more everywhere?! Some forms should prove hardy even in northern Europe ;)
The flowers and bark are very similar to Arctostaphylos uva-ursi which is common here, but the habit is quite different.
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I think the dry weather you had last year has something to do with the abundant flowering now.
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I can't understand why they are not grown more everywhere?! Some forms should prove hardy even in northern Europe ;)
The flowers and bark are very similar to Arctostaphylos uva-ursi which is common here, but the habit is quite different.
I think the dry weather you had last year has something to do with the abundant flowering now.
Trond.
Certainly the high elevation Arctostaphylos species would be cold hardy. Each species needs to be tested, especially when considering origin. Some coastal species are not even hardy inland where it is colder. There can even be variation within a population.
And, yes, the dry weather last year appears to be part of the flowering equation this year. A. myrtifolia had many short twigs of growth from last spring, each with a inflorescence at the end. A. manzanita had very typical stem elongation from last spring.
I have been observing the Manzanita throughout the season. Some populations had "normal" stem elongation others did not. I even observed variation in the number of nascent inflorescence - some many, others very few to none. Also, some species set no seed last year. This was particularly true of A. viscida.
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Wonderful these manzanitas!!! Who wouldn't like to grow them ???
Maybe I should move to California ;D
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I went in search of Pentagramma pallida today. I know of one easy to access site. As of today, I still have to bring my 90 year old mother with me everywhere (she needs constant attention). Needless to say this limits what I can do even at an easy access site (i.e. she sits in the car while I look, always within her sight). I found a few P. triangularis. :-\
I was hoping to do a photographic comparison of the two species. This will all change when my brother arrives in a few days - but then I have some high priority projects to get done.
Stay tuned - P. pallida will show-up when I can get out and truly get something accomplished. :)
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Wonderful these manzanitas!!! Who wouldn't like to grow them ???
Likewise, Gabriela!
How difficult are they to start from seed, Robert?
cheers
fermi
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How difficult are they to start from seed, Robert?
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
I would have to say Arctostaphylos requires patience. I am still experimenting with different techniques. So far, I am not satisfied with any one technique. They all seem to come up after 2 seasons of cold weather. I have tried the following pre-treatments: smoke, acid, hot water, soaking in digestive pills, even "forced germination" i.e. cutting through the hard seed coat to the embryo and trying to start it.
Right now I am most satisfied with chipping away or sanding away most of the hard seed coat. This is easy to do and I get the best results, however I still have to wait 2 seasons for the seed to germinate. It is easy enough to save the seed pans through two seasons.
The great thing about growing the Manzanitas from seed is the seedling variation depending on the source. Many of the garden seeds turn out to be hybrids - and very interesting. Even wild gathered seed can show wide variation. Some do hybridize in the wild + even the species can often show considerable variation with many characteristics. It is great fun to grow them from seed. I have plenty of room around here to grow them - they require very little care (basically none) once established in the ground - including summertime irrigation - a big deal around here.
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Southern El Dorado County
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High: 74 F (23 C), Low: 40 F (4.5 C)
Today I had an hour or so to do some reconnaissance in Southern El Dorado County, California.
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With record high temperatures during the day and very mild nighttime temperatures many of the native plants are breaking dormancy. The new shoots of Aesculus californica, California Buckeye, are emerging now. This is normal for this species this time of year. The new growth is very resistant to freezing temperatures and will not be burned back if freezing temperatures return.
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Arctostaphylos viscida, White-leaf Manzanita, is also starting to bloom at its median elevation level. I have a keen interest in this genus and that I have already missed much of this season's bloom cycle at the lower elevations and in the coastal areas. :'(
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This is a view of "Slick Rock" on the North Fork of the Cosumnes River. There is a trail-head at this location down to the river on BLM land (i.e. public). Almost all of the land is private in this area and off limits to the public. I am very interested in studying the plants in this area as this part of southern El Dorado County is one of the few places (locally) with a granite based soil at the lower elevations.
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Eriophyllum lanatum var. croceum. We have 5 varieties of this species in El Dorado County. This xeric variety is a strong perennial in the garden, thriving with little or no irrigation during the summer. The other varieties are worth growing too, however the are more ephemeral. The yellow daisy of all the varieties are very attractive.
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Time is running out in this area. The forest is being cleared everywhere from new wine vineyards. The granite based soils are prime for the wine grapes and produce excellent quality wine. It is also the habitat for some specialized plant species.
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Near the village of Omo Ranch I spotted this multi-branched Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens. The majority have straight trunks with no large side branches.
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The bark of this species is very attractive and the scent of the foliage is divine! Where there are Incense Cedar, the forest is always nicely scented. Warm or cold temperatures does not seem to be a factor in the strength of the scent. It always seems pleasantly nice.
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The best view I could get of the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River. There is a fair amount of public land in the canyon and many interesting plants. The northern limit of Calochortus venustus starts in this area. There are a few widely scattered population farther to the north, however from here southward the species is seen much more frequently.
Another interesting feature of this canyon are it's limestone formations and caves. I have visited one of the limestone caves and it is beautiful and fascinating.
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From a ridge-line, this is a view into the Perry Creek drainage and the Sacramento Valley far in the distance. The northern limit of the southern population of Staphylea bolanderi grows (grew) in this region. There has been a tremendous amount of agricultural development in this area over the past 40 years. I would be very pleased if I could find this species in this area, however I am not very hopeful. Fortunately, it also grows in Amador County a few miles to the south. Many of the populations in Amador County are on public land and have some degree of protection. I have some outings planned for this part of Amador County later this season.
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Looking the opposite direction on the same ridge-line to the snow capped peaks of the high Sierra Nevada in the far distance.
I did not have any time to get out and hike around, however this reconnaissance was success and I have some excellent sites to check on later when I get my next chance. :)
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Another great "report" on your area, Robert,
I love seeing snow-capped mountains, even if at a distance :)
The emerging Buckeye foliage is quite lovely too,
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
Yes, this area is very interesting botanically. At the northern end of its range, most of the Calochortus venustus I have observed have been white, pale cream, or pale pink in flower. It would be good if I can explore the canyon of the North Fork of the Mokelumne River, just a few miles to the south. 10 years ago I surveyed parts of this river canyon from Salt Springs Reservoir and Blue Hole upper stream to Summit City Creek on the back side of Round Top Peak. There is an incredible variety of plant species in this area. I have yet to explore the lower end of the canyon where I am likely to find C. venustus near Tiger Creek. Below Tiger Creek Reservoir the flora was badly damaged by last year's Butte Fire. Still, maybe I can find some of the brighter color variations of C. venustus in this region, without having to travel farther south.
I think that I remember a comment, back awhile, about interest in some of the smaller Calochortus species in our area. Both C. coeruleus and the C. nudus / minimus complex grow at the higher elevations in El Dorado County (where our farm is located). They have been a bit challenging for me to grow, however I do have one C. coeruleus that may bloom this year. I will post my results when it is appropriate. In the mean time, I think that you may be interested in giving these a try as well as some of the lower elevation "dwarf" species.
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Wonderful 'exploration' again Robert! I have to say I envy you very much for being able to wander outside in the lookout for plants at this time of year.
And it would be interesting to see what species you will find in the area with granitic substrate.
Some of the pictures reveal a sad reality though - do we really need more vineyards?
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Gabriela,
It is a very sad situation with all the new vineyards going in. Sad for nature and sad for the farmer. There has been a glut of wine grapes on the market now for a number of years. The price per pound has dropped considerably. The old established growers and wine makers are doing fine, however the new growers often can not even sell their crop, especial if it is of poor quality. I hope somehow something good comes from all of this.
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Robert,
Seems that El Dorado contains more than gold ;) (Whenever I hear or read the name I think of Spanish conquistadors ;D )
But I prefer the nature and not the vineyards :(
I have planted one Incense Cedar where I work and it looks good but it is very slow growing.
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Trond,
My wife and I stopped by Traverse Creek today on our way to the farm. We only had enough time to stretch our legs. The creek was full of water and seems to have never been dry this past summer/fall. :)
I hope to have my first good outing for 2016 this coming week. :)
How large is your Incense Cedar now? They are somewhat slow growing here too.
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Robert,
I like that creek :) Seems a good place to start exploring!
The Incense Cedar is about 3m. I will take a picture later ;)
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Robert,
I like that creek :) Seems a good place to start exploring!
Trond,
The Traverse Creek area is a treasure! The serpentine rock and soils have created an island of biodiversity in this area that is very unique.
The other day, my wife and I thought we could at least check on the Lewisia rediviva population. This did not work out - but this was okay too, as it would have been a bonus to what was already an excellent day. :) We will be back - Mimulus douglasii and M. layneae both grow here. I was hoping to gather seed from both these species last year, but my timing was off. They are two tiny annual species that I would be delighted to grow.
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This is an interesting creek up here but it is not much in bloom at the moment! A few years ago we had to make the track ourselves but now they use machines everywhere :(
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This is an interesting creek up here but it is not much in bloom at the moment! A few years ago we had to make the track ourselves but now they use machines everywhere :(
Trond,
Is this creek up in the mountains inland from Myking?
It may be the same around here - machines everywhere. Skiing or snowshoeing around can be a good work-out, however I find the peace and quiet well worth the effort. When I went into the Sierra Nevada during the winter, especially on weekends, it was very noisy with the sounds of snowmobiles and their fumes. Not much fun when one is breathing hard! :P
Anyway, spring looks very far away.
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Robert,
Yes, it is creek from a lake near Myking (from Holmevatn ("Islet Lake") to Svartevatn ("Black Lake")). Fortunately although they use machines to make tracks we usually don't encounter any. The snowmobiles are only used for work, not for pleasure.
But surely you do not get astray with sutch autostradas:
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Trond,
In the Sierra Nevada snowmobiles are used mostly for pleasure. On the weekend it can be very noisy and crowded. I have always gone out during the week when there are few people out in the woods. Years ago, I would ski into Wright's Lake and never come across anyone. :)
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Ranunculus californicus - the first native wildflower to bloom this spring at our farm. This is a bit early in the season to see flowers with this species.
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Robert,
Is ranunulus californicus the typical spring flower at your place?
At home I would say it is Anemone nemorosa and at our summerhouse it is Hepatica nobilis.
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Robert,
Is ranunulus californicus the typical spring flower at your place?
At home I would say it is Anemone nemorosa and at our summerhouse it is Hepatica nobilis.
Trond,
Yes, Ranunculus californicus is typical and often is the most abundant spring wildflower. Somewhere I have a photograph showing the savannah completely carpeted with this species in bloom on our farm property.
At our Sacramento home the landscape is carpeted with houses. I often wonder what the flora was like in this area 200 years ago.
Today it was 25 C, ugh! At least the weather is to cool and rain is predicted for Wednesday night.
I saw the first Dodecatheon hendersonii with open flowers today. :) I have been working on the identification of a mystery species that grows farther up the mountain - in a range between D. hendersonii and D. alpinum. The plant most closely resembles D. hendersonii and is it does not appear to be a hybrid. I have all three plants in the garden for careful observation, as well as various editions of Jepson and Munz (California Floras) to study very carefully. For me this is a fun and most interesting project.
More good news! I will be out doing some field botany tomorrow! :) The plan is to check on the North Fork of the Consumnes River near the village of Somerset, California. I hope this will turn out to be a most interesting outing. A report will be forthcoming a day or two afterwards. :)
A sea of blooming Anemone nemorosa must be very beautiful. I happen to grow a few patched of this species here at the farm. I would like to see a large stand of Hepatica nobilis in bloom. This must be a most satisfying sight.
Enjoy your time at the cabin. Yes, I would love to join you in some cross-country skiing! :)
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I had a very productive outing today on the North Fork of the Cosumnes River. There is much for me to process, however I hope to have the first part of a report up in 2-3 days. The granite base rock created an interesting habitat. Of the 60 -70 species scene today at least 1-2 were newly cataloged. This area is at the northern limit of many south Sierra Nevada Foothill species. As the blooming season progress I think that much more will turn up.
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Trond,
Yes, Ranunculus californicus is typical and often is the most abundant spring wildflower. Somewhere I have a photograph showing the savannah completely carpeted with this species in bloom on our farm property.
............
A sea of blooming Anemone nemorosa must be very beautiful. I happen to grow a few patched of this species here at the farm. I would like to see a large stand of Hepatica nobilis in bloom. This must be a most satisfying sight.
Enjoy your time at the cabin. Yes, I would love to join you in some cross-country skiing! :)
Robert,
Here Ranunculus acris can make up a flowering meadow (especially on moist nutrient poor soil) but it is an early high summer sign.
Anemone nemorosa can make quite impressive "seas" of white
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but Hepatica nobilis never makes such big mats (or I have never seen it). The blue colour does not show up in the same way on pictures as white either.
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Maybe you have other Anemones around there? Like A. deltoidea or oregana? Or the look alike Enemion?
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I had a very productive outing today on the North Fork of the Consumnes River. There is much for me to process, however I hope to have the first part of a report up in 2-3 days. The granite base rock created an interesting habitat. Of the 60 -70 species scene today at least 1-2 were newly cataloged. This area is at the northern limit of many south Sierra Nevada Foothill species. As the blooming season progress I think that much more will turn up.
Robert,
I look forward to your report :)
The first picture looks very promising!
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Trond, you are a fund of interesting information :). I had to look up Enemion and see that this is very close to Isopyrum but accepted as a genus by the Kew Plant List. So now all anemone and anemone-look-a-likes have broadened their appeal even more! Certainly makes you think about Pulsatilla being included within Anemone by some botanists - taxonomy can be pretty subjective at times despite the best of intentions.
We have drifts of Anemone nemorosa like that locally but the Hepatica is marvellous, lights up the woodland with colour. I too would be interested to learn about the Californian species of anemone - A. nemorosa is so widely grown here but few other species and you might think they would adapt well to the woodland garden in the same way.
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Trond,
According to Jepson Manual there are 8 species of Anemone native to California. Most are found in Northwestern California (and elsewhere in Western North America). A. deltoidea and A. oregana are found only in Northwestern California. A. drummondii and A. occidentalis are found in the Sierra Nevada and are the only species I am likely to come across this season. A. tuberosa grows in Southwestern California, however I am not likely going to get that far south this year.
Isopyrum occidentale grows locally and is quite lovely. It is high on my seed gathering list for this season.
Oh yes, I forgot.... Isopryum occidentale is now Enemion occidentale according to Jepson. :)
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Trond, you are a fund of interesting information :). I had to look up Enemion and see that this is very close to Isopyrum but accepted as a genus by the Kew Plant List. So now all anemone and anemone-look-a-likes have broadened their appeal even more! Certainly makes you think about Pulsatilla being included within Anemone by some botanists - taxonomy can be pretty subjective at times despite the best of intentions.
We have drifts of Anemone nemorosa like that locally but the Hepatica is marvellous, lights up the woodland with colour. I too would be interested to learn about the Californian species of anemone - A. nemorosa is so widely grown here but few other species and you might think they would adapt well to the woodland garden in the same way.
Tim,
Tell my wife ;D
My source this time was Calflora http://www.calflora.org/ (http://www.calflora.org/)
I am looking for all the American Anemones and look-alikes, especially those similar to A. nemorosa. Seems they are rarely offered as seeds.
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Trond,
According to Jepson Manual there are 8 species of Anemone native to California. Most are found in Northwestern California (and elsewhere in Western North America). A. deltoidea and A. oregana are found only in Northwestern California. A. drummondii and A. occidentalis are found in the Sierra Nevada and are the only species I am likely to come across this season. A. tuberosa grows in Southwestern California, however I am not likely going to get that far south this year.
Isopyrum occidentale grows locally and is quite lovely. It is high on my seed gathering list for this season.
Oh yes, I forgot.... Isopryum occidentale is now Enemion occidentale according to Jepson. :)
Thanks for the info, Robert.
Isopyrum/Enemion is a lovely genus, all of them!
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North Fork of the Cosumnes River
Slick Rock
Part I
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 69 F (20.5 C), Low: 51 F (10.5 C)
After some delay, I can now get out again. This outing is my first start of a survey of the flora south of our farm in El Dorado County, California. The Cosumnes River system is the first river system as one travels south. Last year I already explored some of the upper tributaries of the Cosumnes River. This is my first detailed survey of the lower reaches of the River.
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Slick Rock is a prominent landmark in this area. Here the Cosumnes River is constricted as it cuts through the granite base rock in this area. The walls of the canyon are near vertical on both sides of the river creating a spectacular scene. Years ago I explored the south side of the canyon. This is my first explorations of the north side of the canyon.
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The trailhead starts at 1,940 feet (591 meters) and quickly heads down towards the river. Arctostaphylos viscida, Ceanothus integerrimus, and Hetromeles arbutifolia are the dominate shrub species along the upper reaches of the trail. This time of year the White-Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida are in full bloom and a beautiful sight.
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Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana and 3 species of oak form an open forest canopy. By far, Arctostaphylos viscida is the dominate Manzanita species in this area. This day I saw only one specimen of another species, this being Arctostaphylos manzanita. A. viscida pictured.
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The larger old trunks of many Manzanita species are very attractive. Arctostaphylos viscida is no exception!
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After a short hike down the trail I arrived at the top of a cliff face with a view of the river below.
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The Slick Rock looks very impressive - slick indeed ;)
Beautiful manzanitas!
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On the exposed ridge above the river there was a variety of native perennials and annuals. I was pleased and somewhat surprised to find the annual Lupinus stiversii. Generally, I find this species at a much higher elevation.
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Spider Lupine, Lupinus benthamii, was one of a number of annual Lupinus species observed this day.
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The perennial Eriophyllum lanatum var. croceum grew abundantly. This variety is easily identified by the white, woolly underside of the foliage, as well as the woolly white young stems. The bright yellow daisies of this species brighten the countryside during the spring and early summer over a wide elevation range.
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More shrubby was the Penstemon relative Keckellia breviflora.
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Frequently seen in sunny rock crevices was the fern Pellaea mucronata. This species is 100% xeric and thrives in the full sun. I grow this species at the farm and find it easy to please, requiring very little care or summertime irrigation. The gray fronds are evergreen, held all year - yes, even in the summer - and always look perk and happy.
to be continued......
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Slick Rock looks very familiar! Been polished by a glacier, I suppose :)
The manzanitas are as beautiful as ever! I was intrigued by the annual lupins. Do they need a long hot summer to flower?
Doesn't the leaves of the Pellaea shrivel at all during a long dry season?
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Robert - the Pellaea really does look an exquisite fern. For a time we grew and propagated a few Cheilanthes and xerophytic ferns have fascinated me ever since (I remember once a trough devoted to them on the AGS display at the Chelsea Show - a great way of growing them. Must think about this for one of our troughs). Arctostaphylos viscida is certainly rather beautiful and we have a 30ft tree of Pinus ponderosa grown from seed needing underplanting ;). So nice to see these plants in their natural situations.
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Slick Rock looks very familiar! Been polished by a glacier, I suppose :)
The manzanitas are as beautiful as ever! I was intrigued by the annual lupins. Do they need a long hot summer to flower?
Doesn't the leaves of the Pellaea shrivel at all during a long dry season?
Trond,
Our annual Lupinus species flower, and set seed before the long hot season. They are certainly "cool season" annuals. They most likely would thrive for you providing they can be protected from slugs :P . Growing them in containers is an option and well worth the effort. Lupinus stiversii has beautiful and interestingly colored flowers. I have yet to try it in our garden but it is high on my list of things to try.
Pellaea mucronata is completely evergreen. In the wild under extreme conditions maybe a few fronds shrivel. Always some of the older fronds shrivel as is normal for all ferns. For a xeric garden this species is ideal as it does not need irrigation during the hot summer and it will grow in full hot sun as well as take some shade. I do irrigate my plants maybe once a month at the most. They do not seem to mind this at all. In a container with a fast draining soil mix they can be water all the time.
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Tim,
Pellaea mucronata is not a large fern, however it may be a bit large for a trough :-\ . Some of our native Cheilanthes species that I grow would be ideal for toughs. They are very sweet little ferns. :) Also, some of our other native Pellaea species from the higher elevations could be ideal for troughs too. At least this is how I see it from where I am. :)
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The Slick Rock looks very impressive - slick indeed ;)
Beautiful manzanitas!
Gabriela,
I am glad that you like the presentation so far. :)
I have to admit that I write everything extemporaneously. At times I am fatigued or get rushed and things are not as polished as I would like. There is so much information that I leave out. I do have several writing projects, but these have been slow going and are clearly something for the future.
Anyway, I am glad that you enjoy. :)
There is more to come with this outing.....
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Robert:
I had a look at Slick Rock from Google Earth. Even from space it looks enormous.
Thanks,
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Robert:
I had a look at Slick Rock from Google Earth. Even from space it looks enormous.
Thanks,
Arnold,
8) I will have to take a look for myself too.
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Now to continue with the outing.....
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Traversing the terrain was challenging. Giant, slick granite rock out-croppings and boulders were everywhere slowing my progress. Here (pictured) I lowered myself down a shute blocked by a tree trunk. It may look somewhat level, but it was fairly steep, requiring some caution to maneuver around and through.
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Polypodium ferns, P. calirhiza, thrived in this shady, rocky terrain.
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In other places Goldback Ferns, Pentagramma triangularis, grew abundantly. The weather had warmed enough where many were in active growth.
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Another common species in such habitats is Hansen's Spike Moss, Selaginella hanseni.
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This species creeps over rocks forming a green carpet during the cool weather of late autumn through spring. During the dry, hot summer months it browns and dries-up completely, looking dead. The years of drought have been very stressful on this species. I have observed many large dead patches that could not survive until the return of more abundant rainfall.
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Picking my way along, at this point it was necessary to crawl through this tunnel of rock.
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All of this was well worth the effort. This area was rich with many species.
Dudleya cymosa was frequently seen on shaded ledges and rock faces. Generally I think of granite based soils as leached and nutrient poor, however many of the Dudleya seen appeared as though on steroids - giant rosettes like I have never seen before.
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Another species enjoying the shady nooks was Tauschia hartwegii. This member of the Apiaceae family has umbels of yellow-green flowers that are not very showy, however I enjoy its pleasant ferny green foliage.
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An excellent find in a shady crevice was the fern, Aspidotis californica. A. densum, Indian's Dream, is the species that I most frequently see when out in the field. A. californica has very lacy, finely cut fronds, while as those of A. densum are much more coarse. I look forward to getting some started and giving them a try in the garden.
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Of coarse, the warm weather has brought may plants out of dormancy. California Buckeye emerges early and this one was well advanced in growth, however others in the area were barely starting to leaf.
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Finally I reaches a meadow-like area perched above the river. This was a wonderful garden of annual and perennial species. Even this early in the season there were a number of plants in bloom. Eschscholzia caespitosa held there orange flowers closed one this overcast day. In other place there were pockets of the annual Leptosiphon (Linanthus) bicolor ready to push forth their flowers as the season progressed.
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Red Maids, Calandrinia ciliata, sprinkled their small magenta flowers throughout the meadow. A white Plagiobothrys species was in bloom too. The members of this Boraginaceae family genus can be very difficult to key out to the species and I have to admit I did not make any effort to do so.... just too many other interesting things to see. :)
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This area was also very rich in bulb species. Nothing was blooming yet, however I found last year's dry pods of Calochortus albus. Pictured are the strong shoots of Dichelostemma capitatatum. I look forward to returning when many of the bulbs are in bloom.
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Seedlings of Clarkia biloba congregated in shady areas. This annual will bring a late season burst of color to this meadow.
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The annual Tomcat clover, Trifolium wildenovii, can be very attractive in its best forms. This species can produce masses of red-purple flowers later in the spring.
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The river canyon eventually widened making hiking much easier.
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There were still plenty of rock out-croppings to check on.
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The showy Castilleja foliolosa grew near the rocks. I spotted one plant showing color ..... I was just a bit too early for their brillinant orange to orange-yellow flowers.
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Another species I was too early to see in bloom was Delphinium patens. Many were well budded with flower buds, even a few showing color. Another reason to return soon.
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This area is very popular with the locals as a swimming hole during the heat of the summer. Who knows, maybe I will be taking a refreshing dip later in the season too.
Yes, I am very pleased to be out again and look forward to many adventures this coming season and beyond..... and this site is only 20 minutes from the farm! :) Until next time.
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Robert,
Amazing rocks and lanscape! The plants are great as well.
That pool looks very inviting as I look out over our very parched landscape ;D
cheers
fermi
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Trond,
Our annual Lupinus species flower, and set seed before the long hot season. They are certainly "cool season" annuals. They most likely would thrive for you providing they can be protected from slugs :P . Growing them in containers is an option and well worth the effort. Lupinus stiversii has beautiful and interestingly colored flowers. I have yet to try it in our garden but it is high on my list of things to try.
.......
Robert,
Fortunately the slugs are not a problem (so far!) at our summer house ;)
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Robert,
Interesting landscape and flora!
Have you ever tried to take cuttings of spikemoss? Hansen's spikemoss looks like a excellent ground cover.
Nice ferns also.
What is the water temperature in the pool now, do you think - and in the summer?
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Hi Robert. This is not only Gabriella who loves the story. I love him too. It was like traveling with you. One can discover plants in their natural environment. Thank you. 8)
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Robert,
Interesting landscape and flora!
Have you ever tried to take cuttings of spikemoss? Hansen's spikemoss looks like a excellent ground cover.
Nice ferns also.
What is the water temperature in the pool now, do you think - and in the summer?
Trond,
I have never taken cuttings of the Spike Moss, but, yes, you get me thinking. In the wild it mostly grows over rocks, however in places it will creep over the ground too. I also suspect that with some summertime irrigation it will stay green. I will certainly will give it a try - excellent idea! :) I'll report on how all of this turns out.
I would love to know what the water temperature is right now - certainly cold! :o Now that I am back working, a good thermometer that is durable enough to travel with me would be very useful (I definitely want to know the air temperature too!). In Sacramento there is a place called REI (a giant outdoor outfitting store - mountaineering, backpacking supplies etc.) where I might find such a thing.
In the summer the water temperature is very pleasant. When I was much younger, down stream I would swim down the river with a mask checking on what lurked in the deep pools and under rocks. I could stay in the water all day without getting cold, however my skin would eventually get "prune-like". ;D I do swim in Camp Creek, a tributary of the North Fork. The water is cool upstream but still comfortable.
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Robert,
Amazing rocks and lanscape! The plants are great as well.
That pool looks very inviting as I look out over our very parched landscape ;D
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
I think that the plants will get even better as the blooming season gets started. This area is the start of a transition zones - the current northern limit of many southern species. I am quite excited about what I might find.
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Hi Robert. This is not only Gabriella who loves the story. I love him too. It was like traveling with you. One can discover plants in their natural environment. Thank you. 8)
Fred,
I very much appreciate your comments! :) Even though I am writing extemporaneously, I very much want to weave a story into my narrative as much as possible. For me, listing and writing about the plants without some sort of personal story, history, tidbits about the species themselves, etc. can make the writing dry and lifeless. Writing does not come easy for me, however I will continue to strive for good writing that forumist will enjoy reading, feel inspired, and get something worthwhile from.
Thank again. :) Very 8)
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Robert - you can write as and when you like it. When it comes to plants in the wild habitats I am very easy going, anything will do :o
The best next thing, when I am not exploring myself, is to read about others plant adventures!
(third being to try and grow the plants I found or read about :)
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Most of the morning and afternoon I spent exploring the north facing canyon side of the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River. I was very satisfied with this outing. I will have a report in a few days as I get everything processed.
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Late in the afternoon I traveled to a far different site to check on the Erythronium multiscapoideum.
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I discovered this site last year on a tip from an acquaintance. I was told a new species grew at this location. This did not seem likely, however I listened carefully not wanting to discount someone's observation.
This is truly an amazing population. I have never seen E. multiscapoideum in such numbers - ever. The whole population must cover an area the size of a sports stadium, maybe even larger. The Erythroniums grow under the chaparral shrubbery so it is very difficult determining the complete size of the population, however it covers quite a distance and they have certainly been there a very long time.
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I first started visiting this site when I was in High School - about 1970. It is amazing that I never saw them over the years, as they were "right under my nose". I have to admit that I mostly came during the summertime to swim, so the were long dormant by then.
Later in the 1970's, in the same area, I found a few plants of Garrya fremontii in the chaparral. I lost track of the plants over the years and thought that they might have died out and no longer be in the area. I spent some time the last to years looking around the chaparral for them. Well, today I found them growing, once again, "right under my nose".
The above plant, pictured, grew with several others along the main road. They had been cut to the ground for fire protection by the road crews, thus they did not have their hanging "catkin-like" inflorescence. What a shame as they are quite attractive.
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I was also able to check on my good friend, Salvia sonomensis. I was very glad to see that they were not blooming yet. This Salvia has considerable color variation in this area, from deep blue, thru pale blue, to pink (rarely), and even white (very rare). I always like to check around to see what I might find during the blooming season. I will be returning to this area in a few weeks.
Also, on another errand, I found another population of Salvia sonomensis at a relatively high elevation for this species. These too I will check on later in the season.
Anyway, check for the report on the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River in a few days.
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Robert,
Especially looking forward to seeing the different forms of Salvia sonomensis :)
cheers
fermi
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Robert,
Especially looking forward to seeing the different forms of Salvia sonomensis :)
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
I am too!
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Very exciting place Robert! I am looking forward to see all the Erythronium multiscapoideum in flower!
I grow some Erythroniums and they usually flower well except E. americanum which never has flowered although it has spread a little.
BTW Here is a picture of the Calocedrus I promised to show you:
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Very exciting place Robert! I am looking forward to see all the Erythronium multiscapoideum in flower!
I grow some Erythroniums and they usually flower well except E. americanum which never has flowered although it has spread a little.
BTW Here is a picture of the Calocedrus I promised to show you:
Trond,
The other day when I was checking on the patch of Erythronium multiscapoideum I did not see any flower buds. :'( Last year there were very few flowers. I am not sure if this is due to the drought conditions or something else. Many of the plants are growing in the shade of Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida, and Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, however some are getting more sun too and still no flower buds. I examined many plants with mottled foliage. This is usually indicative of a plant that is of blooming maturity, still no flower buds. :-\
My plants here at the farm are budded and will be blooming soon. I also know of another population that is very nearby. They have been more reliable as to blooming consistently. Checking on them seems like a good project for today. :)
The Calocedrus looks great!
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Robert,
Disappointing :( Could it be that the population is too dense? - to much competition between the individuals?
Hope the other colony is in better condition!
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Robert,
Disappointing :( Could it be that the population is too dense? - to much competition between the individuals?
Hope the other colony is in better condition!
Trond,
Yes, I went back and checked on a number of plants in various locations. There is very good news that I will be reporting on as I can. Very, very busy right now. First the report on the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River. :)
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Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River
Rocky Bar
Part I
Thursday, 25 February 2016
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High:76 F (24.5 C), Low:40 F (4.5 C)
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The Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River was my destination this week as I continued with my survey southward.
The aim was to explore the south side of the canyon down Rocky Bar Road to the Cosumnes River. Rocky Bar Road, if you want to call it a road, is a dirt track that winds its way down into the canyon where is eventually crosses the river before winding its way back up the north side of the canyon to the north rim.
Unless one is a local, finding the turn-off onto this road is next to impossible. There is no road sign and it looks like all the other private dirt drives in the area. If one does find it and proceeds, the track quickly deteriorates into a steep, deeply rutted mess that can challenge even the best 4X4.
This day I was fortunate enough to quickly find a place to turn around and park and thus easily make it back to the main road. Basically, I was still at the rim of the canyon at 2,719 feet (829 meters).
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Spring was emerging - new growth has started with many species, including this California Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii.
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This was the shady north facing side of the canyon. As I hiked the track, I spotted scattered stands of Cynoglossum grande well advanced ready to bloom shortly.
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On steep shady banks were many colonies of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii. These were the low elevation form. Higher up the mountain another variation of the species grows. I will be reporting on this later.
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Another common species seen this day was Huechera micrantha. There can be considerable variation in the leaf pattern on this species. I saw nothing special this day - just the more usual green leaf forms.
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Still high on the canyon side, this is a view of the north canyon face. The flora is radically different on this south facing side of the canyon. Another interesting feature of the canyon in this area is that much of it is sited on the Sierra Nevada batholith. Many species prefer the gritty, granite based soils in this area making it a good area to explore for something different.
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I have a considerable interest in the genus Arctostaphylos. I am always checking on them, even with a hand lens. They are far more complex than it might seem. This was a nice specimen of A. viscida with a beautiful trunk and many flowers.
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One of the many open flower trusses.
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I saw rosettes of this Agoseris species frequently this day. It will be easy to identify when in bloom.
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Here is a view of the forested south side of the canyon. Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa, and California Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii are the dominant tree species, however as is often the case here in California, there is a large mixture of additional tree species.
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California Nutmeg, Torreya californica, is one of our less common forest conifers. It is found in shady relatively moist canyons. As one travels north in the Sierra Nevada they are more frequently seen. I am very curious how often I will come across them as I move south. This day I observed only a few trees.
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Dryopertis arguta is a commonly seen fern species in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. It is unusual that I did not see any last week on the North Fork of the Cosumnes River. Pentagramma triangularis and Polypodium calirhiza, both very common, were seen frequently this day too.
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One of our first early bloomers, Cardamine californica.
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Here at a little higher elevation Delphinium patens was still in the rosette stage. Last week on the North Fork they were ready to bloom any day. Most likely they are blooming right now. I would love to see them. Fortunately there is still plenty of time.
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Twin "Glory Holes". Mining into granite is generally not a good place to look when seeking gold. Maybe the miners found another gold bearing rock strata back in there. From the looks of things, they most likely went bust.
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Not a good photograph, but another one of our early bloomers, Saxafraga californica.
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Yes, I know, a lousy photograph, but Saxafraga california is quite pretty. When seen growing in a group they are even better. I have started to cultivate this species in our garden. I have been tucking them, in groups, into shady spaces and am now waiting for them to reach blooming age. They are 100% xeric, needing no water at all during the summer when they are dormant. They also do not need much soil to prosper as they are often seen growing on rocks in their native habitat.
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A great find was Lupinus albifrons var. collinus. This is a decumbent variety of the species and quite nice. On this outing I did not observe the upright form of this species, but then I did not get a chance to explore the hot south facing slopes of the canyon either.
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Near the river, through openings in the trees, there were some good views of the north side of the canyon. There are many reasons to explore this side too, some of which I will explain later.
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1,871 feet (570 meters) elevation and the bridge across the river.
A good place to stop and continue this is story later. To be continued.........
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As usually it is much of interest here, Robert :)
Cardamine is a favorite genus of mine. Many species do good in my climate. One of the first to show new growth after the winter is Cardamine waldsteinii.
Here is a picture taken this morning with a little hoarfrost.
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California Nutmeg is a favorite tree. I have 2 in my garden but they are cuttings from side shoots and therefore never make a proper leader. Unlike many other conifers the nutmeg never makes a good apical leader unless the cutting is an apical leader.
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The tree without a central leader. (To the left is a young Sequoiadendron giganteum)
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Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River
Part II
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Continuing on...
Although a mixture of private and public land much of the canyon is still fairly wild. Here looking downstream there are basically no trails and the going can be extremely difficult.
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Upstream is a tangle of alder and willows. The warm temperatures had created considerable snow melt upstream and relatively high water levels. During the summer it is much easier to travel and explore the river. Lower water levels make it easy to move from rock-to-rock up or down stream.
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Traveling the track any time of year, by any sort of auto, is extremely difficult. The track is more or less a complete washout like this the whole way down the mountain. The granular soil is very soft and without much structure. Such gashes collapse easily and can trap a 4x4 unless it has a winch to pull itself out.
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It was a very warm day and the bark of the Ponderosa Pines, Pinus ponderosa, were giving off their delightful scent. Some say that only Jeffrey Pine, Pinus jeffreyi, has a scent, however I can easily detect a strong fragrance from the Ponderosa Pines on a warm day even from quite a distance.
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One interesting early bloomer I saw frequently this day was Carex multicaulis. Carex multicaulis is very distinct, however if one is casual with their observations it could be confused as a Juncus species or something similar. Careful examination of the unisexual flowers and the pistillate flowers enclosed in perigynia reveal it to be of the genus Carex.
I made many photographic attempts with this plant this day and they all failed. :'( This photograph is of a plant in the nursery at the farm. The plant is subtle, so it is may be of questionable value in the garden, however the stiff Juncus-like foliage could add structure in the right setting.
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Once on the north bank of the river (the sunny, hot, south facing side) the flora changed dramatically.
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Buckbrush, Ceanothus cuneatus, was abundant. On the opposite side of the river where the sun is less intense Deerbrush, Ceanothus integerrimus, was frequently seen.
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In this area there were large thickets of Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum. This species is generally associated with the chaparral at lower elevations. It was interesting to see this species in this location, however as one travels south in the Sierra Nevada such species start migrating higher into the mountains.
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Phacelia imbricata, very common, enjoys the sunny, hot terrain at this elevation. There were many annual species in growth too to such as Lupinus bicolor - but not in bloom yet.
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I did not have time to explore more territory on the north bank, so it was time to make my way back up to the canyon rim and the truck. Back on the shady north facing slopes the annual Nemophila hetrophylla was abundant. This species has small white flowers - nothing showy like some of its cousins.
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On my way back to the truck, I took a detour upstream to the east. I knew that there was an old abandoned copper mine a short distance upstream and I was hoping I could check this out. Unfortunately, I came across a gold mining claim and several cabins that the miners use during the summer. It was getting late so I decided to turn back towards the truck.
The detour was not a waste of time as the geology changed dramatically upstream. The granite ended and there were strata of sandstone and limestone. I knew this was a possibility as I enjoyed exploring the limestone caves on the north side of the canyon when I was young.
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In addition to the strata of limestone and sandstone there were veins of copper bearing ore. The geology was complex and extremely interesting. At some future time I want to return and see how the flora may adjust to this - and checkout the copper mine and maybe revisit the limestone caves.
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Claytonia parviflora was in bloom along this detour - the only place I saw it this day. The tiny pink flowers of this annual are precious and put on a subtle show. :)
I always seem to enjoy my time out and this was no exception. For me very 8)
Until next time.
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As usually it is much of interest here, Robert :)
Cardamine is a favorite genus of mine. Many species do good in my climate. One of the first to show new growth after the winter is Cardamine waldsteinii.
Here is a picture taken this morning with a little hoarfrost.
California Nutmeg is a favorite tree. I have 2 in my garden but they are cuttings from side shoots and therefore never make a proper leader. Unlike many other conifers the nutmeg never makes a good apical leader unless the cutting is an apical leader.
Trond,
I think that your Torreya looks great, or is the tall one from seed? The seed of Torreya californica indeed looks like a whole nutmeg. I do not see seed on the trees to often, but it is interesting when I do.
Cardamine californica makes a tuber kinda' like a small white potato. For some reason my plant did not return this spring. :'( I like them a lot and will try to re-establish them in the garden.
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Trond,
Here is the follow-up to my whirlwind outing on Saturday.
I checked on many of the local low elevation Erythronium sites. I took the time to examine the plants closely. There were plenty of flower buds, including the site visited the previous day (the "Giant Chaparral Site). :) I was very pleased and I intend on taking photographs of the blooming event later in the spring.
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At the "Giant Chaparral Site" I found mature plants of Garrya.
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Taking my time and having my close-up glasses I identified the Garrya as G. congdonii. It is very easily identified by the hairs on the bottom side of the leaves and the hairs on the inflorescence. Abaxially the foliage of G. fremontii is glaborous.
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Also at the "Giant Chaparral Site" I found many large Quercus dumosa. Large for this species is about 3-4 meters tall and as wide. The plants must have been ancient.
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More follow-up to the whirlwind outing.
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I was out looking for vernal pools. This is a view (looking west) from a hill overlooking the Sacramento Valley. The coastal mountains and Mount Diablo can be seen faintly in the distance.
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Another view looking south and the southern Sacramento Valley.
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The tiny village of Latrobe - at the edge of the Sacramento Valley.
I did not find any vernal pools this day, however I saw many bulbous plant (nothing in bloom yet in this area). I will have to return later. This may be a good site to find Calochortus luteus (common in California but rarely seen in our area now). There are also many dirt roads to explore in this part of the valley where I might find vernal pools.
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On another short outing I went up to Peavine Ridge to check on the snow.
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Peavine Ridge is at 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) plus and minus. Generally there is somewhere between .3 and 1 meter of snow up here this time of year. The temperature this day was 60 F (15.5 C) at this site. Way too warm. In some shady sites there was about .3 meters of snow.
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There was more snow on some of the surrounding ridges a little farther up the mountain.
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The Crystal Range in the distance still has a good covering of snow, however the recent snow survey revealed that we are now below average on our snow pack for this time of year. Given the warm weather and lack of precipitation this is not surprising.
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Peavine Ridge is an extremely interesting place to study plants. There are at least 3 species of Arctostaphylos that grow in this area, with many inter-grading types in between. I enjoy carefully observing all of them, especially with a hand lens. This reveals much.
Another interesting plant up here is what I call "the high elevation form" of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii.
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It is the blooming season for Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii here at the farm.
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Our local Primula (Dodecantheon) are certainly a favorite for me. I grow many seedlings each season - plants from other geographic regions in California as well as the local ones that grow naturally here on our farm property.
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One of the most interesting is the high elevation form of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii. It is clearly different from the lower elevation forms. Here is a pot full at the farm. There are flower buds, but the plant still has a long way to go before it blooms. A great way to extend the blooming season for this species.
This form still has "rice grains" as do the lower elevation forms, however the leaves are of a different shade of green (more blue-green) and of a much thicker texture. Jepsons Manual suggests that there are polypliod forms and this indeed may be one (something for me to investigate ;D ). They are certainly widespread in our area. I have found them growing from 3,500 feet to 5,000 feet (1,067 meters to 1,524 meters) in elevation. I have never seen the lower elevation types at the higher elevations i.e. there appears to be no mixing of the two types. All of this requires much more study on my part. But then I enjoy doing such things. :) ;D
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Keep going Robert, as usual most interesting.
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Trond,
I think that your Torreya looks great, or is the tall one from seed? The seed of Torreya californica indeed looks like a whole nutmeg. I do not see seed on the trees to often, but it is interesting when I do.
Cardamine californica makes a tuber kinda' like a small white potato. For some reason my plant did not return this spring. :'( I like them a lot and will try to re-establish them in the garden.
Robert, if you look closer you will notice that the Torreya is rather flat like a branch! It is from a cutting I got from a friend. Seeds are rarely available.
Most Cardamines I have in my garden make a tuber or similar. An exception is the weedy Cardamine pratensis. A meadow nearby a few years ago:
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Trond,
Here is the follow-up to my whirlwind outing on Saturday.
I checked on many of the local low elevation Erythronium sites. I took the time to examine the plants closely. There were plenty of flower buds, including the site visited the previous day (the "Giant Chaparral Site). :) I was very pleased and I intend on taking photographs of the blooming event later in the spring.
At the "Giant Chaparral Site" I found mature plants of Garrya.
Taking my time and having my close-up glasses I identified the Garrya as G. congdonii. It is very easily identified by the hairs on the bottom side of the leaves and the hairs on the inflorescence. Abaxially the foliage of G. fremontii is glaborous.
Also at the "Giant Chaparral Site" I found many large Quercus dumosa. Large for this species is about 3-4 meters tall and as wide. The plants must have been ancient.
Robert, I like that; "plenty of flower buds" ;)
Still many interesting species! Like Garrya congdonii - never heard of that one before :)
Beautiful Primula/Dodecatheon!
I like the landscape also :)
Seems you are in for more rain and even cold weather in a week!
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Keep going Robert, as usual most interesting.
David,
You bet I'll keep going! :) 8)
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Trond,
We have "weeds" like the Cardamine pratensis that we would never want in our gardens too. :-X
Yes, it looks like we might start getting some rain again. Maybe what we call a "March Miracle" and an "Amazing April" here in California. We shall see. As of today, we are at least better off than we were last year at this time.
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It is the blooming season for Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii here at the farm.
Our local Primula (Dodecantheon) are certainly a favorite for me. I grow many seedlings each season - plants from other geographic regions in California as well as the local ones that grow naturally here on our farm property.
;D
The shooting stars are such great spring flowers, they should be cultivated more. I didn't look into this - are we supposed to call them Primula now? ???
It never ends....
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... are we supposed to call them Primula now? ???
Only if you believe in taxonomists ;)
cheers
fermi
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The shooting stars are such great spring flowers, they should be cultivated more. I didn't look into this - are we supposed to call them Primula now? ???
It never ends....
Gabriela,
I think that Fermi has the correct answer! I would quote a paragraph from one of my university geology text that sums things up well too, but it would take too much time (I will find the text if you do want to read it).
Anyway, personally I find that much of the DNA sequencing and changes in taxonomy make sense. I have even been participating in this, if even in a very, very small way. Some of the folks that I have become acquainted with are wonderful people and I have learned a great deal from them.
I also believe it is important for all of us the question this. Things like, the results are such and such because I did it, does not fly with me. My mentors have kindly shared their results with, and in a way that I can mostly understand. I have benefited greatly from this and my ability to understand the complexities and subtleties of these topics has grown rapidly.
Gabriela, I think that you are right on too with the correct answer "It never ends......" :) 8) 8) 8)
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Probably the most wisely written book on plants that I have is 'The Living Garden' by E.J.Salisbury who was a Professor of Botany and one time Director of Kew Gardens, and he opens his chapter on Plant Names with the quotation: 'Words are wise men's counters: they do but reckon by them, but they are the money of fools' (Hobbes). This sums up plant names for me because they are there to help us observe and understand and this will differ for different people viewing plants from different perspectives. I am fascinated by the immense variety of plants so names are really important in making some logical sense of this and it can be difficult to think of a genus such as Primula also including Dodecatheon and Dionysia as some botanists suggest, just as Anemone including Pulsatilla or Actaea, Cimicifuga, or Aster being subdivided into numerous new and hard to remember genera. A gardener views these much more visually than a systematist or taxonomist working in a herbarium, or molecular biologist in a laboratory. I have found the recently published 'Flowering Plant Families of the World' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flowering-Plant-Families-World-Heywood/dp/1554072069 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flowering-Plant-Families-World-Heywood/dp/1554072069)) to be a really valuable guide to up to date thinking - and simply a very beautiful book!
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Another book which I don't have - written by a Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen - is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flowering-Plants-Handbook-Practical-Families/dp/0992999308/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456908237&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Flowering+Plants+Handbook%3A+A+Practical+Guide+to+Families+and+Genera+of+the+World (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flowering-Plants-Handbook-Practical-Families/dp/0992999308/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456908237&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Flowering+Plants+Handbook%3A+A+Practical+Guide+to+Families+and+Genera+of+the+World)
This is not presently in print but I think may be republished by Plant Gateway Ltd in the future.
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Tim - you may be able to acces this book in electronic form via JSTOR ? http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt13xd350 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt13xd350) eISBN: 978-0-9929993-1-5
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Tim,
Thank you for the reading suggestions. I will be adding them to my reading list.
Maggi, Tim -
I have very good luck using Worldcat (I think that it is worldcat.org) to find obscure books. We have it at our public library and I have been able to find all sorts of difficult to source books.
I have taken a relax view to plant names. I will use whatever communicates my ideas. I am comfortable with Symphytrichum spathulatum or Aster occidentalis, Primula hendersonii or Dodecatheon hendersonii. :)
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Monday I was out scouting the east side of the Sacramento Valley for vernal pools.
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The countryside on the east side of the valley is beautiful this time of year.
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Here the Cosumnes River leaves the foothills and enters the flood plain of the Sacramento Valley.
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Here one is more likely to find California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica. E. lobbii and E. caespitosa are more frequently seen in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
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A beautiful view with the snow capped Crystal Range in the far distance.
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I only saw one vernal pool in good condition on private property. Unfortunately, I could not take a closer look.
I did see other early wildflowers in bloom such as Lomatium utriculatum.
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Also, plants of the Cryptantha / Plagiobothyris complex. A few are easy enough to key out to the species level, many of the others are a bit more difficult. Having them set seed is helpful in this regard.
I also saw plants of the Ranunculus canus, californicus, occidentalis complex. R. californicus grows on our farm property. I spotted R. canus, once again on private property. I was hanging over a barbed-wire fence trying to get a good photograph. It did not turn out. :'( This is another group of plants that is not very easy to key out. There are many inter-grades and plants too often fit in somewhere in between two species.
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I now have a good idea where I can find some vernal pools on public land. I will be returning there on Thursday to check on this site (weather permitting - looks like rain on Thursday :) ). The following week the plan is to check on the North Fork of the Mokelumne River (Tiger Creek and maybe Salt Springs Reservoir). I have not been to these areas for a number of years and I am quite eager to return. The first outing to Mount Diablo will have to wait until April.
Until then........
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Fermi,
I have to believe in taxonomists, otherwise it would mean I don't believe in Linnaeus ;) otherwise like Robert says
" personally I find that much of the DNA sequencing and changes in taxonomy make sense".
When it comes to names, I like to be able to make informed choices, such as although I know Hepatica is an Anemone now, I still call it Hepatica and so on...From my point of view as long as when discussing or buying/ selling a plant there is agreement about the name everything is fine. The problems arise when the two parties involved are referring to two different plants under the same name.
And thank you for the book suggestion Tim, I will look after it.
Robert,
You got the right attitude related to the names 8)
However, it is not recommended for commercial purposes. I am always reminded by a conversation from Through the looking glass - I cannot quote because I don't remember exactly, but was about like this:
A gnat asked Alice if the insects she named would answer to their names, and when she said no, it followed with the question: What is the use of their names if they don't answer to them?
Alice replied +/-: It is no use for them, but it is for us.
So, when talking with someone about Dodecatheon or Primula, I just want to know we are both talking about the same thing that's all. :)
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I had a very interesting outing to the Deer Creek Hills yesterday. I will be reporting on this soon.
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The first of the Erythronium multiscapoideum blooming at the farm. Most of the wild populations locally are not this far along. Generally it is the other way around.
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I saw my first flowers of Erythronium oregonum in the wild yesterday, and I have four species blooming in my garden. This is turning out to be an exceptionally early year, we've had very little freezing weather and spring phenology is 2 to 4 weeks ahead of average timing. It some ways it is good, but in other ways it is worrisome too.
Regarding taxonomy and nomenclature, the Heywood book is an excellent reference, I highly recommend it. However, you want to make sure to get the most recent edition, there are older editions that are now out of date.
The real problem with plant names is not the taxonomists, but the cladists. These are researchers who insist on a very restrictive definition of taxa that is rather ignorant of how evolution works. Cladists insist that a taxon can only consist of an ancestral species and all its descendants. Cladists do not accept taxa that are either polyphyletic (sensible) or paraphyletic (myopic, in my opinion).
Polyphyletic taxa refer to situations where the same morphological condition has arisen in two separate lineages, and the taxa clearly are not related. An example of this is the finding that many of the general formerly placed in the Lily family (Camassia, Allium, etc.) are more closely related to Amaryllis and Narcissus that to Lilium. The segregation of many genera from Aster is due to the realization that Symphyotrichum, Eurybia, Eucephalis, etc. are more closely related to Solidago than they are to Aster. The other non-polyphyletic alternative would be to lump Solidago with Aster, but that makes no sense.
Paraphyletic taxa occur where a particular discrete lineage has arisen from within a larger lineage that otherwise retains shared morphological characteristics. Dodecatheon represents a monophyletic lineage of plants derived from within Primula, possessing a special adaptation to buzz pollination. Actaea represents a monophyletic lineage of plants with animal-dispersed fruits (berries) derived from within Cimicufuga, which has dry fruits (follicles). This is the way that evolution works, and to combine these genera makes no sense to me. Another example in the animal world is with birds, which essentially are a lineage derived from within the broader group of animals we call dinosaurs. A strict cladist would require that we call bird watchers "dinosaur watchers".
Wikipedia has decent entries for "monophyletic", "polyphyletic", and "paraphyletic" if anyone is interested in getting better understanding of these terms.
Ed
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Ed,
Thank you for your insights.
The "human" equation is certainly a part of science, whether we want to acknowledge such things or not. This can certainly lead to much disagreement, agitation, and confusion. I like to take a very broad interpretation of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle - i.e. there is a limit to the accuracy that anything can be known. I meant what I said to Gabriela's statement, "It never ends.....", there will always be new insights, information and knowledge that will change our perceptions in any given field of science.
These days, I like to stay open to creative new insights and avoid the agitation of controversy (most likely wishful, magical thinking on my part :P :) ). New creative insights seem to come out of nowhere and often from the most unlikely sources. I try the best I can to stay open to folks and their ideas. Very often excellent insights come from those that are unlettered and ordinary and too often they are completely disregarded. How would our gardens, or the world for that matter, change if we paid attention to such things. Originally, Gandhi was a shy, tongue-twisted, ineffective lawyer. What a transformation! How could such a transformation take place? Our gardens seem the perfect environment for peaceful transformation and creativity. Who know what will come from it.
The bloom cycle seems very unbalanced this season. The saw the first Salvia sonomensis in bloom today. Others at lower elevations and warmer sites show no sign of blooming yet. In general, it has been far too warm, at least for the past month. We could very easily get a hard killing frost.
It is pouring rain right now. What a blessing for us. :)
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When it comes to names, I like to be able to make informed choices, such as although I know Hepatica is an Anemone now, I still call it Hepatica and so on...
"Anemone hepatica" was the second Latin plant name I learnt from my mother more than 50 years ago, I was about 7 years old. (The first was Tussilago farfara, still the same I think.) She had learnt it from her mother who had learnt it from her father :) I had to tell my children it was "Anemone hepatica" but now we are back to the former again :)
I take it with a smile. In my sense I am a cladist like Ed describes it ;D but my heart often objects.
Scientific names are important both for layman and scholar. Using scientific names you know you are talking about the same species but if the names change, especially if too many names change too quickly, a lot of us easily get confused. Still I welcome the changes. This will continue while more and more species are DNA sequenced but will eventually slow down when this comes to an end. Maybe not in my time though :)
In the meantime I enjoy the reports from Robert!
Robert,
When do the trees normally leaf out? With the hot weather you have had I would expect the trees to be in leaf already. Or are they, like many plants here, depending on the length of the daylight period more than the temperature?
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Robert,
When do the trees normally leaf out? With the hot weather you have had I would expect the trees to be in leaf already. Or are they, like many plants here, depending on the length of the daylight period more than the temperature?
Trond,
Yes, some of the trees are leafing out early. Some are clearly waiting until their usual time. What is very interesting this year is the irregular behaviour of many species. Within the same species, some are leafing or flowering early others are not. I can tell that there is some sort of interaction between length of daylight, temperature, soil moisture levels, winter chilling hours, and most likely other factors. Not linear at all! It is very much a complex web of factors. I guess one can tell that I am not a reductionist - I tend to see the world as a complex and amazing interaction of many, many things. I love it, there is always something to learn - a journey that has no destination. :)
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You're a philosopher, Robert!
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You're a philosopher, Robert!
And quite a good one! :)
Scientific names are important both for layman and scholar.
I agree with this Trond. But there are some changes that I don't welcome and I have to tell you why:
My observation is that the ‘cladistic movement’ has accentuated the divide between various groups which I describe as:
‘molecular botanists’ (some don’t actually know plants/narrow specialised) – the ‘botanists-gardeners’ (botanists who also like to grow plants) and - the ‘simple gardeners’ (who just garden for the sake of gardening). Then we have the horticultural industry that floats somewhere above all (at least in NA).
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Deer Creek Hills
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High:65 F (18 C), Low:51 (10.5 C)
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The Deer Creek Hills are an area of rolling hills and open steep located in Southeastern Sacramento County. Large tracts of land are part of the Deer Creek Hills Preserve. The land is only partly preserved as the preserve is still a working cattle ranch. Much of the lower parts of the Deer Creek Hills are forested with Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii. On this outing it was the only tree or shrub species that I observed. Other parts of this area may be different, but I did not travel to any of those sites.
The upper parts of the Deer Creek Hills is open steep, a grassland predominantly of non-native invasive grasses and other non-native dicot herbs.
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I started my hike at 235 feet (72 meters) elevation in an area of Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii, forest and open meadow.
A number of streams run through the hills in places creating pools of slow moving water. I observed a few Northern Water Plantains, Alisma triviale growing semi-submerged in the water.
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Fiddleneck, Amsinkia intermedia, were abundant and in full bloom.
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Butter and Eggs, Triphysaria eriantha, was common too. This species can sometimes grow in huge colonies. I remember such colonies when I was a little boy growing up. Recently I have not seen such an event. Maybe such things still occur in other parts of California. The species is widespread throughout much of California, so this is certainly possible.
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At this elevation Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum, were blooming in quantity. This area is rich in Themidaceae.
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A very low growing native clover, Trifolium depauperatum var. depauperatum, grew in among the grasses. There were plenty of the non-native invasive Trifolium species in this area too, none of which were blooming at this time.
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I did not see many, but there were a few robust clumps of the annual Phacelia cicutaria. The plants were well budded, however no open flowers were seen. The range of this species continues into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. I also observed this species on the North Fork of the Cosumnes River a few weeks back.
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More Triphysaria eriantha. I have to admit the sight of this species blooming brings back fond childhood memories.
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Meadowfoam, Limnanthes douglasii. I associate this species with vernal pools. I was hoping to find some today, but I did not have any luck. I found these two blooming plants in a moist area in the middle of a dirt road. I was hoping for something better. It is such a beautiful species.
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In a few areas there were very nice little mixed "flower gardens". Here growing was Dichelostemma capitatum, Amsinckia, and a Popcorn flower, most likely Plagiobothrys nothofulvus. I saw many of them this day, often in large masses. The 9mm across flowers and the early bloom were suggestive of the species nothifulvus.
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Soon I moved into an area of open steep. I have to admit my frustration. This was an area rich in Apiaceae many of which I photographed. Not one turned out! :'( Lomatium marginatum was particularly abundant, in full bloom and looking very nice. There were several Sanicula species, both S. pinnata and bipinnatifida being in bloom. The flowers of Sanicula pinnata are not very showy, however the foliage is very fragrant of cilantro. Very nice.
Another interesting species I found was Carex fracta. This species is generally found at higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada. Carex feta is somewhat similar and is found at this elevation. This was clearly C. fracta. There was only one clump. My theory is that the seed came from the cattle, as their summer pastures in the Sierra Nevada are at the right elevation.
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The Deer Creek Hills are within the Calaveras complex a very complex and often confusing terrane. In this area the rocks are fairly simple, most of them being sedimentary, laid down during the Permian and Jurassic time, jammed into the Sierran trench later in the Jurassic and now metamorphosed into vertical columns of slate. In this area, fractures in the rock were filled with quartz, creating these outcroppings.
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To the north there is a road and site called "White Rock" named after the quartz formations.
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The steep tops out at 525 feet (160 meters). As stated earlier, the grasses are predominantly non-native invasives. Most were not in bloom yet, however I did recognize the blooming heads of Soft Chess, Bromus hordeuceus and Hordeum murinum. A species too tiny for my camera to photograph was the minuscule Crassula connata. It is surprisingly colorful with its red and green foliage.
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Also up in this habitat were more of the annual clover Trifolium depauperatum var depauperatum. I find this tiny clover quite lovely and am tempted to grow it in a trough.
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Working my way back to the truck I came across the diminutive Sagina decumbens ssp. occidentalis. The small airy flowers can be easily over looked among the grasses. The pinky-magneta flowers are Calandrinia menziesii.
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I finally came to the end of my outing. This day I cataloged far more non-natives than native species. Although this area was part of the Deer Creek Hills Preserve I felt the flora was still degraded by the continuation of cattle ranching. I also felt the area could be good habitat for Calochortus luteus and some other species of interest, but felt disappointed by what I saw. Walking back to the truck I was ready to write the place off as an unproductive area to study native plants.
As I neared my truck, I heard an auto approaching from my back side. It was a truck with two men from the preserve. One was the site manager / biologist. Turns out we hit it off very, very well. They shared a wealth of information with me. I inquired about the prospects of finding Calochortus luteus. Oh! no problem, just give me a call and I will open the gate for you over there. In such and such place you will find thousands in bloom in April or May depending on the weather. The vernal pools are located over there and so on....... I meet the most wonderful people! :)
Needless to say I will be returning later in the season.
Until next time.
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What good fortune to meet and get along with the site manager!
It must be your good nature, Robert!
We look forward to seeing the results of this new friendship,
cheers
fermi
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. . . . .
Needless to say I will be returning later in the season.
Until next time.
Needless to say I awaits your next outing here!
The cowbag clover was nice too!
Robert,
Have you ever been to Death Valley? Seems there is a great blooming there theses days.
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Robert,
Have you ever been to Death Valley? Seems there is a great blooming there theses days.
Trond,
No, I have never been to Death Valley. I would love to visit this area. Any visit will have to be far in the future as things stand right now. I have seen photographs and videos of the wildflowers (during good years). Amazing! When there is even more rainfall some of the old, dry, lake beds fill with water and there is flooding. Seems a little hard to imagine in such a place as Death Valley.
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We have had over 140 mm of rainfall the last few days and it appears we will be getting about the same or more in the next few days. I will most likely need to be creative with tomorrows outing. I looks like our part of California will get its March Miracle, as the El Nino rains have finally arrived. There is so much water that the flood gates had to be opened on Folsom Reservoir for the first time in 4 years. :)
I took my mother (90 years old) to a fruit stand today to buy a berry pie (her favorite). We took the scenic route and I managed to take a few photographs - somehow despite the wind and rain.
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Lupinus albifrons was in full bloom. The best display I have seen in years.
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The best photograph I could do with Eschscholzia caespitosa. Thousands are blooming now on the canyon sides. It is awesome! 8)
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The same with the Goldfield, Lasthenia californica.
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Perched on top of large boulders were colonies of Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum. They looked great.
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This is the bloom season for Buckbrush, Ceanothus cuneatus. They are quite common on the sunny canyon sides.
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In shady areas Saxifraga californica was in bloom. My plants at the farm are blooming now too.
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Also in shady areas were masses of Claytonia parviflora. When the tiny pink flowers are massed in large drifts it is amazingly beautiful.
Anyway, a few photographs on a blustery, drizzly, rainy day. We will see what tomorrow brings.
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Robert - so good to hear of significant rains again in California. 'Our patience will achieve more than our force'. I do hope this marks a turning point of sorts and a little of a wake up call about the use of resources. Here we are having just too much rain so the weather really just puts us in our place!
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Glad to hear you have gotten your long awaited rain!
Hope nothing is seriously damaged in the stormy weather. The plants seem to flourish :)
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The place (the farm) is a mess. At times there have been 80 km/hrs winds with higher gusts. The farm is on sloping terrain, but there is still water everywhere. More wind and rain is expected so clean-up will wait until the weather mellows a bit. This is "normal" winter-early spring weather and I am overjoyed with all the precipitation.
Up in the Sierra Nevada there has been an additional 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow with another 5 feet or more predicted. Having 15 - 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) on the ground this time of year is "normal". 40% of our water supply comes from snow melt in the spring and early summer. The reservoir at Sly Park (our local water source) is full now, with water spilling over the spill way. We haven seen this in over 4 years. All very good news. :)
The garden will recover just fine from all of this, however some of the pollination projects (Rhododendrons) have been trashed by the high winds. I'll take the wind and the rain over drought - there is always next year to try again. :)
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All wildflowers pictures are beautiful at this time of year Robert, even if blurry :)
The rains and snow are great for the region, as you said, there is next year for other things. I also heard from other people that this would be one of the best year to see the deserts blooming!
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Gabriela,
Our local California native annuals are putting on a good show this spring. The high country most likely will be stunning! With a huge snow pack, June, July and August will be the time to endure the mosquitoes and enjoy the wildflowers in the High Sierra Nevada.
Today, despite some rain and dark skies, was a great day to be out. Even here at the lower elevations, and all the invasives, the wildflowers were great today. Whole hills sides of Eschscholzia caespitosa in bloom (and a lot more). Even with their flowers semi-closed they looked great. There is a lot for me to process so it will be a few days until I have a report.
Until then....
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Looking forward to your next posts, Robert!
With all this water the wildflower blooming should be quite a sight :)
Hopefully the damage isn't too bad. Seems you will get nice weather coming week ;)
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Looking forward to your next posts, Robert!
With all this water the wildflower blooming should be quite a sight :)
Hopefully the damage isn't too bad. Seems you will get nice weather coming week ;)
Trond,
The weather has been quite stormy - it is right now too. The garden is a mess, however no major damage - just the usual stuff, broken branches, an unhappy plant here and there (flooded). I am pleased with the rain. We might even get average rainfall for the whole season. This will be a relief. :)
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Skunk Hollow
Salmon Falls - West
Thursday, 10 March 2016
Weather: Rain Showers
Temperature, High: 62 F (16.5 C), Low: 52 F (11 C)
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I started my journey at Skunk Hollow, 478 feet (146 meters). Skunk Hollow is a meadow-like depression where a small stream enters the South Fork of the American River. During the drought years the South Fork flowed past this site, however everything is now flooded by Folsom Lake (a Reservoir). When the reservoir is full, this June, this old site will be under 10 to 20 meters of water. Nearby, there are several trails to follow. The one of the western routes follows closed to the lake westward on its northern bank. I hike here frequently and it is a good place to see interesting scenes and plants.
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As I began my journey, I was immediately greeted by the dazzling display of Castilleja foliolosa.
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Sometimes I wish I had a camera that could capture the beauty of the wooly gray stems of this species. This is fascinating to observe with a hand lens and this attribute distinguishes it from all other Castilleja species in our area.
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The trail immediately moves into the chaparral, dominated by dense thickets of Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum. The yellow flowered annual Acmispon wrangelianus carpeted the trail side in many areas. This species is very similar to another local annual species, A. brachycarpus. A. brachycarpus has distinctly long calyx lobes, making identification of the two species easy.
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The fern, Pellaea mucronata, was frequently seen on hot, dry, sunny, south facing slopes. Needless to say an extremely xeric species - very growable in the garden too.
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Some of the steep slopes were carpeted with Foothill Poppy, Eschscholzia caespitosa. It was difficult for me to capture the drama of this scene. The area covered with blooming plants was 100 times anything I observed during the drought years.
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Mixed with the Poppies were an assortment of other species in bloom, such as Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum. This combination was quite striking. This whole patch was growing on an extremely steep slope, borderline on being a cliff. Photography was challenging. ;D
Eschschlozia caespitosa is an annual species. It is distinct from another local species, E. lobbii, however it takes careful observation to distinguish the two species from each other, especially in the field.
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In other areas there were pure stands of Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum growing in mass.
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Back in the chaparral, Clematis lasiantha was getting ready to bloom. The pure white flowers are very showy as the vines scramble over the chaparral shrubbery. Later in the late summer and autumn the puffy seed heads are quite showy too.
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Along the trail I spotted this butterfly. Its wings a bit banged-up. :'( Maybe all the wind and rain.
My main objective this day was to photograph various color forms of Salvia sonomensis. Very few were in bloom, most budded and ready though. A very good reason to return soon.
It is getting late for me, so I'll have to return to this project later... to be continued... :)
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Looking forward to the continuation ;)
Castilleja foliolosa is a gem!
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The scent of the chaparral is complex, with many species contributing to its fragrance. Lepichinia calycina, along with Salvia sonomenesis, is one of the more strongly scented species of the low elevation chaparral plant community. The scent of Lepichinia can be quite strong especially on a warm day. I include this species in our garden specifically for its fragrance. Its white flowers are somewhat unassuming. Its fragrant foliage certainly wins me over.
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Phacelia cicutaria is an annual species, and perhaps our showiest low elevation Phacelia species.
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I have yet to attempt its cultivation in our garden, however it certainly appears to be worth the effort.
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As I continued my hike through the chaparral I came across numerous plants of the evergreen shrub Rhamnus ilicifolia in bloom. There is considerable variance in its habit of growth. Some plants are attractive upright shrubs, others can be quite sprawling and unruly. The flowers are numerous, but hardy noticeable. In the autumn the berries are very dark red to almost black.
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Lupinus benthamii, Spider Lupine, is very attractive with its large flower trusses. This annual species is one of 4 Lupinus species I cataloged this day. I have cultivated this species in our garden in past years and it is well worth the effort.
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Eventually the trail lead into a small side canyon. The environment changed dramatically from chaparral to oak woodland. Here I found colonies of Iris macrosiphon.
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The Irises at this site are above average in flower color. In my travels, most of the Iris macrosiphon I find are a pale blue.
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Many of the Irises were very attractive, some forming large clumps. My understand is that Iris macrosiphon can occasionally be found with yellow flowers. I have yet to find any. This species can also hybridize with Iris hartwegii, which is generally found at higher elevations. I. hartwegii is generally a yellow flowering species, however there are blue forms of this species too. I have found blue forms of Iris hartwegii in the past. These two Iris species can be a bit challenging to distinguish from each other out of bloom. In bloom the differences are obvious.
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In this woodland setting there were masses of Ranunculus californicus in bloom. It can be challenging to differentiate this species from R. canum another somewhat local species. The two species can hybridize in the wild too, adding to the identification challenges. There are good clues so keying to species is often possible. Beyond identification, this species is a delight to see in mass in the wild.
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Another species of this woodland was the deciduous shrub, Styrax redivivus. The plants were loaded with flower buds. I hope that I can get a good photograph of this species in bloom this year. The fragrant white flowers of this xeric species are fantastic.
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Poison Oak, Toxicodendron diversiloba, is a common shrub / vine at low elevations in California. As you can see the new growth can be very attractive. In addition the autumn foliage can be brilliant scarlet. Do not be deceived by the sirens call of this species! For many, but not all, contact with this plant can cause acute dermatitis - even when dormant during the winter ( I know, this happened to me when I was 11 years old! :P )
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Eventually I arrived at the seasonal creek that flowed through the canyon. By this time the weather was very threatening, with gusts of wind and increasing amounts of rain. There was much more that I wished to check on this day, so I now needed to work quickly.
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I wanted to check on the giant Erythronium colony I had found and there was a fair distance I needed to hike.
I did pause to enjoy the Buckbrush, Ceanothus cuneatus, growing by the trail. On warm days the flowers of this species have a very strong and pleasant pollen scent. In its best forms this can be an attractive species for the larger xeric garden.
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Another interesting plant occasionally seen in the chaparral is Marah fabaceus. This herbaceous species can trail a considerable distance from its tuberous root every season. Its flattened saucer-like or wheel-shaped flowers are not especially showy and are different from those of its sister species M. watsonii the flowers of which are more cup-like or bell-like. M. watsonii is also occasionally found in the chaparral too.
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I finally arrived at the mega Erythronium site. It was also pouring rain by now too. I wasn't in a Gene Kelly mood (no Singin' or dancin' in the rain). I spent a considerable amount of time exploring another part of this mega colony, crawling through the Chamise and trying to avoid the Poison Oak. There were plenty of budded plants, however I did not find one open flower. Good! I can return later and see them in bloom.
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Despite having excellent rain gear I was fairly soaked (at least my for-arms and lower legs) after an hour or so in the driving rain. By now (as it turned out) very few photographs were to turn out. I took a number of photographs of thickets of Rhus aromatica (I learned it as R. trilobata) a species that can look very similar to Poison Oak.
Before leaving, I took one last photograph of Cercis occidentalis, Western Redbud. They are blooming throughout the countryside now and are a delight to see. The flowers photographed are from a shrub that I have know since I was a teenager. Our college Botany class even came out here once (way back in the mid-1970's). This is a very special site with many good feelings for me. I am glad it is protected in a State Park.
Cold and tired it was time to drive back to the farm - another very productive and satisfying day out.
Until next time......... :)
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Lots of new findings Robert. I guess there will be even more from now on :)
I often stumble here on the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), when I pay attention to other things around. I wonder if it's true that even if you never had symptoms, it's possible to get a reaction at some point after repeated exposures?
So true about the rain gear, no matter how expensive you get soaked after a few hours in the rain, especially looking for plants/taking photos.
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Lots of new findings Robert. I guess there will be even more from now on :)
I often stumble here on the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), when I pay attention to other things around. I wonder if it's true that even if you never had symptoms, it's possible to get a reaction at some point after repeated exposures?
So true about the rain gear, no matter how expensive you get soaked after a few hours in the rain, especially looking for plants/taking photos.
Gabriela,
Spring has certainly arrived here in our part of California. In the high country there must be 3 to 6 meters of snow. Spring will not be arriving there until late May or June.
As for poison oak...... Some people never get poison oak. I had a friend (passed to the other side) who could get whipped with poison oak branches and would never get a skin rash. Yet, other folks lose their tolerance with repeated exposures. I always get it if I am careless! :'(
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Jenkinson Reservoir full of water! :) This reservoir supplies our drinking and irrigation water. No shortage this year. :)
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The spillway at Jenkinson Reservoir. The last time it spilled water was the spring of 2011.
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Even at 3,500 feet (1067 meters) spring is starting to arrive. This is the high elevation form of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii. My plants at the farm, of this form, have not started blooming yet. It is a very beautiful form! :)
This was our first day without rain in the last 11 days. I drove past Jenkinson Reservoir today to see if there was any snow on the ground and how far advanced the plants might be. Planning my next outing, for now I will stick with the lower elevations - this is where the action is at this time. The North Fork of the Mokelumne River can wait for now.
I did see some Ceanothus roderickii blooming by the edge of the freeway. I will want to check on this species this coming week as well as the populations of Salvia sonomensis, and a woodland Carex species that is quite interesting. There is plenty to keep me busy now. :)
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I am not sure whether I like Poison Oak or not ;) I am not used to look for dangerous plants in the wild - except a few thorny ones and stinging nettle - which is nothing ;D
Glad to see the reservoir filled to the brim!
- and a lot of decorative plants of course.
When I am out for some hours, especially in cold and/or rainy weather, I always use wool to keep me warm. It works even when I get soaked.
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Trond,
Your feelings about poison oak are very understandable. In our part of California anything below 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) can be considered the poison oak zone. Above the altitude of 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) it is never found growing.
When I was young (i.e. less than 15 years old) I would get poison oak frequently. One time I had it so bad that both of my eyes were swollen closed with the oozing rash as well as most other parts of my body. After I recovered, this did not keep me out of the woods, however I learned how to avoid it in any season.
I did have wool socks on the other day. You are right on about how wool keeps one warm even when wet. It would be wise if I thought about getting and wearing other wool clothing in such weather. :)
Now a few photographs from today.
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Micranthes californica. Once in the genus Saxafraga, now with its up-dated name. This blooming plant is in our foothill garden (the farm). This is the first season I have had blooming plants. The plan is to create small drifts of this species in one of our xeric gardens (i.e. no summer irrigation). Having blooming plants is a positive step forward.
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More Erythronium multiscapoideum in our foothill garden. Several years ago I moved all the Erythroniums from another part of the garden to a new site(s). We lost a few in the move, however most are coming on strong now. I am sure that other species will be blooming next year. The rodents have never bothered the "bulbs". I hope that it stays that way.
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Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii. This is a group of the low elevation form, most of which have "gone over".
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This is a pot full of the higher elevation form of Primula hendersonii. In many ways they are identical to the lower elevation form, however the foliage is of a thicker texture and they start blooming about a month later than the low elevation form (even at the farm). Extending the blooming season by another 2-4 weeks is something I am not going to pass up ;D . I have taken pollen samples from both forms and will be examining it under a microscope. I am curious to see if there are any differences.
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Today's outing was outstanding. We have finally received enough precipitation to have a decent display of wildflowers. I almost used all the memory in the camera, so it is going to take a while to get everything sorted out. This is only the first wave of wildflowers. There is much to keep me very busy now.
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Robert,
Although I would dislike a close encounter with the poison oak I am not afraid of it :)
Looking forward to your next chapter!
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Trond,
I am still getting everything organized from yesterday's outing.
Here are some photographs from today on our way into town. This time of year I bring the camera and other items with me whenever I go out. It is a bit out of the way but this time of year the scenic route is worth the extra time.
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In the right locations whole hillsides are carpeted with Foothill Poppy, Eschscholzia caespitosa.
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Dichelostemma capitatum are blooming in quantity too. Many other Themidaceae will be following soon.
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This year the Lupinus albifrons are blooming profusely.
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The sunny canyon face is covered with them now.
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I will have to follow up in more detail as there is a good variance in the flower colors. Some are excellent.
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In this area the some of the hillsides are carpeted with Pseudobahia heermannii.
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From a distance they have the appearance of Goldfields, Lasthenia californica, however this California native annual is quite different when viewed close-up.
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I found one slope carpeted with Mimulus kelloggii. I like to return to the same sites again and again. This is the first time I have observed this species in this area. A good reason to return.
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I saw this annual perched on top of a vertical cliff face mixed with Eschscholzia caespitosa. I wish I could have captured that image! I was not ready scale the cliff and hang by one hand while fiddling with a camera. Those in the photograph were from a bit farther up the slope where it was safe - no Eschscholzia there. :'(
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A beautiful example of Silene laciniata ssp californica.
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The first of the Wallflower, Erysimum capitatum.
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In this area the annual Lupine, Lupinus bicolor, is predominant. There were a few Spider Lupine, Lupinus benthamii, in places too. Lupinus bicolor is the dominate Lupine species on the farm. I have been encouraging them the spread about. In places they completely carpet the ground now. They are just now starting to bloom at the farm.
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Nemophila heterophylla is generally unassuming. This clump was quite dramatic. There are so many things to be aware of and things are constantly changing. I would not mind having these established on the farm property.
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I have not seen Rock Creek like this since 2011. Makes me happy. :)
Part I of Thursdays outing will be coming soon.
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Robert,
Many many thanks for these postings.
The glimpse it gives into an unfamiliar ecosystem through the eyes of an expert is truly wonderful.
David
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I love Californian poppies, they remind me of my Grandma's garden ( on Deeside in Aberdeenshire, which is a bit odd, I suppose!) and the Eschscholzia caespitosa is a treat.
The annual Mimulus kelloggii is not one I have seen in real life - it is a real charmer.
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David, Maggi -
A return to average precipitation has prompted the California flora into a more typical cycle of growth, regeneration, and bloom. The signs are everywhere. At the lower elevations, the wildflower bloom is certainly an improvement over what we have seen in the past few years. From experience, the wildflowers in the higher terrain will most likely be stunning this season. I know that I can not wait, however everything in its time. Best to enjoy the moment, which is spectacular in the right locations currently.
I sincerely believe that many of our California native species have practical horticultural value in the U.K. and beyond. Certainly many have been around and improved upon over the years. I hope to start a Mimulus thread soon - i.e. share my experiences of growing plants from this genus in our garden. I would definitely like to hear the experiences of others.
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Robert,
I am glad you took the scenic route :)
I am back at our cabin these days. No blooming here! Still a lot of snow although it is less than in a "normal" year. But we can have snowfall all April up here.
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Chaparral Survey
Part I - Greenstone Serpentine Outcrop
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High:77 F (25 C), Low:41 F (5 C)
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This survey started just down the road from our farm. 1/3 of a mile (.54 km) south of the farm the serpentine bed rock surfaces creating an open expanse about 2 to 3 acres in size. This is a unique environment for plants. The soil (what there is of it) is poor in nutrients and somewhat toxic. Only specialized native plants can survive here. There are very few invasive species to compete with the native plants. For the most part all the nasty species such as Bromus diandrus (Ripgut Brome - well named), Hordeum murinum, Avena barbata, Erodium botrys, and a host of others will not grow here.
With ample precipitation the natives are thriving.
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A fracture in the rock has created this seep. Mimulus guttatus is thriving. Last year during the drought there may have been one or two blooming plants.
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This year there is a spectacular display.
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Sharing the rock face with the Monkeyflowers (Mimulus) were Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum. Where the two species blended nature had created a beautiful color contrast.
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At the base of the rock face close to some standing water grew one of our native clovers, Trifolium variegatum.
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Mimulus guttatus is a very common species in our area. It is found where ever there is abundant moisture such as springs, seasonal creeks and seeps such as this one. They are also found over a considerable altitude range.
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I was extremely pleased to find Gilia tricolor in bloom. I had not seen this species at this site for many years and was concerned they may have given-up. The population was quite small, but I am optimistic they will regenerate now.
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The population of Trifolium variegatum was quite small too. This species is generally an annual, however it can be a short lived perennial were moisture persists. This site gets extremely dry during the summer so hopefully they will seed around and spread too.
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Above the road cut is where the best wildflower display is located.
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Even during the drought years there were always some wildflowers. Needless to say, this is the best wildflower showing since the spring of 2011.
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The dominant species in this sea of gold is Goldfields, Lasthenia californica.
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Lasthenia is an annual Asteraceae. This time of year they create large swathes of color throughout the countryside. Unfortunately this only occurs where the natural habitat is relatively undisturbed. With all of the development there are not very many of these sites remaining.
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Mixed with the Goldfields are Cream Cups, Platystemon californicus. This small annual Papaveraceae is quite showy. I enjoy their bristley - hairy foliage and, of coarse, the flowers. The flowers open and close each day with the sun. This day was very sunny and the flowers were wide open.
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Smaller areas were cover with "Butter and Eggs", Triphysaria eriantha.
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This annual is also a very common species in our area, sometimes creating large swathes of solid color.
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Blue Dick, Dichelostemma capitatum were abundant above the road cut too. In places they reached near perfection - large colonies with many flowers. This is only the first wave of Themidaceae at this site. Later in the season where will be huge swathes of Brodiaea minor and a few scattered Bordiaea elegans in bloom.
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Our state flower, Eschscholzia californica were scattered here and there throughout the site. This is one of three species of Eschscholzia that grow in our area. The three species are all very distinct from each other when observed closely.
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Not abundant at this site was Lomatium utriculatum. I feel that most of our native Lomatium species are quite attractive and well worth cultivating in the garden. They also make a very strong and effective medicine useful in treating viruses.
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It was a little too early in the season to see blossoms on Lewisia rediviva.
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I have been observing this species at this site since the early 1980's. Back then this site was going to be leveled for a manufacturing plant. At a political meeting I brought to the attention of the governing body that this was one of the few sites within the county were this species occurs. I doubt that my comments made any difference, but at least there is no manufacturing plant here or even near by.
This site is still private property. A few years ago, I met the current owner and he has allowed to continue my study of the plants at this site. It is a treasure to have such a place within easy walking distance from the farm.
As for the Lewisia, they are thriving this year. Their population is has remained stable over the past 3-1/2 decades - not much increase or decrease. They do set viable seed, however I have rarely noticed much regeneration from seed.
Next to come, Part II - The Gabbro based soils near Pine Hill and our local endemic Ceanothus roderickii.
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Robert,
I am glad you took the scenic route :)
I am back at our cabin these days. No blooming here! Still a lot of snow although it is less than in a "normal" year. But we can have snowfall all April up here.
Trond,
Enjoy your time at the cabin. :)
I was up on Peavine Ridge today, 5,000 feet elevation (1,524 meters). Generally there is about 1 meter of snow up there this time of year. Basically there was no snow. ??? I did not think that the last series of storms we had in early March were that warm! Climate change? Perhaps. :-\ Regardless, it would have been better to see more snow at this elevation.
I did take some photographs, but all of this will have to wait until I am finished with the current report. The Arctostaphylos are very interesting in this area. I have been doing considerable sampling. Also, many Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii and Viola purpurea. The most I have ever observed in this area. They will be blooming in about a month or less. :)
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The sheer scale of colour from the displays these annual plants can produce in a good season is just breath-taking. I am so pleased you take the time and trouble to show these to us, Robert. Proof if any were needed that wildflowers are just sublime.
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Glorious blooming Robert! This year will go on record I understand. Lucky us - thanks for showing :)
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Part II
Pine Hill Preserve - Gabbro based soil complex
Between the towns of Shingle Springs and the lower end of Cameron Park runs a band of Gabbro based soil. This band runs more or less north - south from a point south of Shingle Springs northward encompassing Pine Hill, hence north to the northern ridge top above the South Fork of the American River. A considerable number of endemic species grow here. The area is under considerable pressure from housing development. Fortunately large tracts of land have been protected as the Pine Hill Preserve and a small portion is protected as part of Folsom Lake State Park.
The freeway (U.S. 50) cuts through this area. Ceanothus roderickii grows next to the freeway and is easy to spot when in bloom, as one zooms along. I travel this route very frequently so when I spotted them blooming I knew it was time to check elsewhere in the Preserve to see how they were doing.
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I started this part of the outing at 1,429 feet (436 meters) where a road dead-ends at the Preserve. Most of the area is covered with low elevation chaparral. Salvia sonomensis (picutured) grows abundantly under the chaparral over-story, predominantly Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, and White-Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida.
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Scattered throughout the chaparral are Western Redbud, Cercis occidentalis.
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Most had nearly finished blooming, however a few were still in their prime.
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I knew exactly where locate Ceanothus roderickii and only had a short distance to hike (.5 miles, .8 km).
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Most often Ceanothus roderickii blooms with white flowers, however a fair percentage have pale blue flowers. This species has a very low and mounding growth habit and at times is also seen creeping flat along the ground. The only other Ceanothus species I have ever seen in this area is Ceanothus lemmonii, a real beauty that blooms a bit later.
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Despite being protected as a Preserve this area is under considerable pressure from "off road vehicles". Driving them in the area is illegal, however keeping them out is very difficult to enforce. Ones sees a considerable amount of damage from their activities. Illegal dumping of waste is also an issue. It is easy to observe the invasive species getting a toe hold where this dumping has been going on.
There was a considerable amount I wanted to accomplish this day so I quickly hiked back to the truck, hopefully to find a more promising site to explore for plants.
On the way I spotted many Soap Plants, Chlorogalum pomeridianum.
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Where ever there is considerable seasonal water one can find Iris-leaved Rush, Juncus xiphioides. In foliage it does indeed look very much like an Iris. It spreads by rhizomes and can be quite numerous where there is abundant seasonal moisture. In areas where it becomes extremely dry in the summer they disappear for the summer with water, returning when the rains return.
As stated there was much I wanted to accomplish so quickly I moved on.
To be continued with Part III..........
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Glorious blooming Robert! This year will go on record I understand. Lucky us - thanks for showing :)
Gabriela,
The record year applies to Death Valley, or at least this is my understanding. Around here, the spring bloom is just getting back to "normal", although many seem to have short memories (especially our local news media) and think what is going on locally is something special.
There are some special events that I have observed. Two years ago a large tract of open grassland near the Sacramento Valley burned. This acreage had been range land for cattle and never was special as far as wildflowers are concerned. A developer bought the land hoping to build houses. The drought and water shortages brought an end to this project and the cattle have been off the land for two years. This year there has been an explosion of wildflowers on this site. How I wish that I had time to study this phenomena and had millions to purchase the land and preserve this.
There are some features of this site that make it special too. It is one of the few sites with a natural spring that flows abundantly at all seasons. A grove of Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) grow near the spring. As a young boy I remember the shepherd had wagon house that he lived in (then - 1960's, this was out in the middle of nowhere). Much has changed now of coarse, but in my fantasies I would love to preserve this huge tract of land despite the fact that there is a large housing tract on one side and a freeway on another side (the other two sides are open for miles).
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The sheer scale of colour from the displays these annual plants can produce in a good season is just breath-taking. I am so pleased you take the time and trouble to show these to us, Robert. Proof if any were needed that wildflowers are just sublime.
Maggi,
I am very pleased to contribute what ever I can. :) I have much planned into the future and wish to continue. My wish is that many others can benefit from my efforts.
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. . . . . How I wish that I had time to study this phenomena and had millions to purchase the land and preserve this.
Robert,
I really wish you had :)
It is early morning and I am the only one awake so far. I use the undisturbed morning to read through your thread. All the colours lift my spirit! (Although it sinks a bit when reading about land "development".) Up here the ground is still covered by a couple feet of white snow. The spring is still at least a month away!
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Robert:
I don't want to clog up the site but the images are just wonderful.
We had a dusting of snow here this morning.
Happy Spring to everyone.
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Part III
Skunk Hollow
Salmon Falls - East
From the Cameron Park / Shingle Springs area I traveled to the South Fork of the American River at Skunk Hollow. This I day I would hike and explore to the east.
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The eastern route travels up the north side of the chaparral covered canyon slope to the top of the ridge and then beyond following the general path of the South Fork of the American River. There was still some color in the Western Redbuds, Cercis occidentalis, as I looked back toward the new (i.e. the 1950's vs the old bridge maybe the 1920's) Salmon Falls Bridge.
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The staging area at Skunk Hollow (elevation 497 feet, 151 meters) has the usual contingent of annual invasive species, however as one hikes up the trail into the chaparral their numbers diminish quickly. Broom, Cytisus scoparius, although attractive while in bloom, is one of the few woody invasive species in this area. Sadly this species is a major pest in California, too often forming huge thickets under the forest canopy. Fortunately, here at Skunk Hollow, there are very few.
One attractive native species in this area is Solanium zanti (pictured). This species has a large elevation range here in California. It can be found at very low elevations as well as high in the mountains.
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And of coarse this time of year Castilleja foliolosa is an eye catcher.
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Castilleja foliolosa is most often seen in its reddish-orange form, however occasionally yellowish-orange to gold forms are seen. It is best to enjoy this species now. By autumn they will have completely dried up and look dead. They recover and become lush again with the late fall to early winter rain. In the garden they can be keep "green" all year with some irrigation during the summer. It is best not to over do this. Too much summertime irrigation creates short lived plants.
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Moving on the trail crosses Acorn Creek and then move quickly upward into the chaparral.
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I do not come across Solanium zanti often. I appreciate its deep, lavender-blue flowers and its long blooming cycle.
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In this area, much of the chaparral floor is carpeted with Salvia sonomensis. The scented foliage of this species mixes with scents of other chaparral species, so on a warm day, such as this one, the fragrance is divine.
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Salvia sonomensis is most often seen in light to dark shades of lavender-blue. I have found pink forms in this area (the opposite direction) and very rarely white forms are seen. I have yet to find a white form in the area, however I sometimes see very pale, pale lavender-blue flowered plants on this canyon slope.
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The yellow form of Sanicula bipinnatifida is common on this slope. Much farther along on this trail both the yellow and purple forms can be seen growing side-by-side.
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This trail moves steeply and steadily upward. Here is a view looking east down to the South Fork of the American River. By June this stretch of the river will be flooded by the waters of Folsom Reservoir. Good news for many farmers and the residents of the city of Sacramento.
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Arctostaphylos viscida, Whiteleaf Manzanita (pictured), and Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, are the dominant low elevation chaparral species in this area. There is going to be a good fruit crop on the Whiteleaf Manzanita this year. The reddish berries (when ripe) are attractive and are also a good food source if they are prepared correctly.
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Ceanothus lemmonii (lousy photograph) was seen throughout the chaparral. The best forms are outstanding ornamentals in the xeric garden. The best have deep blue flowers and attractive bright green foliage.
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This view across the chaparral to some clearings, is where there is the faint glow of Eschscholzia in bloom. I wanted to press on to the top of the ridge (933 feet, 284 meters) where there is an abrupt change in the geology. Most of the north ridge is gabbro based, beyond there is a change to something different. The Eschscholzia could be indicative of this change.
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Once over the ridge the soil and plant life changes completely. Here I entered a Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii, forest. Next to a bloomed out plant of Cynoglossum grande I found colonies of Acmispon grandiflorus. As you can see, this Fabaceae has very bright and attractive flowers. I have never tried this species in the garden - but hope to soon.
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Over the ridge the chaparral species change too, Chamise giving over to Buckbrush, Ceanothus cuneatus. Clematis lasiantha (pictured) was coming into bloom, climbing over and nearly smothering shrubby species.
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In the openings between the oaks were swathes of Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis. Some of our Ranunculus species can be a bit difficult to distinguish from each other until they set seed. Then they sort out much easier.
Mixed with the Ranunculus were blooming clumps of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii creating a delightful contrast of colors. Another interesting find was the non-native invasive Brassicaceae, Arabiopsis thaliana. Casually it may seem uninteresting, however when observed through a hand lens a whole new world appears. The adaxial leaf surfaces of this species are covered with tiny "scales" each with a pair of hairs, looking somewhat like a set of the old fashion TV rabbit-ear antenna.
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I had one last stop I wanted to make this day so now it was time to hike quickly back to the truck, hopefully with enough time to visit the mega Erythronium site.
So I will leave you with this last close-up of Clematis lasiantha.
To be continued with the last leg of this journey, Part IV......
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Robert:
I don't want to clog up the site but the images are just wonderful.
We had a dusting of snow here this morning.
Happy Spring to everyone.
Arnold,
A nice rainy evening here.
Thank you for the positive feedback. It is certainly appreciated. The wildflowers are fantastic this year. :)
Robert,
It is early morning and I am the only one awake so far. I use the undisturbed morning to read through your thread. All the colours lift my spirit! (Although it sinks a bit when reading about land "development".) Up here the ground is still covered by a couple feet of white snow. The spring is still at least a month away!
Trond,
I was out today before the rain started again. I found Layia fremontii in bloom. Some may think, what is the big deal about that! I rarely see this species in our area now. Finding them certainly lifted my spirits. :) I will be reporting on this a bit later. The wind was blowing like crazy, yet some of the photographs turned out well. :) 8)
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Part IV
The final stop for the day
After arriving back at the truck at Skunk Hollow, there was only about one hour for the final stop of the day.
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I wanted to check on the Erythroniums multiscapiodeum and see how they were doing. The majority grow under the chaparral canopy, a tangle of Chamise, Whiteleaf Manzanita, and Poison Oak. With the Poison Oak lurking everywhere I needed to be careful. Limited time compounded the challenge of dealing with the Poison Oak.
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I did have some good fortune and found a fair number of blooming plants.
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I also continued to find more specimens of Garrya congdonii in this area.
Way back in the mid-1970's I took a summertime native plant identification class at our local college. Back then the text we used was Jepson's Manual of the Flowering Plants of California - published in 1960! The instructor introduced us to this species as G. fremontii, the only good match to this species considering the circumstances. There was no G. congdonii listed in Jepson's back then. I still have my 1960 version of the Jepson Manual. I find it useful to this day and it is also interesting for me to see how much our botanical understanding has changed since then.
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Having to leave immediately, I took one last photograph of Rhus aromatica (back then it was R. trilobata). At this site they grow in dense thickets. The trifoliate leaves can be easily confused with that of Poison Oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum (the plant in the photograph has not leafed out yet). Rhus aromatica is harmless.
This ends the report on this outing. I hope you enjoyed. :)
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This ends the report on this outing. I hope you enjoyed. :)
Yes, very much! Thanks a lot Robert :)
We have been out skiing all day - very nice weather today. The cold nights make it easy to ski everywhere as the snow is hard ("skareføre" as we say) and don't get too soft during the daytime.
With all the white stuff around it is a relief to the eye to beheld all the colours of the plants you show ;)
My view today was mostly like this:
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A few scenes from this past week.
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On 19 March I did another reconnaissance up on Peavine Ridge. First I wanted to check on the snow accumulation, and then see how spring might be progressing at the 5,000 foot (1,524 meters) level.
Back in February I found some snow on the ground, but not much, only patches. I thought that with all the storminess in March that there would be several feet of snow on the ground. This would be normal. I found only traces of snow and only in shady and sheltered locations. The snow level had been much higher than I had previously thought.
As for spring arriving, you shall see.... A goodly number of species were breaking dormancy and coming into growth.
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Most of the Arctostaphylos were in bloom.
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And in a range of shades, white through various shades of pink.
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There is also a tremendous range in leaf shape and color, growth habit, and a number of other characteristics. The range of 4 species of Arctostaphylos overlap on the ridge. Many specimens do not fit the type description for any one species. This is one of many reasons this is a very interesting location to study plants. The mix of variation changes not only along the ridge axis, but also as one moves up or down from the ridge crest.
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Indian Dream Fern, Aspidotis densa, coming out of dormancy.
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I found many Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii well into growth. These are what I refer to as the "high elevation form".
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Some were starting to peek forth with their flower buds.
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What was most surprising for me was to see how far advanced some of the plants were.
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I was also surprised to find so many plants of this species. I have been to this location numerous times over the years at this time of year and have never seen so many. Needless to say I was very pleased.
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This is the view looking southeast across the canyon of the South Fork of the American River toward some of the higher mountain ridges.
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I was also pleased to find Viola purpurea. This species is quite abundant in this area. I have found two other Viola species on Peavine ridge, Viola sheltonii and Viola lobata. They do not grow as abundantly as V. purpurea in this area.
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The Crystal Range is blanketed with snow - 10 feet (3 meters) or more. Good news for our water supply this summer and wildflowers in the high country.
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Two days later I traveled the opposite direction to the village of Latrobe, elevation 385 feet (117 meters). From here I traveled west toward the Deer Creek Hills. I reported on an outing to this area a few weeks ago. During that outing I approached the Deer Creek Hills from west to east.
In some areas the hills were covered with Escscholzia lobbii mixed with a Plagiobothrys species.
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And here they are a little closer.
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An unidentified Apiaceae. I only found two among the tall grasses.
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The wind was blowing very strongly. It was impossible to get a good photograph of Triteliea laxa.
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There was good reason for the gusting winds, a storm was quickly approaching. Large drifts of Amsinckia, Fiddleneck, with their flower heads slightly above the grass.
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In other areas there were drifts of Butter and Eggs, Triphysaria eriantha.
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It was starting to spit rain and heavier rain was close at hand. Time to head back to the farm.
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As I started to drive away a blooming plant caught my eye. I had to stop and check it out.
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What a find! Layia fremontii. There is nothing rare or unusual about this species, except that it is > rarely < seen in our area any more. I was so pleased to find 6 to 8 blooming plants.
The Deer Creek Hills is a preserve, however the land is still used as rangeland for cattle. Some degree of protection is better than nothing, however many species can only thrive if they are protected from the intensive pressures of domestic range animals. I wish that at least a few local areas could receive protection from domestic range animals and also receive proper management for wildflowers. Most people in the greater Sacramento region have no idea what their local valley lands were like and the range of wonderful wildflower species that once grew there. There are protected valley lands with outstanding wildflower displays, however I would like to see local preserves (even if they are small) so folks did not have to drive long distances just to see their floral heritage. :)
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Trond,
It looks like you are still in the grip of winter! The scenery is very beautiful. Later in the spring and summer there must be many wildflowers? or is it like California where there is much grazing going on?
How do they deal with saving the wildflower heritage in Norway?
Enjoy your time at the cabin. It must be very peaceful and quiet there. :)
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Robert,
The grip of winter lasts till May up here!
Unfortunately the flora is rather poor. The bedrock is nutrient-poor and very acidic. Only a few spots have better soil, remnants of what was before the glaciation periods. (Probably much of the area was covered with cambro-silurian sediments which was removed by the glaciers during the ice ages. Some of it still exists around Oslo.)
Grazing is no big issue. Only a few sheep (some say too few) are foraging during summer and they have found the best sites of course, where the flora is richest :-\ In some cases the grazing is necessary though or else shrubs and trees will soon occupy the site. This is a serious "problem" many places in Norway- the open landscape disappear. The countryside was much more heavily used before.
Some wildflowers species are protected by law (but often not their habitats ???) and quite a few natural reserves are set aside - but still too few. In fact some areas need grazing to be kept open but sometimes, especially in dry periods, the grazing is too heavy as the size of the herd is not adjusted.
As for quietness - yesterday a helicopter was flying around just for pleasure >:( Everybody could rent it for a 10 minutes flight >:( :( But it was very quiet and peaceful where we went skiing - not many find their way in there :)
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I found many Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii well into growth. These are what I refer to as the "high elevation form".
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Very nice plants! The leaves seem succulent, not very primula-like!
What a find! Layia fremontii. There is nothing rare or unusual about this species, except that it is > rarely < seen in our area any more. I was so pleased to find 6 to 8 blooming plants.
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Glad you found it :) A beautiful flower also.
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Trond,
Much of California would become heavily overgrown to the detriment of the flora without fire. The crown fires we have now are very destructive too. I have witnessed the benefits of less intense fire countless times. Learning fire management and gaining public acceptance is a challenge. Some of my Native American friends attempted to share their knowledge of the traditional use of fire by their people with the U.S. Forest Service. Unfortunately, not much progress was made in this regard. We still have a long way to go, however I am hopeful progress can be made.
We also have another native Primula, P. suffrutescens, the Sierra Primrose. It indeed looks like a "Primula", at least when it is flowering. The foliage is somewhat spoon shaped (spatulate) and the foliage has a "succulent" look to it. It looks nothing like a Dodecantheon type Primula.
I never came across any this past summer, however I know a number of sites where they do grow. I have some photographs on my other computer, but my Lexar zip-drive quit functioning the other day. I'll try to access the photographs anyway. They are very beautiful. :)
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A few photographs from the farm and the vicinity.
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Ranunculus occidentalis var occidentalis. These are growing on the farm property. A return to average rainfall and better stewardship has increased their numbers dramatically.
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Drifts of Nemophila menziesii growing near the entrance to the freeway.
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Their numbers too have increased this year.
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A close up.
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Gilia tricolor.
The Nemophila grow about 1/2 mile (0.8 km) north of the farm. The serpentine rock strata is south of the farm by less than 1/2 mile. It continues southward for an unknown distance. I found more Gilia tricolor on this formation about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the farm. The whole area is private property so my ability to explore the serpentine formation is extremely limited. I was very pleased to find more Gilia tricolor in this area.
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Out on errands today I used the scenic route. Traverse Creek is not that far away so I decided to take a quick look around.
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With all the rain Traverse Creek was full of water. During some of the recent storms it was evident that it had flooded over its banks.
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At 2,220 feet (677 meters) spring is a bit later to arrive, however there were many wildflowers in bloom.
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The usual masses of Goldfields, Lasthenia californica.
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They are still blooming down the road at the farm, but it does not hurt my feelings to see more.
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Plenty of Lomatiums in bloom too. This is L. utriculatum. L. marginatum also was in bloom. Other Apiaceae were Sanicula bipinnatifida, S. crassicaulis, and the weedy non-native invasive Torilis arvensis.
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I see plenty of Butter and Eggs, Triphysaria eriantha, where ever I go this time of year. Not many at Traverse Creek this year.
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One of the treats for today was seeing Lewisia rediviva in bloom.
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I found some blooming plants, many with unopened flower buds, and many seedlings. It is good to see them reproducing well.
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For me the best treat was finding Viola douglasii in bloom.
I did not have much time, so it was back to the scenic route. Along the scenic route the Wildflowers, Act I, was in full bloom. I will post photographs from this part of the journey a little later.
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Robert,
I have read of the importance of regular natural fires in many ecosystems. A few places along the coast here in Norway they still put fire to the heath to maintain the open landscape. It has to be done at the right time of the year (early spring when the soil is still frozen or at least soaked) and when the weather is right also.
I take a look at your posts every morning if I have time before the others wake up :)
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Robert, your posts epitomises everything that is wonderful about wildflowers. It is this sort of post that most excites me in the forum - there is nothing like the pleasure of seeing flowers "doing their thing" in profusion.
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Trond, Maggi,
There is very much a story to be told here. Often, I think about Dick Proenneke and his documentation of the Twin Lakes area in Alaska. His films and diary were instrumental in the creation of Twin Lakes Wilderness and National Park.
The flora of our part of California is just one small piece of the pie in our gardening palate. Then there are the other benefits that come from awareness and conservation of our natural habitats. I wish very much to continue this floral diary. My wish is that it be inspirational and beneficial to as many as possible.
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The scenic route to and from town follows the South Fork of the American River. The road traverses the north canyon side winding in and out of the side canyons and creeks that flow into the American River.
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Many of the early blooming wildflowers are still flowering and in their prime, however the first of the mid-season bloomers are now getting started.
Pretty Faces, Triteleia ixiodes, is one of the mid-season wildflowers. Soon there will be various species of Delphinium, Scutellaria, Collinsia, Calochortus, and many more starting into bloom.
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Phacelia imbricata, one of our perennial Phacelia species. Most often they are found on dry sunny banks and rock faces.
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Lithophragma bolanderi. A very pretty perennial and a broad-leafed species that has a small "bulb" from which it returns each season.
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Broom. In this case Cytisus scoparius. It is attractive in bloom, however it is also a major invasive pest in our part of California.
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Lupinus albifron is still blooming. This specimen is one of the better forms I have seen in this area.
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At a different site I found a few more Mimulus kelloggii.
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These were right next to the road, of easy access for photography and hopefully gathering some seed later in the season.
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One of our perennila Lathyrus species, L. sulphureus. I find it very attractive and hope to cultivate it in our garden.
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Lupinus bicolor. This is one of our "dwarf" annual species. The flowers and flowering spikes are somewhat small, however when they grow in quantity they are very showy.
Lupinus nanus is another one of our annual "dwarf" species. It is very similar to L. bicolor, however one of its attributes is its larger flowers that are very showy too, especially when seen in large drifts. I did not see any of this species today.
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The flora along this stretch of the American River is surprisingly rich. I have been conducting a detailed survey of the flora in this area for the past 3 years. I am still finding something new to this area every season. Layia pentachaeta is one such species. This is the first time I have observed this annual species anywhere in our area. Maybe I have not been in the right place at the right time. Regardless, I was extremely pleased to find a small colony.
Considering I was only driving back and forth from town, I was very pleased with the outcome.
Until next time.... :)
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I am back home - out of the white montane landscape and into the grey and rainy coast. Not much has happened here except a few more bulbs in bloom, and all the early iris flowers eaten by slugs :(
It is therefore a pleasure to see your pictures, Robert :)
I am also looking at the soil ;D For example, the soil in the picture of the Layia. It seems to be very rocky and containing very little organic matter?
You say the broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a pest over there and I experienced the same in Argentina. The yellow roadsides were a pretty sight from afar but the native plants suffered. Here it is a rare (not native) shrub and (still) no pest although it has spread somewhat from gardens.
But three Lupinus species are considered pests here: Lupinus nootkatensis, L. polyphyllus and L. perennis.
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One of the treats for today was seeing Lewisia rediviva in bloom.
I found some blooming plants, many with unopened flower buds, and many seedlings. It is good to see them reproducing well.
For me the best treat was finding Viola douglasii in bloom.
Robert,
Thank you once again for these illustrative photos. I would be glad if you tell me the type of rock in which the two species mentioned above are growing.
Gerd
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Friends, Ian and I have had a note from Robert: He tells us that he is currently, and for the foreseeable future without a computer. He does hope to be able to make occasional contact with the forum via the local library facilities.
He and his wife are in Sacramento and are well - don't wory about them - Robert will return here in time, he is anxious to do so. :) 8)
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Greetings Friends!
Slowly, I am getting my computer problems cleared-up.
Wednesday, I traveled to the North Fork of the Mokelomne River - the Tiger and Panther Creeks areas. This is a very fascinating area with many interesting plants. I have a very good selection of photographs to share, but bare with me. I am learning "computer" "cold-turkey" and there is quite the learning curve for me. I am making progress, however progress is slow at times. It may be another week or two before I am up and running full speed again.
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Salutations :)
I am glad to hear about your new trips and computer 'advances'; looking fw to see more wildflowers!
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Good luck with the computer wrestling, Robert - these things are easier said than done!
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Good to have you back in the forum Robert, computers are not too difficult I am sure you will soon be up and running - you just need to learn the bits that do what you want and ignore all the rest.
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Wonderful news!
My laptop computer is up and running at home again. I still have a few things to update however, and I have two outings to share as I get things organized and get myself back in the rhythm.
This Wednesday I will be in El Dorado County, California continuing my surveys.
I am very excited to be back again. :) 8)
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Glad to know you are back, Robert
cheers
fermi
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Welcome back Robert, you've been missed.
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Yes, I am very happy to be back! :)
Hopefully, I will be able to post a few photographs from my latest outings later today.
Tomorrow, I will be returning to the Iron Mountain area in El Dorado County. There are a number of sites I want to check on in the middle elevation areas. I hope that I will also have time to travel higher into the Sierra and see where the current snow level is located. There are a number of snow melt species that I would like to see this spring.
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An ocean of Limnanthes blooming at the top of the Clarksville Grade, El Dorado County, California. This scene is at 1,083 feet (330 meters) elevation, generally at the higher end of this species elevation range.
I will be posting more photographs from this site as well as the Rock Creek area sometime later.
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Looking forward to that, Robert!
I used to grow a few Limnanthes in my garden. It was a pretty bloomer when my garden contained less trees and shrubs :-\
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Here are a few photographs from yesterdays outing. The computer is different now and it is taking me some time to get ajusted to the differences.
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Flemming meadow. 3,842 feet, 1,171 meters. It is early spring at this elevation. Only a few of the early bloomers are out.
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My computer is different from how it was a month ago. :P How the photographs are edited for the forum is different. It will take some experimenting on my part to get this adjusted to my liking. :)
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More scenes from yesterday's outing.
Ceanothus prostratus is in full bloom now carpeting the forest floor in many areas. This is an average colored form. Some are very pale, others are a rich deep blue-lavender color.
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A natural rock garden on a steep south facing slope near Camp Creek. Mimulus kelloggii, Dichelostemma capitatum, and others are in bloom. Also Pellaea mucronata
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Higher upper the mountain at North-South Bald.
Nemophila maculata.
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I drove up the road until it was blocked by snow, 6,680 feet (2,036 meters). A good place to look for snow melt species.
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You may find some real treasures in the snow melt areas Robert.
What a nice baby blue eyes, or should we call it baby purple eyes? :D
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Gabriela,
I hope to be exploring these areas as the snowline recedes up the mountain.
Here in California we can Nemophila maculata "Five Spots". :) I think you can see why! I is a great little annual that I hope to establish in our garden. I have a small batch of seedlings growing and blooming now. I hope to get a good seed set. :)
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Flemming Meadow
&
Iron Mountain Area
Part I
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
(Sacramento) Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High: 83 F (28 C), Low: 54 F (12C)
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This week's outing started at Flemming Meadow, elevation 3.842 feet (1,171 meters). It is still early spring at this elevation and only the early blooming species have started to flower. In the meadow there were a few open flowers of Ranunculus occidentalis, as well as 2 species of Spikerush in bloom, Eleocharis macrostachya and E. parishii.
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Many of the deciduous trees are just starting into leaf. The new growth of Quercus kelloggii (California Black Oak) is very attractive. A whole hillside of this species at this stage of growth is quite the sight.
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The trail from Flemming Meadow to Camp Creek is very wide as it starts out. The forest is mostly coniferous, Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii, with a few deciduous and evergreen broad leaf trees.
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Trail Plant, Adenocaulon bicolor, is aptly named as it is a constant companion in this type of forested environment.
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Many of the early blooming species were in their prime such as these Primula (Dodecantheon) hendersonii. This species is quite interesting at this elevation. In some ways it is suggestive of P. subalpinum, a species found in the Southern Sierra Nevada at higher elevations.
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There are many fantastic woodland species in this area. Viola lobata was in its prime.
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At this elevation Viola lobata blooms a bit later than some of the other Viola species. Higher up the mountain the bloom cycles of Viola lobata, V. purpurea, and V. sheltonii overlap with each other. I have never noticed hybrids between these species, however I have found plants that are suggestive of a hybrid between Viola purpurea and V. bakeri.
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Fritillaria micrantha is another delightful woodland (chaparral too) species in this area. The flowers are quite small and it has always been difficult for me to get a good photograph with a camera that only understands auto-focus. This photograph turned out pretty good. :)
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I only found a few plants of Trillium angustipetalum. None were in bloom. I have some excellent photographs of this species in full bloom from my trip to the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. I will post that outing when I get a chance.
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The forest floor is quite moist in areas. Fragile Fern, Cystoperis fragilis, was frequently seen in the areas with year around moisture.
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The environment in this part of the forest is quite shady, the prefect environment for Asarum hartwegii. The flowers of this species are quite large compared to some other species and are very interesting with their hairy surface. Unfortunately the close-up photographs of the flowers did not turn out. A camera that only understands auto-focus makes such photographs extremely difficult. :'(
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Farther along the trail there were large colonies of Viola sheltonii. At this elevation this species blooms in March. I examined the plants closely and noticed that some had set seed that was nearly ripe. Other plants had numerous seedlings sprouting near their bases.
Higher up the mountain Viola sheltonii can bloom with both V. purpurea and V. lobata. I have never noticed hybrids between these species, however where the range of Viola purpurea and V. bakeri overlap I have noticed plants that are suggestive of hybrids between the two species.
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In shady and rocky areas along the trail Polystichum imbricans ssp curtum was seen occasionally. I was very pleased to make a positive identification of this subspecies. The submarginal sori were very obvious. At other sites this characteristic of the sori can be mixed with the characteristics of subspecies imbricans. I find this to be very interesting and just the sort of thing that I like to study.
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As the trail approached Camp Creek the forest canopy began to open and become less shady. Hairy Woodrush, Luzula subsessilis, is a very common species throughout our area. It can be confused with Luzula comosa. I guess I should check the seeds size and shape to be sure of its identity as suggested by the Jepson Manual, however I am quite comfortable with this naming at this time.
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At this point the trail opened quickly and traversed a sunny south facing slope. I have visited this site a fair number of times over the years and have always found this site to be the most wonderful natural rock garden.
With my next posting I will describe many of the species I found on this sunny slope.
To be continued.....
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As always it is a great pleasure to follow you on your outings, Robert!
Even at that altitude the spring is more advanced than here and the flora of the conifer forest is more interesting than conifer forests here.
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Trond,
This report will mostly likely be broken into 3 parts. The last part of this outing was at a much higher elevation where some winter snow was still on the ground.
Yes, the flora here in this part of California seems very rich indeed. This time of year I am logging well over 100 different taxa on any given outing. In addition, there is often considerable variation within any given species. I like to record this too. Needless to say this keeps me very busy and makes each outing extremely interesting.
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Flemming Meadow
Part II
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I ended the last installment at the natural rock garden above Camp Creek.
This site is a south facing, rocky slope, open to the full sun. Most of this site is very xeric during the summer, however there is an open spring very close by on this slope.
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I have found 3 species of Mimulus at this site. Mimulus kelloggii is one of the first species to come into bloom.
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Mimulus bicolor is another early bloomer, however it reaches peak bloom about 10 days after Mimulus kelloggii.
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Each Mimulus species has an extended blooming season so there is considerable overlap in their blooming cycles.
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The color combinations with just the two Mimulus species is quite showy, however when other species come into the act it can be spectacular.
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Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum, is another species that grows abundantly at this site. The large drifts are very showy.
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Blue Dicks are often growing in combination with Mimulus kelloggii and M. bicolor. The fern Pellaea mucronata with Acmispon parviflorus and Epilobium brachycarpum are often added to this mix. This is only Act I of this natural scene. Gilia capitata, Eriophyllum lanatum var. croceum, Penstemon heterophylla, and Dudleya cymosa are some of the other species that will come into bloom a little later in the season.
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I mentioned the spring nearby. Here a completely different set a species are found growing. At this time Mimulus guttatus is in full bloom.
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As I moved on down the trail toward Camp Creek I continued to find blooming plants of Mimulus bicolor.
Always one of the earliest species to come into bloom in our foothill region is Lacepod, Thysanocarpus curvipes. This species was found in bloom too. It is indeed early spring at this elevation.
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As I moved closer to Camp Creek the forest began to close in again.
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There were still areas of intense sunlight along the slope. In these areas grew drifts of Calochortus monophyllus.
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With the Calochortus were clumps of the Asteraceae, Helianthella californica.
There was a tremendous amount of blooming color in this area and the flowering peak for Act I was still 1 to 2 weeks away.
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I found this Cirsium species hiding in the shade of a Ceanothus plant. Some species can have very attractive silvery foliage. I am currently testing some in our garden. I am cautious as they could prove to be weedy.
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The last stretch of the trail to Camp Creek becomes very shady again. Here I found Maianthemum racemosum budded and ready to bloom soon. In this area there were considerable numbers of ferns, mostly Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum, Cystopteris fragilis, and Dryopteris arguta. Yet to start blooming were Clintonia, Dicentra formosa, Fragaria vesca, as well as others.
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Finally at Camp Creek with a good head of water flowing.
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Down by Camp Creek I found one plant of Ribes nevadense. This species has showy pink flowers that I find quite attractive.
I had two other sites I wanted to check on this day, so now it was time to return to the truck.
Part III will have the last part of this outing.
I hope that you are enjoying this! :)
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Another great trek Robert, thanks for taking me along with you;-)
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Another great trek Robert, thanks for taking me along with you;-)
Ian,
You are very welcome.
Finally everything is getting caught-up and back to normal. :)
I have some great projects planned for this coming summer and autumn. It will be a pleasure to share these with everyone.
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I have some great projects planned for this coming summer and autumn. It will be a pleasure to share these with everyone.
Looking forward to those project reports, Robert!
Those mimulus are quite endearing :)
do natural hybrids arise where they flower together?
cheers
fermi
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Your new outing made for such an interesting evening read Robert, as always :)
And once again I learned about a few new species!
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Robert,
Thanks again for your reports and especially for mentioning the violets in particular!
Gerd
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I hope that you are enjoying this! :)
Oh yes, Robert, of course!
Although we have full sun today it is no pleasure to be outside. The air is very cold for the season and a steady strong wind from north makes it feel even colder. Freezing temperature is expected tonight.
It is not many wild plants blooming at the moment around here so therefore I have a good time looking at yours ;)
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Those mimulus are quite endearing :)
do natural hybrids arise where they flower together?
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
This is a very interesting question. I have wondered about this myself. To date I have not observed any natural hybrids between any of the Mimulus species. As you can see from the photographs some species often grow and bloom right next to each other. I keep an open mind about such things. In general I have observed natural hybrids in other species in their natural habitat. Then there are many other suspected hybrids that I have not been able to confirm as of yet.
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Robert,
Thanks again for your reports and especially for mentioning the violets in particular!
Gerd
Gerd,
I have a keen interest in Viola species myself. When possible I will be reporting on those I find in their natural habitat. I have volunteered in a multi-year project on the flora of the Lyon's Creek area in California. 5 Viola species grow in this area. So far, this is the only area where I have seen possible natural hybrids between our different species. The snow is just starting to melt and leave the ground in the lower elevations of this study site. Most likely I will be visiting this area in the next two weeks, however the Violas will not be blooming for at least another month at the earliest.
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Gabriela and Trond,
I am very pleased to be online again and it certainly feels good to know that my efforts are appreciated. :)
Trond,
The weather has turned cool here too. There has been some rainfall and snow in the mountains. Delaying the hot, dry season is good, especially considering the past 4 years of extreme drought conditions.
I look forward to your wildflower season. It seems that it must be right around the corner!
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Part III
North-South Bald & Iron Mountain
From the Camp Creek site I hiked back to the truck and continued up the road toward Norht-South Bald and the upper Iron Mountain area.
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Just beyond Flemming Meadow the road was lined with the blooming carpets of Ceanotheus prostratus. I some areas there where native Dogwoods in bloom, Cornus nuttallii.
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The first stop was at North-South Bald. The base of this mountain is at 5,490 feet (1,673 meters). From this point it is a very short hike to the top of the bald, only .34 miles (.55 km).
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This is a terrible photograph, however it represents a common sight at this elevation at this time of year, Viola purpurea blooming with Horkelia tridentata.
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This bloom cycle for Viola purpurea has just started at this elevation. I am sure I will get better photographs next time around.
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The Five Spot, Nemophila maculata, had started into bloom. This annual generally blooms for a considerable length of time. I find it very desirable as an ornamental and I have a few seedling established down at our Sacramento garden. I am hoping to get a small seed crop this year and to keep this line going in our garden.
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As I moved toward the top of the bald there where many Sanicula tuberosa in bloom any place where there was an opening in the trees and sufficient sunlight.
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I very much enjoy this member of the Apiaceae family. So far I have not had any success establishing it in the garden. It is a very small plant and early bloomer, to me it could be a very good addition to our garden.
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I quickly arrived at the top of the bald, elevation5,618 feet (1,712 meters). Three species of Eriogonum grow on the top of this bald. Pictured is E. wrightii ssp. subscaposum. The other two species at this site are E. nudum and E. umbellatum. Many of the Eriogonums looked in good condition, however even last year I noticed considerable drought stress on some of the plants.
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Lupinus grayii yet to bloom. I know its identity from my previous trips to this site. ;D I do have seedlings of this species growing down at our Sacramento home. I am hoping that they will do well. It is a very pretty species both in flower and foliage.
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I found Lewisia kelloggii growing and blooming at this site last year. I found a few in growth this day but with no flower buds.....yet.
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One flower open on Amelanchier alnifolia at the summit of the bald.
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Yet to bloom where huge colonies of Allium obtusum.
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The round globes at ground level are the flower buds. The plants at this site have deep pink flowers and fit the description of variety conspicuum. In Jepson's it is said to be uncommon, however they are plentiful here.
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As I left the bald and walked through the forest I found colonies of the Orchidaceae, Goodyera oblongifolia. The flowers are not much, however the foliage is nice. It is easy to please in any well drained, woodsy soil that is not keep too moist. It is very shade loving.
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From North-South Bald I continued up the road until my progress was stopped by snow, elevation 6,680 feet (2,036 meters).
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I backed down the mountain a short distance where there was an excellent view of the Crystal Range, elevation 6,503 feet (1,982 meters).
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Even at this elevation early spring was arriving.
Arctostaphylos patula in bloom, a pale pink form.
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There were still patches of snow on the ground, however all the sunny areas were free of snow.
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An early bloomer is the Apiaceae, Cymopterus terebinthinus. I find the foliage and flowers to be most attractive, however I have yet to try it in our garden.
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In this area the Green Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, were a mix of both pale pink and deeper pink forms. I enjoy them all.
Time had run out this day and now it was time to return home.
Next week I plan on checking on a low elevation site. There is still many species blooming in the lower foothills.
Until next time! :)
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From North-South Bald I continued up the road until my progress was stopped by snow, elevation 6,680 feet (2,036 meters).
Nobody takes the trouble to keep the road open in winter?
(http://www.smp.no/incoming/article5213761.ece/ALTERNATES/w980-default/vinter017)
Some of the winter closed roads open in May and June after a tremendous amount of work :D
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Robert,
What do you think about cold hardy Ceanothus species? I have tried a few which are available here but they don't last long.
Nice five spot and violet :)
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Trond,
Yes, it is true, nobody keeps Iron Mountain Road open during the wintertime. The day I drove up there I saw a guy driving up the road with a trailer with boat in tow. I wonder how he got that thing turned around? There is nobody around to help for miles!
I like Nemophila maculata a lot. I have some blooming in a pot now at our Sacramento home. Hopefully they will set seed. If they do I will seed out a tub full next year for a much larger seed crop. From there I can play around with them in the garden and have some to share with others.
I have had some good success growing our California native Viola species. I have a pot full of Viola purpurea and V. douglasii seedlings that are doing extremely well from last year seed. As I can, I will report on how all of this is coming along. Same with the Mimulus thread. Things just got kinda messed up with my computer problems. I am still trying to get caught up. :P .....but things are coming along. :)
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Trillium angustipetalum in bloom.
This plant was seen near Panther Creek on my outing to the North Fork of the Mokelomne River a few weeks ago.
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A good name :) and what a contrast between the dark, narrow petals and the large leaves.
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The Trillium were growing with Dicentra formosa. Some had very dissected lacy leaves. I have never observed this before in a wild population. They seemed very interesting and well worth growing in a garden.
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In my opinion almost all the plants you how are garden worthy, Robert :)
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Trond,
I have to admit that I will try just about anything in our garden. I do try to avoid the thugs!
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A very cloudy, overcast day yesterday, 27 April 2016. There were rain showers and thunderstorms at times. I did manage to visit 3 sites this day and will be posting photographs from 2 sites in the coming days.
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Traverse Creek
&
Peg Leg Mine Road
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Sacramento Weather: Rain Showers & Thunderstorms.
Temperature, High:71 F (21.5 C), Low: 55 F (13 C).
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Wednesday was a very busy day. I started the day by returning to the Flemming Meadow area to collect data on Polystichum imbricans spp. curtum. It was a short 1 mile (1.6 km) hike from the trail head down to the ferns, however this site is in central El Dorado County and I then had a bit of a drive to get to Traverse Creek.
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We have had more or less average precipitation in El Dorado County this rainfall season and Traverse Creek has a good flow of water in it.
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The weather turned very overcast and showery with gusting winds at times. This and cool temperatures made photography difficult for me. There was so much to see. Many areas were a riot of color with wildflowers blooming almost everywhere. This scene is dominated by blooming plants of Mimulus guttatus.
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I was very surprised to find Lewisia rediviva still in bloom. This species is generally an early bloomer. There were still a fair number of plants in bloom, also many with ripening seed pods.
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In some places it was almost impossible to walk without stepping on the Monkeyflowers, Mimulus guttatus. This species is quite easy to grow in the garden and has a long blooming cycle. This species tends to be a short lived perennial with summer irrigation. Otherwise, it is annual, drying up when the weather turns hot and dry.
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Much of Traverse Creek area is dominated by Serpentine Rock. This limits the species that can grow when this rock is very dominant.
Sedella pumila is one species that grows well in the serpentine rock. It is a tiny species, however the bright yellow flowers do stand out.
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In other areas dominated by the serpentine rock were large drifts of Linanthus dichotomus. There seems to be two forms of this species, one which opens its flowers with sunlight, and one that opens its flowers without the sun. I guess these were waiting for the sun. Nevertheless, they were still quite beautiful.
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Here and there, I found blooming plants of Chaenactis glabriuscula. This species is an annual Asteraceae and can be very attractive both in flower and foliage. Another annual to test in the garden someday.
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I was hoping to find Mimulus douglasii this day and hiked over to a site where I had seen them last year. I did not find Mimulus douglasii, however there when plenty of M. bicolor and M. guttatus in bloom.
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The Mimulus bicolor grew in large sheets in the openings among shrubby species such as Ceanothus cuneatus and Quercus durata.
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Minuartia californica was another species blooming among the serpentine rocks. Both Minuartia californica and M. douglasii grow in the Traverse Creek area. They look quite similar, but fortunately they are easy to distinguish from each other; M. californica being glabrous, M. douglasii being glandular - hairy.
I have find this species useful in the rock garden, the airy stems and small white flowers mixing well with other species.
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Throughout the Traverse Creek area there are many meadows, often each meadow has its own unique species.
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In some areas there were thousands of the Themidaceae, Triteleia hyacinthina in bloom. In some places they were the dominant species, in other areas they mixed with other blooming species creating beautiful color combinations.
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Another Mimulus species I was hoping to find this day was Mimulus layneae. Their blooming season is just starting so I found only a few tiny plants in bloom. Later in the season there will be huge drifts of this species blooming throughout the Traverse Creek area.
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A great treat was finding Viola douglasii still in bloom. This species blooms very early in the season. I found many plants still in their blooming prime. In addition, they seem to have benefited from the additional rainfall this year. The number of plants observed was up considerably over the previous two seasons.
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I have always found Viola douglasii growing in areas of serpentine rock. It is a xeric species that goes completely dormant during the hot, dry summer season. I have found this species growing both in full sun and in the part shade of neighboring shrubs.
I cultivation I tend to keep the plants slightly moist during their summer dormancy. This is especially true in containers. In the ground, established plant prefer to be keep completely dry during the summer. I tend to lose this species if I irrigate even slightly during the summer when they are planted in the open ground (generally a clay soil).
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In other areas there were large drifts of the tiny flowered Leptosiphon bicolor. I have found this annual species easy to cultivate in the garden as long as the soil is gritty and well drained.
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Where there was more moisture and greater soil depth Sisyrinchium bellum was growing and blooming.
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I reached the top of a ridge, 2,496 feet (761 meters), as another wave of rain showers approached. It was getting late and I still had another site to visit. I quickly moved down the ridge to the truck parked below.
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I am curious about all the plants species. As I approached the truck I found this Carex species, C. serratodens, blooming in a seasonally moist meadow. After a photograph it was back to the truck and off to my last site for the day.
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I had been given a tip about a site where there were many Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii growing in one location. This site is located up the mountain above the small town of Georgetown, California. I was very eager to check this site and see what I might find.
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I could have driven directly to the site but preferred to park a short distance away and hike the rest of the distance to see what I might find. I was not disappointed. Where I parked the truck there were large colonies of Calochortus monophyllus and Triteleia ixioides in bloom. In addition I found one blooming plant of Horkelia tridentata. I have never observed this species at such a low elevation before, 3,246 feet (924 meters).
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As I walked down the dirt road I found some excellent examples of Ceanothus tomentosus in full bloom.
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Also, some excellent specimens of Iris hartwegii in full bloom.
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Another surprise was finding Viola purpurea. This was the only plant in bloom and one of maybe 3-5 specimens I found in this area. I rarely observe this species at low elevation sites. I have found this species at still lower elevation sites but this is not very common in our area.
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After a short hike I finally arrived at the Primula (Dodecatheon) site. All the plants had finished blooming and some had ripening seed capsules. This was fine with me. I had a great time checking on the other species that grew at this site. I found blooming plants of Dichelostemma capitaum, Calochortus monophyllus and Triteleia ixioides. The whole site was carpeted with Acmispon parviflorus and Trifolium dubium. Luzula comosa and a Chlorogalum species were a few of the other species of note.
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It had started to rain again, however I saw something a short distance away that I wanted to check on.
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This turned out to be the species of the day. A beautiful colony of Hosackia incana! The woolly gray foliage is very striking and the flowers are attractive too.
The rain was pouring now and it was late in the day. Time to return home. This was a great site and I will return, especially to see the Primula (Dodecatheon) in bloom and definitely to revisit the Hosackia.
Until next time....
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Robert - no doubt that spring in Sierra Nevada is 'the season of ten thousand flowers' :) (as called in a poem by a Chinese monk).
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Robert - no doubt that spring in Sierra Nevada is 'the season of ten thousand flowers' :) (as called in a poem by a Chinese monk).
Looks more like high summer to me ;) Here the maximum temperature is still only 10C (and the minimum is 0C).
I enjoy your trips Robert, even in rain ;)
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The rain has been very nice. For the most part everything is still green. There is some drying in the central valley, as some areas begin to turn golden yellow for the summer, and early autumn.
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Robert,
I forgot to say, the Hosackia looks great! Hosackia is unknown here. It looks a little like a Vicia or Lathyrus to me. Iris hartwegii is very nice too.
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Trond,
Hosackia incana is high on my "attempt to cultivate" list. Not surprising, it is a member of the Fabaceae family, some of which are certainly difficult to cultivate well (at least for me).
Iris hartwegii is said to be difficult in cultivation for some here in California. I have no difficulty with this species. I have many seedlings coming along at various stages of growth. No flowers this year. Somewhat surprising for me, as many are large and old enough to bloom now. Maybe next year.
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I had a high productive day yesterday at three different sites. Each had its unique mix of flora. I had very good fortune with my photography and have a very good selection of photographs to share. I will have to separate this posting into three different segments.
Below are a few sample photographs.
[attachimg=1]
I hit Calochortus luteus in peak bloom at the Deer Creek Hills.
From there I moved well into the Sierra Nevada.
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A view of Silver Creek far down in the canyon near Jay Bird Reservoir.
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There was a great display of Iris hartwegii as I moved down into the canyon.
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A huge display of Calochortus minimus at my last stop of the day.
There is much for me to post. I hope to get an early start. :)
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So many more fascinating plants Robert! Viola douglasii is a neat thing, and Hosackia incana. I think my interest in the Apiaceae has a lot to do with their foliage as much as flowers; legumes have the same appeal and the viola is delightful too. Here in the 'alpine world' in the UK we see pictures of the amazing rosulate violas from S. America (and very occasionally see them in cultivation) but the N. American species are just as fascinating. Must be so exciting to come across these in their natural habitats. (PS: some of the seed you sent me of other plants is germinating but we had such a lack of proper winter cold that seed germination this year has been much more erratic and limited than usual - I hope that more will appear next year and I would certainly like to explore the Californian flora more in the garden here, even if not so easy to grow. The landscapes you show are even more wonderful. Thanks again).
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Deer Creek Hills
Jay Bird Reservoir
&
Peavine Ridge
Part I
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 78 F (25.5 C), Low: 59 F (15 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 74 F (23 C), Low: 54 F (12 C)
[attachimg=1]
I started the day in Sacramento and headed east in the Sacramento Valley toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains. First for the day, I was in search of Delphinium variegatum ssp. variegatum. I had sighted the species blooming along side the freeway for several weeks and was hoping to find a good place to have a close look at them on some side road in the area. I pulled off the freeway onto a side road hoping to find some. No luck!
Rather than return to the freeway I decided to take the back roads as I traveled toward the mountains. Right away I started seeing plants of Calochortus luteus blooming along side the road. Unfortunately, the semi-rural roads in this area are very narrow and loaded with automobile traffic. Very frustrating for me, as it would be great to check on this species too.
The road I was on headed in the general direction of the Deer Creek Hills so I decided to head out there. At least there would be no traffic!
As you can see from the photograph there is much open space in the Deer Creek Hills.
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Quickly, I spotted large drifts of Calochortus luteus in bloom.
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No traffic here! This was a great place to get out and take a much closer look at the plants.
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There were hundreds of Calochortus to check on each with their own variation in flower markings.
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There were other species in bloom too. Scattered among the Calochortus luteus was Dichelostemma multiflorum.
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The Deer Creek Hills are low elevation, 555 feet (169 meters). The low rolling hills are still considered "Valley" habitat as the plant life changes considerably was one moves in the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Triteleia hyacinthina was in full bloom.
[attachimg=2]
Here they are blooming with Hawkbit, Leontodon saxatilis. The Hawkbit, an invasive Asteraceae, put on quite the show. Thousands were scattered among the invasive grasses over the rolling hills.
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As I walked among the plants I found one lone plant of Delphinium variegatum ssp. variegatum. This species is sometimes referred to as the Royal Larkspur. The flowers are certainly a rich, royal, dark purple-blue. This species is perennial. It is summer dormant, with new growth arising each winter as the autumn-winter rains return. I have never cultivated this species in the garden, however it is high on my long list of species to try in the garden.
[attachimg=4]
I did not spent much time at the Deer Creek Hills as my main goal was to visit the Silver Creek Canyon near Jay Bird Reservoir.
First, I briefly stopped at the Greenstone Serpentine Barrens just down the road from the farm. The whole site was ablaze with Clarkia in full bloom.
[attachimg=5]
I keyed the species out to Clarkia dudleyana a species said to be limited to the southern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills. It has been suggested that the species is Clarkia arcuata, however the plants do not fit the description completely. It will be fun to looking into this more. Perhaps this could be a new northern limit for Clarkia dudleyana, or maybe just a mistake on my part. :)
Anyway, it was now time to get up the the Silver Creek canyon ridge.
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[attachimg=1]
By late morning I arrived at the ridge top overlooking the Silver Creek Canyon and Jay Bird Reservoir, elevation 4,636 feet (1,413 meters). This area sustained considerable damage when the King Fire burned through the area two seasons ago. I was very pleased to find that this portion of the canyon suffered much less damage. The King Fire may have created a benefit for the forest and ecosystem in this area as some undergrowth was burned away leaving the forest canopy alive and intact. The thinning of the forest also has allow more light to reach the forest floor and has reduced plant competition. Most of the perennial and annual species seemed to have benefited from this greatly.
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Viola purpurea is one of the perennial species that has benefited from the fire. They were growing and blooming abundantly from the canyon rim well down into the canyon.
[attachimg=3]
In an area of ancient volcanic ash and debris I spotted a nice drift of Lupinus grayi coming into bloom.
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In this area where the soil was somewhat drier grew the annual Mimulus bicolor. Last year I found only scattered patches of this species. The return to average precipitation has increased their numbers dramatically.
[attachimg=5]
Where water seeped from the rock face Mimulus guttatus was in bloom. Some forms of this species have a conspicuous maroon blotch on the petals. I find this characteristic attractive and interesting.
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[attachimg=1]
As I worked my way down into the canyon I came across large drifts of the annual, Nemophila heterophylla, in bloom.
[attachimg=2]
In some areas this species formed huge spectacular carpets on the forest floor.
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Never abundant, Solanum xanti was found in bloom. This species grows over a wide altitude range. I have found this species growing in the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada as well in high altitude areas.
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A somewhat common species, Western Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum occidentale, is often seen in shady forested area.
[attachimg=5]
The flowers are suggestive of the Genus Phacelia to which it is related. At one time Phacelia, Draperia, Nemophila, Hydrophyllum, etc. were part of the Hydrophyllaceae family, however they have now been subsumed into the Boraginaceae family.
There is still more, however it is time for me to continue later. :)
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So many more fascinating plants Robert! Viola douglasii is a neat thing, and Hosackia incana. I think my interest in the Apiaceae has a lot to do with their foliage as much as flowers; legumes have the same appeal and the viola is delightful too. Here in the 'alpine world' in the UK we see pictures of the amazing rosulate violas from S. America (and very occasionally see them in cultivation) but the N. American species are just as fascinating. Must be so exciting to come across these in their natural habitats. (PS: some of the seed you sent me of other plants is germinating but we had such a lack of proper winter cold that seed germination this year has been much more erratic and limited than usual - I hope that more will appear next year and I would certainly like to explore the Californian flora more in the garden here, even if not so easy to grow. The landscapes you show are even more wonderful. Thanks again).
Tim,
I have great gratitude that you are enjoying my postings. Although I have had to adjust my plans somewhat for this season, I have made considerable progress so far this season. There are some fantastic plant species here in California and most likely many new and improved horticultural forms still this find and experiment with in our gardens.
At some point I will have to send you a PM regarding one of last year's seed accessions. There always seems to be a surprise here and there.
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Part II
Jay Bird Reservoir
[attachimg=1]
As I continued my journey down into the canyon, I came across blooming colonies of Collomia heterophylla.
[attachimg=2]
Collomia heterophylla is another one of our California native annuals. The flowers are quite bright and where they grow in quantity they can be very showy.
[attachimg=3]
I saw Iris hartwegii in bloom very frequently this day.
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All of the plants I observed this day were in shades of yellow. I the past I have found lavender forms, however I rarely see them in this color shade.
[attachimg=5]
The King Fire certainly opened the forest canopy. The Iris seem to have gained benefit from this. Many of the Iris clumps had multiple flowering stems and looked fantastic in bloom.
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[attachimg=1]
Draperia systyla is a low mounding perennial. The long, soft, hairs on the foliage make this species distinctive and easily identified. From the flowers there is a clear resemblance to the Genus Phacelia, to which it is related.
[attachimg=2]
Deeper into the canyon Paintbrushes began to appear.
[attachimg=3]
These were Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis.
In the wild the various Castilleja species will hybridize with each other, sometimes making identification challenging. These were true to type and very easily identified.
By chance I have this species in cultivation is our Garden. It has turned out to be very easy to cultivation in a very well drained soil. Having a somewhat root-parasitic nature I grow this species with Lupinus albifrons var. collinus. If this is necessary or not I am unsure. Anyway the plants seem to be doing very well with this arrangement.
[attachimg=4]
Lower in the canyon large colonies of Mimulus kelloggii began to appear. This and many other native annuals have benefited greatly from the adequate precipitation this year.
[attachimg=5]
Near the bottom of the canyon, the canyons walls narrowed and became very steep. There were many cliff faces where Dudleya cymosa grew and bloomed abundantly.
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[attachimg=1]
I occasionally found this Cirsium species, both near the upper canyon rim as well as near Silver Creek at the bottom of the canyon.
[attachimg=2]
It keyed out to be Cirsium andersonii, a common species in our area.
Some plants can be very ornamental with various amounts (none to a fair amount) of white/silvery cob-webbing around the phyllaries. This year I have a batch of seedlings I am testing in our garden. I am a bit concerned that they could be weedy, so I am using caution.
[attachimg=3]
Low in the canyon, the canyon walls were very steep with many waterfalls. This was a very enjoyable sight.
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Near the bottom of the canyon the number of non-native invasive species increased. Some of the non-native species can be attractive when in bloom. Pictured is a colony of Trifolim dubium with Petrorhiga dubia. Unfortunately there were plenty of the nasties too such as Convolvulus arvensis, Bromus tectorum, Torilis arvensis, ect.
Always a concern for me is how our native bunch grasses have been displaced by aggressive invasive species such as the various non-native Bromus species, as well as Avena sp, Hordeum sp, and other non-native species. I was very pleased to find some healthy colonies of our native bunch grass Stipa lemmonii.
[attachimg=5]
As I neared the bottom of the canyon Silver Creek appeared through the breaks in the forest canopy.
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A picture of a creek is usually appealing but a photo of a waterfall is ALWAYS appealing!
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[attachimg=1]
Another species seen in shady cliff faces was Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum.
[attachimg=2]
Sometimes there were interesting plant combinations such as this one; Polystichum imbricans ssp curtum growing with Pentagramma triangularis, and Dudleya cymosa.
[attachimg=3]
Three species of Phacelia were seen this day. Phacelia imbricata is the most wide spread and common species in the lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada.
[attachimg=4]
Occasionally Phacelia purpusii was seen blooming perched on rock ledges.
[attachimg=5]
Finally I arrived at Silver Creek, elevation 2,943 feet (897 meters), 1,693 feet (516 meters) and 4.21 miles (6.78 km) from the canyon rim where I had started.
I had partly hiked into the canyon to see if I could find Lewisia serrata. I had some good ideas where to look, however the water was too high in the creek to cross and check the shady rock faces on the other side of the creek. In addition, in the other direction there was a large penstock and hydro-electric power plant that I did not want to deal with.
Lewisia serrata would have to wait until another day. I still had one additional site to check before returning home and I now needs to hike out of the canyon.
Too be continued.......
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A picture of a creek is usually appealing but a photo of a waterfall is ALWAYS appealing!
Maggi,
There were a number of waterfalls in this area. It was very spectacular! The sound of the falls as I neared the canyon bottom was exciting. It may not have been Yosemite Valley but still this was all very beautiful. The plants were great too.
I have one more installment with more beautiful plants. Hopefully some stimulating ideas for our gardens at home!
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Waterfalls are nice of course, but at home I do see more waterfalls than nice plants ;D The blooming season has just started now.
Very nice Robert!
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Part III
Jay Bird Reservoir
&
Peavine Ridge
[attachimg=1]
Returning to the truck, I was struck by the beauty of this canyon. This is an area that I will definitely want to return to and explore in more detail.
[attachimg=2]
On returning I generally enjoy taking my time, especially to see what species I might have missed on the outward part of the journey. This day I did not miss much, 5 species out of 125 plus species tallied for the day.
Of other interest is spotting plants that may be of horticultural interest. I saw many Mimulus kelloggii this day, however this one plant was exceptional in form and flower.
[attachimg=3]
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides was frequently seen this day, however most had not started their bloom cycle yet.
[attachimg=4]
This specimen of Solanum xanti was above average too.
[attachimg=5]
I finally arrived at the canyon rim and was ready to proceed to one of my favorite sites on Peavine Ridge. Right before leaving, I spotted this striking colony of Erysimum capitatum. So many of our California Native Erysimum species are worthy of cultivation and certainly this species is too.
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[attachimg=1]
Peavine Ridge is a botanically interesting area for many reasons. This site, at 5,158 feet (1,572 meters), is a place that I visit frequently. My timing was prefect to see Calochortus minimus in bloom.
[attachimg=2]
Last year I spotted only a few blooming plants at this site. This year there were hundreds.
[attachimg=3]
I have considerable interest in the Genus Viola. So far, I have found three species on this part of the ridge: Viola purpurea, V. lobata, and V. sheltonii.
Pictured one can see Viola purpurea and V. sheltonii growing only a few cm from each other. This year all the Viola sheltonii had finished there bloom cycle, however in other seasons they can be seen blooming with Viola purpurea. The chromosome count of both species can be 2n=12 (some forms of V. purpurea are 2n=24), so hybrids are theoretically possible. Other forms of incompatibility are possible too, however I always keep an eye-out for possible hybrids.
[attachimg=4]
Ceanotheus prostratus grows at this site. Generally the flowers of this species are deep lavender-blue to pale bluish-white. This specimen had nice white flowers. Ceanothus species are know to hybridize with each other, however this plant appeared to be true to the species.
[attachimg=5]
Walking among the rocks Lupinus latifolius was just starting to bloom.
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Out in the open sun among the rocks there were many Allium obtusum var. conspicuum in bloom. The variety conspicuum is noted as being uncommon, however this is the variety I most often see in this part of the Sierra Nevada.
[attachimg=2]
Triteleia ixioides was just starting into bloom among the rocks. Its main bloom cycle starts in a few weeks. They will be followed by Dichelostemma multiflorum, which grows abundantly at this site too.
[attachimg=3]
In other areas there were sheets of Sanicula tuberosa in bloom making a striking cover of yellow among emerging grasses.
[attachimg=4]
Close by there was a good view of the High peaks of the Crystal Range and the approaching storm clouds. There is still a considerable amount of snow in the higher terrain. Next week I hope to visit the Lyon's Creek area, the headwaters of which start at the base of Pyramid Peak, the highest peak on the right hand side of the photograph. There I hope to see snow melt species as they emerge and bloom. Further exploration of Poho Ridge, down the mountain a bit, is another choice if there is still too much snow in the Lyon's Creek area.
I hope you have all enjoyed! :) Until next time.
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Waterfalls are nice of course, but at home I do see more waterfalls than nice plants ;D The blooming season has just started now.
Very nice Robert!
Trond,
There must be many, many wonderful waterfalls in Norway! You have certainly shown a few. :)
Some of my recent plans "felt through", however I am extremely busy with exciting and interesting work to do here in the Sierra Nevada. Great progress is being made and I hope to be sharing all of this on the forum.
I look forward to another bloom season in Norway. :)
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. . . .
Near the bottom of the canyon the number of non-native invasive species increased. Some of the non-native species can be attractive when in bloom. Pictured is a colony of Trifolim dubium with Petrorhiga dubia. Unfortunately there were plenty of the nasties too such as Convolvulus arvensis, Bromus tectorum, Torilis arvensis, ect.
Always a concern for me is how our native bunch grasses have been displaced by aggressive invasive species such as the various non-native Bromus species, as well as Avena sp, Hordeum sp, and other non-native species. I was very pleased to find some healthy colonies of our native bunch grass Stipa lemmonii.
Robert,
are you sure it is Trifolium dubium? I think it looks more like T. campestre. They are both native to Norway although the first one is rare. When I find T. campestre I always look for other interesting plants as it is usually found in warm rather dry habitats.
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Erysimum capitatum stands out! We have 2 onions (Allium sp) around here. Neither are as showy as yours :)
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Robert,
are you sure it is Trifolium dubium? I think it looks more like T. campestre. They are both native to Norway although the first one is rare. When I find T. campestre I always look for other interesting plants as it is usually found in warm rather dry habitats.
Trond,
I must not get sloppy with my work! :)
Both Trifolium dubium and T. campestre grow in California and are easy to distinguish from each other, .....as long as one is paying attention. From the photograph I can not determine how striated the flowers might be. I do not want to get sloppy. :o Thank you for this remark! :) :) :)
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I think Polystichum imbricans is my favourite of all those plants - what a lovely fern that is with that young foliage. We grow quite a few species but not the smaller alpine forms. A trough combining those various different plants growing as they do in nature would be very nice 8).
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Another great plant series Robert! Thanks for posting.
That combination of Polystichum, Pentagramma and Dudleya looks ready to be 'transposed' in the garden :)
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I think Polystichum imbricans is my favourite of all those plants - what a lovely fern that is with that young foliage. We grow quite a few species but not the smaller alpine forms. A trough combining those various different plants growing as they do in nature would be very nice 8).
Tim,
I enjoy Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum too. I have returned to re-examine some of the plants that I had initially thought to be spp. imbricans. So far, all of the specimens have definitely turned out to be ssp. curtum. The sub marginal sori are very clear on these plants. Since then I have examined specimens with mixed characteristics regarding the placement of the sori. I am uncertain how to understand this right now.
Besides all of this, Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum is a very attractive plant. I do cultivate ssp. curtum in our garden and so far it appears to be of easy culture as long as the soil drainage is perfect (the plants are still very young and small). I almost always find ssp. curtum growing on cliff faces or rocky ledges. This certainly is a clue to its cultivation.
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Another great plant series Robert! Thanks for posting.
That combination of Polystichum, Pentagramma and Dudleya looks ready to be 'transposed' in the garden :)
Gabriela,
The Polystichum, Pentagramma, Dudleya combination was just one of many beautiful sights this day.
I am very happy to share my experiences and am always happy to hear from those that express their appreciation. Thank you. :)
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Trond,
I must not get sloppy with my work! :)
Both Trifolium dubium and T. campestre grow in California and are easy to distinguish from each other, .....as long as one is paying attention. From the photograph I can not determine how striated the flowers might be. I do not want to get sloppy. :o Thank you for this remark! :) :) :)
Robert,
I don't think you ever go sloppy with your work :)
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Robert,
I don't think you ever go sloppy with your work :)
Trond,
I think that I was joking around with myself. We all make mistakes - it is only human. I guess I was thinking of the lighter side of a simple mistake. Trying to not take myself too seriously. :)
Both Trifolium dubium and T. campestre grow in our area. At times the two species can look close enough that they can be confused unless one takes the time to look more closely. I absolutely enjoyed your comment and appreciate that you were able to correctly identify the species from Norway. Very cool! 8) Also, such comments improve my abilities! :) Very much a win win situation. :)
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A few scenes from yesterday's outing. The wildflowers were stunningly beautiful!
[attachimg=1]
The South Fork of the American River full of water from snow melt. Great news for us here, in this part of California.
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Poho Ridge looking southeast toward the Sierra crest. This area suffered considerable damage from the King Fire. There certainly was damage, however natural regeneration is proceeding. In addition, many areas appear to have gained benefit from the fire. More on this in my report.
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Mimulus aurantiacus var. grandiflorus. One of many wildflowers seen in all of their glory.
[attachimg=4]
Just a sampling of the amazing wildflower gardens seen yesterday.
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Robert,
you probably know more about European plants than I know about Californian ones :D
And you are right: stunningly beautiful blooming :o :)
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Poho Ridge
Part I
Wednesday, 11 May 2016
Sacramento Weather
High Clouds
Temperature, High: 89 F (31.5 C), Low: 55 F (13 C)
Placerville Weather
High Clouds
Temperature, High: 85 F (29.5 C), Low: 47 F (8 C)
[attachimg=1]
Early in the morning I set out from Sacramento toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains. My first plan was to check on snow melt species in the Lyon's Creek area. At 6,144 feet (1,873 meters) the road started to get blocked by snow. The site I wished to visit is at 6,800 feet (2,073 meters) another 656 feet (200 meters) in elevation gain. It would have been a long hike over the snow and most likely considerably more snow at the Lyon's Creek site. I decided to retreat down the mountain and explore the Poho Ridge area. It will be better to visit Lyon's Creek in another 2-3 weeks.
[attachimg=2]
Poho Ridge overlooks the South Fork of the American River. North of the river, the ridge runs from Silver Creek to the east, westward to Slab Creek. This area is just east of the area explored last.
[attachimg=3]
As I drove down into the canyon I was very pleased to find Bush Poppy, Dendromecon rigida in bloom.
[attachimg=4]
The flowers of this species are generally held at the end of long glaucous stems and with the same glaucous foliage. Plants can become rangy, however fire or a hard pruning will cause this species to produce many new shoots from the base creating a much bushier plant. The flowers are very attractive.
[attachimg=5]
The north facing canyon slope is well forested with a mixed coniferous, deciduous broad leaf forest. This shady haven is enjoyed by species such as Calochortus albus (pictured) as well as a host of fern species and other shade loving species.
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This north facing cliff also has an open spring with dripping / running water at all seasons along part of the cliff face.
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Moisture and shade loving species such as Adiantum aleuticum thrive here. Polystichum californicum and Cystoperis fragilis were other moisture loving ferns found growing in mossy pockets on the rock face.
[attachimg=3]
Still in the shade, but in much drier locations, Sedum spathulifolium clung directly to the rocks displaying their showy yellow flowers.
[attachimg=4]
In other dry, but still shady locations, the airy wanders of Heuchera micrantha were covered with their small white flowers.
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At the base of the rock face there were many colonies of Collinsia tinctoria still waiting to come into flower. This species can be easily identified by its distinctive molted foliage at this time of year.
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Aralia californica always grows with its feet (roots) in the water. This specimen was growing directly out of the rock face with dripping and running water everywhere. This species has huge, bold, compound leaves that can be very striking in appearance.
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From here I moved over to the sunny, south facing side of the canyon. On this bank of the river, the whole canyon side was covered with blooming yellow wildflowers.
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This wildflower display extended from the river bank all of the way to the top of Poho Ridge.
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Each rocky ledge had its own combination species and colors.
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This ledge was dominated by Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides and Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii.
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[attachimg=1]
Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii grows in very xeric envirnoments. I generally find them on hot, south facing rock ledges and cliff faces. Today was no exception.
[attachimg=2]
As I moved up the canyon side I finally glimpsed the dominate species blooming on this canyon side. Everywhere there were huge drifts of Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides in bloom.
[attachimg=3]
Closer examination revealed that the Eriophyllum did not grow in pure stands, but in endless variation with other species. In some locations the combinations were stunning, as I will show later.
[attachimg=4]
One example of the species mixture was this one of Eriophyllum lanatum blooming with Gilia capitata.
[attachimg=5]
There were even differences to note among the Eriophyllum varieties. Many of the specimens I examined were the large flowered variety Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum with many of their ray flowers petals measuring 18-20 mm in length.
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[attachimg=1]
Another species sharing the sunny cliff faces was Mimulus aurantiacus var. grandiflorus.
[attachimg=2]
This species generally blooms in a variety of pastel shades.
[attachimg=3]
This day I observed blooming plants ranging from pale to light yellowish-orange. Mimulus aurantiacus var. aurantiacus also grows in our area, however variety aurantiacus has much deeper orange to orange-yellow flowers. In addition, the corolla lobes of var. grandiflorus are each distinctively 2 lobed.
[attachimg=4]
Most of the plants were blooming profusely and looked great.
[attachimg=5]
Other species had their subtle beauty too. Gilia capitata grew both in pure stands as well as mixed with other species.
This was all incredibly beautiful and I took a considerable amount of time examining everything, however there was much, much more to see.
To be continued........
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What an amazing display of wildflowers Robert! Mimulus aurantiacus var. grandiflorus is incredible beautiful growing like that on the rock face; and so are all the others.
Dendromecon flowers are similar with those of Hylomecon :) (makes sense, they are all 'mekons')
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Gabriela,
I can't see any similarities with the Mekon? ;D
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/alexfrith/walkermekon.jpg)
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Joke aside, I agree - it is incredible beautiful!
- and I love water, both trickles and big streams (whatever I have said before ;) ).
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Gabriela,
I can't see any similarities with the Mekon? ;D
What did I miss Trond? ??? Was I born too late? ;D
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What did I miss Trond? ??? Was I born too late? ;D
The drawing of Mekon is from 1997 so you have to be very young then ;) (I don't know the figure either, just came across it)
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What did I miss Trond? ??? Was I born too late? ;D
For sure ! Read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/anderson/scarlet/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/anderson/scarlet/)
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Poho Ridge
Part II
[attachimg=1]
Continuing on among the rock ledges.....
Bird's-foot Fern, Pellaea mucronata, was frequently seen on the sunny rock ledges and cliff faces. This species endures brutally hot, dry conditions and yet it thrives, remaining evergreen throughout the hot, dry summer and autumn months.
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There were plenty of other wildflowers to be seen in this area. On slopes with a bit more soil, there were large colonies of the annual Lupine, Lupinus nanus. The flowers of this species are rather large and make a considerable impression.
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More Lupinus nanus.
Also pictured is the yellow flowered invasive, Trifolium dubium. Both Trifolium dubium and T. campestre grow in our area. The two species are fairly easy to distinguish from each other if they are examined closely. Trifolium campestre generally has 20 or more flowers per inflorescence, T. dubium generally 5-10 flowers per inflorescence. In addition, there are differences in the striations on the flowers, as well as differences in the relationship of the petiole length to the leaflet length in the mid-leaves. There are other subtle difference as well.
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There were a number of non-native Trifolium species in this area. Tomcat Clover, Trifolium wildenovii, pictured, is one of our native clover species.
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There were a fair number of Themidaceae seen this day. Pictured is Dichelostemma multiflorum. On the top of Poho Ridge I also found Dichelostemma congestum in bloom. The two species can look similar, however the perianth crown of Dichelostemma congestum is deeply notched, thus the common name, Fork-toothed Ookow. The perianth crown of Dichelostemma multiflorum is generally rounded or truncate, however I have seen plants where the perianth crown is shallowly notched or lobed, but not deeply notched.
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As I moved higher on the ridge there were areas with much more soil. The wildflower displays in these areas were spectacular and stunningly beautiful.
This is one such display with Lupinus nanus, Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum, and Trifolium hirtum.
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It was difficult to restrain myself. It was very compelling to capture the scenes with photographs.
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More beautiful combinations.
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Trifloium hirtum, the dominate species in bloom in this photograph, is a very common non-native invasive in our area. Most of the time it does not make much of an impression on me. Here it look fantastic with our native species.
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There were many other things to see, so I continued on to the crest of Poho Ridge.
The landscape may look green with grasses between the burned out trees, however I was soon to find that a huge variety of other wildflowers grew in these areas.
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In many places, the King Fire burned intensely hot on the slopes approaching the canyon crest. Even in these situations, where there seemed to be no life after the fire, there has been strong regeneration of species well adapted to fire.
Pictured is Ericameria arborescens a pioneer species that regenerates and grows strongly after a fire.
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There were also many seedlings of White Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida. This species does not "stump sprout" as other California Arctostaphylos species are capable, however it is still very well adapted to survival with fire.
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Other areas along the ridge crest were showing very strong regeneration with an amazing diversity of species.
This blooming Purple Milkweed, Asclepias cordifolia, caught my attention. I am happy that it did, as there turned out to be many interesting and beautiful species at this site.
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Among the regrowth, I found Viola lobata in bloom by the hundreds.
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This site contained the largest concentration of this species that I have found to date. A real treasure!
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More Viola lobata.
I often try to understand why a species will grow in large concentrations at one site and yet is not commonly seen throughout the rest of the region. Such things are generally not simple, multiple factors being involved. In the case of the Violas, fire may have been a contributing factor in their strong growth at this site. I also noticed the kaolinite based soil, reddish from iron oxide, they were growing in. I have found this species in both kaolinite based soils as well as soils based on other rocks and minerals. Something for me to file away in my mind and contemplate.
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Bear Clover, Chamaebatia foliolosa, is a common species at this elevation, 3,311 feet (1,009 meters). This species often forms large carpets under the tree canopy at this altitude. Regeneration after a fire is generally very strong, as it was at this location.
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Lathyrus sulphereus was found twinning and blooming among the other plant species.
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For me it is a very attractive species worthy of garden cultivation. I have yet to give it a try, however it is high on my priority list.
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Another attractive Lathyrus species sharing this site was L. nevadense. I found some excellent forms of this species on my trip to the Mokelomne River canyon (Yes, I will post this outing sometime in the future :-[ ).
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The range of plants you are showing us is astounding. Thank you, Robert, for opening my eyes to these riches.
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There were hundreds of Calochortus monophyllus blooming at this site.
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I enjoy looking at all of the individual blooming plants as the flowers all have subtle differences and can be very fascinating.
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This specimen had more than ten flowers in the clump.
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I make a considerable effort to pay attention to all of the plant species (for me vascular species) at any given site. This requires some degree of time and patience as there are often numerous species and sometimes small subtle species to examine.
Pictured is a common invasive grass at this elevation, Bromus tectorum. I take note of such things, as invasive grasses have had a huge impact on our California ecology and environment. How such species interact with the ecology and environment can be very interesting (at least for me).
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Where there was a bit more shade I found Rubus glaucifolius growing among the tangle of regrowth. Sadly I rarely find berries on this species. The wild creatures find them first.
There is more!
To be continued......
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The range of plants you are showing us is astounding. Thank you, Robert, for opening my eyes to these riches.
Maggi,
I am very pleased to share these outings. I believe there are tremendous riches almost everywhere. I often view Ian's Bulb Log and think of the fantastic treasure you and Ian have in your own backyard (front yard too)!
We can find such things everywhere and can hopefully be truly inspired in our gardens and local environments. I know some folks have only small container gardens, yet such things can still be inspiring and beautiful.
And yes, the plants and environment were especially beautiful and inspiring this day. I am glad that you and hopefully many other enjoy! :) :) :)
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A coincidence that you should picture the Bromus on a day when Bob Nold in Colorado has been bemoaning
(elsewhere) the field overrun with the stuff that ajoins his property. A real nuisance indeed.(But elegant too!)
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Oh, that was a treat Robert after along day weeding before we open the garden tomorrow. Some tremendous pictures! Nature really does know best. I'm more intrigued by the xerophytic ferns; imagining a rocky trough devoted to them (a project for the future).
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Robert,
I am enjoying your colourful report while looking out on a very bleak landscape up here. What a contrast!
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A coincidence that you should picture the Bromus on a day when Bob Nold in Colorado has been bemoaning
(elsewhere) the field overrun with the stuff that ajoins his property. A real nuisance indeed.(But elegant too!)
Maggi,
The invasive non-native Bromus species are generally nasty things to deal with around here. 4 to 6 species (Bromus diandrus being on the top of the list - Ripgut Brome is a very appropriate common name) can be terrible to deal with after they have dried somewhat. They getting in ones clothing while weeding, doing fire control, and other activities. Sometimes I look like a porcupine after doing fire control. It is a real mess! :P
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Oh, that was a treat Robert after along day weeding before we open the garden tomorrow. Some tremendous pictures! Nature really does know best. I'm more intrigued by the xerophytic ferns; imagining a rocky trough devoted to them (a project for the future).
Tim,
There are plenty of xeric rock ferns here in California. I will show photographs as I can.
Yes, the wildflowers were awesome on this day. I am looking forward to the growing season in the high country. The wildflowers can be amazing there too, especially when there has been adequate precipitation.
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Robert,
I am enjoying your colourful report while looking out on a very bleak landscape up here. What a contrast!
Trond,
It seems that we have swapped weather. We have had some showery and cool weather the past two weeks or so. For us, this has been very welcome, as we can use all the rain and snow that we can get. The cool weather also delays the snow melt in the high Sierra Nevada. This provides us with more water later in the season when we especially need it.
Awhile back I think that you had warmer temperatures in Norway that we had here in our part of California. It has turned cool the past few days but more warm weather is just around the corner for us.
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Poho Ridge
Part III
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Continuing where I left off.....
Rosa bridgesii seemed to have gained benefit from the King Fire. It is a dwarf suckering species. At this site new shoots had sprouted throughout the other plants. Many were blooming and their delightful fragrance filled the air.
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A short distance from the ridge crest there was a small stream in a shady swale. Here I found a completely different mix of species. Near the stream there were colonies of Star-flower, Trientalis latifolia.
This species was once in the Primrose family, Primulaceae, now it is in the Myrsinaceae, the Myrsine family going under the name Lysimachia latifolia. In the second edition of The Jepson Manual of Vascular Plants of California, 2012 this species is listed in the Myrsinaceae family, but still under the genus name Trientalis. Many plant names are certainly changing!
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Where there was abundant moisture there were colonies of Dicentra formosa in bloom.
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I did not spot any unusual forms of Dicentra at this site, however I did see some when exploring the Mokelomne River canyon. Hopefully time will become available for me to post this outing as there were certainly a number of interesting plants that I came across.
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On the slope above the Dicentra grew Delphinium gracientum.
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The flower blossoms of Delphineum gracilentum range in color from various shades of pale lavender-blue, pink, to shades of white. At this site all the plants were various shades of white, however I have seen some colonies where there can be a mixture of different color forms.
I enjoy growing various Delphinium species in our garden. Delphinium gracilentum has proved to be one of the more difficult species to establish in our garden, however I keep trying.
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Another species that enjoyed this shaded swale was Fringe Cups, Tellima grandiflora. It like Huechera are members of the Saxifragaceae family and the relationship to each other is easy to see in both the flowers and foliage.
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The stream in the swale drained into a larger canyon where Brush Creek Reservoir was located.
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Some folks fishing at the reservoir had a mean dog running around without a leash, so I did not hang around very long.
I did see this lily. The species may have been Lilium washingtonianum. I looked around for more plants that might bloom this season, however I did not see any.
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At this time I moved back to the ridge crest to further examine the fire damage on the ridge.
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I wanted to examine some of the "hot spots" where the fire burned most intensely. As with the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, there was not much life even after two seasons in these areas, however they were not completely lifeless or without natural regeneration.
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Scattered in the barren mineral earth there were seedlings of both Knobcone Pine, Pinus attenuata and Arctostaphylos viscida. Knobcone Pine is more or less completely dependent on fire for its propagation. The cones of this species will remain completely closed and cling to the tree until a fire comes through their area opening the cones and releasing the seeds. If one looks closely at the first photograph from the ridge top (reply #290, last photograph), one can see the burned remains of some Knobcone Pine and their open cones still clinging to the tree branches.
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Nearby, where the fire was just a bit less intense Triteleia ixioides was in bloom.
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There were also nice clumps of Wyethia angustifolia in bloom too.
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It was now getting late and time to return toward home.
On the way back, across the river, and up out of the canyon I spotted a few Penstemon heterophyllus in bloom.
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One of the clumps of Penstemon heterophyllus was quit nice with good form and many flowers.
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The last treat after a delightful day in the mountains were the blooming colonies of Phlox speciosa. I do not come across this species as frequently as I might expect to, so this turned out to be an excellent way to end this day.
Until next time! :)
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Trond,
It seems that we have swapped weather. We have had some showery and cool weather the past two weeks or so. For us, this has been very welcome, as we can use all the rain and snow that we can get. The cool weather also delays the snow melt in the high Sierra Nevada. This provides us with more water later in the season when we especially need it.
Awhile back I think that you had warmer temperatures in Norway that we had here in our part of California. It has turned cool the past few days but more warm weather is just around the corner for us.
We had very warm weather for a short week. Now it is back to normal again :-\
Glad to hear you get a little rain - and nice to see the regrowth after the fires!
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I know some of the plants you show this time :)
Dicentra formosa is a common garden plant here and do very well in my garden. Tellima grandiflora too!
Robert, do you know the difference between the European and American star-flower (Trientalis)? They look quite similar to my eyes.
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Nice findings again Robert :)
I still have Trientalis as in Primulaceae on my seeds shop, so I'll have to change it. I never saw it belonging there, same I don't see it in Myrsinaceae, but of course it doens't matter...
I'll let you answer Trond question.
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I always say that god did not create species in order for humans to be able classify them, and this whole situation with Trientalis, Anagalis, and Lysimachia proves my point. If anyone is interested in learning more, you can get an overview from this paper: http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3372/wi.39.39103 (http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3372/wi.39.39103) . Apparently Trientalis may be a genus with a hybrid origin, among other things. The great "sin" of Trientalis, Anagalis, etc. is that they render Lysimachia paraphyletic, which in my view is no great problem, just the way that evolution works. And Trientalis as a genus has probably been around for a good length of time, given its wide distribution around the northern hemisphere.
If anyone is interested in an explanation of the problems created by combining phylogeny and taxonomy, this is a good read, and is also pertinent to the recent Dodecatheon/Primula discussion: http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resbot/EvSy/PDF/Brummitt_bonyfish.pdf (http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resbot/EvSy/PDF/Brummitt_bonyfish.pdf)
Ed
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Wow, that is quite hard going Ed (the first reference), because in a way you have to wear several hats depending on the information and use you want to make of phylogeny and taxonomy. I think I follow the gist, that if you are not careful you can end up losing sight of the true diversity of plants - and the value of seeing that for what it is. I will have to try and read through it again with a steady mind, but as a gardener/plantsman - and someone who has also studied the detail of the physiology and chemistry of plants - I find more names more valuable than fewer (within limits), because of properly distinguishing between species that are morphologically so obviously different. It can a bit like beginning to learn all over again!!
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Ed,
This is interesting information. I may never be able to get "up-to-speed" on some of this information. After care giving for years, it is a challenge for me just to get caught up with the basics. :'( All of this information certainly has its place. Personally my efforts are towards making botany and horticulture relevant for everyday people in our everyday world. This certainly can has it challenges and rewards too. Anyway, thanks for the additional information.
Ed,
I finally read both articles thoroughly. Very fascinating! The last paragraph of Mr. Brummitt's letter to the editor certainly caught my attention as a "practical user". It will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out. From my perspective there seems to be increasing amounts of taxonomic chaos, but then I'm a "penny ante operator", if that, in all of this.
Anyway, thanks again for sharing this interesting information. :) 8)
Trond,
I will have to pay closer attention to Trientalis while in the field. I did look up Trientalis latifolia in my 2012 version of Jepson's Manual. I was somewhat surprised to find T. europaea listed as native to California (the far northwestern part of the state). Some of the difference listed between the species: 1.) T. europaea has some cauline leaves, T. latifolia does not 2.) T. europaea generally has a white corolla, T. latifolia the corolla is generally + or - pink. I know that I want to examine this last point more closely in the field. I seem to find plenty of white flowered T. latifolia in the field. Maybe I am not paying close enough attention to them? I will start checking for cauline leaves too. My brother has remarked to me that "field observations and data often trump lab observations and data". Sometimes I wonder how much actual field time is spent observing the diversity of any given species. I truly do not know, however I ponder such things at times.
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Thanks for the links Ed, super interesting. Like Tim said, I'll have to read through them with a steady mind (i.e. when we'll get three rainy days in a row :)
Sometimes I wonder if it's so important mentioning the family anymore, especially when the info is addressed towards gardeners or people who just want say to recognize it in the field.
Robert - all Trientalis latifolia I saw had +/- pink flowers. It is clearly distinct of T. borealis. I never saw T. europaea in 'flesh'. From what I know they differ not only by leaves but also in the lenght of flower pedicels.
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Robert - and Gabriela, thanks for the infomation.
I have planted Trientalis latifolia (from seed) in my garden but the plants were still very small last year. Hope I get flower this year (if they survive!).
Regarding the colour - Trientalis europaea can be pink!
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Trond,
With this week's posting there will be photographs of Trientalis latifolia with flowers that are either pink, white, or shades in between (take ones pick). I was very curious so I spent some time checking the plants in the area (there were many) for cauline leaves. Not small leaves or leaves very close to the distal whorl of leaves, but some more or less in the middle of the stem. It may not be very common but a few plants indeed can have cauline leaves.
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This week's posting will be somber compared to last week's extravaganza of blooming wildflowers.
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A scene from the King Fire burn area.
This week I traveled to one of the locations severally damaged by the King Fire. For me, the outing was extremely enjoyable (despite hurt feelings over the destruction seen) and interesting. There is something to learn from everything and I look forward to the progression of events over the years in this part of the burn area.
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Rubicon River Canyon
Ellicott's Crossing
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Sacramento Weather
High Clouds
Temperature, High: 94 F (34.5 C), Low: 65 F (18 C)
Placerville Weather
High Clouds
Temperature, High: 88 F (31 C), Low: 52 F (11 C)
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This week's outing took me to the northern boarder of El Dorado County where the Rubicon River is the boundary with Placer County to the north. This area was severely impacted by the King Fire two seasons ago. I'm quite interested is studying the impact this fire had on the region. In 2002, I had done a preliminary plant survey of the Rubicon River Canyon. In addition, our family summer cabin had been in this area for many years. I am fortunate to be very familiar with the terrain, past history, and plant species of the area. This is a great opportunity to see how the ecology - natural history progresses and changes into the future.
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My first stop was at the southern canyon rim, 4,666 feet (1,422 meters).
Despite the fact that most of the forest trees had burned and were dead, there was considerable regrowth on the forest floor. There were huge colonies of Viola lobata in bloom throughout this area.
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Joining Viola lobata was an equal number of Viola purpurea.
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Most of the Viola purpurea were past their prime bloom cycle, however many still had flowers along with many seed pods ripening on the same blooming plants.
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Where there was adequate sunlight and some bare mineral earth, Mimulus torreyi was growing and blooming abundantly.
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Mimulus torreyi, a California Native annual, is a tiny species. I have found this species growing over a broad altitude range in El Dorado County, California, from the mid-elevations well into the arctic-alpine zones.
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Much of the shrubbery has recovered well at this site. Bushy and blooming plants, 2 meter high, of Frangula rubra ssp. rubra were scattered about.
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Also, at this site, was a sightly different manifestation of Rosa bridgesii. The plants at this site were double serrated, however it took a very close look to notice.
Soon the path I was traveling started to descend into the Rubicon River Canyon, however I first needed to pass a slash pile from the salvage logging that had taken place in the area. The whole site had been colonized by the invasive Tansy Mustard, Descurainia sophia. This species does not concern me, however logging and logging equipment too often introduce new and sometimes highly invasive species. I like to take look around these areas too and see what is going on.
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The path traversed the more shaded north facing slope of the canyon where there were many Maianthemum racemosum in bloom.
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Maianthemum racemosum, as well as its related species, M. stellata grow in our region. They are extremely easy to grow in a woodland garden.
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This slope was also prime habitat for Trientalis latifolia, Lysimachia latifolia. Many grew and were in bloom along this slope. The flowers ranged in color from clear pink, through various shades of pale pink, to pure white. In addition, maybe 0.5% had cauline leaves.
One can look at the next few photographs and see some of the flower color range for themselves.
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Pink shades.
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Somewhat pale pink.
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Very white.
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As I moved on, Draperia systla was frequently seen in bloom in sunnier, but still fairly shady spots.
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Robert,
Although the great fire has damaged a lot it is very interesting to see how the nature regenerates!
Trientalis latifolia seems to have bigger/broader leaves than its European cousin. Moreover, they are devoured by slugs! The native ones are left unscathed.
Old picture, they have not started flowering yet.
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I do grow Maianthemum stellatum but not racemosum in my garden :)
Rosa bridgesii looks great! - as do all the other ones :)
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I was delighted to find some good stems of Lilium washingtonianum. The deer like to eat the tops out of the lilies and Fritillarias leaving no flowers. The best plants are often those growing out of the shrubbery where the deer can not reach them. Along this slope I found only 3 specimens, however in this area I have found mountainsides covered with thousands of blooming lilies. The fragrance of this species is very clove-like and delightful.
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At one point along the slope, there were many Thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus, in bloom. The fruit of this species is good to eat, if you can get to it before the wild creatures do. I generally associate this species with springs or running water. I did not see any signs of a spring, however ground water must be present during the whole growing season.
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Soon the path opened into a sunny area where there had been some salvage logging. There were a few specimens of Calyptridium monospermum in bloom. The cauline leaves (seen in the photograph) on the flowering stems is one characteristic that is used to identify this species.
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Also in bloom in this sunny, mineral earth area, was Collinsia torreyi var. torreyi. This is one of our smaller growing species, and of coarse an annual too.
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I still had much I wanted to accomplish, so I hiked back up the ridge to the truck. From here I drove down into the Rubicon River Canyon to Ellicott's Crossing, 3,514 feet (1,071 meters). These days they call this site Ellicott's Bridge, however I spent many summers in this area when I was younger. A long time ago the site was called Ellicott's Crossing as one needed to drive through the water to cross the river. As a boy, I remember an old wooden bridge across the river. Now there is a steel - concrete bridge that crosses far above the river.
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Although the fire has changed things considerably, I parked the truck in my usual place and started hiking east toward Hell Hole Reservoir a good number of miles up stream. I had hiked this trail many time during the 2002 survey season. I was very curious to see what impact the fire might have had.
I was very pleased to be greeted by many blooming clumps of Iris hartwegii.
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The whole scene was marvelous, for in addition to the Iris there were large drifts of Penstemon heterophyllus in bloom, as well as the bight yellow-orange, Acmispon nevadensis var. nevadensis.
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I was not hard to see how nature was adjusting to the aftermath of the King Fire. Much of the forest floor was carpeted with masses of small plants of Ceanothus integerrimus var. macrothyrsus. The whole canyon side was covered more or less in this manner.
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This certainly seemed to be beneficial to ecosystem. The Rubicon River was flowing clear and clean without any signs of slitting. In addition, as I hiked the tail toward Hell Hell Reservoir I saw no indications of major erosion or slippage in the canyon.
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The original crossing and old bridge site is very old. Many invasive species have long established themselves here. Here grew the usual mix of invasives such as Bromus tectorum, B. diandrus, B. hordeaceus, and Hordeum murinum, as well as Rumex crispus, Rubus armeniacus, and many others.
It was pleasing to see some native species, such as Mimulus bicolor, blooming at this old river crossing.
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Brilliant stuff as usual Robert.
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The trail climbs rather steeply from its starting point at Ellicott's crossing. Although Ceanothus integerrimus dominated the regrowth, in places there were large patches of Draperia systyla in bloom. It was quite impressive, and has me reconsidering its value as an ornamental in the garden.
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Not only was the river running clean but the tributary streams seemed to be in good condition too. This small waterfall was quite pleasing.
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Stick Sedge, Carex multicaulis, is a very un-sedge-like sedge species. I do come across this species throughout the lower elevations of Sierra Nevada Mountains, as well as the higher foothill regions. I saw this species frequently this day. In addition, I also found one other Carex species in a moist area near the waterfall. This species key out as Carex infirminervia, a species very closely related to C. leptopoda.
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I hiked the trail as long as time allowed. Indian Pinks, Silene lancinata ssp. californica, were still in bloom and provided some bright color.
However, it was now getting late and time for me to return to the truck and home. I was very pleased with my efforts this day and hope to return soon to see how things progress as well as hike the complete route to Hell Hole Reservoir.
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This is how private land is being managed in the King Fire burn area. All growth is being removed down to the mineral earth. Not much is left growing. The area will be replanted with a monoculture of a single conifer species, most likely Ponderosa Pine. Massive amounts of herbicides and chemicals will be used to kill and suppress the growth of all other species. This area straddles both sides of Pilot Creek the chief tributary of Lake Edson and the drinking water supply of Georgetown and the whole Georgetown Divide.
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More salvage logging.
Scenes like this help me appreciate the wisdom of U. S. Forest Service and some of their land management practices. Leaving the dead trees standing in the Rubicon River Canyon will benefit the health of the ecosystem, as well as help maintain water quality in the Rubicon River. Nature is already repairing the damage done by the King Fire. Salvage logging, as currently practiced, within the canyon would create severe negative impacts to the whole canyon ecosystem.
For me, it will be a great pleasure to study the natural regeneration within the Rubicon River Canyon ecosystem over the future years.
Until next time...... :)
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Robert,
Although the great fire has damaged a lot it is very interesting to see how the nature regenerates!
Trientalis latifolia seems to have bigger/broader leaves than its European cousin. Moreover, they are devoured by slugs! The native ones are left unscathed.
I do grow Maianthemum stellatum but not racemosum in my garden :)
Rosa bridgesii looks great! - as do all the other ones :)
Trond,
I do not have any Trientalis europaea growing to make any comparison. I very much appreciate the observations and insights. Slugs are a big problem in our garden here in California too. Hopefully some of seed planted (T. europaea) will germinate. Like yours, all of my Trientalis latifolia seedlings were eaten by the slugs this spring. Nothing is left (or at least I do not think that anything is left), however I will try again.
We have a number of Rosa species here in California, some of which I already grow. The largest plant is in the shade of our orange tree and does not want to bloom. Maybe it is time to move it. ;D
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Brilliant stuff as usual Robert.
David,
Thank you so much. :)
This is certainly a fascinating and enjoyable project for me. I will endeavor to continue with a job well done.
Thank you again!
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Robert,
I always get depressed when I read about or see the use of herbicides, especially along the roads and in plantations. For me a mixed woodland is much more valuable than a monoculture. I am not sure a monoculture of trees will be more profitable in the long run as the whole ecosystem is destroyed.
What is the turnover time for a plantation of let's say Ponderosa pine?
Mimulus bicolor is cute :)
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This first film made by Peter Keith is an interesting, and balanced, view of forestry practices in the UK which could be learned from more widely. The pressures to manage woodland in a small country such as the UK are obviously far more immediate than in the vast landscapes of N. America, but the philosophy behind the ways this is done is surely universal, even where the ecology is so very different. Our woodlands and forests are incredibly important 'recreationally' (interesting to observe the meaning of that word!) as well as resources.
http://www.peterkeithfilms.co.uk/peter-keith-films-blog/?tag=Inspire+1#show-archive (http://www.peterkeithfilms.co.uk/peter-keith-films-blog/?tag=Inspire+1#show-archive)
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Draperia systyla is interesting, an endemic to California? in Boraginaceae ?
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Draperia systyla is interesting, an endemic to California? in Boraginaceae ?
Maggi,
Draperia systyla is indeed endemic to California. It is predominantly a mid-elevation dweller. The 200 to 3,000 meter elevation range listed for the species would place it at both lower elevation sites as well as high elevation sites, however, at least in El Dorado County, California, I would be hard pressed to find it at either elevation extreme.
Good forms are low, dense and full, with attractive long soft hairs on the foliage. I have not seen much of a color range regarding the flowers, however I always keep my eyes open for anything different or unusual.
As of today, I have never made an attempt at growing the species in our garden, however I will now give it a try. It looks as if hard to semi-hard wood cuttings could possibly root easily. Seed is always worth trying too.
For a long time Draperia was in the Hydrophyllaceae, Waterleaf, family. As of this moment, Hydrophyllaceae is now a sub-family of the Borage Family, Boraginaceae. From what little I know and can observe it appears the taxonomy of the Boraginaceae family could be in chaos. Nana lobbii (another attractive species seen in bloom on my last outing - photograph did not turn out) is now Eriodictyon lobbii and there are all sorts of other "changes" within the family too. Hang on! more changes could be coming in the future. For me this is a sad situation (the constant, and perhaps needless changes, some of which may most likely be based on human imperfection rather than science), however it is what we have to live with.
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Trond and Tim,
I do the best I can to report on what I observe without too much bias. However, I do admit that I have some very strong biases especially when it come to clear-cut logging and the use of herbicides in such situations.
Trond,
Perhaps to answer some of your question, I have observed mono-culture timber production in our area for many, many years. I have looked closely at the trees. Generally the trees do not seem healthy (many signs of disease and stress). It also seems that the timber is of extremely poor quality for lumber, perhaps only good for nothing more than pulp. Maybe this is the goal!? In the past, much of our California timber and timber products were shipped to Japan.
Remember I admit to a bias, however I will try to document (writing and photographs) what I observe in an open way. I hope that I can keep this open enough for others to come to their own conclusions based partly on the information I provide. Ultimately, I would like to see a system were the greatest good comes to the greatest number of beings (plants, animals, fish, air, water, humans, everything). Such things seem rare on this planet, however I feel compelled to try, even knowing the likelihood of any sort of even limited success is very slim.
And yes, I too often feel depresses at the clear-cutting, herbicide use, etc. It must have been how John Muir felt when they started to build Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. :'(
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I had a very interesting outing yesterday, 25 May 2016, to the North Fork of the Mokelomne River. As you can see the day started out clear with fine weather. This would change very quickly.
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My goal was to explore the north bank of Salt Springs Reservoir, a region of spectacular scenery.
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The weather was to turn tempestuous. A beautiful colony of Calochortus venustus in bloom was a great find despite being soaked to the bone.
I will be reporting on this adventure soon.
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Salt Springs Reservoir
Part I
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Temperature, High: 78 F (25.5 C), Low: 54 F (12 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Temperature, High: 75 F (24 C), Low: 48 F (9 C)
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On Wednesday, I set out for the upper regions of the North Fork of the Mokelomne River and Salt Springs Reservoir. It had been 10 years or more since I had last traveled or explored around Salt Springs Reservoir. I was very eager to return to this very special place.
The most direct route requires that I drive to over 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) into the Sierra Nevada before traveling deep into the Mokelomne River canyon and Salt Springs Reservoir.
The photograph is a view looking west toward the Sacramento Valley from this high point.
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I could have stopped here and stayed in this area to observe plants. There were many early season species in bloom such as this Phlox diffusa. Look closely and notice the Viola purprurea growing out from under the Phlox.
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I had a strong determination to continue to Salt Springs Reservoir. I wanted to explore the north bank of the reservoir. Most of the north bank and upper Mokelomne River Canyon is protected as wilderness. The north bank of Salt Springs Reservoir is one of the few mid-elevation sites in our part of California that is protected as wilderness, an excellent study site for some of my projects.
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Calaveras Dome is very near Salt Springs Reservoir.
In addition, the scenery is spectacular, in some ways similar to Yosemite National Park to the south. Another feature of this region is how the geology, topography, etc. create a unique mixture and overlapping of plant communities. Compared to other sites in our region, human activity and disturbance is somewhat limited. For me, this is a great place to study plants, natural history, etc.
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The annual Lupine species, Lupinus stiversii greeted me as I arrived at the trail head.
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The trail head that traverses the north shore of Salt Springs Reservoir starts at an elevation of 3,968 feet (1,210 meters). Other than an initial climb up and around a cliff face, the trail more or less follows the bank of the reservoir. My goal this day was to explore the north bank of the reservoir as well as some of the Mokelomne River Canyon above the reservoir.
Lupinus stiversii, an annual species, was quite colorful and grew abundantly in this area.
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The south facing canyon face is open and rocky as one starts out on the trail. Acmispon agrophyllus var. fremontii is well adapted to grow in such hot xeric sites. This species seems as if it would be perfect for a xeric rock garden in a somewhat temperate climate. One of the days I will give it a try.
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The growing season is progressing well into mid-season in this area. Keckellia breviflora grew abundantly in this hot, dry area and the plants were in full bloom.
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Minuartia californica also grew and was blooming abundantly in this area. Their tiny white flowers looked great mixed with the Mimulus torreyi, Dichelostemma multiflorum, Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum, and other species that they rambled about with.
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Directly facing the hot summer sun grew colonies of Dudleya cymosa. Generally, but not always, I find this species growing in more shaded locations.
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The day started out clear, however when I arrived at the reservoir convective cloud build up had already started. The weather was changing very rapidly. After a short distance it started to rain. At this point the rain was light and there was still blue sky ahead of me. I decided to continue toward the upper canyon.
Here the habitat was still very rocky, hot and dry. Eriodictyon californica was growing and blooming as the rain started to fall.
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Eriodictyon califronica has very leathery, resin laden leaves. Local Native Americans chewed the leaves like chewing gum. It is quite good, having a pleasant flavor.
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Lupinus grayi grew in sunnier sites near the reservoir. Huge tracts of this species were in full bloom in other areas, as I will show later.
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The trail eventually entered an ancient oak forest. Gigantic and gnarled oaks, Quercus chrysolepis, grew with their huge branches arching to the forest floor. Where there was adequate light nice clumps of Iris hartwegii were in flower.
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Draperia systyla is a common plant at this elevation. At one site I found this species growing with Calystegia malacophylla twinning in and around them. The leaf shape and tomentose foliage of Calystegia malacophylla is quite distinct. I hope that I can return when they are in bloom.
.....but now I needed to press on. The rain had stopped at this moment, however the sky was quickly becoming very dark and threatening.
To be continued....
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I'll make a little interruption, Robert. This is great! The annual Lupinus stiversii is very brilliant!
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I'd never even heard of the Lupinus stiversii before -an annual that would cheer anyone up.
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Doesn't the wonderful color combination of Lupinus stieversii make you immediately think of Polygala chamaebuxus rhodoptera? (Or whatever they call it these days?)
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Doesn't the wonderful color combination of Lupinus stieversii make you immediately think of Polygala chamaebuxus rhodoptera? (Or whatever they call it these days?)
Yes, it does, you're right. (and I don't know WHAT they are calling that these days!)
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Salt Springs Reservoir
Part II
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Throughout the morning and early afternoon the weather kept flirting with rain showers. As the day progressed the rain showers started to become more frequent and intense. Photography was very challenging under the circumstances, which is a shame as there were many different and interesting species I wished to photograph.
Between the rain drops I photographed this Asclepias cordifolia with Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum.
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Castilleja applegatei was the dominate Paintbrush species this day. It is very easily distinguished by its short glandular and long non-glandular hairs and wavy leaf margin. There are a number of subspecies that are straight forward in their identification, unfortunately I did not look close enough to make the determination. Mostly likely they were spp. pinetorum.
This was not the only Orobanchaceae I saw this day. Orobanche uniflora was in bloom here and there along the trail. Unfortunately, it was always raining when I saw them. :'(
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Another species seen frequently this day was Toxicoscordion paniculatum, one of 7 species that are native in California.
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I had managed to hike in 2.5 miles (4 km ). At this point the sky became very threatening and there was the sound of thunder not very far in the distance. It was time to retreat back to the truck - very quickly!
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Within 5 minutes the skies opened with heavy rain and hail. Now the thunder and lightning was right on top of me. I made quick time back to the truck, however at this point I was soaked to the bone. Foolishly I had left my rain gear at home thinking it would be a fine, clear weather day. :-[
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It was disappointing for me to miss the opportunity to photograph some of the species I saw. Comandra umbellata ssp. californica, is not a showy species, but is one that I do not see very often. They were in full bloom. There were also a number of native grasses in their prime, such as Elymus glaucus, Stipa lemmonii, and Melica torreyana.
There was even one mystery species (not in bloom) that I had never seen before. It "looked like" a native species, maybe something that could be predominantly an "east side" species (east of the Sierra crest). I will want to return to see and identify this species when it is in bloom. The potential of species spill-over from eastern Sierra habitats (and other regions to the north and south) is of prime interest to me in this area.
Now that I was soaked and would too easily chill, I needed to come up with another option for the rest of the day. Maybe some roadside "car botany".
There were plenty of nice things to see, such as this swath of Lupinus grayi and Iris hartwegii.
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As mentioned earlier, there were large areas of Lupinus grayi in full bloom. It was spectacular.
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Lupinus grayi is somewhat similar to L. breweri (I never saw L. breweri this day). Both the plant and the inflorescence of Lupinus grayi are larger than that of L. breweri, however, if in doubt, check the upper keel margin of a flower. In Lupinus grayi it is densely hairy.
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I did not spend much time out of the truck as I was still wet and chilled easily, however this patch of Calochortys venustus grabbed my attention. Chill or no chill they had my attention as I closely examined all the plants in this colony.
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All the plants were various shades of soft to deep lavender-pink. There were a few white ones too. Generally, but not always, Calochortus venustus has a second paler blotch above the first blotch. Although there were not any plants with 2 blotches, they were clearly Calochortus venustus as the nertaries were square, the anthers were lilac colored, and the sepals were long acuminate with recurved tips.
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More Calochortus venustus. This one a bit lighter in color.
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Calochortus venustus in profile.
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After examining the Calochortus I moved on down the mountain taking the back roads. I was hoping to spot unique geological and topographical features for future outings.
This patch of Clarkia arcuata looked great in full bloom.
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... as well as this beautiful patch of Limnanathes alba ssp. alba.
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These were an unusually brightly colored form of Calyptridium momospermum.
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As I crossed the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River I knew the botany day was nearing its end.
Despite the rain, soaking and chill I was still pleased with the day. The scenery was spectacular and I saw a good variety of species under limiting circumstances. I hope to return soon to continue my exploration of this area in more detail.
Until next time......
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Looks like a wonderful day despite the weather.
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. . . . .
Despite the rain, soaking and chill I was still pleased with the day. . . . .
Robert,
Seems you forgot to bring woolen underwear as well as raingear ;D
In your case I believe that any rain is welcome! Although you didn't manage to photograph every plant you saw you did a good job! Especially the Calochortus venustus :)
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Looks like a wonderful day despite the weather.
Anne,
It was indeed a wonderful day! :)
I liked that it was raining as it often creates an almost magical ambiance when a body of water is completely placid and the surface is broken by the rain drops. This is how it started out. Even the tempest that arrived quickly had its feelings that were a pleasure to experience.
The plants were enjoyable too. :)
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Robert,
Seems you forgot to bring woolen underwear as well as raingear ;D
In your case I believe that any rain is welcome! Although you didn't manage to photograph every plant you saw you did a good job! Especially the Calochortus venustus :)
Trond,
I actually enjoy late spring, summer, and early autumn thunderstorm activity in the Sierra Nevada. When I was younger, I was a storm chaser of sorts. When I saw the first signs of a thunderstorm activity in the afternoon, I would drive off it see exactly where it was located and what sort of weather was being created. For me this was fun.
The foothill region more or less received average precipitation for the season (at least in our area and to the north, the southern Sierra and foothill region did not receive average). The new season will start 1 July. There is still a considerable amount of snow at the higher elevations. One can see it in some of the photographs I took. Also, all of our local reservoirs are full!
I know that I like to make a photographic record of my outings, partly to help tell the story behind each outing. I saw some interesting and unusual plants on this outing that could have helped around out the story as well as give some indication of some of the more detailed observations that I am making. For me at least, photographs of this nature are often difficult to make and / or can be time consuming.
Much of what I do now requires detailed observations and patient, methodical progress (i.e. hand lens, metric measurements, GPS details, etc. ). I go slow. For me, it is my tiny contribution to horticulture. For me, it was a little disappointing missing the opportunity to at least attempt some photographs of the less common plant species or species that could help round out the whole perspective. I have to admit my overall feeling is one of gratitude. For me, I feel very fortunate to have this marvelous opportunity to contribute something very good while I am on this planet.
I always appreciate your comments and observations! :)
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Too all the faithful who read my plant diary -
My wife and I were in an automobile accident. The auto needs repair. We need repairs.
Sadly, there will be no outings until things get fixed.
Thank you for your understanding.
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Horrible news Robert- hope you and Jasmin are soon back to full fitness- and the auto too. Rest up meantime and get well.
All best wishes,
Maggi and Ian
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Robert,
Very sad to hear that! But very glad you both survived albeit not unscratched. Hope both of you recover quickly and that the car can be mended. I will miss your reports. They are always welcome.
God bedring!
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Trond and Maggi,
I am beginning to think that my life is a "soap opera" (a la U.S.A. T.V.). :)
In California it is the law to stop at cross walks and let pedestrians cross the road. We stopped at the cross walk to let a woman and her dog cross the road. We were hit in the rear of our truck by a man who did not stop. The woman and her dog were not harmed, however we and the truck got banged up. The woman, Sylvia, was so sweet. She lived close by, went home, and brought back water and a sweet treat for us. She was also a witness to the accident so the cable company will have to pay for our truck repairs and any medical attention we might need. I think that we are going to be okay, just sore right now. I have looked at the truck and I think that it can be repaired too. The frame is okay, however the truck will need a new bed, bumper, tail gate, and rear lights.
Right now my time is required settling the whole situation. What a "soap opera"! We are so thankful that no one was hurt seriously, including the driver of the other vehicle. He must feel terrible emotionally! After all he did not want to hit our truck, it was just an accident.
In time I am sure that this will all get straightened out. If time permits I might be able to do some location botany at the Sacramento River. It is only a short distance away and I can walk there or ride my bicycle. My wife and I were there just the other day. The habitat has been severely altered, however I could be fun trying to turn such an outing into something interesting. Right now I need to nurse my wounds and feel better.
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Robert, so sorry to hear of the accident. Hope you are fully recovered quickly.
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That's very bad news Robert and I wish you both a speedy recovery. We will patiently wait for your wildflowers reports :)
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North Fork of the Mokelomne River
Part I
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Partly Cloudy
High: 72 F (22 C), Low: 50 F (10 C)
There are two outings from April that I have never had the chance to report on. While I recover from the accident and our truck is repaired I can report on the outings.
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I started out in the early morning across the Sacramento Valley toward the Sierra Nevada Foothills. In April the valley was still green. Most of the open space in the valley is occupied as crop or grazing land. Often one can still see remnants of the native valley flora in the strip between the highway and the private property fence line.
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Ithuriel's Spear, Triteleia laxa, is a remnant species often seen along the highway.
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After a lengthy drive, I arrived at Tiger Creek Reservoir. Tiger Creek is a tributary to the North Fork of the Mokelomne River. Situated at 2,360 feet (719 meters), this was to be the low point of this outing as I would work my way up the Mokelomne River Canyon toward Salt Springs Reservoir.
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Silene laciniata ssp. californica was at the peak of its blooming cycle and were frequently seen.
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Calochortus albus is generally associated with foothill habitat a bit lower down the mountain, however I did see a few here and there as I checked around the reservoir.
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There are two outings from April that I have never had the chance to report on. While I recover from the accident and our truck is repaired I can report on the outings.
Luckily your fingers didn't get damaged in the accident ;)
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Luckily your fingers didn't get damaged in the accident ;)
Trond,
I wish that I could say the same for my back and neck! :'(
I can tell that I am not 20 years old..... but then maybe this is a blessing. ;D
Anyway, everything is getting settled quickly. We will be getting some body work for our injuries. This should help greatly. The truck is scheduled to be fixed soon. :)
Now back to the outing......
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There was an interesting diversity of species around the reservoir, most the the species being ones that I also see in El Dorado county to the north.
Tauschia hartwegii is a foothill species from the Apiaceae family. It is fairly common, but generally not in huge numbers within its range.
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Within the mid-elevation zone, Osmorhiza berteroi, is much more common. It is not uncommon to see this species mixed with Trail Plant, Adenocaulon bicolor, and Lysimachia (Trientalis) latifolia carpeting the forest floor.
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In shady areas there were many colonies of Viola sheltonii. This species blooms extremely early in the season. All the plants I saw had long since finished blooming.
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Lathyrus nevadensis was in its prime.
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I spotted some excellent specimens of this species, some of the best I have come across. Some had large trusses of deep lavender-blue flowers. I took many photographs, but the the best did not turn out. :'(
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After spending some time around the reservoir, I moved up into the Tiger Creek drainage. The road into this area is a very steep, narrow one lane track. It is used frequently by the power utility company and their large trucks. This made travel interesting to say the least. Speed was not an issue for the truck drivers as they plowed their way down the track. The goal for other drivers was to find a sliver on the edge of the road so they could pass without ones own vehicle tumbling off the road down into the canyon.
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I did find a large turn-out and parked the truck. From there I hiked the track on foot checking on the plants along the way. April was peak blooming season for Deer Brush, Ceanothus integerrimus var. macrothyrsus at this elevation.
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Collomia heterophylla is a very common annual species at this elevation. Some were just starting to bloom.
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Another annual is Mimulus kelloggii. It is a delight to see them in numbers again. During the drought years I rarely saw them and the plants that I did see were very stressed and very stunted.
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Our other common native Lathyrus species, L. sulphureus, was in bloom too. I indicate native as there are a few non-native invasive Lathyrus species that grow in our area too.
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It is fascinating looking back in time with the photographs. In April Sanicula bipinnatifida can be found in bloom almost everywhere. As of today, 1 June, they have quickly dried, produced seed, and are in summer dormancy for the most part.
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Another species that I am seeing in numbers this year is Calochortus monophyllus.
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I am not sure if drought conditions or just coincidence accounts for the difference. It is very very compact species that is very easily cultivated in our climate. Some plants seem tolerant of some summertime moisture, however I generally like to keep them summer dry.
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Lupinus nanus is an annual species. Their numbers have certainly increased this year. There have been some fantastic displays this year.
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After hiking down the road for a distance, I finally arrive where a stream ran down the side of the mountain. Here there were large colonies of Mimulus guttatus blooming on the moist rocks. Juncus balticus and a Cyperus species were two other species that I noted from this location. ???
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This section of the road actually had a good diversity of species. I was quite pleased and hiked back up the road to the truck to continue my journey up into the canyon.
After a short distance, the road widened and leveled off somewhat. I made another stop at 3,538 feet (1,078 meters) to explore around on foot.
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In one area I found Ceanothus diversifolius in bloom. I very rarely see this species and was delighted to find it. It tends to be a low growing species with small trusses of lavender-blue flowers. Good forms of this species seem like they would be an excellent addition to the garden. The foliage is very attractive and forms with larger fuller flowers trusses would be superb.
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Another delight at this time of year are the Paintbrushes, Castillejia. These pictured are labeled as C. foliolosa. They very well could be, however I have my doubts. I have to admit that at times there is so much to check on that I sometimes do not take the time to make a clear determination of a species. How a month and a half can change things. Now it seems I proceed at a snails pace checking every detail. My wife bought me a new copy of the 2012 Jepson Manual of Vascular Plants of California about a month ago. I think this has something to do with the slow methodical pace I have now. :-\
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Whatever the species, they are very beautiful.
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From the higher portions of the canyon the views were tremendous.
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Robert,
Your reports are eagerly anticipated and carefully read , and provide the sort of enjoyment I used to get from exploring the bush near Sydney before it became too difficult. I hope that the recovery and repairs don't take too long - they always seem to be much more trouble than they should. Best wishes.
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It was getting late in the day and there was still one site I wanted to check on. I drove up the road to Panther Creek to see what I might find there.
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The section of Panther Creek where I stopped is very shaded and moist. The growing season lags behind that of the rest of the terrain in this area. Here I found the Dogwood, Cornus sessilis in bloom.
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Ferns were everywhere. Cystopteris fragilis (pictured), Polystichum imbricans, and other fern species were abundant on the mossy shaded rock faces.
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There were also huge colonies of Dicentra formosa getting ready to bloom. This population was very interesting. There was a tremendous diversity in the foliage among the individual plants. Some plants had extremely dissected lacy leaves others very broad wide foliage. At some point I would like to study this in more detail.
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Scattered among the Bleeding Hearts were blooming plants of Trillium angustipetulum. This was a great treat to see them in bloom.
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The day was now very late and I still had a long drive home.
I will end this with two more photographs of Trillium angustipetalum.
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So off I went.... to be continued in Part II. :)
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Robert,
Your reports are eagerly anticipated and carefully read , and provide the sort of enjoyment I used to get from exploring the bush near Sydney before it became too difficult. I hope that the recovery and repairs don't take too long - they always seem to be much more trouble than they should. Best wishes.
Peter,
Exploring the bush near Sydney must have been a most enjoyable activity. I bet you have many wonderful memories from your hikes in this area. The climate seems as though it is different than our California climate (a little more subtropical?). And of coarse, a completely different set of plants. Is this Cassowary country? or do they live farther to the north? (I hope this is not one of those stupid annoying questions that are sometimes asked :-[ )
Anyway, we are coming along well and I feel sure that I will be back out next week. You are right sometimes this stuff can be much trouble, however the insurance companies have been great so far and very helpful. We already have an appointment to have our truck fixed.
It is great to hear from you and I am always encouraged by everyone's comments.
Thank you.
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Exciting as always, Robert ;)
The brown trees seen in some of your pics - are they dead? Drought or fire?
I have been along with keen botanists on an expedition to Svalbard and I know what slow speed is! The speed is measured in inches an hour. A random spectator would think they were seriously ill or dead lying on their stomachs with the face down in the vegetation. ;D
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Just read about your accident, Robert. Glad you are both recovering well. Best wishes.
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Exciting as always, Robert ;)
The brown trees seen in some of your pics - are they dead? Drought or fire?
I have been along with keen botanists on an expedition to Svalbard and I know what slow speed is! The speed is measured in inches an hour. A random spectator would think they were seriously ill or dead lying on their stomachs with the face down in the vegetation. ;D
Trond,
Yes, there are many dead trees! In this case the dead trees are due to the drought. Where I was traveling on this outing was just up the canyon from the Butte Fire that raged through the area last year. I wish that there was more public land in the Butte Fire burn area. The location would be a good place to study long term habitat regeneration in the Upper Sonoran Life Zone of California. Private Property makes such projects challenging.
Your second comment brought a smile to my face. I must be making progress as I am progressively getting slower and slower. ;D Fortunately I do not see many people when I am out, however when I am seen I do indeed get odd looks! I guess it goes with the territory. :)
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Just read about your accident, Robert. Glad you are both recovering well. Best wishes.
Ralph,
Thank you for the kind words. I am, more or less, back to 100% without any special treatment. My wife will need some more medical attention, however I am sure she will be okay too. The truck will be fixed and we will have a rental car while the truck is being fixed. Everything looks good that I will be out again next week. There will be a slight change to Thursday rather than Wednesday but this is not a big deal at all. :)
Best wish for you too!
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Part II
Rock Creek
With the following photographs I will be up-to-date with all of my past outings.
The photographs were taken, 1 April 2016, near Rock Creek, El Dorado County, California. In addition, I have a few photographs taken yesterday near Rock Creek, after having an estimate on the truck repairs.
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Back in April everything was still lush and green from the winter and spring rains.
A large swath of Lupinus nanus. It was great to see them in such numbers this year.
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A close-up of Lupinus nanus
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Even in April the blooming season was advancing along.
Leptosiphon montanus is another native spring annual wildflower.
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There were also some nice stems of Delphinium patens coming into bloom.
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Petrorhagia dubia is a annual, non-native, invasive species. I did not see many last year, however this year they were out in numbers. The species is clearly very well adapted to our summer dry climate and intervals of drought conditions.
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Dichelostemma capitatum is one of the first native bulbous species to come into bloom in our area. One feature that I enjoy with this species is their prolonged blooming season. They do not all bloom at once, but rather individuals bloom at different times throughout their blooming season.
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Triteleia ixioides is a mid-season bloomer. They are all finished at the lowers elevations as of today, 3 June. The species grows over a considerable elevation range. Up in the high country they are most likely just waking up. I will find out more with my outing this coming week into the high country.
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This photograph was taken on 15 April too, however at a much lower elevation, approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters). Nemophila maculata is a very common annual species higher in the Sierra Nevada. For me this was a low elevation record. Until this day, I had never seen this species anywhere near this elevation range. It is much more common to find Nemophila menziesii at this elevation.
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At the same site Limnanthes alba was in bloom.
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This series of photographs is from 2 June (yesterday). Much of the annual vegetation is brown now, especially with the near 40 C temperatures the last few days. The Buckeyes, Aesculus californica, have finished their bloom cycle and the Mockorange, Philadelphus lewisii are in their prime.
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It is getting very dry, very quickly now. Delphinium hansenii blooming among the dry grasses. I have good success growing this Delphinium species in our gardens. They are a xeric species. Plants at the farm with no attention at all are blooming and thriving.
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Eriophyllum lanatum still graces the canyon sides with the bright yellow flowers. This is variety grandiflorum, however I did see a few variety achilleiodes in other locations yesterday.
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Also the late bulbous species are in bloom too. Dichelostemma volubile is a very common species in our area. It is a twining, vining species, having a flowering stem that can twine sometimes up to 1 meter in length over and through other plants.
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Harvest Brodiaea, Brodiaea elegans, is another late season bloomer. It is somewhat similar to Brodiaea coronaria, a species generally found in the Sacramento Valley. With Brodiaea elegans the staminodes are held away from the stamens. With Brodiaea coronaria the staminodes lean toward the stamens. There are a number of other subtle difference, however this one is very easy to check when in doubt.
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On a shady slope I found a some Collinsia tinctoria still with a few flowers.
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The delight of the day was the Philadelphus lewisii in full bloom. Their fragrance is divine!
It was very nice to take the scenic route back into town. I did not have much time to look around however I greatly enjoyed what little time I did have.
All caught-up now. :) Until next time, which will be Thursday this coming week........
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Oh for a scent button! Real citrus blossom is my favourite scent of all but the Mock Orange flowers run a good second! Just thinking about these fragrances takes me on a trail of happy memories.
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Oh for a scent button! Real citrus blossom is my favourite scent of all but the Mock Orange flowers run a good second! Just thinking about these fragrances takes me on a trail of happy memories.
Mock orange fragrance always make me think summer and cherries :) As a child I (and my cousin) always sat in the cherry tree eating almost ripe cherries when the mock orange was in flower. So the fragrance of mock orange and taste of cherries will always be interconnected :) - and connected to sunny day of summer!
Another summer scent (can't call it a fragrance, can I?) is the smell of rotting seaweed! It is also connected to summer and happy days :D
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Robert,
we have 26C today and I think it is very hot ;)
No sign of drought either, we have had thunderstorms and heavy rain the last few days. No time for outings so I enjoy yours :)
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Oh for a scent button! Real citrus blossom is my favourite scent of all but the Mock Orange flowers run a good second! Just thinking about these fragrances takes me on a trail of happy memories.
Maggi,
Real Citrus scent is a favorite here at our Sacramento home and garden. We have a lemon and an orange tree. The flowers have a wonderful scent, the fruit is good too. Right now when it is 38.5 C, fresh lemon juice mixed with cool water is very refreshing. The oranges are ripe in the late winter when there is no other fresh fruit.
It is amazing how scents can trigger such a positive response! We try to incorporate both scented foliage and scented flowers into our garden just for such an effect. :)
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Robert,
we have 26C today and I think it is very hot ;)
No sign of drought either, we have had thunderstorms and heavy rain the last few days. No time for outings so I enjoy yours :)
Trond,
Hopefully you will be able to get out soon. I very much enjoy your reports from Norway and beyond.
Yesterday, it was 38.5 C. For us this is hot. I have to admit that 26 C can seem very hot on a sunny day in the high Sierra Nevada hiking in the full sun.
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Maggi,
Real Citrus scent is a favorite here at our Sacramento home and garden. We have a lemon and an orange tree. The flowers have a wonderful scent, the fruit is good too. Right now when it is 38.5 C, fresh lemon juice mixed with cool water is very refreshing. The oranges are ripe in the late winter when there is no other fresh fruit.
It is amazing how scents can trigger such a positive response! We try to incorporate both scented foliage and scented flowers into our garden just for such an effect. :)
Robert,
The ability to smell is a very primitive trait and linked directly to the brain! When you recognize a scent it will usually bring forth old memories as images, not words :)
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Robert,
The ability to smell is a very primitive trait and linked directly to the brain! When you recognize a scent it will usually bring forth old memories as images, not words :)
Trond,
An interesting concept to consider. I wonder if there is a link between scent and vivid dreaming? The like to keep the windows open at night to let the garden scents into the house. Also, I always know when it is going to be a hot day at the farm. In the early morning the down slope air movement in the morning brings with it the scents of the high mountains. It is very delightful, but also a warning of hot temperatures later in the afternoon.
Today, I finally will be taking my truck in to be repaired. It will take a week to repair, however I will have a rental car for the week. It appears that Thursday will be my day for field work. The plan is to travel into the high country of the Sierra Nevada. The weather has been hot and I am sure that the snow is melting rapidly, however from a distance the high peaks are still white with snow. It should be an interesting outing.
After I get the rental car there is always the chance I can get away for an hour or so. There is so much work these days, I'll just have to see.
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The nerve endings in the nose (Olfactory bulb) is the only location where the central nervous system is in direct contact with the outside world.
Very important indeed.
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The nerve endings in the nose (Olfactory bulb) is the only location where the central nervous system is in direct contact with the outside world.
Very important indeed.
Arnold,
Very interesting.
I am off this morning to the high Sierra Nevada. The mosquitoes are out in force! :'( I will have a full report soon.
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I had a very successful outing yesterday into the high country of the Sierra Nevada.
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Not only did I see many old friends in bloom such as Nemophila maculata (pictured), and huge drifts of Ranunculus alismifolius, but I also found beautiful stands of Carex scopulorum var. bracteum. There were many lesser, but common, Sedges and Rushes in bloom, such as Carex filifolia.
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In rockier sites Phlox diffusa was in bloom. One goal was to observe snow melt species. Claytonia lanceolata, two Lewisia species, and Dicentra uniflora, were some of the species seen.
Unfortunately, I am extremely busy right now, so it might not be until Monday or Tuesday when I start posting this outing. I am very pleased that my timing was perfect to see the early season flower show. There was so much to see. :)
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Glad you timed it perfect, Robert! The I have something to look forward to ;)
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Lyon's Creek
Part I
Thursday, 9 June 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High: 84 F (29 C), Low: 58 F (58 C)
Placerville
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High 84 F (29 C), Low: 51 F (10.5 C)
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On Thursday I traveled to Lyon,s Creek. Lyon's Creek drains the southern most end of the Crystal Range, an area between Pyramid Peak to the south and Mount Price to the north, flowing westward to Silver Creek. There are two small lakes within the drainage, Lake Sylvia more or less at the base of Pyramid Peak and Lyon's Lake sightly to the northwest below Mount Price.
The lower end of the drainage consists of a series of meadows, some being vernally moist yet very xeric in the late summer and autumn. Other meadows within the chain are hydric during snow melt but more mesic during the remainder of the season. The meadows are separated by rocky areas of granite boulders, most likely moraine remnants from the last ice age. 50 to 60 years ago the meadows were used as pasture land for sheep or cattle. These are some of the factors that help shape the flora of this area.
I started my hike at 6,726 feet (2,050 meters) near where one of the original livestock camps once existed. Immediately as I left the truck I was greeted by a small patch of Lewisia nevadensis. The plants were quite showy yet they did not quite fit the exact description of Lewisia nevadensis. This species is one of the four known Lewisia species within the drainage. Lewisia nevadensis is said to hybridize with Lewisia triphylla. I have seen the two species growing and blooming mixed together side-by-side in this area, however I have never noticed any distinct hybrids between the two species. Both Lewisia pygmaea and L. longipetala are found within in this area but at much higher elevations.
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Some of the early blooming species were nearing the peak of their season. Large drifts of Ranunculus alismifolius carpeted the ground with their bright yellow flowers.
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As well as large swathes of the annual Nemophila maculata.
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Nemophils maculata, Five Spots, is quite common in our area, growing over a considerable elevation range. In addition, they bloom over a considerable length of time creating a cheerful sight as they bloom among the other wild flowers.
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Viola bakeri was in bloom by the hundreds, if not the thousands. I see this species frequently in our part of the Sierra Nevada, however I was quite pleased to see them in such numbers this day.
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Viola bakeri is one of five Viola species that grow in this area.
I progressed slowly among the plants carefully identifying the large diversity of species. A number of Carex species were in bloom at this time, some of which require considerable attention to properly identify. Carex integra was seen frequently. It is not at all a showy species, however, at least for me, it requires very careful examination with a hand lens to make a certain identification.
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Within the meadows that are xeric during the late summer and autumn Eriogonium marifolium can be found.
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At this elevation, Eriogonum marifolium can be seen with the Frosted Buckwheat, Eriogonum incanum. The attractive adaxially silvery tomentose leaves are very indicative of this species.
For me, there are clear indications that the two species hybridize with each other where their ranges over lap. Some time in the future I would like to investigate this phenomena in more detail.
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Something else to investigate thoroughly is the Calocortus nudus / C. minimus complex in this area. The two species certainly hybridize with each other in this area and grow in considerable variety.
This day they were just coming into bloom. When at their peak they can be seen in the thousands, with considerable variety among all the blooming plants.
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Another species of the seasonally xeric meadows is the annual Collinsia torreyi var. torreyi.
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Collisia torreyi var. torreyi is distinctly glandular-hairy making it easy to identify.
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The trail is very pleasant to hike. Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta ssp murrayana, is the predominant species as the trail moves between the different meadows.
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In the rocky moraine areas Amelanchier utahensis can be found scattered among the granite boulders where there is adequate moisture throughout the growing season. Abaxially the leaves are quite tomentose both early as well as later in the growing season. Some plant also have fruit that is quite tasty when ripe, providing one can get there before the wild creatures find them.
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Also where there is adequate moisture one can find Thalictrum fendleri.
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Most often this species is found in somewhat shaded areas, however I have also seen it growing in full sun where there is running water very close by. The species is dioecious. Both plants pictured are males which are very attractive with their hanging anthers.
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When there is average to above average precipitation, Delphimium nuttallianum can grow and bloom profusely in this area. This day I only found a few plants in bloom, their peak blooming season yet to arrive.
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Lonicera conjugialis is one of the dominant deciduous shrubby - understory species in this area. The flowers are deep magenta but somewhat small and hidden among the leaves.
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Later in the season they have many attractive and showy bright red fruits.
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Senecio intergerrimus is a common Asteraceae of this region. The species is biennial or a short lived perennial. I have tried to cultivate some of the other high elevation Senecio species with mixed success. They have all done well in a scree like setting. With more meadow-like conditions they seem to get eaten by insects and slugs. They are easily started from seed and produce good viable seed in a garden setting, especially if several plants are grown together.
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Lyon's Creek was full of snow melt water. This is great sight to see after years of drought conditions.
To be continued........
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Another nice outing Robert!
Thanks for sharing.
Lewisia nevadensis seems to grow in a grassy field?
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Another nice outing Robert!
Thanks for sharing.
Lewisia nevadensis seems to grow in a grassy field?
Trond,
Lewisia nevadensis grows both in seasonally moist "grassy" areas as well as in sand flats that are seasonally very hydric but then become very xeric during the late summer and autumn.
Most of the "grassy" looking plants are actually Carex species. In this case most likely Carex integra.
I will be off today to the Tells peak area at the northern end of the Crystal Range. I will be reporting on this after I finish the report on the Lyon's Creek outing. :)
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Lyon's Creek
Part II
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As I continued up the trail, small seasonal creeks created by snow melt bisected the trail.
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I the rockier terrain their were beautiful shrubs of Ribes roezlii in full bloom. The fruit is bright red and very spiny when ripe. It is also very delicious if one can get past the spines. I have never tried this but most likely if one cooked the whole fruits and then carefully strained the skins and spines away, one would have a tasty treat!
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After some distance the trail moves higher into rocky terrain and the meadows are less frequent in their occurrence. Here growing over rocks and small boulders Arnica mollis is found. This is a fantastic alpine plant with attractive silvery woolly foliage and bright yellow rayed flowers.
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Also creeping over the rocks is Antennaria. The species is most likely A. rosea, however several somewhat similar species grow in this area so definitive identification has to wait until they bloom.
Much of this rocky terrain is part of ancient glacial moraines and is well fed with moisture from below during our California dry season. Plants such as Juncus mertensianus and J. chlorocephalus can be found in this area.
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At 6,881 feet (2,097 meters) I started to run into snow on the trail. Hiking was still very easy and there was still plenty in bloom so I kept hiking higher into the drainage.
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Where the side streams flow during the complete growing season Viola glabella can be found growing in shady moist sites. Pectiantia breweri, an interesting member of the Saxifragaceae family, often accompanies Viola glabella, as well as its white flowering cousin Viola macloskeyi.
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In sunnier and drier sites Cymopterus terebinthinus var. californicus can be found. The yellow flowers are quite attractive, however it is very necessary to arrive early in the growing season to see them in bloom.
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Every once in awhile there is a break in the Lodgepole Pine forest and there is a glimpse of Pyramid Peak looming ever closer at the head of the small valley.
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One goal I had this day was to see some of the snow melt species in bloom. Caltha leptosepala is one of those species. Early in the season one can often see them in bloom right next to a snow bank, growing in centimeters of running snow melt water.
I have had fairly good success growing this species in the rock garden at lower elevations. I like the white flowers and lobed foliage.
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Sometimes growing with the Caltha are Athyrium ferns. The fronds are very graceful as they unfurl. We have two Athyrium species that grow in the high Sierra Nevada. The species pictured is most likely Athyrium filix-femina, however checking the sori latter in the season is necessary for positive identification.
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Eventually the trail begins to climb higher and somewhat steeply as it traverses sunny rocky granite slopes. Here the flora shifts gears to more xeric species.
Arctostaphylos nevadensis is commonly seen in such areas. They can look a little beat-up right after snow melt and before the new foliage emerges.
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Pellaea bridgesii, Bridge's Cliff-Brake Fern, is another species that enjoys these open rocky slopes. They are almost always found hiding in somewhat shaded crevices.
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I climbed higher and higher into the valley. Sanicula tuberosa is one of the first plants to bloom after snow melt. So far I have not had much success with it in cultivation. :'( In our xeric environment it seems as if it would be the perfect early season species with other xeric plants. I will keep growing a few from seed to see if I can come up with a method that works for us.
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There are still some meadows in the higher reaches of the Lyon's Creek drainage. Here were the snow must have just melted there was not much in bloom yet. Many meadows, such as this one, can also be flooded with a few centimeters of water early in the season. This, of coarse, effects the species distribution which can be very different from the drier meadows.
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Another one of the early season snow melt species is Claytonia lanceolata. Their habitat preference is partial shade in the Lodgepole Pine groves. The photograph is lousy, however it is a very pretty species, especially when found growing in quantity.
Part III will be coming soon....
In addition, I had very interesting outing yesterday in the Van Vleck region at the northern end of the Crystal Range. It was very cold and started to snow cutting my visit short. I still saw some great plants, however the camera does not function well in cold weather. Still, there are some good photographs and I will report on this outing when I finish with part III of Lyon's Creek.
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Lyon's Creek
Part III
Continuing on with my journey........
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Another common fern found among the rocky, sunny, open slopes is Cryptogramma acrostichoides. This species has two types of fronds, fertile fronds that produce spores and leafy fronds that have a different appearance used chiefly for photosynthesis.
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As stated earlier, one goal was to find species that bloom and often disappear quickly after snow melt. Dicentra uniflora is one of those species. As I moved higher up the mountain I finally started to spot some plants. Some, like the one pictured, had already bloomed and were setting seed.
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Dicentra uniflora is a tiny species and is very often difficult to spot when in growth.
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Its foliage is similar to that of Sanicula tuberosa, another of our early blooming species that grows in this region. Sometimes the two species are seen growing and blooming side-by-side. Once I had climbed into the right zone, I found this tiny Dicentra growing in abundance.
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Shortly after finding the Dicentra the upward part of my journey came to an end. At 7,748 feet (2,362 meters) snow covered not only the trail but also the surrounding landscape almost continuously. In addition, the trail would shortly cross Lyon's Creek. Late in the day the creek would be full of additional snow melt run-off and difficult to cross. This would be a good place to turn back toward the trailhead.
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In places Lyon's Creek was a raging torrent of water. Too many times in the past I have crossed a creek in the early morning only to find it is dangerous and impassible late in the day from additional snow melt run-off. I had more important things to do than deal with a raging creek to cross.
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There were still plenty of plants to see on the return hike. I always miss plants on my hike in and like to take my time on the return trip to see what I might have missed.
Phlox diffusa is difficult to miss when in bloom. I had not missed them on the hike in, however I did have time to photograph some of the nicer specimens.
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This Phlox was in excellent form growing in a granite crevice.
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Late in the day the trail can also become flooded with snow melt run-off. This is one reason why I almost always hike with water proof boots. Hiking with wet feet is no fun!
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From this high point there were some nice views down the mountain, westward, towards the Sacramento Valley far in the distance.
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Lewisia triphylla is still another early blooming species that sets seed quickly then quickly goes into summer dormancy. I did not find any plants in bloom, however many were very close.
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I was very pleased to see the first Mertensia ciliata var. stomachoides in bloom for this season.
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With adequate precipitation, seeds were germinating everywhere. These look to be Veratrum californicum.
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Late in the day the shadows provided the opportunity to photograph Valeriana californica. This early blooming species grows abundantly in the Sierra Nevada. It is quite lovely and always very pleasant to see in bloom.
This outing was very productive and enjoyable.
Soon I will report on my outing to the Van Vleck region at the northern end of the Crystal Range.
Until then.....
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Thanks once again for sharing your adventures Robert. It's always a pleasure to follow you on the trails and discover new plants :)
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Question about the fourth photo is this post, please, Robert .... from reply 394 above http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13952.msg360002#msg360002 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13952.msg360002#msg360002)
What is this big tree, this one with a lumpy looking bark, isolated from your picture ?
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. . . .
What is this big tree, this one with a lumpy looking bark, isolated from your picture ?
Let me guess: Pinus contorta?
Robert,
A very pleasant tour! And lots of interesting plants!
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Let me guess: Pinus contorta?
Ah yes, more than likely! Fine big tree.
I do enjoy these hikes with Robert.
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Question about the fourth photo is this post, please, Robert .... from reply 394 above http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13952.msg360002#msg360002 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13952.msg360002#msg360002)
What is this big tree, this one with a lumpy looking bark, isolated from your picture ?
Yes, the tree is Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana, Lodgeple Pine.
As I climbed higher in elevation the tree mixture changed as per elevation, exposure and soil type. At the highest point that day Tsuga mertensiana started to appear. Abies magnifica var. magnifica and Pinus monticola appeared throughout my hike, however always in scattered or isolated stands. The bark of Pinus monticola, Western White Pine, is very block-like and distinct. I enjoy the bark so much that I have tried to grow this species at lower elevations. It grows at a snails pace! It might be confused and thought to be a dwarf, however it will certainly someday become a very large tree. Pinching the candles and keeping it small might work well, however the trunk needs to become large to show its block-like form.
Higher yet on the high slopes of both Mount Price and Pyramid Peak Pinus albicaulis, Whitebark Pine, can be found. The winds at these exposed sites are often of hurricane force every winter. The "trees" become stunted and twisted both from the wind and the heavy snow loads creating of shrubby tree of sculptured form known locally as "krummholz".
Pinus albicaulis is said to dislike heat and long hot summers. Nevertheless, I have seedlings growing. Who knows, maybe I will be able to get some of them to grow well in our garden. When I was a teenager, I remember a man who grew Tsuga mertensiana well in his Sacramento Valley garden.
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I do enjoy these hikes with Robert.
Inspiration without perspiration ;) ;D 8)
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Thanks once again for sharing your adventures Robert. It's always a pleasure to follow you on the trails and discover new plants :)
Gabriela and Trond,
I am glad that you are enjoying my outings. For the next three weeks I will be doing some "creative" botany as I will have a short term change to my work schedule. I know I will be able to continue with my projects but at a slower pace.
Maybe I can try to show other aspects of my botany projects. Simple things can often become something very interesting. Last week I found some unusual forms of Navarretia leptalea spp leptalea. Nothing rare about this species, however the subtle diversity within the various species can be very interesting. Looking at subtle differences under a dissecting microscope is often fun and can be very illuminating. Also, many of the Carex and Juncus species bloom early in the season at the higher elevations. Good photographs of plants that are rarely discussed might be interesting too. The other day I observed five species of Carex in a short 50 meter length of trail. I will see if I can incorporate some of these other aspects into my diary in the coming weeks. I'll do the best I can to do some creative thinking in this regard. :)
Thank you so much! :)
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Inspiration without perspiration ;) ;D 8)
Ashley,
Very pleased to hear from you and I am glad to know you are enjoying my plant diary.
My last outing (the one I have not reported on yet) might be "inspiration without frozen fingers". The wind was bitter cold and it started to snow. I was dressed properly, however I do not handles my hand lens, metric tape, etc. well with gloves, even the thin ones. My finger seemed like they turned to ice. :P
Anyway, thank yo so much.
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Thank you Robert, and please don't take my comment too seriously.
Apart from enjoying your outings greatly and meeting many plants new to me, I would love to hike in some of those areas you show. Cold usually suits me better than humid heat, but obviously makes fine tasks like writing harder. After a bee-keeping session today I found that another impediment to writing is propolis on the fingers ::) ;D
Keep up the great work.
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Hi Ashley,
If you ever find yourself in our part of California there are some great sites to see as well as wonderful wildflowers to see. The following photographs are just a sampling from the Ebbetts Pass area in Calaveras County. I took this outing in August of 2003.
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A view to the north from a ridgeline south of Ebbetts Pass.
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More of the same.
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Red Peak.
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Beautiful volcanic rocky peaks.
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This ridgeline is at the Sierra Crest. It gently slopes on the other side downward toward the Great Interior Valley of California. There are some fantastic alpine plants that grow up there.
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Some of the wildflowers from the Ebbetts Pass region.
Artemisia arbuscula in bloom or shortly afterwards. This species is mat-forming and has very silvery foliage.
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Calochortus leichtlinii - a common species in the high Sierra.
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Ipomopsis aggregata with a Sidalcea, most likely S. glaucescens.
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The stately giant - Juniperus occidentalis.
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This part of the Sierra Nevada has some very good dark purplish-blue forms of Monardella odoratissima. The good forms are even darker than the one pictured.
Anyway, if you ever find yourself in or near El Dorado County, California let me know in advance and I will do my best to direct you to some great places that are much less crowded than the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Carson Pass area, or parts of Yosemite National Park. All the wildflower seen at Carson Pass can be found elsewhere without the crowds. Same with Yosemite Park, some parts are much less crowded, however there is only one Yosemite Valley.
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Here are a few more photographs from outings taken in 2003. The following are from Mount Price and Pyramid Peak, the two southern most peaks of the Crystal Range.
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This is a view from the summit of Mount Price looking south towards Pyramid Peak. The photographs were taken in early October 2003. Notice how much snow still remains on the sides of the summit ridge.
To the right in this photograph there is a granite "bench" perched high on the side of Mount Price. This is where G. Ledyard Stebbins discovered Lewisia longipetala growing with L. pygmaea in about 1968. This is where through observation he concluded that Lewisia longipetela was a distinct species and not a subspecies of Lewisia pygmaea.
This bench has a considerable variety of species. I will return to this site in July and report on the current conditions there.
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This photograph is from the summit of Pyramid Peak looking back northward toward Mount Price. High on the south face of Pyramid Peak some of the same conditions exist as on Mount Price. I will be looking for both Lewisia pygmaea and L. longipetala in these locations too.
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Lake Aloha from the summit of Mount Price. Again notice the snow. During the last few drought years there was no snow on the high peaks in October. There was not even much snow in May!
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Here is another view of Lake Aloha this time from the summit of Pyramid Peak. Beyond Lake Aloha is the southern portion of Lake Tahoe, the gambling casinos at Stateline Nevada and mountains in Neavada beyond.
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A good look at Pyramid Peak from near Lake Sylvia. It is still over a 600 meter elevation climb to the summit of Pyramid Peak from this point.
Soon I will be reporting on my last outing to the Van Vleck area near Red Peak and Tells Peak in the northern part of the Crystal Range.
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Looks terrific, Robert!
Calocorthus leichtlinii stands out among the other beautiful plants :)
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What great hiking country Robert. Just to see those magnificent junipers would be worth the trip. Many thanks for showing.
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I looked again at the photographs from the summit of Mount Price. I must have been there in July, thus the snow. I know that snow can linger into October some years, but the photographs from the two summits have different amounts of snow. 2003 was a year that I climbed all the major peaks of the Crystal Range. As I remember I climbed the first peak in July and finished with Red Peak in October.
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Tremendous landscapes! Very different to our North & South Downs in Kent. Rather nice to see all those Veratrum seed germinating - a long way down the line until they start flowering :).
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Van Vleck
Highlands Trail Route
Wednesday, 15 June 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 70 F (21 C), Low: 54 F (12 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 72 F (22 C), Low: 47 F (8 C)
Wednesday morning the weather was overcast and very unseasonally cool. I checked the weather report before departing for the high terrain of the Sierra Nevada. Any precipitation was forecast to stay well to the north for the next 24 hours. My wife advised me to take a few extra layers of clothing, as it would certainly be cold.
My goal was to start at the Van Vleck trailhead and take the northern route on the Highlands Trail. My usual and favorite route is to the south on the Red Peak Trail. I had not been on the Highlands Trail for many years. There are a series of moist meadows I wanted to check on as well as scout out the higher terrain as the trail goes directly to the top of Tells Peak before descending to Highlands Lake, northeast of the Tells Peak summit.
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I was very pleased to see Tells Creek flowing well with water. During the last few years of drought the creek has been completely dry by late summer.
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This day may have been overcast and cold, however the proceeding weather had been relatively warm. There were a good many plants to see in bloom, including Fragaria virginiana. This species produces very good berries that are rarely seen as the wild animals relish them too.
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It seemed somewhat odd to see Phacelia hydrophylloides in bloom. The previous week I had seen them on Lyon's Creek just emerging from the ground.
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I was very much aware that Viola bakeri was plentiful in this area. I saw a good number in bloom, but it was great to find Viola macloskeyi in bloom. The first section of the trail before the two trails fork from each other, I hike often. For whatever reason, this is the first time I have observed this species along this section of the trail.
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Viola glabella was also blooming abundantly along this section of the trail too. I observed some excellent forms, some I believe are the best I have ever seen of this species.
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Ribes viscosissimum grows abundantly along this route. The foliage and young stems are very glandular. In addition, the foliage has a pleasant but unusual scent too.
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My first sight of Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata in bloom this season. The terrain along this section of the trail slopes gently to the northwest and can seem very dry in places, especially in the late summer - autumn. From the plant life it is clear that abundant water flows somewhat near the surface during the complete growing season. Last autumn I could easily detect the distress of the mesic and hydric species that grow along some portions of the trail.
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A bitter cold wind was blowing and the cloud shield became lower and lower. In this photograph the peaks of the Crystal Range were still visible. This changed very quickly as I worked my way to the first meadow I wanted to explore.
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After taking my time and examining many plants, I arrived at the meadow. I knew it was cold as my camera was not functioning very well. It was very difficult taking any photographs at all, partly due of the camera batteries, partly due to my stiff, cold fingers. Gloves were available, however it is difficult for me to handle things with them on.
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The first photograph does not depict the floral beauty of the meadow this day. There were thousands of Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii in bloom surrounded by an equal number of the white flowered Bistorta bistortoides in bloom. Ringing the edges of the meadow the bright yellow flowers of Sisyrinchium californicum were out in their full glory.
At this time my camera stopped functioning and it began to snow..... so cold that the snow began sticking and accumulating immediately. I actually was enjoying the snow, however I was not going to get anything done in this weather so it was time to return to the truck.
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I left the Van Vleck area (6,500 feet - 1,981 meters) and started down the road towards home. There was still plenty of time left for me this day, but the snow must certainly have been rain farther down the mountain.
My route took me to the top of Peavine Ridge. The snow had turned to rain but now had stopped. I spotted Calyptridium monospermum blooming in mass. I pulled off the road and saw a promising dirt tract to hike down.
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The dirt track had once been a logging trail. There were many invasive species such as Bromus tectorum, Hypericum perforatum, Cynosurus echinatus, and Verbascum thapsis. The forest stand turned out to be a monoculture of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) - not a very promising place to scout around.
I did spot a very nice specimen of Eriodictyon (Nama) lobbii in full bloom. I do not know if it was the lower elevation (5,235 feet - 1,596 meters), the slightly warmer temperature, or the heat from the cab of the truck, but my camera did decide to work again.
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It had stopped raining and I did see a much more promising site to check on back up the road a piece. I quickly drove there and immediately spotted a beautiful drift of Mimulus torreyi in full bloom.
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I wandered among the conifers for a short distance, when I can across a rocky open bluff. Scattered here and there was the Solanaceae, Chamaesaracha nana. I rarely come across this species and especially so many in one location.
In the sunniest locations grew Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum and Allium campanulatum as well as many other species.
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In shadier locations surrounding the bluff Delphinium gracilentum was in bloom. Most were of a pinky-lavender and white shade, however I did see a few dark purple-blue plants in bloom.
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Now the day was nearing its end and it was time to return home. On my hike back to the truck I spotted a bluish form of Ceanothus cordulatus in bloom. This species generally blooms with white flowers. The flowers were somewhat faded, so I marked its location and will hopefully return some day to see it in peak bloom. At that time perhaps I can determine the depth of the blue color when they are in their peak of flowering.
This ended my outing. The snow was enjoyable, but did disrupt my botany activities. No matter what, I always seem to enjoy myself on these outings and this one was no exception. :)
Until next time.......
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I made a brief stop at the Lyon's Creek Trailhead today. There were a number of nice plants in bloom, Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis being one.
On the return trip I saw many Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia in bloom. Sorry on photograph today. :-[
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Specimens of Carex heteroneura being prepared for pressing.
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The lighting is poor, but a close-up of the Inflorescence (C. heteroneura).
Carex athrostachya is another common Carex species in this area.
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I am extremely busy right now, however here is a tranquil seen from Lake No.3 with a beautiful reflection of Red Peak. Aaahhh! Just thinking about being there is a pleasure.
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A view from the summit of Red Peak look down to the northeast to Lelands Lakes. I hope that I can get up to the summit of Red Peak soon.... so many wonderful alpine species grow on the slopes of this mountain.
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I am extremely busy right now, however here is a tranquil seen from Lake No.3 with a beautiful reflection of Red Peak. Aaahhh! Just thinking about being there is a pleasure.
. . . .
A view from the summit of Red Peak look down to the northeast to Lelands Lakes. I hope that I can get up to the summit of Red Peak soon.... so many wonderful alpine species grow on the slopes of this mountain.
Robert, I understand quite well why you wish to get there!
The red colour of Read Peak, is it iron or manganese rust?
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Robert, I understand quite well why you wish to get there!
The red colour of Read Peak, is it iron or manganese rust?
Trond,
I do not know why the rock on Red Peak has the red color. It would be great to find out. If I get up early I can hike into Lake No.3 and back to the trailhead in one day. It is better to spend the night. There are some prime colonies of Gentiana calycosa near the lake. :)
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I was out yesterday and managed to take a few photographs. Most of my time was spent trying to hunt down noxious weeds, namely, Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), Oblong Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), and Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). I did not find any. This was good as we do not want them in California.
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Dichelostemma multiflorum was one of the pretties I able to photograph.
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Lilium washingtonianum is getting ready to bloom. They generally start blooming the first week of July.
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Brodiaea elegans
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This specimen of Brodiaea elegans was growing up through Melilotus albus. The Sweet Clover was heavily browsed by the deer, most likely saving the flowers of the Brodiaea.
Some of the other noteworthy plants seen were: Clarkia arcuata - just finishing their last flowers; Stipa nelsonii - A little difficult to key out, however I am fairly sure on this one; Calochortus minimus - in fruit, the nodding pods make identification positive; and still more Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia (I still hope to get a good photograph of this species).
Next time out I hope to have more time for photographs! :)
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Keep up the great work, Robert!
That Brodiaea really lives up to its name!
cheers
fermi
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I went a bit back on your posting Robert - splendid mountain sceneries! I look fw to see what species you'll find on Mt. Price and the Pyramid Peak!
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I went a bit back on your posting Robert - splendid mountain sceneries! I look fw to see what species you'll find on Mt. Price and the Pyramid Peak!
Gabriela,
I have a personal project involving the flora in the Mount Price - Pyramid Peak region, so I am highly motivated to get into this high country as soon as possible. The mid July might be my first opportunity, however this timing could be perfect. In the mean time I will have to piece my outings together the best I can.
In addition, getting back to Salt Springs Reservoir is high on my priority list. This is a great "back door" approach to Round Top Peak and the fantastic array of species that grow in this area. 99.999% use the over used approach from Carson Pass. It can be extremely crowded during the summer. Summit City Canyon is generally deserted and a wonderful area for wildflowers - alpines.
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Keep up the great work, Robert!
That Brodiaea really lives up to its name!
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
At 1,525 meters, this is a personal elevation record for me. Brodiaea elegans generally grows at much lower elevations, however the botanical literature does mention that this is within its altitude range. It is odd for me to see Brodiaea elegans growing very near to Calochortus minimus. Dichelostemma multiflorum, Triteleia ixioides, Fritillaria micrantha, and Lilium washingtonianum all grew at this site. In addition, three species of Viola grow here too - one of those special spots. :)
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Here are a few more photographs from outings taken in 2003. The following are from Mount Price and Pyramid Peak, the two southern most peaks of the Crystal Range.
Robert - you might look for two species of parsley ferns at higher elevations in this area, both Cryptogramma acrostichoides and C. cascadensis. I found both species just below the outlet of Heather Lake when I was doing field work for my research, many years ago. I think you can see Heather Lake on the left edge of the photo of Lake Aloha, taken from the summit of Mt. Price.
Ed
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Robert - you might look for two species of parsley ferns at higher elevations in this area, both Cryptogramma acrostichoides and C. cascadensis. I found both species just below the outlet of Heather Lake when I was doing field work for my research, many years ago. I think you can see Heather Lake on the left edge of the photo of Lake Aloha, taken from the summit of Mt. Price.
Ed
Hi Ed,
The area of interest to me is the Lyon's Creek Drainage. Cryptogramma acrostichoides is, of coarse, quite common in this area. I wish to be as thorough as possible, so I plan to give careful consideration to many possibilities. Since this project is only "a labor of love" I am willing to take my time. 5 years or so, maybe more? It is a good discipline for me to practice a number of different skills.
G. Ledyard Stebbins and Judy Hutchinson co-authored "A Flora of the Wright's Lake Area" and there is Gladys Smith's "A Flora of the Tahoe Basin and neighboring areas" both books are dated and only partially cover this area. There are, of coarse, other books, especially on the Tahoe Basin. I am not interested in publishing anything, I just find the project incredibly interesting.
I do know that Mr. Stebbins found both Lewisia pygmaea and L. Longipetala high on the southwestern slope of Mount Price. I have scrambled around the slopes of all of the peaks and have been to Mr. Stebbins site on Mount Price. I see no reason why they could not be on some of the high slopes of Pyramid Peak, maybe even Ralston Peak.
I definitely appreciate your suggestion! I think that it would be "quite the find" to discover Cryptogramma cascadensis in the Lyon's Creek Basin. This world is always changing and is full of surprises. So who knows?
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Well, you did find some nice plants though!
Are lily beetles any problem for the wild lilies? Do you have it over there?
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Well, you did find some nice plants though!
Are lily beetles any problem for the wild lilies? Do you have it over there?
Trond,
In many cases the noxious weeds grow where there has been considerable human activity, in this case logging. I only found interesting plants at one of my favorite sites. I stopped there briefly on my way back home.
All the noxious weeds that I mentioned are already in California and in El Dorado County. In some cases eradication efforts have already been made. It is necessary to do follow up to see how effective any eradication efforts might have been. Also, the rate at which the weeds spread needs to be monitored.
As far as I know, Lily Beetle is not in California......yet. How much Lily Beetle is a threat to wild populations is unknown to me. Entomology is not one of my strong points. I still have much to learn about many things.
Anyway, I will be back to my usual outings very soon. :)
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Since I need to stay in town for a few days I thought that I would share a few photographs of some common weeds here in California. Many are said to be native to Europe. I am very curious how widespread they are and if they are weedy in Europe too.
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I will start with an easy one, Daucus carota, or Queen Anne's Lace. It must be everywhere. In California it is blooming right now in bone dry fields and waste areas along roads.
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Lathyrus latifolius, Perennial Pea. Colorful, but a bit of a pest around here.
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Centaurea solstitialis, Yellow Star-Thistle. A long established pest and no fun to cut once it has flowered. It is slowly moving higher into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This movement is being monitored.
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Chondrilla juncea, Skelton Weed.
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In the past there was an attempt to control / eradicate this weed (at least in California). At one time it was causing considerable problems with machine harvesting of grain in the U.S.A.
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Klamathweed, Hypericum perforatum ssp. perforatum. When I was young I worked for a retired entomologist who had worked for the California State Department of Agriculture. He had been involved in introducing the Klamathweed Beetle to California. The hope was that the beetle would control Klamathweed. We still have Klamathweed and the Klamathweed Beetle, however the beetle does provide some control. In the field, I sometimes see the beetles feeding on the Klamathweed.
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Cytisus scoparius, Broom. This species can be a major problem in our part of California. In disturbed sites, it can seed out as thick as field grain seeming to chock everything out.
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Hirschfeldia incana. This weed is seen frequently along road sides and disturbed areas. They seem to bloom forever, even in bone dry soil.
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Eremocarpos (Croton) setigerus, or Turkey-Mullein. This Euphorbiceae is common in bone dry, disturbed, waste areas, especially along roadsides.
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Something we do not want to see! Wildfire.
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The Trailhead Fire started yesterday and is burning in the canyon of the Middle Fork of the American River. This is one of my favorite locations to do field work and is very wild and beautiful. A number of rare endemic species grow in this area, including Calystegia vanzuukiae. Right now the sites that I know about (where Calystegia vanzuukiae grows) are safe. This is extremely difficult terrain for firefighters. I hope they get this one controlled very soon. The 40 C temperatures, + or - a bit, are not helping the situation, however cooler weather is forecast to arrive in the next 2 to 3 days.
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...... but isn't it Nature's way of renewal Robert?
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Interesting weeds, Robert!
Carrot is a rare native in Norway. The Perennial Pea is also a native but no pest!
Broom is possibly a foreign plant that has been at the south coast for a very long time. No pest - yet!
Klamathweed is a common native.
The others are unknown to me.
17 plants have been banned in Norway, among them are 3 Lupins, Lupinus perennis, nootkatensis and polyphyllus!
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...... but isn't it Nature's way of renewal Robert?
Hi David,
The fires can be part of renewal. I read some information regarding the intense crown fires we often get here in California. It appears that there is some research to suggest even this type of fire may have its benefits. My observations seem to indicate that the most intense parts of the fire may stunt natural renewal. I have seen clearly that seeds that germinate with fire can also be destroyed if fire temperatures are too intense for too long. This applies to species that stump sprout too, but for slightly different reasons.
It appears that I will have some projects in the Butte Fire burn area shortly. I never intended to study this area much as most of the land is privately owned. I have been contacted by some of the land owners in the area to help deal with regeneration issues. I am not sure what sort of engineering project this might be, however the opportunity to get around on the private land at this elevation will be immensely interesting for me.
As for weeds... I think farmers are always complaining about weeds! ;D
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Interesting weeds, Robert!
Carrot is a rare native in Norway. The Perennial Pea is also a native but no pest!
Broom is possibly a foreign plant that has been at the south coast for a very long time. No pest - yet!
Klamathweed is a common native.
The others are unknown to me.
17 plants have been banned in Norway, among them are 3 Lupins, Lupinus perennis, nootkatensis and polyphyllus!
Trond,
I have always wondered how widespread some of the weeds have become, especially with "globalization". Thank you for the information. I would never think of Lupinus as a weed! Around here a few native species are used in seed mixes by the transportation / road departments. In some cases we see native Lupinus species far beyond their natural range even in California. It does not appear that they become weedy at all, but then I have not investigated this or read anything about this either.
The joke in our household is that some weeds must have come with the Mogul Hoards with the fall of Rome or as hitch-hikers on the Silk Road. We think of Bromus diandrus (Rip-Gut Brome Grass) as one such curse! ;D ....but then I am sure that it does not thrive everywhere although it might seem that way to us. ;D
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Some beautiful scenes from roadside botany yesterday.
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Looking northwest from a high point in the road. Elevation 7,437 feet, 2267 meters.
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Hackelia nervosa was seen frequently along the roadway at the higher elevation.
For us it is a very difficult species to cultivate in the garden. The seed is easy enough to germinate, however some sort of pest, most likely slugs, eat the plants down to nothing sooner or later.
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Ligusticum grayi
A species with very strong anti-viral properties (for those who know how to use it).
It is a delight to see this species in bloom every season.
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Triteleia ixioides, a species seen over a considerable altitude range in our part of California.
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Wyethia mollis We have 4 species of Wyethia in El Dorado County. This is the only high altitude species we have. It is very common at the higher elevations and is very showy.
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Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea This annual species can produce in large sheets of color in sunny, open, rocky areas where it prefers to grow.
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Most of the plants are "hot" pink, however a few white seedlings can sometimes be found. It was a very windy day - no success photographing the white seedlings. :'(
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I like to check on everything. Elymus elmoides is a very common perennial grass in our region. Another species that grows over a considerable altitude range. I have observed this species on some of the highest peaks and in low elevation habitats.
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Carex integra, or something very close. This was one of 3 species of Carex seen, the others being Carex multicostata and C. praeceptorum.
These and some of the tiny flowering species such as Gayophytum diffusum or Kelloggia gailioides are usually overlooked by others when viewing wildflowers. I like them all. :)
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A view through the trees and some of the highest peaks of the Sierra Crest.
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A little lower down the mountain Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum was blooming.
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The first of the Sidalcea glaucescens to come into bloom.
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Eriogonum nudum is another very common xeric species. This species is generally disdained by gardeners in our area. How sad! This species will bloom over a considerable period of time in cultivation and forms such as variety deductum can be very compact. I like and use both forms in our xeric garden.
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Penstemon laetus one of a considerable number of Penstemon species native to our region.
I will be resuming my usual activities within a week.
Until then.... :)
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A view through the trees and some of the highest peaks of the Sierra Crest.
I may just stand and enjoy this view till we see you again, Robert!
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I forgot one interesting item from the roadside botany the other day.
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Spergularia rubra, Red Sandspurry.
This species is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family. It is an invasive species, said to be native to the Mediterranean and/or Asia. Does anyone see this plant in Europe?
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What is interesting is that I find it predominantly at the higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada. It is so tough I have found this plant growing and blooming even in cracks in the pavement. Although it can be found in almost any disturbed site at high elevation, it is most likely to be found in gravelly, dirt pull-outs along paved roadways and on the gravel strips on the sides of a roadway.
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I forgot one interesting item from the roadside botany the other day.
Spergularia rubra, Red Sandspurry.
This species is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family. It is an invasive species, said to be native to the Mediterranean and/or Asia. Does anyone see this plant in Europe?
What is interesting is that I find it predominantly at the higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada. It is so tough I have found this plant growing and blooming even in cracks in the pavement. Although it can be found in almost any disturbed site at high elevation, it is most likely to be found in gravelly, dirt pull-outs along paved roadways and on the gravel strips on the sides of a roadway.
Robert,
It is not restricted to the Mediterranean area. It is common in southern Norway too but no pest! We have two other very similar Spergularia species also. One is S. salina occurring along the coast.
Spergularia salina
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I am wondering about your plant, Robert. How many anthers does each flower have?
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Robert,
Still many beautiful plants and sites to show us!
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Trond,
Here I am answering your reply remotely - using someone else device. Quite the experience! :-\
Today, Thursday I will be at Loon Lake. This will be my first thorough botanical outing in this area. Hopefully I will get some good photographs and the report will be interesting for everyone on the forum. My first experience in this area dates back to the early 1960's. In addition, our family summer cabin was near by, so this is like going "home" for me.
As for the Spergularia, I will have to check my field notes. There are a half dozen species that are found in California, Spergularia rubra being the only species found at high elevation. The remaining species are coastal or are associated with vernal pools at very low elevations.
Well, I do need to go now. I will be back home in Sacramento late Friday and can update everyone on this outing at this time. :)
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Très joli :). We have a little plant of Penstemon laetus flowering at the moment, but I think it pines for its home! Vivid blue.
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Ah! Back at home. :)
I just went through my photographs from my last outing at Loon Lake. There are plenty of good photographs and a good story to tell. I will post this outing as I can in the coming week as per my current work schedule.
Trond,
I checked my notes on Spergularia rubra. I did not write anything down concerning the number of stamens. I often take detailed notes, but then I have a mess of notes and papers to organize now that I am home. I feel 99.9999% sure on its identification, however I have been known to make a goof more frequently than I would like at times - even on plants I see frequently. ;D
Tim,
Penstemon laetus grows in a sunny, xeric environment. It is understandable that it might pine away for its home territory. When I post my photographs from the Loon Lake outing I will try to remember to point out their habitat preference. There is one photograph that show this quite well.
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Robert, I am sure you are right :)
Loon Lake looks beautiful!
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Trond,
Loon Lake is a very beautiful place.
I will be delayed with my report as I am very ill right now - can not keep any food down, fever. :P
Well this is all I'm good for right now.
I look forward to posting the Loon Lake outing soon.
Now I will crawl back into bed.
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Hope you are soon feeling much better, Robert.
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Sorry to hear that you are not well, Robert. Hope you recover quickly!
A nice butterfly for you :) Neozephyrus quercus (purple hairstreak)
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Trond,
What a beautiful butterfly! 8) 8) 8)
Yes, this helps my recovery. :)
I think that I will be well enough to post "Loon Lake" soon, however this weeks adventure was spent elsewhere. :'( ;)
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Trond,
What a beautiful butterfly! 8) 8) 8)
Yes, this helps my recovery. :)
I think that I will be well enough to post "Loon Lake" soon, however this weeks adventure was spent elsewhere. :'( ;)
The butterfly is rarely seen as it spend most of its time high up in the canopy of oaks. This one had literally rained down!
Looking forward to Loon Lake :)
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Look after yourself, Robert. Take care and we will look forward to seeing you in the Forum when you are well - and have time.
All the best, Maggi
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Loon Lake
7 July 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 85 F (29.5 C), Low: 58 F (14.5 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 86 F (30 C), Low: 54 F (12 C)
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A week ago Thursday, I traveled to Loon Lake. Loon Lake is located at the north end of the Crystal Range, a short distance northwest of the summit of Tells Peak. This opening photograph was taken from the north shore looking south towards Tells Peak, the highest point in the photograph.
Another landmark is Brown Mountain, located in the foreground of Tells Peak to the left of Tells Peak. The mountains in this area are composed chiefly of granite, part of the Sierra Nevada granite batholith. Brown Mountain is an ancient lava dike of basalt, very different from the surrounding mountains.
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Some of my first visits to the area were during the early 1960's. At that time the Boy Scouts were building a lodge and other buildings for a new summer camp. My father and older brother were working on the construction and I was brought along. I might have been 8, + or -, so I was not of much help with the construction work. This gave me plenty of time to explore around and hopefully stay out of trouble.
In the afternoon a strong breeze generally kicks-up on the lake creating some small white caps. My favorite activity was to take a small row boat out into the lake and enjoy the waves and breeze. This might not have been the safest activity for an eight year old to do by himself. :o Even then, I was a very strong swimmer and I never felt threatened by the rough waters.
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My goal this day was to hike and explore the south shore trail toward the Boy Scout lodge.
This photograph was taken from the south shore looking north to the north shore. The Loon Lake dam can be seen in this photograph. Originally there were two natural lakes in this basin, Loon Lake, and to the east, Mary's Lake. Now they are just part of one large reservoir. During times of drought the two lake emerge again.
Another landmark in this photograph is McKinstry Peak (the tallest peak to the right). McKinstry Peak overlooks the Rubicon River to the north and Gerle Creek to the south. Our family built and owned a summer cabin on Gerle Creek. Needless to say I am extremely familiar with this region.
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Before arriving at the trailhead, I took a quick look around the northwest shore of Loon Lake to see what I might find. The topography, geology, and habitat is very different in this area, thus a much different set of plants.
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Eriogonum marifolium and Calyptridium monospermum are common species in these open rocky sites.
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Penstemon laetus is another species seen frequently in this hot, dry, wind swept environment.
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Holodiscus discolor is one of the few shrubby species seen on the dry slopes of the northwest shore.
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I got a late start this day, so I was anxious to get to the trailhead and get a good start to the day.
There are a number of different Juncus species that grow in the area. Juncus multicephalus (pictured) is fairly common and is easily identified when in bloom. These I saw almost immediately as I left the truck at the trailhead.
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It is now the mid-blooming season in the Sierra Nevada. Erigeron glacialis var. glacialis (i.e. E. peregrinus) is very common and seen blooming throughout the area.
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I started my hike at 6,488 feet (1,978 meters). This is the transition zone for Eriogonum marifolium and E. incanum. Both species can be found in this zone, as well as plants that I suspect to be hybrids. Above and below this zone the two species can be easily be distinguished from each other, as E marifolium generally grows at lower elevations and E. incanum at higher elevations.
This plant fits into the Eriogonum incanum camp, at least right now. Eriogonum incanum will retain the woolly, gray pubescence to their leaves throughout the season. Some plants will loose this woolly pubescence and the leaves become olive-green as with E. marifolium. I frequently observe obvious gradations in the leaves pubescence in this zone.
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Although much more forested than the north shore, much of the south shore is carpeted with high elevation chaparral. This slope is covered predominantly with Pinemat Manzanita, Arctostaphylos nevadensis.
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Pinemat Manzanita is a very attractive species and very worth while in cultivation.
This species is known for its attractive fresh green foliage, red berries in the autumn, and polished deep chestnut bark. It has a low creeping, to low mounding habit of growth.
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This time of year Navarretia leptalea ssp leptalea can be seen blooming frequently in our area, sometimes in huge swaths of color in semi-dry meadows.
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With the mid-season bloom brings Yampah, Perideridia sp. Two species, Perideridia lemmonii and P. parshii, can be a bit tricky to distinguish from each other when their blooming season just gets started. As the season progresses, distinguishing between the two species becomes easier, however careful examination is still warranted.
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Lupinus lepidus a lovely but extremely difficult species in cultivation (at least for me!). I have grown this species to blooming age only a few times. I have never been able to keep them alive after they bloom. As far as I know they are not monocarpic. I will keep trying. :)
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The semi-xeric meadows were blooming with Perideridia, Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea and Lupinus lepidus creating a lovely sight.
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Another species seen in these meadows was Eurybia integrifolia, a late blooming "Aster" species.
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The semi-xeric meadows are filled with blooming plants and "grass". Most of the "grass" is predominantly the sedge, Carex subnigricans.
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Occasionally in open areas of the chaparral Calochortus leitchlinii was seen in bloom.
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Another scene of high elevation chaparral. Besides Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Quercus vacciniifolium and Ceanothus cordulatus are two dominant species in such habitats. Ceanothus cordulatus has wicked spines and is best avoided if one has to hike through this type of terrain.
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The chaparral is punctuated by shady, semi-moist, forested areas. Here I found Chimaphila menziesii in bloom. The photograph is poor, however the species is quite attractive in bloom and worthy of the woodland garden.
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In other semi-shaded areas Silene lemmonii was at its blooming peak. The nodding and lacy flowers are distinctive. This is one of a number of Silene species that grow in the Sierra Nevada.
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This time of year Monardella odoratissima var. pallida is seen in bloom. It is a common Sierra Nevada species with a extensive altitude range.
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Apocynum androaemifolium is a frequently seen species too. Generally this species will be found in bloom later in the season, so it was a bit surprising to see this plant in bloom.
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Here is a plant of Eriogonum marifolium in bloom. Note the olive green adaxial surface of the leaves. This is very indicative of the species.
Oooppss... I guess the Eriogonum foliage is hard to see! Most of the foliage is that of Arctostaphylos nevadensis, including the bright red new growth. :-[
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Calyptridium monospermum is seen in bloom almost everywhere this time of year. It is always seen in hot, dry, rocky, sunny habitats. We have plenty of that in the Sierra Nevada.
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The Paintbrushes are blooming. In dry habitats Castilleja applegatei (pictured) is frequently seen. Where there is more moisture Castilleja miniata is seen at this elevation.
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It is hard to see, however Delphinium nuttallianum is pictured blooming (Also in this picture is Sidalcea glaucescens, and Erigeron glacialis). I have tried repeatedly to grow this species without any success.
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As I approached the boy scout lodge, the habitat became forested and there was more moisture in the ground. Here Spiraea splendens (densiflora) was in bloom. This is a very common species, however a "must" for our garden. Seeing this species always bring very good and strong feelings to me, thus a "must" for our garden. Fortunately it is very easily cultivated even in the hot valley of California.
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Mimulus moschatus. This species is always found where there is moisture. I had good success growing this species at the Placerville farm, however at our Sacramento home it is loved by caterpillars. What a shame, as this long cultivated species is very attractive and has a long blooming period.
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I was now needing to turn back to the truck and return home, however I spotted the bright orange flowers of Lilium parvum in a semi-dry creek bed. I wanted to check on them, but first had to wade through a wait-high thicket of Bracken Fern, Pteridium aquilium var. pubescens.
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I am glad that I checked! The lilies were growing on a small hummock in the middle of a pool of water. With the lilies, Cinna latifolia (pictured) was in bloom with its arching inflorescence creating a beautiful effect as the sunlight lit the blooming stems. A big surprise was a giant clump of Elymus glaucus. This was a most unlikely habitat to find this species! Seed must has washed down and the germinating plant found enough light to grow and was not flooded-out.
This was a great way to end the outing, however I was further delayed. A man was waiting for me to leave the bushes. He thought that I needed to "relieve myself" and wanted to be polite. Turns out he was the geologist who worked on the 1993 edition of the Jepson Manual. Needless to say we ended up having a lengthy discussion. I then raced back to the truck and fortunately arrived back at the farm just in time to relieve the hired help.
Now that I am recovering from my visit to the ER, I hope to be out again soon. In the mean time I will continue to rest and recover. :)
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I am glad you are feeling better Robert, it is good to read your report again :) Another very nice region with lots of species - some new to me, like Navarretia and Calyptridium. Always something new to learn about!
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The same say I, Robert. Glad you are able to make your postings :)
The Lilium parvum looks good. Think I have some seedlings going ;)
Have you tried Chimaphila in the garden? I think it is depending on other plants/fungi like many of the "wintergreens" (Pyrola) are. A kind of hemiparasites.
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I am glad you are feeling better Robert, it is good to read your report again :) Another very nice region with lots of species - some new to me, like Navarretia and Calyptridium. Always something new to learn about!
Gabriela,
Yes, there is always something new to learn about. :)
I know that I will be glad to be up and 100% again. I look forward to my next outing, however I am not sure when that will be right now.
I am happy that you enjoy my reports. As to learning something new, it was a bit odd to find Elymus gluacus at such a high elevation (however, Loon Lake is within its upper altitude limit) and in such a very moist and shady site. My main association with Elymus gluacus is as a Sierra Nevada foothill species, so finding it at Loon Lake was quite an eye opener.
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The same say I, Robert. Glad you are able to make your postings :)
The Lilium parvum looks good. Think I have some seedlings going ;)
Have you tried Chimaphila in the garden? I think it is depending on other plants/fungi like many of the "wintergreens" (Pyrola) are. A kind of hemiparasites.
Trond,
Lilium parvum is one of my favorites. We have three varieties in our area. L. parvum is orange to orange-red, L. parvum var. hollidayi is pink and endemic to El Dorado County, California, and L. parvum var. crocatum is orange-yellow. I grow them from seed all of the time as they do not seem to last long in any of our gardens. In the wild I have found specimens that have had 100 or more flowers on a stem (I personally like the plants with fewer flowers). At lower elevations Lilium parvum crosses with L. paradalinum. Lilium paradalinum is very dominant as a parent. Hybrids are often best identified by looking at the bulbs, which show strong characteristics of Lilium parvum. Digging up a bulb is not the way I like to identify a given plant, however I have been able to safely examine a few wild bulbs in the ground. I have also grown my own human created hybrids. Then, of coarse, it is easy to examine many hybrid bulbs.
I have to admit that I do not have any Chimaphila in the garden right now, but I have been able to cultivate it in the past. My understand of Chimaphila is that it is at least partly saprophytic. Not sure though. This is something I need to look into! For successful cultivation a woodsy, humus soil seems necessary. I could keep it alive in an acid soil where I continually added pine needles, twigs, and other raw organic materials.
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Pyramid Peak.
Pyramid Peak is one of the two peaks that dominate the southern crest of the Crystal Range. It is from the slopes of Pyramid Peak and Mount Price that the headwaters of Lyon's Creek are formed and begin their westward flow.
Yesterday, I hiked to Lyon's Lake near the base of Mount Price. The meadows along Lyon's Creek are still moist and the higher terrain is filled with wildflowers.
I will have a report on this outing this coming week. :)
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Lyon's Creek
Part I
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High:90 F (32 C)
Low:59 F (15 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High:93 F (34 C)
Low:56 F (13 C)
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Last Thursday I traveled to the Lyon's Creek drainage. I had hoped to reach the high upper slopes near the summit of Mount Price. Lewisia pygmaea and L. longpetala have been reported in this area and I was hoping to see them in bloom.
Mount Price is hidden from view by a high ridge, however Pyramid Peak (pictured) dominants the eastern horizon as one hikes the upper reaches of the Lyon's Creek drainage.
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The trailhead is at 6,715 feet (2,047 meters) where the trail heads east and traverses a series of seasonally moist and seasonally dry meadows.
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Horkelia fusca is a common feature of the drier meadows. With average snowfall this past season the all of the meadows are still fairly moist at this time. By autumn the drier meadows will be brown and dusty.
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At this elevation there are still large drifts of Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea in bloom. When blooming in mass they create an incredible sight.
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Spiraea splendens is a very common small shrub found at this elevation. It is an excellent ornamental shrubs very adaptable to cultivation at lower elevations. Good forms retain the bright pink coloration of the flowers even in warm weather. Many can have beautiful autumn foliage too.
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The moist meadows were alive with blooming plants. Near small creeks or where ever there is moisture during the complete growing season Aquilegia formosa was in bloom.
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Bistorta bistoroides is a complete water hog. Many of the meadows must have been shallow lakes or ponds when the Ice Age ended. Since then they have filled with soil and sediment, however they can still be marsh-like in the spring after snow melt. This is the habitat where Bistorta is found.
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Lilium parvum is one of my favorite species along this trial. There are a number of small creeks that flow into Lyon's Creek and Lilium parvum can be seen growing and blooming in large stands in this type of habitat.
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Senecio triangularis grows in large stands in the same type of habitat as Lilium parvum. You can see the stem of Lilium parvum next to the Senecio in this photograph.
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Lupinus polyphyllum is still another moisture lover. Sometimes they can be seen growing where the soil seems quite dry. In such situations there is always abundant subterranean moisture.
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Aconogonon phytolaccifolium grows where there is considerable moisture. This polygonaceae grows to about 1 meter tall and tends to be found is grassy meadows with species such as Cinna latifolia or Glyceria elata.
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Castilleja miniatus is a very common species in this area. It will be found where there is more seasonal moisture than many of the other Castilleja species that are native to California prefer. It too tends to be found in grassy meadows, however it is more likely to be seen with Danthonia californica, Phleum alpinum or Agrostis idahoensis along this trail.
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At this time of year Erigeron glacialis var. glacialis is the most frequently seen Asteraceae species in bloom. As I left the trailhead I did see one Symphyotrichum spathulatum in bloom, however their peak blooming season will not arrive for another 3 weeks or so.
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Calochortus minimus grows in great abundance and variety in this area. I suspect that many of the plants in this area are hybrids, crosses with Calochortus nudus. I would very much like to study the Calochortus populations in this area in much more detail. A this time the best I can do is observe and count nodding or upright seed capsules. A much more detailed study would be extremely fascinating.
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At times the trail traverses drier terrain. Here Lupinus lepidus is the most commonly seen Lupine species. Lupinus fulcratus is also seen in this area, however they are generally found in small opening in the coniferous forest where there is much more duff on the soil.
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Potentilla gracilis has bright yellow flower that are very showy. I have been cultivating this species in the garden for a number of years now. It is very easy to grow and produces waves of flowers throughout the growing season. In our Sacramento garden it is producing its second wave of flowers for the season despite the 40 c weather. It will bloom again in the late summer-autumn time frame. All of this is with irrigation of coarse. Under drought conditions it may survive by going completely dormant.
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Eventually the trail starts to gain altitude quickly. Here the habitat is much drier and the plant species found are very different.
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As the trail starts to rise Arnica mollis can be seen in bloom. The woolly gray rosettes of foliage are beautiful as they ooze across the granite rocks. Antennaria rosea can be seen growing over small rocks in this area too.
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Eremogone kingii var. glabrescens blooms on the rocky, dry, sunny slopes where the rock ferns Cryptogramma acrostichoides and Pellaea bridgesii are often seen.
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Eriophyllum lanatum also enjoys the sunny, dry slopes and was at peak bloom this day.
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Cryptogramma arcostichoides is always found growing in rock crevices.
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Pellaea bridgesii is found in the same hot, dry, sunny habitat as Crytogramma arcostichoides. It too is always found growing in rock crevices in this area.
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This dry, open, sunny terrain is the habitat of Calochortus leitchlinii.
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Eucephalus breweri is a rayless asteraceae having only discoid flower heads. It is a late blooming species. I saw only a few plants in bloom this day.
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Eventually the trail climbs very steeply towards Lyon's Lake. The views to the Valley and of Pyramid Peak are spectacular along this stretch of the trail.
To be continued.........
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Robert, you cannot imagine how wonderful it is for those of us who will never have the chance to explore your countryside to be able to enjoy your trips to see the range of plants and see your explanations of the various habitats. Thank you!
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Continuing from my last posting....
The Lyon's Creek trail climbs steeply from the Lake Sylvia junction. Fortunately it is only a short distance until the trail levels at about 8,350 feet (2,545 meters). Here there is a small lake (or pond) surrounded with Ericaceae species.
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My timing was perfect as they were all in full bloom.
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Drifts of blooming Phyllodoce breweri mingled with the other species.
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From here it is only a short walk to Lyon's Lake, elevation 8,375 feet (2,553 meters). The Lake is bordered with moorland full of Ericaceae species. On the dry, sunny, rocky, slopes surrounding the lake large drifts of Penstemon newberryi were in full bloom creating a riot of color.
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This is Penstemon newberryi at its best.
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Wonderful to see these plants growing in their habitat.
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Finally at Lyon's Lake it was time for a rest. From the trailhead it is a little over 5 miles (8km) to Lyon's Lake. Most of the elevation gain is gentle, except for the last steep push to Lyon's Lake.
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I did not rest long as there was much to attract my attention. Low hummocks of Ledum columbianum were blooming with racemes of white flowers.
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Mingling with the Phyllodoce and the pink flowers of Kalmia polifolia were the white bells of Cassiope mertensiana.
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In addition, Vaccinium cespitosum grew in with the blooming Cassiope (pictured). In the autumn, the Vaccinium turns brilliant scarlet. The color contrast with the bright green of Cassiope and Phyllodoce is stunning.
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However this day I was able to enjoy the Cassiope, Phyllodoce and Ledum all blooming together in drifts along the lake edge and stream border.
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My goal this day was to reach a bench near the summit of Mount Price. First I needed to climb the cliff face on the east side of Lyon's Lake (right side of the photograph).
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I have climbed this cliff face in the past. It is not as difficult as it might seem, however there was still about 1,600 feet (488 meters) of climbing to reach the top of the cliff face and the somewhat level bench above. From there it is an easy stroll to the summit of Mount Price. Sadly time had expired and I needed to return home. I have to admit that I get a thrill out of such a climb, but I did not want to get caught up there in the dark. I have been there and done that too near the summit of Round Top Peak. Not much fun.... so I hiked back down the trail to the truck.
Until next time.....
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Wonderful to see these plants growing in their habitat.
Hi Lesley,
I am glad that you are enjoying my postings. Sadly my current working situation (sometimes the lack of paying work) is disrupting my planned outings. I will be out of town and away from home for 2 weeks :( however I might be able to get one good outing in. Otherwise I will have to settle for roadside botany. This can be interesting too, and I have a few good ideas. We will see how it goes.
Thank you again for your encouraging comment.
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Hi Robert, what a fabulous place this is. I love seeing the Cassiope, Phyllodace and related plants. I wish they grew so well for me. :(
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Robert, you cannot imagine how wonderful it is for those of us who will never have the chance to explore your countryside to be able to enjoy your trips to see the range of plants and see your explanations of the various habitats. Thank you!
Maggi,
For the fun of it, I am working on a flora of the Lyon's Creek drainage. This is a challenging and interesting project and I am extremely please that others can benefit from the data I am accumulating. Maybe in another 3-5 year I will have enough information - you know I need to slow down and stay out of the ER ;D however I am back to 100% now. Now I need to stay out of trouble - it is 108 F (42C) today and I was having so much fun out in the garden - my wife had me quit and hosed me down in the shade. This felt great but you can see the sort of trouble I can get myself in. ;D
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Hi Robert, what a fabulous place this is. I love seeing the Cassiope, Phyllodace and related plants. I wish they grew so well for me. :(
Lesley,
I know what you mean. The Cassiope, Phyllodoce, Kalmia, and Vaccinium are all very tempting to grow in the garden. For us, they all eventually seemed to get distressed sooner or later and die - especially when it is 108 F (42C) ( I should say the choice ones seem to die :'( ). :P I have had some limited success growing them from seed (they are very slow 3-5 year before they bloom). Our native species seem to do best. I have some 4 year old Phyllodoce breweri coming on that might bloom this coming spring. My Vaccinium caspitosum of the same age died this spring. I was hoping to imitate the autumn color Vaccinium - Phyllodice combo. :'( :P Oh well, I will need to gather more Vaccinium seed this autumn and keep trying....
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Robert, I second Maggi and Lesley and everything they said :) I particularly like this region around the Pyramid Peak - too bad you couldn't climb all the way up to the top. But I know it's best to be safe on the mountain. So many wonderful species!
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Robert, I second Maggi and Lesley and everything they said :) I particularly like this region around the Pyramid Peak - too bad you couldn't climb all the way up to the top. But I know it's best to be safe on the mountain. So many wonderful species!
Gabriela,
Thank you so very much for your comments. :) 8) 8) 8)
At this time I already know my schedule and will have to satisfy myself with roadside botany for the next two weeks.
Yea, getting stranded on Round Top Peak with limited gear was not much fun. It may have been summertime, but a cold and strong wind blew all night. I found a narrow avalanche shute and tucked myself next to a granite rock protected from the wind. It was a cold sleepless night but it worked. Botany is much more fun. :)
It would have been good to see the Lewisias in bloom but there will be another time.
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Robert,
I try to follow your trip while I am up here consentrating on mine!
Some plants are the same genera but most are different!
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Trond,
I am enjoying your postings immensely! You can always catch up on my postings later. On this forum they do not seem to disappear - a great reference!
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Trond,
I am enjoying your postings immensely! You can always catch up on my postings later. On this forum they do not seem to disappear - a great reference!
Indeed Robert - it is the intention of SRGC to provide here a forum where discussion is possible and the information shared is archived here and is searchable and available to all.
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Indeed Robert - it is the intention of SRGC to provide here a forum where discussion is possible and the information shared is archived here and is searchable and available to all.
Maggi,
Thank you for confirming my suspicions that information is archived. Having the information searchable, of coarse, makes the situation even better. I have to admit that I get in a rut using the forum in a simplistic way. I will have to experiment with some of the other features, as there are must be some useful tools available to make the information ever more useful.
In addition, archived information encourages me to provide the best possible postings. I like doing this anyway, so I always appreciate when others benefit from the information I provide.
It looks like I will be able to do some roadside botany today. Something enjoyable to look forward to. :)
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I was able to do some roadside botany on Saturday, 30 July 2016. Sunday was a long work day - up at 4:00 a.m. for a very long day. So here I am, the next day, rested and reporting on my findings. :)
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I decided to travel Iron Mountain Road into the High Country. The road bisects areas of soil based on both granite and volcanic activity. Soil type, elevation changes, soil moisture, exposure, and other factors provide habitat for an good diversity of plant species.
Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum was in full bloom this day and was seen frequently along side of the road or on barren rocky areas. This was one of 4 species of Eriogonum seen this day; the others being E. nudum var. deductum (seen blooming in mass in some areas); E. incanum (finished blooming); and E. wrightii var.subscaposum (yet to bloom - a late bloomer).
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Eriogonum umbellatum, in most of its numerous varieties, is a great garden plant and is very amenable to garden culture, at least in our area.
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Elymus elymoides is a very common native Poaceae species in our region. It is found over a broad altitude range.
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My first stop was at 7,419 feet (2,261 meters). At this stop there is a steep bluff that drops quickly to the northwest. About half way down the slope a large springs opens.
Angelica breweri was in full bloom at this site. It was found in bloom both on the flat area at the top of the bluff as well as scattered throughout the area down the steep slope.
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Down near the spring there were some very healthy and attractive clumps of Agastache urticifolia.
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Another shot of Agastache urticifolia. This is another species that is very amenable to garden culture. I had some nice clumps growing at the farm, however they are gone now. :'( I will be giving them a try in our Sacramento garden where they will most likely thrive - class I loam 30 feet deep!
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Near the spring there were large stands of Heracleum maximum and Delphinium glaucum, both in bloom. Glyceria elata also thrives near the spring. Its common name is Mannagrass. The grain is said to be large and well worth gathering for food. I have never gathered the grain, but I would like to give it a try. I still have all of my grain processing equipment from my days of farming! ;D Another treat at this spring are the stands of Platanthera dilatata var. leucosytachys. They were not blooming. :'(
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In the dry area beyond the spring I found one plant of Allium campanulatum still in bloom. Allium validum grows near the spring. I have found hybrids of the two species on this slope.
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A big treat was seeing Delphinium glaucum still in bloom.
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This is a most attractive species, with the tall flowering stems towering 3 + meters in height! Seeing them growing and blooming in quantity is an awesome sight.
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My next stop was at a meadow, elevation 7,365 feet (2,245 meters). Acmispon nevadensis var. nevadensis seen in bloom as I stepped out of the car. This is a lovely species that I must try in the garden. The yellow to yellow-orange/red flowers are very showy and I like bright colors in the garden.
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One of my favorite patches of Rudbeckia californica was in bloom.
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This species, too, grows well into garden. I already have some planted in our Sacramento garden. They grew and bloomed well at the farm, however they cannot endure extreme drought and they are all gone now.
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I did not want to stay long as there was a wedding in action at the other end of the meadow. Sidalcea glaucescens was blooming in dry areas near the Rudbeckia. Where it was swampy Mimulus tilingii was blooming. It has large yellow flowers with an extended lower lip. The calyx lobes are uneven, the upper most being the longest. M. moschata also grows in this meadow, and the above characteristics help distinguish the two species easily.
Another species of the marshy area was Epilobium hallianum. The fleshy runners have small bulb-like structures at the base of the plant where the stem rises above the ground. The flowers are somewhat small, but bright pinky-lavender.
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From the meadow I moved on to Highway 88 and traveled up the road toward Carson Pass. Here the terrain changes back and forth, from granite to volcanic rock strata. From this view one can see the "salt and pepper", dark-light of the Sierra Nevada granite.
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My last stop for the day was at 7,606 feet (2,318 meters). Here the habitat was high elevation chaparral. Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Quercus vacciniifolia, and Ceanothus cordulatus were the dominant species. Scattered in the chaparral were a few Lodgepole Pines, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana and Pinus jeffreyi.
Erigeron breweri var. breweri enjoys this dry, sunny habitat and was blooming in scattered patches throughout this area.
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In addition, Holodiscus discolor was in bloom scattered here and there in the chaparral.
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Under a Lodgepole Pine there was a nice specimen of Salix scouleriana. This willow species is found in much drier habitats than most of our other native Salix species. There must have been some subterranean moisture as I also saw Salix lemmonii in the area. The last species of note was Prunus emarginata with its fruits now starting to turn bright red.
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Before returning to the farm I got one last photograph of the volcanic peaks near Carson Pass. There was still a bit of convection cloudiness from the monsoonal moisture that had moved up previously. The day before there were huge thunderstorms in this area. For the time, the monsoon winds and rain have moved to the east. August and early September are the prime monsoonal times for us, sometimes brings thunderstorms and rain to the Sierra Nevada Foothills and the Great Central Valley. This is especially true when the weather is extremely hot, i.e. 40 C + in the Valley.
Also, the sky has been milky with smoke from the huge wildfire burning in the Southern Coast Range near Monterrey, California. For a week or so now the smoke has been terrible, the sun being very muted in the mornings and evenings from the thick smoke. This fire is burning in very difficult terrain and it may be a month before it is out. Such is life in California. With good rains the fire will bring a tremendous display of wildflower next spring. I wish that I could go see this!
Anyway, until next time..... Some native plants and invasives from the foothills.
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Interesting as always, Robert!
Glyceria fluitans is called mannagras both in Dutch and in Norwegian (it is also called sweet grass in Norw.)!
Just a short comment - I must leave now ;)
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A few photographs taken over the last few days in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
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A typical scene - away from the rampant development.
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Another foothill scene - open grassland and oak savanna.
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A beautiful 'Valley Oak', Quercus lobata. Valley Oak can grow to be quite massive in the alluvial plains of the Great Central Valley of California. This species is also found in the coastal foothills and valleys as well as in the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Generally this species grows to be a smaller tree in the generally shallow and poor soils in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
The 'Hooker Oak' was a Valley Oak and heritage tree growing in the alluvial plain of Chico Creek in the city of Chico, California. I remember visiting this tree when I was in my early 20's and it was still alive. The trunk was massive, with huge limbs that arched back down to the ground in a circle around the main trunk. From these branches grew secondary branches that created a huge dome. The whole tree must have covered an area the size of a baseball field, maybe larger.
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Quercus lobata is very easily identified by the leaf shape and the acorns. The acorns are long and narrow with an acute tip.
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A typical 'Blue Oak', Quercus douglasii. Blue Oak is generally the most frequently seen oak species in the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada. In general, they are far more tolerant of drought, poor shallow soils, and adverse conditions of all the foothill oak species. In the spring their leaves emerge green, however they quickly turn blue-green and remain that color for the remainder of the growing season. This species is not known for any notable autumn leaf colors. At the best they will turn dull yellow, but this can be surprisingly attractive at times in the countryside.
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Hypericum perforatum is a commonly found invasive weed in our part of California.
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Hypericum perforatum is generally found in scattered groups, but at times they can dominate a whole field.
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Acmispon americanus var. americanus is a native species. It is quite a tenacious species, growing often in the most hostile, hot and dry locations. I often find this species grow near the asphalt of roadways - so this species is at least likely to be tolerant of herbicides too.
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Ascelpias fascicularis. I have been surprised and also pleased that I have seen this native species frequently. When I come across a patch, I always check for Monarch Butterfly larva. When I was a little boy I saw Monarch Butterflies all of the time. Now they seem quite rare. :'(
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Cytisus scoparius is the most commonly seen 'Broom' in our area. This photograph is of Spartium junceum. Both species are invasive, non-native species. I rarely find Spartium , but when I do it is almost always in disturbed locations. For me it is somewhat hard to believe that this species is planted as an ornamental. To me it seems most unattractive, most likely my bias because of its noxious, invasive nature. :-X
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Robert,
The dry grasslands look more like ripe grainfields than anything else I am familiar with!
Acmispon nevadensis looks from your picture not unlike Lotus corniculatus which is very decorative. It is native here but has spread a lot in recent years.
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Robert,
The dry grasslands look more like ripe grainfields than anything else I am familiar with!
Acmispon nevadensis looks from your picture not unlike Lotus corniculatus which is very decorative. It is native here but has spread a lot in recent years.
Hi Trond,
Lotus corniculatus has naturalize in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Several years ago I found them growing where there was an old log deck from a previous logging operation. The species is quite attractive, however my understanding is that it is invasive and perhaps even considered noxious in California. Fortunately I rarely see it growing in the Sierra Nevada. I will have to check with the Department of Agriculture as to its status. Personally I find the species attractive and would not mind grow it in our garden.
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Seems a lot of European plants have found their way to California. It is not the opposite way although some American plants have been spreading the last years. Most of them are uninteresting weeds :-\
Nice oaks ;)
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Seems a lot of European plants have found their way to California. It is not the opposite way although some American plants have been spreading the last years. Most of them are uninteresting weeds :-\
Nice oaks ;)
Trond,
It is troubling the number of noxious and invasive weeds we have in California. In the case of grasses they have mostly displaced our native grasses and annuals. Bromus, Avena, and Hordeum species are some of the worst offenders.
Below are some photographs taken this past week of a few other invasive grass species in our area.
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Goat Grass, Aegilops triuncialis, is one of three invasive Aegilops species in our area. I generally find Aegilops triuncials from the lower to mid-elevations in the Sierra Nevada. I do not see this species very often, however when I find it, it has established itself very robustly.
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Cynosurus echinatus, Dogtail Grass, is an non-native invasive grass commonly found in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This species is interesting in that is bears two very different spikelets in the same inflorescence.
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Gastridium phleoides is less common and found in the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada. As the name implies, this species resembles Timothy, at least somewhat. Timothy, Phleum pratense, is sold as hay in our area and of coarse is a weed now. Phleum alpinum is native. I see it frequently in high elevation meadows.
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Muhlenbergia rigens is one of our native, perennial, bunch grasses. It is an attractive species worthy of the garden. I see this species in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
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When traveling around the Sierra Nevada Foothills it is common to see the California Buckeyes, Aesculus californica, brown and semi-dormant this time of year.
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Fremont Cottonwood, Populus fremontii, is a good indicator of subterranean moisture. This species grows both in the Great Central Valley as well as the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Huge trees are commonly seen growing on river banks, however they can also been found near springs or sites where underground water is located near the surface.
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The leaves make a pleasant sound when there is a breeze. The sound would be a nice addition to the garden, however another appropriate species would be advisable. In the U.S.A. it is best planted in the "back 40" as the roots are aggressive and making gardening impossible.
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Verbascum thapsus, a common invasive weed. Sometimes they they can look okay and I will let one grow. So sad some of the nicer species do not seed around as easily.
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Cichorium intybus, Chicory. Some of the other species make wonderful vegetables! :) Endive, Frisee, etc. I always enjoyed them when they flowered for seed production.
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Skeleton Weed, Chondrilla juncea. 50-60 years ago there was an attempt to eradicate Skeleton Weed from California. Sadly the project failed and this species can be found in most disturbed sites throughout the lower elevations of California.
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Conifers and other forest trees and shrubs continue to die due to the drought. Average precipitation this past winter did bring some relief, however much of the ecosystem is still very stressed.
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Yesterday I was able to take a ride up to Wright's Lake.
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There are still many wildflowers in bloom at the high elevations, such as this Paintbrush, Castillejia miniata.
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Cirsium andersonii looking good. I will be able to resume my botanical outings next week. :) 8)
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Two of these are native here, and a few more I know, but the grasses are unknown to me. Usually I don't look twice of a grass except when it is something special with it ;)
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Two of these are native here, and a few more I know, but the grasses are unknown to me. Usually I don't look twice of a grass except when it is something special with it ;)
Trond,
I can understand how you might pass on the Poaceae. I did this for too many years. In California the Poaceae are often a very large component of an ecosystem. In my situation, understanding the impact of invasive species, their distribution, as well as many other considerations, especially with Poaceae became imperative. In many situation, the original native bunch grass habitats have been obliterated. In some cases, finding even a tiny remnant of a native bunch grass habitat (especially low elevation) can be a significant find.
Maybe it is much different in Norway?
I am now back at home. :) I have an outing planned for this week. I look forward to both the outing and reporting on my findings. :)
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Robert,
Grases and grass-like plants like sedges, are very important here also in many ways. They are often main components of the ecosystems, economically imortant and also aestetic important (lawns!). Most species in Norway are the same as in the rest of Europe although different ecotypes exist. Nobody seems to bother as much of foreign grasses as of other foreign plants though. Grasses from other parts of the World are still rare. Anyway, most grass species you will find on a "botanical outing" are still native.
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Tomorrow I will be off to Smith Lake. This is a back door route to the summit of Mount Price. Most likely I will not have time to reach the summit, however I hope to have a lively report on my findings. :)
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Yesterday I had a very successful outing to Smith Lake and beyond. Fortunately many of the photograph turned out well and I will report on this outing as I can over the next week.
This photograph was taken near a false summit looking out over Smith Lake.
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Looking forward to the rest of it, Robert! Smith Lake looks nice but the terrain seems to be very rugged!
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Looking forward to the rest of it, Robert! Smith Lake looks nice but the terrain seems to be very rugged!
Trond,
I have a very good story to tell. Work keeps me busy and slows down the progress on posting the outings. I hope to get started Sunday or Monday. :)
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Take your time and don't hurry ;)
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SMITH LAKE
Part I
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 95 F (35 C)
Low: 61 F (16 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 98 F (36.5 C)
Low: 62 F (16.6 C)
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I started this trek from the east shore of Wright's Lake, elevation 6,990 feet (2,131 meters). My goal this day was to hike to Smith Lake and then climb the high ridge near Mount Price (elevation 9,974 feet [3,040 meters]. I was hoping to find a quick and easier route to a high bench on the southwestern flank of Mount Price where a number of interesting alpine species can be found.
Wright's Lake is a very popular destination both for car campers, as well as the summer cabin owners in this area. It is hard to believe that before the summer cabins and campers that a dairy operated near the lake. As you can see from the photograph, there are many fine meadows near the lake. The dairy cattle are long gone and the meadows have recovered to a great extent. There are still remnants of fencing, however this is slowly disappearing as the wooden posts and metal wire rust and decay.
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The meadows are full of moisture loving species, such as this Senecio triangularis, still in bloom.
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Where the soil it thin Mimulus primuloides grows abundantly. If the soil stays moist they will bloom well in the autumn.
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When the vegetation is lush and thick the grass Glyceria elata is commonly seen. Lovely stands of Aconitum columbianum were blooming in this area, however the photographs did not turn out. :'(
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Chanerion angustifolium is very lovely in this setting. This species can grow in large stands creating a beautiful show. Yes, I know this species can be weedy to say the least in other parts of the globe, however here as a native species they seem very much in balance.
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On slightly higher, and drier ground around the lake, a completely different set of species is seen.
Lonicera conjugialis blooms very early in the season. This time of year the fruits turn bright red and are very attractive.
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Where I parked my truck, I was greeted by scattered stands of the bright yellow Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum in bloom.
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This well known species is easily grown in our garden. They often have a prolonged blooming period in our garden, providing flower color well into the summer. As of today, we still have a few flowering stems that look good.
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Bitter Dogbane, Apoccynum androsaemiflium, when growing in a good location can look quite fine. These were growing quite lush near the trail.
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The dried stalks of Elymus elymoides, Squirreltail, (pictured) were seen frequently. The tall stems of Blue Wild-rye, Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus, were also seen in this habitat.
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This time of year stands of Solidago elongata brighten the landscape with their yellow flowers.
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The trail follows a steep grade to Smith Lake and the terrain changes quickly as one leaves the meadowy flats around Wright's Lake. The hot, dry, open granite slopes are scattered with specimens of Jeffrey Pine, Pinus jeffreyi. It is quite the contrast from the Lodgepole Pine forest, Pinus contorta ssp murrayana, that dominate the landscape around Wright's Lake.
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Where there is enough soil, chaparral species such as Quercus vacciniifolia are seen. This specimen has an oak gall created by a wasp species that propagate themselves within the gall.
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Normal I rarely see acorns on Huckleberry Oak, Quercus vacciniifolia. This year many of the shrubs were loaded with acorns.
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In this hot, dry, desolate landscape Sedum obtusatum finds a home among the rocks. Early in the season this habitat can be a blaze of color from the flowers of Penstemon newberryi and Penstemon laetus, as well as bulbous species. With the hot dry season they hang on while other species such as Crytogramma acrostichoides and Pellaea bridgesii dry up and look dead.
To be continued........
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Smith Lake
Part II
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As I worked my way up the trail toward Grouse Lake, convection cloudiness had started to build. Were there to be thunderstorms today? This is something I needed to consider, especially since I was going to attempt to cross some very high ridges.
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Grouse Lake, elevation 8,142 feet (2,482 meters), is about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the trailhead. The trail follows a fairly stiff incline especially the second segment of the trail.
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The north end of the lake where the creek exits is very marsh-like with many interesting plants. Many Ericaceae species thrive at this site, such as Phyllodoce breweri, Cassiope mertensiana, Kalmia polifolia and Ledum columbianum. If ones timing is correct the orchid Planthera dilatata var. leucostachys can be found in bloom. This time of year all of the above have long since finished blooming.
Early in the season some parts of this marshy area are partly submerged with water. Here Carex utriculata (pictured) grows happily. This Carex species is commonly found in such habitats in this part of California.
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Another Carex species that would follow me as I continued my climb up the mountain was Carex spectabilis.
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Oreostemma (Aster) alpigenum var. andersonii is a late bloomer. I found them in bloom around Grouse Lake and in many of the moist meadows as I continued up the mountain.
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Hemlock Lake, elevation 8,388 feet (2,557 meters), is a very short distance from Grouse Lake, however the trail is very steep between the two lakes.
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There are a number of meadows between Grouse and Hemlock Lakes. The meadows are generally good locations to look around for interesting species.
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This day I did not find much except the usual Cassiope, Phyllododce, Kalmia as well as blooming plants of Perideridia parishii (pictured) and Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii.
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It is also a very short hike up to Smith Lake, however once again the grade is very steep. Here the forest thins dramatically as the tree line approaches. Here one sees wind swept and dwarfed Mountain Hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana.
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As the forest thins, there are also fantastic vistas in many directions. This view is to the west toward Union Valley Reservoir (seen in the distance).
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A few Western White Pine, Pinus moticola, can also be found in these exposed sites.
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One final push up the mountain and I was at Smith Lake, elevation 8,690 feet (2,648 meters). It is very rocky, barren, and exposed around Smith Lake.
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There is a Hemlock forest, Tsuga mertensiana, along the north side of the lake.
From here my journey would take me cross country (no trail) through the upper part of the Hemlock forest, then I would traverse the mountain face working my way southward and upward toward the ridgeline and summit of the peak in the distance.
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This would turn out to be very interesting territory to explore.
Hieracium horridum first started to appear at Hemlock Lake.
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This is a very attractive species with woolly grey foliage, stems, and phyllaries, as well as bright yellow flowers.
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Where there was moisture Spiraea splendens grew and was still blooming.
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Also near running water Erigeron glacialis var. glacialis was still in bloom too.
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It was nice to see them in bloom as they are very attractive. This species also grows farther down the mountain, where they have long since finished blooming.
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As I approached the upper limit of the Hemlock forest I found Senecio fremontii in bloom. The foliage of this species is very fleshy and un-Senecio like. It is a compact grower, preferring to grow at the base of rocks.
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The edge of the Hemlock forest was the upper limit for Eucephalus breweri. This species also grows over a fairly wide altitude range. Here they were still in bloom. Down the mountain they too had long since finished blooming.
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As I left the Hemlock forest and started to traverse my way up the mountain, my forward progress was slowed greatly. I had entered a boulder field of massive, gigantic rocks and cliff faces that were best avoided.
Throughout this area I frequently found two species of ferns. The first was Athyrium distentifolium var. americanum. This species seemed to prefer moisture. Running water was not visible, however at times I could hear water trickling below the giant rocks where this species grew.
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The second fern, Cryptogramma acrostichoides, was found in much drier sites, often in rock crevices.
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In this exposed landscape it seemed odd, to me, to find Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa. There were not many plants species growing in this rock jungle, however I found a fair number of specimens of this species on this mountain face. Red Elderberry has beautiful red fruit that were at their prime this day.
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A frequent species on the lower parts of this mountain face was Carex spectabilis. They seemed to grow at any site where there was the least amount of soil and some moisture.
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As I approached the summit of the mountain the number of plants decreased and the pitch of the mountain increased. At 9,502 feet (2,896 meters) I was very near the upper ridgeline. From the top of this ridge I would be able to access my prospects at reaching the bench on the southwestern face of Mount Price.
Too be continued......
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Although you are not finished, I have to say that I am enjoying your trip. When I look at the rocks in your pictures it strikes me that it is almost no lichens to be seen. The rocks look quite naked and "fresh-made" :)
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The second fern, Cryptogramma acrostichoides, was found in much drier sites, often in rock crevices.
Robert, this Cryptogramma looks to me like it might be Cryptogramma cascadensis. Contrast this with Cryptogramma photos you posted earlier in the year, which I'm pretty sure were C. acrostichoides. But it is often difficult to say for sure from a photo. Both species grow in the Desolation Wilderness.
Ed
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Robert, good pictures as usual. It looks tricky going. Is the rock, Granite?
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Continuing on....
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After a short push I finally arrived at the ridgeline. The summit of Mount Price loomed a short distance away. Unfortunately a deep glacial valley created a gulf between where I stood, the summit of Mount Price, and the bench that I wished to visit.
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The prospects of continuing up the ridge to the false summit were not encouraging either. The "path" upward was extremely steep and would be very slow going, requiring a great deal of careful climbing on my part. In addition, a knife-edge ridge separated the false summit from Mount Price. From my perspective it appeared that a fixed line would be require for me to cross this ridge safely. I was not prepared for this.
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The view from this point was spectacular. Pyramid Peak was visible, rising above the southeastern ridge of Mount Price.
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In the far distance, to the south, Round Top Peak could be seen.
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Far below at the end of the glaciated valley Lyon's Lake was viable to the southwest.
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At this point I decided it would be best to return to Smith Lake. Unlike some of the other peaks of the Crystal Range, this site was rather poor in species diversity. It was more rock than anything else - very steep too. I would take may chances and see what I might find taking a different route back to Smith Lake.
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High on the ridge there were scattered stands of White Bark Pine, Pinus albicaulis.
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I also spotted a few blooming specimens of Ericameria suffruitocosa.
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As well as some drifts of Phyllodoce breweri with some lingering blossoms.
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As I worked my way back down the mountain the number of pockets with soil increased. Here I found small "gardens" filled with blooming plants. Castilleja applegatei was found blooming at several sites.
Near the lake there were many plants of Mimulus lewisii. Unfortunately they had already finished blooming. This is a fairly common species, however it would have been a delight to see them in bloom.
Hiking cross-country (i.e. off established trails) pays-off. I generally find very interesting species when I have the opportunity look around well away from the established trails. This day was no exception. Even though I was unable to reach the southwestern bench on Mount Price, I was very pleased with my results this day. Now it was time to return home.
Until next time. :)
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Robert, this Cryptogramma looks to me like it might be Cryptogramma cascadensis. Contrast this with Cryptogramma photos you posted earlier in the year, which I'm pretty sure were C. acrostichoides. But it is often difficult to say for sure from a photo. Both species grow in the Desolation Wilderness.
Ed
Hi Ed,
I think that I would be quite excited if I found Cryptogramma cascadensis on the west slope of the Crystal Range. I agree the photograph looks as if it could be C. cascadensis. It would have been very easy to confirm its identity if I would have taken the time to do so. At some point I am sure that I will return and can make a positive identification. It would be great if I could do so this season.
Perhaps you can understand that there is too frequently, at least for me, not enough time to carefully examine all the different species. Right now I often only have sufficient time to do an overview of the species on any given outing.
This past week I traveled to Tells Peak (I will report on this later) and logged 140 different species. There were at least 20 to 30 species that I did not included as there was insufficient time to examine them closely. Then Genus Carex, the Poaceae family, and a few others require considerable attention, especially this time of year, to identify correctly. I do have a number of sites I want to return to and do a more more detailed examination of the species. All in time. :)
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Although you are not finished, I have to say that I am enjoying your trip. When I look at the rocks in your pictures it strikes me that it is almost no lichens to be seen. The rocks look quite naked and "fresh-made" :)
Hi Trond,
I finally finished up with this outing. :) I spent two days fixing a water leak on the farm. One of our 2" water lines developed a leak and needed to be fixed immediately. :)
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Robert, good pictures as usual. It looks tricky going. Is the rock, Granite?
Hi Ian,
Yes, the rock is granite, part of the Sierra Nevada granite batholith.
An it was slow and tricky going high on the mountain. The days of any mountaineering for me a long gone. ;D
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A view of Forni Lake and Tells Peak. This was one of many sights from my outing last week.
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This is an area of many alpine meadows. They are scattered throughout this region at various elevations. The combination of wet to dry, elevation and exposure creates a wide diversity of habitats and an incredible diversity of species.
I will be reporting on this outing this coming week as time permits. :)
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A desolate landscape, especially at high altitude, but I like it! Some lovely plants also :)
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A desolate landscape, especially at high altitude, but I like it! Some lovely plants also :)
Trond,
Each of the peaks of the Crystal Range has its own unique nuances of vegetation. Tells Peak is one of the less barren and floristically rich peaks within the Crystal Range. I was disappointed that I was not able to reach the summit on this outing. The number of species I encountered on this outing was overwhelming and slowed my progress toward the summit of the peak. Many days could be spent on the higher slopes of Tells Peak examining the flora. I only had an hour or so on the lower northern flank of the mountain. My best option would be to camp on the mountain for several days to investigate the plants. Sadly this is not an option for me right now, but I do the best I can with the time I do have. This is something I am thankful for. :)
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TELLS PEAK
Part I
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 88 F (31 C), Low: 57 F (14 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 93 F (34 C), Low: 50 F (10 C)
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This outing is a continuation of my 15 June 2016 outing to Van Vleck meadows and the Highland Trail. On the 15 June outing a heavy snow began to fall and I needed to return to my truck and explore other sites lower down on the mountain.
I had not been on the Highland Trail to Tells Peak in many years and I was eager to explore the higher slopes of Tells Peak. I started out at the Van Vleck Trailhead (elevation 6,515 feet, 1986 meters) and retraced my route up the Highlands Trail to the point I had reached on my previous outing. I had a long day ahead so I did not pause except to enjoy some wild strawberries (Frageria virginiana) that were ripe.
In June this meadow was in full bloom with Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii and Bistorta bistortoides. On this day the Camassia was ripe with seed and there was not a trace of the Bistorta.
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On this day the meadow was in bloom with Asteraceae, mega sized Oreostemma alpigenum var. anderesonii and yellow Arnica.
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The meadows in this area are full of low hummocks of woody shrubs primarily Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. occidentale (pictured) and Salix orestera.
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For many decades the meadows were used as summer cattle pasture by the Van Vleck Ranch. The cattle are gone now, however invasive species remain such as this Tragopogon species that is producing much seed.
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Horse riding is still allowed in this area, thus the possibility to introduce additional invasive species still exists. Of coarse even without horses, human activities in the area can also pose a threat to the native flora by the introduction of non-native species.
Verbascum thapsus, non-native and pictured, most likely established itself many, many decades ago.
Perhaps the most persistent invasive species in this area is Sheep Sorrel, Rhumex acetosella. From observation, it appears that the natural ecosystem can eventually re-establish itself and some invasive species will die-out. Sheep Sorrel and some other invasive species can be extremely noxious and persistent.
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This Arnica species grew throughout the meadow. I had other goals in mind this day, thus I did not take the time to key out this species. Arnica chamissonii was in bloom near the trailhead, however this species appeared to be another species. Without a name it was quite lovely non the less.
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This area consists of many meadows at various altitudes, exposures, moisture contents, etc. Each meadow has it subtleties of environment, thus this region has a considerable diversity in its flora. The Cyperaceae and Poaceae families are well represented and are a very important feature of the meadow ecosystems. I have found a considerable diversity of species within these family groups in this area and I find the study of them very fascinating.
Cirsium andersonii, pictured, is commonly seen and blooms over an extended period of time.
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Solidago elongata, a late blooming species, is seen very frequently in this part of the Sierra Nevada Range.
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The meadows are punctuated by forested areas and drier, rockier ground.
This was a beautiful specimen of Pseudognaphalium canescens found in one of the drier habitats.
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Pseudognaphalium canescens is similar to P. thermale. Reaching the higher terrain on Tells Peak was important to me this day and I did not spend a lot of time checking many of the plants. The leaf base on this plant was not decurrent, so P. canescens is a fairly safe bet on this one.
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Ceanothus cordulatus is a common species in dry, exposed habitats. The species has wicked thorns, however I am consistently drawn by its blue-green foliage. Again and again, I have observed beautiful color contrasts when I have found this species growing in close proximity to various other species. Something to keep in mind while works and planting in my home garden.
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Despite pressing onward toward Tells Peak, I did take time to enjoy some butterflies that were attracted to the open flowers on this Monardella odoratissima var. pallida.
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The species for this day was Symphyotrichum spathulatum.
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They were in bloom everywhere and created a tremendous show of color.
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Synphyotrichum spathulatum has an extended blooming period late in the season. In our Sacramento Valley garden it tends to bloom off and on all summer, however it always looks best in the autumn as the weather cools. Like many "Asters" it can spread around, especially in good soil. It has never been a problem for us, however it does need attention in good ground to keep it in place.
To be continued.......
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TELLS PEAK
Part II
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For a number of miles the trail slowly climbs in elevation. Between meadows the forest in dominated by Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana or Red Fir, Abies magnifica. Where small creeks bisect the trail there are dense thickets of Alder, Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia. At times the trail passes through alder tunnels full of blooming plants of Delphinium nuttallianum and Aconitum columbianum.
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Next to the running water Lady fern, Anthyrium filix-femina, is frequently seen growing in lush, dense stands.
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Along drier sections of the forested trail an occasional Pinedrop, Pterospora andromedea, can be seen. The old flowering stems seem almost petrified standing erect in the dry pine duff.
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At one point I arrived at an extremely moist and swampy meadow with two streams running through it. Along one stream there was a beautiful stand of Monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus, in full bloom. This species I generally associate with lower elevation ecosystems. It was a delight to see them thriving at this site.
I was soon interrupted by two men on horse back. The horses were having a very difficult time negotiating the swampy sections of the trail and it was very difficult for me to be aware of the men forcing the horses through the mess still mounted.
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This was a good time to make myself busy at the other end of the meadow. There were very nice stands of Arnica latifolia growing sporadically throughout the meadow. Yes, I did key them out. ;D
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Occasionally there were views of the Crystal Range trailing off to the south. At this point I caught a nice view of Silver Peak. There was a time in the past when I climbed all the major summits of the Crystal Range during the summer and autumn. So far this year I have yet reach the summit of even one peak. :'(
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Farther along I arrived at one of my favorite meadows in this area. This seasonally dry meadow is dominated by Mule's Ear, Wyethia mollis. The meadow is huge continuing for at least a mile in several directions.
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The woolly gray-green foliage of Wyethia mollis is quite dramatic, however this meadow is even more dramatic in the early summer when in full bloom. Along with the Wyethia, there are thousands of Large-flowered Collomia, Collomia grandiflora, Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea, and various species of bulbs blooming in this meadow. It is a tremendous sight!
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Each meadow is different in its own unique way. This moist meadow was dominated by Helenium bigelowii.
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Hundreds were blooming in this small meadow making a fine show.
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Still another meadow was dotted with the white flowers of Parnassia palustris.
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As I approached Tells Peak the trail runs out of relatively flat territory and climbs extremely quickly. At this point I came across a pair of hikers as well as the horse back riders who had given up at the base of the steep grade. The trail rises seemingly vertically at this point through dense thickets of Huckleberry Oak, Quercus vacciniifolia, and there is not shade from the hot sun. Even after negotiating the Huckleberry Oak the trail still climbs steeply.
It was in this section where Aconogonon davisae grew.
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Aconogonon davisae is not the showiest species, however they can look nice at times in the autumn when the foliage can turn shades of red, orange and gold.
The real show in this area are the Penstemons. Penstemon newberryi grew abundantly on these steep rocky slopes. Their flowering season had long since ended, however they had set a tremendous seed crop.
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Being high on the slope provided an opportunity to enjoy the outings vistas off to the west. This view is to the southwest with Union Valley Reservoir in the distance.
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As I approached Forni Lake, the trail neared the exit stream at times as it cascaded down the mountainside. Once again I enjoyed the lush growth of Lady Fern, Anthyrium filix-femine.
To be continued.......
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TELLS PEAK
Part III
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In addition to the lush foliage of Lady Fern, the outlet stream provided moisture for Thimbleberries, Rubus parviflora. It was my pleasure to arrive when they were at their peak of ripeness. Generally the wild creatures help themselves to most of the ripe fruit, but they left plenty for me to enjoy this day.
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As I crested the slope near Forni Lake there were large patches of Vaccinium cespitosum - and with ripe berries too! What a natural feast. Vaccinium cespitosum is gorgeous in the autumn when the foliage turns brilliant scarlet-red.
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After enjoying a few more berries, I hiked the last few feet to Forni Lake.
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Forni Lake is situated at the base of Tells Peak at an elevation of 7,910 feet (2,411 meters). The lake would make a perfect base camp for plant exploration and study in this area.
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Unfortunately by the time I arrived at Forni Lake I had only an hour or so to explore perhaps a tiny faction of the slopes of Tells Peak which loomed there directly in front of me.
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I quickly rounded the south shore of Forni Lake and proceeded up the southwestern flank of Tells Peak.
A trail rose steeply for several hundred feet and then leveled with... guess?
More meadow land.
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This meadow was full of Vaccinium cespitosum, Kalmia polifolia and Phyllodoce breweri. Mimulus primuloides and Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii were blooming throughout the short grasses and sedges.
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Among the willows Castilleja miniata was still blooming.
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I had just arrived but sadly it was very late and necessary for me to leave immediately. I very much wanted to explore the slopes of Tells Peak but real had not accomplished much in this regard. For me another disappointment.... but a blessing to be out in the mountains again. :)
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To avoid hiking in the dark I should have turned back an hour or more earlier. It was now time to hike (extremely quickly) back to the truck. The views were fantastic. Looming darkeness or not I was going to stop and take in the scenery.
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In this view to the southwest, the summit of Mount Diablo (in the southern coast range) can be seen just above the haze of the Great Central Valley in the center of the photograph.
This more or less ended the botanical part of this outing as I raced back to the truck.
Despite my complaining about not not having enough time to explore the high peaks of the Crystal Range, I still accomplish a great deal on this outing. It is very satisfying for me to know that there is an infinite amount of creative and fascinating work to do in this region.
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I will be out of town until next week.
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Between appointments I find it interesting to check on the flora in waste areas around town. This is a typical empty field near Diamond Springs, California.
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The flora in such areas is mostly invasive species. 70% to 80% of the species are not native.
It was a warm day, 95 F - 35 C, however I did find one flower still open on this Madia elegans. The flowers wilt once the hot sun gets on them.
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This is a section of the El Dorado Trail. It was once a railroad right-of-way and is now a bicycle and pedestrian path. It is fun to poke around and see what I might find. Identifying species from dried and broken remains can be enlightening, so there is never a dull moment for me.
Examining a plant with a hand leans can be very enlightening. There are times when I wish that my camera had the capability to produce good photographs of tiny objects. There is so many fascinating things to see on the miniature scale.
Kickxia elatine is a good example. This member of the Plantaginaceae has tiny yellow spurred flowers with a purplish upper lip. They are quite beautiful. Something with flowers 5 to 10 x would be quite outstanding.
Anyway..... I look forward to resuming my regular outings in about 2 weeks. I the mean time, I will see what I can get myself into..... regarding plants.
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Lots of interesting plants and descriptions, Robert!
I have been "out of town" myself for a few days, but not seen much of interest. It is more or less the same species everywhere around here and the bogs are wet!
Vaccinium uliginosum is very common here and I saw a lot of it. It looks different from your variety though! Tragopogon pratensis, Verbascum thapsus, Parnassia palustris and Rumex acetocella are native but not invasive. The latter is usually found on poor soil and none of them grows where I went these days.
Synphyotrichum spathulatum looks very nice! Reminds me a little of our Tripolium pannonicum.
Pterospora andromedea looks very interesting! Does it parasite pines?
Thanks for showing all the interesting plants and landscape!
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Hi Trond,
I will be heading home tomorrow, Thursday! :) :) :)
My understanding is that Pterospora andromedea is a saprophyte - but do not hold me to this. Its been a long, long time since I looked into this. ;D
I think that I mentioned the perennial border in our front yard in Sacramento. I grow many Symphyotrichum spathulatum from seed and I will be trialing the best in this border. They tend to run around like some other Asteraceae, however I am not worried about them getting out of control. They worked very well in our border up at the farm in Placerville. They bloom on and off all summer into the autumn. The cool weather of autumn brightens the flower color.
I do not want to bore the folks on the forum, but I completely uncovered some of farm from an ocean of weeds. The ground is still very fertile even with volunteer vegetables growing. The vegetable beds are lined with perennials and a few rock garden type plants. After walking away from them for months, I only lost one plant - Salvia guaranitica. The Nepeta, Oregano, Rudbeckia, Epilobium, and Agastache are all blooming right now. Amazing! :) Now that it is all cleaned up it looks good. I will fill you in on the details when I get settled in at home.
I will be resuming my outings next week. If all goes well I will travel to someplace different - maybe Ebbetts Pass. It has been quite a few years since I have been to Ebbetts Pass. It would be good if I could return. The scenery is fantastic and so is the flora.
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Robert, looking forward to your reports, anytime, anywhere!
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Trond,
I pretty-much have my next outing planned. I will be going to the Ebbett's Pass area, but from a different direction. The last time I was in part of this region was when I was 5 years old + - . So some of this trip will be basically new territory. Very exciting for me. I am looking forward to see what I might find.
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It was a very stormy day yesterday. When I arrived at Ebbetts Pass there was quite the tempest! I will post this outing as I can. It will be more words than photographs and it was very much an adventure!
Conifers along the trail covered in rain and mist.
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EBBETTS PASS
Wednesday
21 September 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High:82 F (27.5 C)
Low:62 F (16.5 C)
Placerville Weather
Weather:High Clouds
Temperature, High:79 F (26 C)
Low:48 F (9 C)
Wednesday's outing started out unassuming enough. Very early in the morning our first autumn rainfall for the season arrived. It was nothing more than a few light sprinkles, there was no measurable rainfall in our gauge. When I started out for Ebbetts Pass there were still a few light showers in the area, however the storm was moving east and the weather was clearing.
My plan this day was to travel to Mokelumne Hill an old 49er gold mining hamlet in the Mother Lode. This part of the journey was uneventful. At Mokelumne Hill I turned east toward another 49er hamlet by the name of Railroad Flat. My plan was to take the road from Railraod Flat to Summit Level Ridge and then to the main highway up to Ebbetts Pass. This I hoped would take me through some interesting country where I might find interesting plant species.
Things took an unexpected turn when I missed the turn off to Railraod Flat and headed off in the wrong direction. I soon realized my navigational mistake and found the correct turn off to Railroad Flat. From there I easily found the road to Summit Level Ridge. This narrow, one laned, paved track soon became a gravel road. After some distance gravel gave way to dirt and powder dust. This was not unexpected in this part of the Mother Lode. What did concern me were all the "No Trespassing" signs. This did not seem like friendly country!
The first sign of difficulties started when the road entered an area of recent logging. First the logging appeared to be forest thinning. This soon turned into wholesale clear-cutting of the forest. The road became a mess, thick with 4 dm deep dust, with many hidden rocks and ruts. This was no place to observe plants.
It was slow and difficult driving, however I was hoping I would arrive at Summit Level Ridge soon. This was not the case. This dusty, rock littered, and rutted road seemed to never end. Many equally unmaintained roads branched from the road I was following. After awhile I felt lost. In addition, the partly cloudy sky had turned dark with threaten clouds. This was discouraging. I might waste the whole day getting out of this mess.
After what seemed like a long distance the road surface started to improve and the logging ended. I saw a Forest Service boundary sign on a tree, so at least I now knew I was on public land and no longer traveling through private property. I still did not know where I was in relation to the Ebbetts Pass highway. I really did not want to continue on this road so I turned off at the first promising looking road. This I did and after 100 meters I came to a well graveled Forest Service road.
I still had no idea exactly where I was, however I felt a sense of relief once I started off down this road. And down it went into a canyon, and so did the rain. Despite being a well maintained gravel road there was still plenty of dust on the road, which quickly turned to mud as the rain continued. My 2 wheel drive truck started to lose traction as I attempted to turn on this windy road. I was not too concerned about going down, but would the truck have enough traction to get up the other side of the canyon?
I safely arrive at the small bridge at the bottom of the canyon. From here the road made a hard right hand turn and forest opened up to a large meadow on the right and a few cabins in the forest on the left. This was a welcome sight. Very quickly the road became paved again. An automobile turned onto the road in front of me. I had no idea where to go, so I followed the car in front of me. Fortunately after a few turns the car in front of me arrive at the Ebbetts Pass highway.
It turned out that I was in the small town of Arnold. From here I continued up the highway to Ebbetts Pass. It rain the whole distance. By the time I arrived at Ebbetts Pass, 8,730 feet (2,661 meters), the rainstorm had turned into a complete tempest with hollowing winds and pelting rain. I had brought my rain gear, but I did not want to go out in this, so I needed to come up with another plan.
From the top of the pass I could see some blue sky off to the east, so I quickly decided to travel down to the east toward the East Carson River where hopefully I would find better weather conditions.
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Down I went as it continued to rain until I arrived at Centerville Flat, elevation 5,952 feet (1,814 meters). Here where Silver Creek meets the East Fork of the Carson River the rain stopped and I walked down to the Carson River.
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Above the river was a dry open pine-juniper forest. Jeffrey Pine, Pinus jeffreyi, was the dominant species, however there were also Single-leaf Pinyon Pine, Pinus monophyllus, and Juniper, Juniperus osteosperma?
I was a bit puzzled by the juniper trees as they keyed out as J. californica with leaves in whorls of 3 and obvious glands, as well as ash gray bark. All the juniper trees were single trunked which fits J. osteosperma. Even though the juniper did not key well I am willing to go with J. osteosperma and the trees do not look like any J. californica I have ever seen in the wild.
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Most of the area under the trees was dry grass with scattered shrubs. Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus (pictured) was the most common shrub, however there were a few Bitterbrush, Purshia tridentata, and Sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata.
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Down by the river there was the usual assortment of willows, Salix sp., and Poplar, Populus trichocarpa.
I found one plant of Oenother elata ssp. hirsutissima still in bloom.
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White Rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa var. hololeuca, was in bloom in scattered stands in this area too.
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The site by the Carson River was not very interesting so I decided to drive back up the road towards Ebbetts Pass. The storm appeared to be ending and I was very eager to explore the Ebbetts Pass area.
This photograph is looking east back toward the East fork of the Carson River. The rain was indeed beginning to end.
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Yellow Rabbitbush, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. puberulus, was in full bloom and seen frequently as I continued up to the pass.
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To the north of the pass the mountain peaks were starting to appear as the clouds lifted.
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Unfortunately when I reached the pass, the rain had started in again. This meadow was at the trailhead as 8,717 feet (2,657 meters). The rain was lighter, so I put on my rain gear and started up the trail.
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Rain and mist still swirled around the volcanic ridges above me as I hike up the trail.
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Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta was a common species seen along the trail. This is a fairly common species in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada, however I have never found it in my home territory on the west slope of the Crystal Range to the north.
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I spotted a few plants of Ericameria greenei.
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In moist areas, where there were small creeks, Arnica longifolia was still in bloom.
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This mat of Primula suffrutescens must have been spectacular when it was in full bloom. It must have been a meter or more across as it crept of the rocks.
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The rain never stopped and at times the mist swirled low among the jagged ridgeline.
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Lupinus lepidus with a few flowers and wet with rain.
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At times the clouds lifted and there was a nice view of the mountains to the east.
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This grouse (upper center in photograph) seemed reluctant to fly away as I approached its hiding place.
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This stunted pine was the perfect bonsai. It somehow managed to grow out of a tiny rock crevice.
At this point it was time to return to the truck. A cold sleet-hail began to fall and my hands were getting very cold and stiff.
Despite the challenges I was very pleased with this outing. With good fortune I will be able to return many times and continue to explore the flora of this area.
This week I will be traveling further south to Sonora Pass. The last time I was in this area was when I was 17 years old, 44 years ago. I am looking forward to a very fascinating outing. :)
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I was delayed by one day, however I did make it to Sonora Pass on Thursday. It was a very productive outing and I have many photographs to process and organize. It will be early next week when I start posting this outing.
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A few photographs from the top of the pass. This one is looking east toward Bridgeport, California and Nevada far in the distance.
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Another view to the Northwest.
:)
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Robert,
I have enjoyed your adventures both in the rain(!) although you may have suffered a bit, and in the sun ;-)
What kind of roads were damaged by the logging trucks(?) - I mean, are they private or public roads?
I like the landscape you present to us - in many ways similar to what I know from where I live, and in other ways (most ways in fact) it is quite different. I have always had a heart for forests as I grew up close to an "endless" one although that was in Oslo. (I learnt to enjoy open montane landscape many years later when I was grown-up.) All the different species of trees impress me! And also all the different shrubs and other plants.
Primula suffrutescens looks great! I have 3 nice seedlings of thimbleberry. Hope I can taste the berries one day!
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Robert,
I have enjoyed your adventures both in the rain(!) although you may have suffered a bit, and in the sun ;-)
What kind of roads were damaged by the logging trucks(?) - I mean, are they private or public roads?
Primula suffrutescens looks great! I have 3 nice seedlings of thimbleberry. Hope I can taste the berries one day!
Trond,
The logging operation, both logging trucks as well as skidders, and other logging equipment, severely damaged a public road! The area was remote and the road was most likely not used much. Such damage to a public road should be a scandal. I am sure the damage will be reported to the county government and the loggers will have to pay damages.
Primula suffrutescens is a very beautiful species. I have tried cultivating it in the past with some limited success. My growing skills have improved greatly since then and I will try this Primula again, hopefully with good results.
Aaahhh yes, I too have a number of seedlings that are coming along extremely well. I will share this information with you soon. I have 2 beautiful seedlings of Rubus parviflorus that I will be planting in our garden as soon as I can clear space. The berries can be good. It will be interesting if they set fruit for us in our Sacramento Valley garden. :)
I saw many 8) plants on my hike in the Sonora Pass area. Even at 11,000 feet, 3,353 meters, there were many interesting plants.
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SONORA PASS
Thursday
29 September 2016
Part I
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High:84 F, 29 C
Low: 57 F, 14 C
Placerville Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High:87 F, 30.5 C
Low: 59 F, 15 C
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I was pleased to have the opportunity to travel south and explore part of the central Sierra Nevada. This photograph was taken at the Sonora Pass Trailhead, elevation 9,667 feet (2,947 meters), and faces southeast down the valley toward Sonora Junction and the mountains of western Nevada in the distance.
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This was new territory for me. Although I had crossed this pass several times when I was 17 years old this was the first time I stopped to hike and explore this region. This day I hiked south over the high ridgeline into Emigrant Wilderness Area.
The views and vast horizons are exhilarating and compel me onward. It is easy for me to lose track of time or not want to leave for home for that matter. This photograph is to the northeast.
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Most of the rock along the crest in this area is volcanic in origin. This peak appears to be an ancient lava dike or volcanic plug.
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White Bark Pine, Pinus albiaulis.
Most specimens of this high elevation species are dwarfed and wind swept, never obtaining much in the way of height. As one can see from this photograph, in sheltered locations this species can achieve some height.
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As I set off to the south there were good views of the high valley to the west just before the crest of the pass.
This late in the season I was not excepting much in the way of blooming plants, however I felt that there would still be many interesting and unexpected finds for the day.
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Ribes lasianthum was a common species near the pass, always growing protected from the fierce winds and shaded by conifers. The golden autumn foliage was quite attractive as well as the bright red berries.
In more open areas Symphoricarpos rotundifolius and Artemisia tridentata ssp vaseyana were other shrubs seen.
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As I started up the trail it was easy to see that frost had already touched the plant community and many species were going dormant for the season. The autumn foliage on this Cymopteris was quite fine.
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I only found Cymopteris terebinthinus var. californicus at the relatively low elevations near pass level.
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Eriogonum incanum was one of two Eriogonum species seen in this relatively low elevation area. The other species was E. umbellatum, of an undetermined variety. I am most familiar with the E. umbellatum varieties from the Northern Sierra Nevada, the Klamath Range, and Siskiyou Mountains.
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The trail climbed rapidly. The open country had many great views, such as this one to the east.
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The flowers and seed of Linum lewisii var. lewisii were long gone as I came across this species. It must have been a nice sight to see their blue flowers waving in the breeze during the early summer.
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A few plants still had flowers such as these tiny Agoseris parviflora.
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Penstemon heterodoxus was a species that I saw frequently as I moved higher up toward the upper ridgeline. Most of the plants still had a good crop of seed and I did find one plant that was still trying to bloom.
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The trail followed the Mono County side of the ridge with many fine views to the east as I climbed higher and higher.
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The trail was to take very near the summit of this unnamed peak before it disappeared into the wilderness beyond.
(For me something like Robert Conway as he disappeared over the pass into Shangri La :) )
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Lupinus lepidus var lobbii was one of a number of Lupinus species seen this day. I love the hairy foliage of this species and wish that it was not so difficult to cultivate in the garden.
There were many other interesting species in this area such as two species of Frasera; F. speciosa and F. puberulenta; the mat forming Trifolium monanthum ssp. monanthum; and Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta which I would find almost all the way up to the high summit of the ridge.
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I did find a few plants of this species Lupinus species still in bloom.
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Phacelia was also seen along the trail.
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The silvery foliage of Raillardella argentea showed itself from time-to-time.
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As I moved higher I found the dried remains of a number of species that had gone dormant earlier in the season. There were undetermined species of Castilleja, Pedicularis, Chaenactis, Senecio, and a number of others such as bulbous species.
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Looks great so far, Robert!
It seems to be easy to walk there (except for the altitude and steep mountains). You certainly do not get wet feet!
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Looks great so far, Robert!
It seems to be easy to walk there (except for the altitude and steep mountains). You certainly do not get wet feet!
Trond,
Yes, in general it was very easy to hike around. As one moves farther south in the Sierra Nevada the terrain becomes progressively drier. I am already planning my next outing and hope to travel north of home into the northern parts of the Sierra Nevada. Most of my plant exploration in the past was to the north. The increase in the moisture (rain and snowfall) and the change in the plant life will be obvious. I still have a few weeks until I can take this trip, however I do know exactly where to go and what I will find. It should be interesting away. :)
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Hello Robert, not knowing what you might find makes the trip more interesting. On my local patch I am often surprised by the wildlife I see, even though it is only 1900 hectares and I visit every week.
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Hello Robert, not knowing what you might find makes the trip more interesting. On my local patch I am often surprised by the wildlife I see, even though it is only 1900 hectares and I visit every week.
Hi Ian,
I too have places that I visit repeatedly. Even in such situations I am often surprised and find something new. Sometimes it is a species I have never seen before in the area, sometimes an usual form of an existing species. I never tire of such things. And then there is the wildlife in all its various forms..... Your "local patch" must be a very nice place!
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Hello Robert, it is a lowland raised bog, although due to peat removal over the last 200 years or so, it has become a mosaic of habitats. It is more or less at sea level, although we are about 60 miles from the coast. The area is quite flat, and boring to the casual visitor. A closer look reveals many species of wildlife, including more than 5000 species of invertebrate, 240 species of birds and many flowering plants, grasses, mosses, lichens and fungi. Enough for a lifetime of study. There is something to see at every season. We do not have any mountains though, not even a hill.
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Ian,
The information you have provided is quite impressive. 240 species of birds! We are losing many of our migratory song birds due to habitat loss. It is extremely saddening. There are many Warblers I never see now, however in addition, it is other species too.
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SONORA PASS
Part II
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As I moved higher on the mountain another Ribes species appeared, Ribes cereum var. inebrians.
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Ribes cereum var. inebrians grew and thrived on the exposed, wind swept slopes. It golden autumn foliage was quite nice as well as its bright red fruits.
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The trail climbed as it traversed the mountain until it finally reached the ridge dividing the eastern watershed from the western drainage of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. From this altitude the views were spectacular.
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The canyon created by the upper reaches of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River is very dramatic.
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At this altitude a new set of species appeared. Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale grew with an assortment of other beautiful species. Epilobium obcordatum, a very attractive and worth while Epilobium, grew in shaded sites below large rocks. Unfortunately their showy flowers had all finished for this season. Rumex salicifolius was another interesting species that I came across.
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Another Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale. Ivesia gordonii, most likely variety ursinorum also grew among the Eriogonum. This time of year their pinnately compound leaves were turning bright scarlet.
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Oxyria digyna, another Polygonaceae, also enjoyed sites shaded by large rocks. Here it can be seen with an Antennaria sp., perhaps A. media. This whole mountainside was such an incredible natural rock garden.
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Lupinus argenteus var. meionathus was frequently seen as I hiked the trail. Here it can be seen with Arnica longifolia with its fluffy seed heads. Arnica longifolia grew abundantly on the mountain and they most have created a impressive show when they were in bloom.
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Lower on the mountain I could not determine the species of this Lupine until I finally found a few plants with one or two flower spikes still intact. Lupinus argenteus is not the only species with narrow densely hairy foliage in this area, however the ciliate hairs on the upper keel margin confirmed it as L. argenteus. Lacking a calyx spur narrowed it down to ssp. meionathus.
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An Antennaria species with attention getting silvery foliage.
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Senecio fremontii was still in bloom high on the mountain.
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Senecio fremontii is a showy species with very distinctive fleshy foliage.
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The trail now followed the ridgeline straight upward toward the un-named peak. I was now approaching the 11,000 foot (3,353 meters) level and once again the mix of species was changing.
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Ericameria discoidea was one species that seemed to stay with me as I climbed higher. Most of the plants had set and lost their seed, however here high on the mountain there were a few specimens with a lingering flower or two.
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Astragalus whitneyi was one of the new species to appear. I generally find this species near the summit of high ridges and peaks. Their distinctive inflated, purple spotted seed pods makes this an easy species to identify when in fruit.
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Here on these exposed ridges the White Bark Pines, Pinus albicaulis, are stunted and twisted into beautiful shapes by the strong winds.
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Erigeron compositus grew abundantly at this high elevation and shared space with Packera cana, a beautiful silver foliage species.
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A big surprise was this Phlox species. Based on the non-glandular hairy foliage it was most likely Phlox hoodii ssp. canescens. I have plenty of good reasons to return in July when the mountain is likely to be in peak bloom, and this species is one of them. For me, it would be quite the find to determine its range extends to this elevation in this region.
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Near the summit of the mountain the trail turned and crossed the ridge into Emigrant Wilderness Area. From this high point it was easy to walk to the summit of the peak, 11,041 feet (3,365 meters). Of coarse the vistas from the summit were great.
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The shaded boulders on the summit sheltered colorful lichens.
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I have enjoyed once more your beautiful mountain landscapes and plants Robert! :) What good luck to have so many mountain ranges nearby.
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I have enjoyed once more your beautiful mountain landscapes and plants Robert! :) What good luck to have so many mountain ranges nearby.
Gabriela,
Yes indeed I am extremely fortunate! The Sierra Nevada are indeed as John Muir said "The Mountains of Light". The mountains are awesome, with so many different ecosystems to explore. I have to admit at times I am spell bound in rapture when I take in the divine essence of the Sierras.
Thank you for the encouraging comment! Soon will be the beginning of my 4th year with this botanical diary. I hope to celebrate with a trip to the north - Butte County, California and another outing to the coastal mountains - maybe Mount Diablo. I have to admit that I am nervous about visiting the Mount Diablo region - crowds of people. I will most likely go somewhere else in the coastal mountains - much more remote. I hope all of this pans out and there is much to share!
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SONORA PASS
Part III
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Here are a few more photographs from the summit of the peak.
This is a view to the northwest down the northern spine of the Sierra Nevada.
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And anther view to the east, off into Nevada in the distance.
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After some time poking around the summit of the mountain looking at the plants, I wandered down from the summit to the trail off into the Emigrant Wilderness. I hiked on for awhile but did not find anything different in this wide open country, so I decided to return to the truck and check on another place.
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After returning to the truck, I travel back down the highway toward the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. Halfway down into the canyon I stopped to take in the view.
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Among the other conifer species there were a few Juniperus grandis I could check on.
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The bark of this species is quite attractive and stands-out among the other conifer species.
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A great find in this granite crevice was this exceptional specimen of Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata. This is definitely a species I would like to grow in our garden - small, showy and xeric.
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Nearby in the granite crevices Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum was in bloom. This species grows and blooms well in our Sacramento garden, however they tend to bloom on awkwardly long flowering stems. I am now growing and have bloomed what appears to be a much better form from the Carson Pass region of California. Hopefully they will still be in bloom when I get back home to show on the forum.
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I want very much to return to a site on the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, so I was back in the truck driving until I arrived.
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Autumn was arriving here too as the Populus trichocarpa were just starting to turn color.
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And here I was at Kennedy Meadows. The last time I was here was in 1973 - I was 17 years old! How things had changed! :o Back in '73 Kennedy Meadow was a sleepy "resort" with an old lodge and a few old cabins. Now the place has been "modernized" and has become a "destination" i.e. crowded and over run with people. Feeling very uncomfortable I went off to find the trailhead into the wilderness.
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The canyon in this area is quite rugged and beautiful.
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I quickly found the trialhead and started off up the trail into the wilderness. Fortunately the nice folks at the resort were not interested in wilderness and I quickly found myself alone, surrounded by nature. Relief! :) I also remembered features of the trail even after 44 years!
I was also very surprised by the mixture of species I found. The trailhead is at 6,431 feet (1,960 meters), a relatively high elevation back in my home territory to the north. High elevation species such as Pinus jeffreyi and Abies magnifica were growing with what I consider low elevation species back home. Penstemon heterophyllus and Heuchera micrantha were here growing at their high elevation limit. I did not have much time to hike farther up the trail, however now a return outing is a high priority for further exploration.
44 years ago I had hiked up to and around Relief Reservoir. From there I had hiked up Upper Relief Valley and then up the south ridge to Iceland Lake at the base of Granite Dome, 10,328 feet (3,148 meters). Iceland Lake is a good place to camp as there is no trail to the lake. There is also easy access to Granite Dome. This would be an ideal outing for me in the future.
So this ends an outstanding outing for me. It also gets me dreaming about even more adventures farther to the south. Maybe I can return to Evolution Valley and Evolution Basin back in the upper drainage of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness. Mount Darwin at the head of the Evolution Basin is 13,831 feet (4,216 meters). It has been 40 + year since I was last in this region. What might I find now?
Until next time.....
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Another excellent and exciting outing, Robert!
Both landscape and plants are unfamiliar but alluring :) The only plant I recognize as native is Oxyria digyna which is very common in the mountains here.
Since snow still linger up there I supposethe nights are cold even in summer!
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Another excellent and exciting outing, Robert!
Both landscape and plants are unfamiliar but alluring :) The only plant I recognize as native is Oxyria digyna which is very common in the mountains here.
Since snow still linger up there I supposethe nights are cold even in summer!
Trond,
I think the timing of this outing was perfect. Many species were dormant or dried beyond identification. It might have been a bit overwhelming to arrive in July when most of the species would have been out and in bloom. Now that I have an overview of the region, a July outing will be much more productive. I do the best I can to examine and identify all the species on an outing, however many need careful examination with a hand lens to properly identify. This takes time and slows my progress, especially when there is large area to cover. An example is Rumex. It was possible that both R. californicus and/or R. salicifolius might have been found at Sonora Pass. With my eye sight, an hand lens is necessary to check the perianth for tubercles or if it is toothed. I am having to do this with many species these days. Repeated trips to the same site are necessary, and even then new things always seem to turn up. It is all fine with me. :)
Yes, freezing temperatures are a possibility during any month in the highest parts of the Sierra Nevada.
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Robert,
I can see your point but I wouldprefere to see them in full bloom :)
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I was home for a few hours today and found time to take some photographs of Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum. I grew this form from seed gathered in the Carson Pass area of California. The plants are much smaller than other forms of E. wrightii var subscaposum that I have grown. The inflorescence is about 1/4 the length of the other forms too. We have had some very strong north winds the last two days. Maybe this is why the inflorescence are horizontal now. ???
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A few days ago I had the opportunity to walk part of the El Dorado Trail. The trail exists on the old railroad right-of-way from the lumber mill in Camino, California and the main Union Pacific Rail lines in Sacramento, California. When the mill closed El Dorado County acquired part of the right-of-way and created a walking and bicycle path. Part of it is paved, other parts still have the rails and pleasure train trips are available for tourist.
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The trail bisects waste areas, sites of light industry, residential areas, as well as farmland. Generally 40% or more of the plant species are invasive species. Despite this and the generally degraded habitat there are always surprises.
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Yellow Star Thistle, Centaurea solstitialis, is a very common invader. Some are still blooming despite the heat and drought of the summer.
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Cichorium intybus, Chicory, is one of the more attractive invaders.
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Verbena litoralis, another invasive species, blooms on top of tall 2 meter + stems. I grow the similar Verbena bonariensis in our garden at the farm. It too can be weedy, however the flowers are attractive and it useful in the back of a border mixed with other tall growers. I like the long blooming sequence of V. bonariensis, its heat and drought tolerance, as well as its ability to attract beneficial insects to the garden.
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On this day the flowers of Madia elegans were still open. Generally, and especially when the weather is hot, the flower are wilted and closed when the sun starts to shine on them.
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The flowers of Madia elegans are very beautiful. They are all different too. Some have dark markings at the base of the ray flowers, other do not. Some flowers are large - other smaller. I especially like the scent of the foliage.
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Bermuda Grass, Cynodon datylon, is generally found in the hot and wintertime mild Central Valleys and Southern California. I am glad it is not much of a pest in the foothills as it can be difficult to control in a garden.
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Centromadia fitchii, my favorite species for scented foliage in the autumn. :) We are expecting our first major rain later this week. Its scent will fill the air everywhere and it will be divine.
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Lonicera interrupta, Chaparral Honeysuckle, a native with bright red fruit.
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When I travel at a leisurely pace I like to check on everything including dried up plants. It is amazing what one can learn from examining them. The species name of this Avena can not be determined from the dried spikelets. All that is left are the dried glumes. Even the leaf blades were too damaged to revile any clues. However, later on I did find some native Stipa. This was a great find as invasive grasses have taken up 99.9% of the grassland niche.
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Occasionally Horehound, Marrubium vulgare (pictured), can naturalize itself. More surprising to me was the Catmint, Nepeta cataria, that I found nearby. This species too can naturalize itself, however this seems to rarely occur in our area.
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Nicotinia acuminata var. multiflora, an invader, can be weedy in waste areas. All or most parts of this species are densely glandular-hairy, and extremely sticky.
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As we head into the autumn and winter months the bark of Arctostaphylos species attracts my attention. Even within a species there can be interesting differences in the bark. This bark is peeling in a very attractive and interesting way. When I finally make it to the coastal mountains there are many species of Arctostaphylos with many different characteristics to their bark to see.
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A view across some dry pastureland to Bigcut.
Where the cumulus clouds can be seen on the left side of the photograph is Bigcut. This gash in the hillside was created by hydraulic gold mining sometime between 1850 and 1880. I have explored this area in the past and everything has been striped down to bedrock for many miles along this contour. Even today, after more than 100 years, very little if anything grows in this area.
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Here is a nice view to the west down the Weber Creek drainage.
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This is a view to the east up the Weber Creek drainage. The tall bright green conifers are Pinus ponderosa. The gray conifers are Pinus sabiniana. Most of the broad leaf trees are Interior Live Oak, Quercus wislizenii. There are many other tree species in this photograph, however I will get to them when we transition into autumn-winter.
It may seem hard to believe but this is all private land with many houses nestled in among the trees.
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One last scene of Grassland, Oak Savannah, and Oak Forest in the background. Once we get a goodly amount of rainfall this autumn the winter grasses (mostly invasives) will sprout within days.
:)
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When I travel at a leisurely pace I like to check on everything including dried up plants. It is amazing what one can learn from examining them. The species name of this Avena can not be determined from the dried spikelets. All that is left are the dried glumes. Even the leaf blades were too damaged to revile any clues. However, later on I did find some native Stipa. This was a great find as invasive grasses have taken up 99.9% of the grassland niche.
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Occasionally Horehound, Marrubium vulgare (pictured), can naturalize itself. More surprising to me was the Catmint, Nepeta cataria, that I found nearby. This species too can naturalize itself, however this seems to rarely occur in our area.
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Nicotinia acuminata var. multiflora, an invader, can be weedy in waste areas. All or most parts of this species are densely glandular-hairy, and extremely sticky.
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Isn't it a bit strange that the native plants are outcompeted by foreign ones? One should believe that the natives were best adapted to the climate and soil conditions. I know it is a problem many places though, also here, but seemingly not as extensively as there.
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As we head into the autumn and winter months the bark of Arctostaphylos species attracts my attention. Even within a species there can be interesting differences in the bark. This bark is peeling in a very attractive and interesting way. When I finally make it to the coastal mountains there are many species of Arctostaphylos with many different characteristics to their bark to see.
(http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13952.0;attach=552336;image)
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I like the bark of this! It reminds me of a young birch :)
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The bark of Arctostaphylos is beautiful. If these were more amenable in cultivation they would be grown here in the UK like some of the rhododendrons that have such fine bark (and foliage and flowers!). Acer griseum in our garden has the same impact, especially backlit by the sun. I marvel at your knowledge of the plants and places you visit Robert - truly inspirational and just knowing a little about the Californian flora from an 'armchair' and books makes you want to learn more and more. Verbena bonariensis is highly valued in our garden for the same reasons you describe (I could imagine it beginning to naturalise here as well), and in the UK with huge losses of natural meadows over the last fifty or sixty years non-native 'meadows' - what we call Prairie Gardening with perennials, but also with annuals - has really come to the fore in recent years in response to environmental concerns. I don't think insects differentiate between the two :) 8).
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Trond,
For me it is ironic that invasive plant species have come to dominate some habitat niches here in California, especially in many low elevation regions. Many of the alpine high elevation habitats are considered fragile, however in general there is a much lower rate of invasion by non-native species in these areas. This is especially odd considering the pasturage of sheep in alpine meadows during the days of John Muir. Based on my readings by John Muir, many of the ecosystems were able to, at least partially, restore their original balance once grazing, logging, etc. pressures were removed. Why this has not occurred at lower elevation sites is interesting. Discovering the reasons why could prove helpful in restoring some of our native habitats here in California.
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Tim,
It is somewhat surprising to me that at least some Arctostaphylos species are not more amendable to cultivation in the U.K. In California Arctostaphylos species are native to a very broad variety of ecological habitats. The first thing that comes to my mind are the species that are native to the California coastal fog belt (cool summers with high humidity). The issue of adaptability must be complex.
Loss of habitat and species diversity is a huge issue, at least for some of us, here in California. The delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers is almost dead (according to a recently published report). This effects of this habitat loss has extended into San Francisco Bay and beyond into the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of the Farallon Islands.
Personally I have noticed the loss of beneficial insects in the city of Sacramento, in particular insects of the order Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. Many migratory bird species have diminished greatly too. This is all very alarming.
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Interesting to read your comment re. John Muir and sheep grazing Robert because now there do seem to be much more concerted efforts to restore the natural vegetation in parts of Scotland which have been so completely denuded by sheep and deer (and the 'clearances' of past times). The Carrifran Project is a prime example which must lead the way, particularly because it has been so closely monitered and studied. Obviously the alpine flora in the UK is a shadow of that in America or Europe but the mountain habitats can quite rapidly regain their natural flora, particularly from refuges that have been inaccessible to grazing animals. I imagine that the climatic severity of the higher elevations places a strong limit on non-native species because most of these will not have originated from similar environments and therefore not have a competitive advantage, whereas at lower altitudes competition from non-natives will be much more successful. From what you say though this doesn't seem so true of grasses?
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Regarding foreign invading species, I think it is much greater probability that a lowland species should hitch hike across the dam than a high altitude species anyway.
Here in Norway a lot of people and organizations claim that we should increase the amount of grazing animals because the culture landscape disappear in thickets and advancing forests. We are also importing concentrate feeds which should be unnecessary.
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This may be of interest:
Attacking Invasive Cheatgrass at Its Root http://blog.nature.org/science/2016/09/07/attacking-invasive-cheatgrass-root-soil-microbes-biocontrol-sage/ (http://blog.nature.org/science/2016/09/07/attacking-invasive-cheatgrass-root-soil-microbes-biocontrol-sage/)
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Cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum - didn't know it was invasive over there. Her it is rare and red listed!
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New Zealand Willow-herb, Epilobium brunnescens, turns up in remote mountain areas in the north of the UK. The seeds are small and wind blown.
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Bromus tectorum, Cheat Grass, is an invasive grass that primarily occupies the middle elevations of the Sierra Nevada. I posted a photograph of this species this past spring on Poho Ridge. Control at this time seems to be very complex. From my observations fire may effectively control this species in the Sierra Nevada under the natural conditions that existed say 300 - 400 years ago. Unfortunately such condition no longer exist in most circumstances.
Fortunately I do not see Medusa Head, Elymus caput-medusae, often.
Tim,
Sheep and other livestock certainly were instrumental in the introduction of invasive species in the high elevation meadows of the Sierra Nevada. This most likely began at an early date.
At this time I am doing some preliminary research into the history of livestock grazing on the western slope of the Crystal Range. The original Wright's Lake dairy effected the Lyon's Creek drainage, an area of prime attention to me. To the north were the Van Vleck high elevation summer pastures. Sheep Sorrel, Rumex acetosella, is a persistent invasive found both at the Van Vleck sites as well as in the Lyon's Creek drainage. There is evidence that this species has existed at both sites for a considerable length of time.
Verbascum thapsus, Tragopogon sp., Phleum pratense, and a few other invasive species can be found at the Van Vleck sites. These species seem to occupy sites disturbed by commercial logging operations within the past 35 years. I feel reasonably certain that Phleum pratense was introduced as hay for cattle (horse droppings is another possibility). The Verbascum and Tragopogon most likely came via commercial logging, however there are other possibilities too. I remember cattle at the Van Vleck sites into the early 1970's.
To my knowledge there has never been any commercial logging within the Lyon's Creek drainage. In the past three years and numerous outings, I have not found Verbascum, Tragopogon, or Phleum pratense within the Lyon's Creek Drainage. My first outing within the Lyon's Creek drainage was in 1960. Despite being very young (5 years old), I can still remember the cow bells in the forest. When livestock grazing ended, I do not know - yet.
Livestock grazing has existed at both sites for a very long time, yet there is evidence that there has been considerable restoration of the natural and native flora at both sites. Within both regions there are sites that are extremely sensitive to invading species and yet as of today they seem reasonably healthy. There are other similar high elevation sites where cattle still graze the land. I have been told that invasive species, a few quite noxious, are of considerable concern in these areas. This information came from the Department of Agriculture, however I have yet to check on this myself.
Clearly I still do not have enough information to come to any conclusions, however it is very fascinating to me. Based on the information provided to me by the Department of Agriculture, invasive species can be a serious problem even a high elevations within the Sierra Nevada.
Stay tuned....with the luck of God I will know more in 20 or 30 years. :)
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I may not see Medusa Head, Elymus caput-medusae, often, however it is easy to find in our area if one looks in the right locations.
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I had a short time today to poke around on the El Dorado Trail. There are many disturbed areas along the trail so it did not take long until I found some dried remains of Medusa Head.
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How does one identify this species from dried remains? 1.) 2 spiketlets per node 2.) 2 awn-like glumes that are fused at the base 3.) lemma 5-veined.
I was very fortunate to find any old lemma as they usually break off above the glumes. The veins are faint at this time of year, however I was able to make them out with a hand lens.
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Found this photo on Facebook of Manzanitas ( Arctostaphylos) by Sean Hogan ( of Cistus design Nursery in Portlanfd Oregon )
" Manzanita test plot looking good- at the NWES research farm run by Oregon State University about 45 minutes south of Portland"
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Good to see these being trialled in Oregon, isn't it? Might encourage someone to try them in Europe.
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Maggi,
It is unfortunate if the genus Arctostaphylos is seldom used in Europe. The genus has considerable potential. I think that the full potential of the Genus is still under utilized even here in California. In the past many cultivars came about as chance seedlings at places like the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden in Southern California. Perhaps the situation has changed and there are fine new cultivars available, however I admit that I am not aware of any at this time. It seems that Oregon State University may have, or are in the process of introducing new cultivars.
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How does one identify this species from dried remains? 1.) 2 spiketlets per node 2.) 2 awn-like glumes that are fused at the base 3.) lemma 5-veined.
I was very fortunate to find any old lemma as they usually break off above the glumes. The veins are faint at this time of year, however I was able to make them out with a hand lens.
Is it many similar species? To me it looks very characteristical.
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Is it many similar species? To me it looks very characteristical.
Trond,
I am very sorry if there was confusion. One species - Medusa Head, Elymus caput-medusae.
It was in reference to the link "Attacking Invasive Cheatgrass at Its Root". Medusa Head was mentioned in this article too. Medusa Head is an invasive species that I do see here in the lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada - mostly in disturbed areas in the foothills.
My brother lives in Eastern Washington State. Evidently Cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum, is a problem there. Based on what I see on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, this is most likely true. On my outing a few weeks ago to the Ebbetts Pass area, I saw plenty of Cheatgrass near the East Carson River (eastern Sierra habitat). As for Eastern Washington, I have seen some amazing places where the wildflowers are plentiful, however back then I was not looking for Cheatgrass. :'( From what I have seen, many places in Eastern Washington State seem the ideal habitat for Cheatgrass.
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Robert,
No confusion a just wondered if the grasses had look-alikes or were easy to spot ;)
Here is my local Manzanita, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi.
Some plants get a little fall colouring:
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The bark is nice also but the stems are thin:
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Robert,
No confusion a just wondered if the grasses had look-alikes or were easy to spot ;)
Trond,
During the autumn Elymus caput-medusae is easy to spot by the shape of the dried inflorescence. In the spring it might be confused with various Hordeum species in our area. Elymus caput-medusae generally has 2 spikelets per node, while Hordeum has 3. Both Elymus caput-medusae and Hordeum have long awns, perhaps making the two look very similar, however there are other major differences between the two when looked at closely. During the summer the central axis of most Hordeum species (at least in our area) falls apart so one is lucky to find any remains.
Your Acrtostaphylos uva-ursi looks a little bit different from ours here on the west coast of the U.S.A. Climatic differences? :)
Many years ago I remember gathering samples of this species in south central Oregon near the Williamson River. This site is east of the Cascade Range crest but still at a fairly high altitude. Here they grew under Ponderosa Pine as a mat in a very sandy volcanic based soil. The stems were relatively small but still had the very prominent and distinctive chestnut bark common with mazanita. I have also seen this species on the Oregon coast in almost pure sand. The species seems to grow throughout the northern hemisphere.
Arctostaphylos alpia is your other species. Any others by any chance? Not likely I am sure but had to ask anyway.
For anyone who likes to fish..... the Williamson River is full of trophy sized trout. :-X
Thank you for sharing the photographs. 8) 8) 8)
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I almost forgot A. alpina as it is deciduous ;D And that's all.
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A.uva-ursi usually grows on sand or sandy soil (glacial sediments). It vary, but not much, depending on climate.
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Found this photo on Facebook of Manzanitas ( Arctostaphylos) by Sean Hogan ( of Cistus design Nursery in Portlanfd Oregon )
" Manzanita test plot looking good- at the NWES research farm run by Oregon State University about 45 minutes south of Portland"
Good to see these being trialled in Oregon, isn't it? Might encourage someone to try them in Europe.
Maggi, you will probably get them in Scotland years before we get them in Norway!
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Trond,
Of the 60 + species (not counting the subspecies) of Arctostaphylos in California, A. alpina does not grow here. :'( I like the scarlet-red autumn foliage. Do the berries hang on the plant after the leaves drop? I guess the plant could be buried by snow by then. It seems red berries on bare stems could look nice, especially draped over white granite rock.
Despite all the chaos this past spring I was able to save a few Arctostaphylos selections that I made for evaluation in our garden. Some are still very small, a few others have some size. I'll try to get some photographs when they are looking at their best - not that they look poorly now, some were selected for bright red new growth, others for their flowers, others for the color of their foliage throughout the seasons. Right now they are still in containers, but even in containers they will bloom and can look good.
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Trond,
Of the 60 + species (not counting the subspecies) of Arctostaphylos in California, A. alpina does not grow here. :'( I like the scarlet-red autumn foliage. Do the berries hang on the plant after the leaves drop? I guess the plant could be buried by snow by then. It seems red berries on bare stems could look nice, especially draped over white granite rock.
Despite all the chaos this past spring I was able to save a few Arctostaphylos selections that I made for evaluation in our garden. Some are still very small, a few others have some size. I'll try to get some photographs when they are looking at their best - not that they look poorly now, some were selected for bright red new growth, others for their flowers, others for the color of their foliage throughout the seasons. Right now they are still in containers, but even in containers they will bloom and can look good.
You should have some to select among with 60+ species!
The berries of A. alpina are red when unripe and then turn black (you can spot one in the middle of the picture). They loosen from the plant when ripe but stay there if they are not eaten. The taste is not bad but I don't think anybody gather it. The leaves don't fall though.
Looking forward to see your collection!
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Trond,
California Native Americans gathered Manzanita berries as food. I have tried them myself. Most of the time they are mealy and do not taste very good, however occasionally one will be okay with a hint of sweetness. Birds not not seem to like them much either.
Arctostaphylos alpina is evergreen - I guess something like Nandina domestica - the foliage turns red in the autumn, might persist for more than a year, and may or may not turn green again in warmer weather? Does the range of A. alpina and A. uva-ursi over lap? If so are there natural hybrids?
I am keenly interested in our native Arctostaphylos species and generally check them closely when in the field. In some areas, such as the Peavine Ridge area, there is considerable mixing where up to 3 to 5 species can over lap in one area. In some places distinguishing one "species" from another is impossible. Such mixing creates a situation where interesting new forms may arise.
When my Uncle was alive I had direct access to Mount Tamaipais in Marin County, California. From his house I could walk through the woods up a trail to the old railroad grade toward the summit of Mount Tam. There were a considerable number of Arctostaphylos species to see in this area. The coastal climate is completely different from the inland climate of El Dorado County and the Manzanita species different. I wish I still had access now!
When I get home on Tuesday I will check the Manzanitas and see if anyone looks good at this time. I know of one that is of good size - the others might still be too small. Spring after some growth will be better with the small ones.
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Very interesting to read of Arctostaphylos growing under Ponderosa Pine because we have a large plant of this and I have long been wondering what to plant under it to make a more effective mix than the rather boring one at present. Would be a good place to trial Arctostaphylos if I can source plants.
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Trond,
California Native Americans gathered Manzanita berries as food. I have tried them myself. Most of the time they are mealy and do not taste very good, however occasionally one will be okay with a hint of sweetness. Birds not not seem to like them much either.
Arctostaphylos alpina is evergreen - I guess something like Nandina domestica - the foliage turns red in the autumn, might persist for more than a year, and may or may not turn green again in warmer weather? Does the range of A. alpina and A. uva-ursi over lap? If so are there natural hybrids?
I am keenly interested in our native Arctostaphylos species and generally check them closely when in the field. In some areas, such as the Peavine Ridge area, there is considerable mixing where up to 3 to 5 species can over lap in one area. In some places distinguishing one "species" from another is impossible. Such mixing creates a situation where interesting new forms may arise.
When my Uncle was alive I had direct access to Mount Tamaipais in Marin County, California. From his house I could walk through the woods up a trail to the old railroad grade toward the summit of Mount Tam. There were a considerable number of Arctostaphylos species to see in this area. The coastal climate is completely different from the inland climate of El Dorado County and the Manzanita species different. I wish I still had access now!
When I get home on Tuesday I will check the Manzanitas and see if anyone looks good at this time. I know of one that is of good size - the others might still be too small. Spring after some growth will be better with the small ones.
Robert,
Arctostaphylos alpina is not evergreen. The foliage becomes red and then brown before it dies but remains on the plant. In that way it slowly builds up soil around the plant as well as a kind of insulation.
I don't know about any interbreeding among alpina and uva-ursi although their distribution overlap a lot, especially in the mountains.
When I see the difference between the coastal and inland climate here I can easily imagine the difference in California!
When you say a Manzanita of "good size", how big is it?
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When you say a Manzanita of "good size", how big is it?
Trond,
I have limited time and space for plant breeding/selection. When evaluating plants I do everything I can to save space. In the case of Manzanitas, in the ground some plants can get fairly large, say 2 x 2 meters. I do not have time or room for this, so I will evaluate plants in containers.
Some of the Manzanitas I am evaluating are clonal selections from plants I have found on my outings. Others are seedlings. The clonal selections from the field need to retain the characteristics I observed in the field, otherwise they are thrown out. Generally in the case of clonal material, I can grow a plant in a container for a year or two and have a good idea if it is worth taking it to the next step. I have better results testing for dwarf characteristics when the plants are planted in the ground.
Seedlings are handled differently. Most of the time I will transplant many seedlings, spaced evenly, into a large container and cull the plants I do not like as they grow larger. Obviously I am limited as to the characteristics I can select from under this situation, but some good qualities do appear quickly under these conditions. Also I learn a great deal about the plants and find ways to improve the selection process.
I guess this is the long way around your question, "how large?" In the case of manzanita 30cm + or - is average size at stage one.
One last addition: We had 88 mm of rain today, 127 mm total over the last 3 days. The temperatures have cooled a bit and the snow level has dropped some, but still very high.
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Robert,
Interesting to hear how you do it! I do not work as systematically as you do! I never have the heart to throw away any plant and plant them out anyway even the inferior ones. Sometimes they reward me and develop better than expected but usually they do not! Not strange I run out of space :)
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Trond,
After checking the maps I have decided on Snow Mountain as my focal point in the inner Northern Coastal Range of California. The low elevations near the mountain have a number of Calochortus species I am interested in. The mountain itself hosts a goodly number of endemic species. One day outings are possible, and best of all it is reasonably remote! I hope this pans out as a good study area for me. In a few weeks I hope to scout the area.
However first I will be going to familiar territory on the Middle Fork of the Feather River. I also know of a seldom traveled 49er trail into the back country on the West Branch of the Feather River. This and the Middle Fork of the Feather River are basically inaccessible, remote, and unexplored. I have explored these areas in the distant past, however I am in a much better position to do constructive botanical work in these locations now.
Clearly I am planning now for the next spring-summer-autumn season.
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Robert,
Snow Mountain seems to be very exciting - any place would be new to me anyway ;)
Also Feather River looks very interesting!
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Trond,
Ahhhh! :) Back home now. I went out and checked out the Arctostaphylos selections this morning. Later in the day I'll see if I can't get out and take some good photographs.
Friday I will be heading to the Feather River. This time of year there might not be a lot to see, however it will be good for me to return and scout out the situation. I had frequent botanical outings in this area in the past, however it has been about 10 years since I traveled here on a regular basis.
I am very excited about Snow Mountain. Now that we live in Sacramento this botanically fascinating region is easily within range for me on a one day outing. I have read a great deal about the plants in this area, but have never been there. I hope to travel there next week. Yolla Bolly- Middle Eel Wilderness is to the north. I have never been there either. I have been wanting to hike there since I was a teenager. We will see what happens. :)
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I had a complete change in plans.
The weather forecast was for sunny and warm weather Thursday with unsettled weather starting early next week. This Thursday seemed the perfect opportunity to visit Snow Mountain. So I awoke at 4:00 A.M. on Thursday and drove northward in the dark toward Snow Mountain.
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Sunrise over the Sutter Buttes (an ancient lava plug in the center of the flat Sacramento Valley), as I drove west towards the Northern Coast Range.
The Snow Mountain outing was extremely fascinating and very productive. There is much to report on. Right now I need to get much work done, so I will start my report sometime next week. :)
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SNOW MOUNTAIN
Thursday, 20 October 2016
Part I
Sacramento Weather
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High: 79 F, 26 C
Low: 50F, 10 C
Placerville Weather
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High: 77 F, 25 C
Low: 44 F, 6.5 C
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On Thursday morning I left Sacramento early in the morning and drove north to Colusa County, California. From the small town of Maxwell I drove west toward the Northern Coast Range. Maxwell is located in the Sacramento Valley. The flat land is all farmland to the base of the foothills.
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The foothills of the coast range are covered with chaparral. The dominant species is Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, however, in addition, Eriodictyon californicum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, and Arctostaphylos are common species. California Gray Pine, Pinus sabiniana dot the chaparral with their ghostly twisted silhouettes. California Black Walnut, Juglans hindsii line the arroyos and in waste areas the white flowers of Datura wrightii can be seen.
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After traversing several ridges of hills, the mountains rise steeply. My objective was to hike to the summit of Snow Mountain, or close to it, however I was tempted to make a number of short stops. The dwarf Oak, Quercus durata, was seen frequently in the chaparral. I also found another dwarf oak, Quercus palmeri. An exciting, but not unexpected, find were the dry seed heads of Calochortus. The seed pods were similar to those of C. superbus, however C. vestae or something else is a possibility.
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Deafy Glade Trailhead, 3,300 feet (1,006 meters), is located where the paved road ends and a gravel road begins. The trail eventually leads to the summit of Snow Mountain.
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The lower coniferous forest of the Northern Coast Range is dominated by Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii. As many California forest there is a mixture of broad leaf evergreen trees, deciduous tress, and other conifer species.
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The trail starts by traversing a north facing canyon slope. Here I found Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. glandulosa. I encountered this species frequently for a good part of my hike up the mountain.
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Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. glandulosa is easily identified by its burl and its glandular-hairy stems. Not all plants have a visible burl, however all are noticeably glandular-hairy.
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In semi-shaded areas there were the beat up plants of Angelica tomentosa. They were clearly heading into dormancy.
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In areas with more shade grew the fern Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum. Polystichum munitum is another common species in this area especially closer to the coast. I checked the plants carefully. The submarginal sori, toothed indusium, and lanceolate base scales clearly placed it as P. imbricans ssp. curtum.
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As I neared the ford of The South Fork of Stony Creek, Deafy Rock appeared through the mixed coniferous forest.
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The trail crosses the South Fork of Stony Creek and more or less travels straight up the south facing side of the mountain. Morale-Buster Hill is one of the aptly given local names.
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The Ladybird Beetles were sluggish in the early morning. They will congregate for the winter in huge piles and then disperse again come spring.
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Mats of Lupinus albifron var. collina enjoyed sunny openings in the forest on this south facing slope.
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I was very surprised to find Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, growing at this elevation, 3,000 + feet (914 + meters). Generally this species is found at much lower elevations.
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Past the Chamise was a nice stand of Garrya flavenscens.
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The differences between the various species of Garrya can seem vague at times. The densely hairy fruit made this plant very easy to identify as Garrya flavescens.
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The trail continues to climb steeply to Deafy Glade. The meadow was still golden brown from the summer dry season, however I was still able to identify many plants. Both Wyethia helenioides and W. angustifolia were scattered throughout the shadier parts of the glade. I see this association in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada too. The dried seed capsules of various Themidaceae could be found, some Brodiaea, others Triteleia. There were even the dried heads of a few Polemoniceae, mostly likely a Navarretia. The usual invasive species were present too; the pesty Elymus caput-medusae; the persistent Rumes crispus, and others.
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The late season bloomer Madia elegans was still flowering.
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I liked this beautiful specimen of Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. glandulosa.
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Even near the Deafy Glade the trail continued its steep upward grade. A few Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia could still be seen along the trail. Many had been heavily browsed by the deer.
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The shrub oak, Quercus durata, still appeared from time-to-time as I worked my way up the mountain.
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Berberis aquifolium was a common species in the shaded, dry forest.
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I like the fruit on Cercocarpos betuloides var. betuloides. The terminal style is persistent becoming twisted and very plumose with age. This species was very common along the trail. It is also a common species in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
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With cool temperatures and the shortening days of autumn, the process of winter dormancy begins. Many deciduous species begin the process with their autumn leaf colors such as the golden color on this Bigleaf Maple, Acer macrophyllum.
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As I climbed high on the mountain beautiful vistas appeared between the trees. Down the canyon the lower foothills of the Coast Range can be seen, with the Sierra Nevada as a fuzzy haze beyond.
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At about 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) the shrubby Quercus garryana var. breweri started to appear.
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Along this stretch of the trail it was extremely interesting how the topography, prevailing wind currents, and other factors had created a unique habitat. Here I found the Oregon Oak, Quercus garryana var. garryana. There were only a few trees and they were the only Oregon Oak I saw this day. However this is not what made me ponder the uniqueness of this site. I found a number of low elevation species growing in this area - this was attention getting.
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The unique older bark of Oregon Oak, Quercus garryana var. garryana.
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The foliage of Quercus garryana var. breweri was just starting to turn color at this site.
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It was so tempting to take pictures of all the beautiful vistas. In this photograph the Sutter Buttes in the center of the Sacramento Valley can be seen faintly through the haze in the distance.
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As I neared an open ridgeline the forest opened up with a good view to the south.
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Ceanothus parryi was another species that I saw frequently from the lower elevations to high on the ridge top. This time of year it does not look like much of anything, however it will bloom with blue-lavender flowers come spring.
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I reached the top of the ridge, 5,535 feet (1,687 meters) and could now see of to the west and the Eel River drainage. The Eel River watershed drains directly to the Pacific Ocean. From here on toward the west there is an increasing marine influence and the plant communities start to change dramatically.
This view is actually to the southwest toward my friends ranch about 30-40 miles away.
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Perhaps the most beautiful Manzanita on this outing was Arctostaphylos canescens ssp. canescens. Just feeling the canescent foliage is a pleasure.
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At this time I realized I would need to turn back soon. Rather than continue up the trail I used my time to do some field botany in this interesting area.
Behind this unnamed peak, 6,612 feet (2015 meters) is Snow Mountain West, 7,038 feet (2145 meters). If I would have continued up the trail it would traveled between Snow Mountain West and Snow Mountain East, 7,056 feet (2,151 meters). My understanding is that their is a trail to the top of the Eastern Peak.
To be continued.........
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SNOW MOUNTAIN
Part II
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I gave myself a good bit of time to poke around and see what I might find. The open ridge was carpeted with a different type of chaparral community. Here the shrubby Quercus garryana var. breweri was the dominant species creating large expansive sheets on the mountainside. This time of year the leaves of this deciduous species were also turning an attractive red color.
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The Brewer's Oak also shared the mountain with Arctostaphylos canescens ssp. canescens, A. patula, Ceanothus parryi and many other much smaller species. Greenleaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, often created the perfect backdrop for the wooly-gray A. canescens. Greenleaf Manzanita is a also a common species in the Sierra Nevada Mountains where it often mixes with other gray-green Manzanita species.
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This time of year the plants are generally not at there prime. Still, I was delighted to find this semi-dried plant. There are many varieties of Eriogonum umbellatum in California. E. umbellatum var. smallianum has tiny foliage. This plant must have been very attractive when in bloom with its bright yellow flowers.
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Clumps of Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus grew in the openings around the taller shrubby plants. This variety is a bit different from var. purdyi which is found in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. One clear difference is the noticeably more narrow leaves on variety heterophyllus.
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There was much to see on this ridge, however time did expire and I needed to return to my truck.
One last view to the east toward the Sacramento Valley and the Sutter Buttes. The red leaves of Quercus garryana var. breweri can be seen in the foreground.
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Just as I started down the mountain, I was delighted to find the Snow Mountain Penstemon, Penstemon purpusii. This local endemic has small almost fleshy leaves that are densely canescent-hairy. This tiny species must be beautiful when in bloom. I look forward to returning at this time.
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It was much easier hiking down the mountain. Ericameria nauseosa var. speciosa was one of the few late blooming species that I saw frequently on my way up the mountain. This species has a wide distribution throughout California.
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Iris fernaldii was another common species. Returning during their blooming cycle is a high priority.
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The forest in California have such a diversity of species. Frangula rubra var. rubra was one of the evergreen shrubby species of this area. It is another species that I also see in the Sierra Nevada.
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Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis (center), is common in the mixed mid-elevation forest of California, both in the Sierra Nevada as well as in the Northern Coast Range.
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Quercus shrysolepis was one of the species I observed much higher on the mountain. It is somewhat unusual to find it at high elevations and it was one of the species that clued me in that the environmental conditions were a bit different at the Quercus breweri site mentioned earlier.
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As I neared The South Fork of Stony Creek, I again found more Ladybird Beetles. They were still in clumps, however now that the weather had warmed a bit they had clearly dispersed a bit.
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The view of Deafy Rock was much more dramatic on the return hike.
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Back traversing the north facing canyon slope I noticed groups of Chimophila menziesii in the shady forest. There were also the dry stems of a Fritillaria species, most likely F. recurva.
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I arrived at the truck with much more time than I had expected. This gave me time to stop and look around as I drove back down the mountain. At one stop I found this noteworthy specimen of Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita. The polished deep chestnut bark of this plant was amazing. The photograph of the trunk did not turn out, however the smaller branches still retained the remarkable color.
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The canyon on the Middle Fork of Stony Creek could be an interesting place to visit on a return trip.
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Back in the lower foothills I was able to stop briefly to examine this native Juniper.
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It was Juniperus californica, a common species both in the Northern Coast Range and the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada. In the past I would see it frequently in Tehama County - I guess there it would be considered the foothills of the Cascade Range. :) I was a bit disappointed as I was hoping to find McNab Cypress, Hesperocyparis macnabiana. It is known to grow in this area.
This outing was very interesting and productive for me. It is the prefect study area for me in the coastal mountains. It is remote and has much public land to explore both at the low and high elevations. This region has its own unique flora, but also it has much in common with the Sierra Nevada Foothills directly across the Sacramento Valley. In the near future I will be visiting the foothills in Butte County on the other side of the Valley.
I look forward to returning to the Snow Mountain area in the early spring. There are plenty of low elevation sites to explore early in the season.
Until next time.......
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Robert, your botanizing trips into the mountains are fascinating. I wonder which of the manzanitas might survive here in Nova Scotia. I remember seeing a few species in coastal British Columbia when I lived there (didn't know which species, but I find the bark and general plant habits extremely attractive). I will be anxiously waiting for your return there in the new year... especially to see those Iris fernaldii clumps in full bloom. This year I am testing another Pacific Coast Iris species for winter hardiness here (a pot of Iris munzii seedlings will be heeled into the ground to take what winter brings).
If my geographic memory is still working, Snow Mountain is between the Sacramento valley and Clear Lake? We have friends living in Clear Lake, and managed to visit there briefly in July.
Thank you so much for your posts, they open a new world for many of us!
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Gordon,
Finding the right Arctostaphylos species for the Nova Scotia climate might require some trial and error. I would start with any of the high elevation species from the Sierra Nevada Mountains - A. nevadensis, A. patula. Arctostaphylos canescens would be worth a try too. Many of our species are from relatively low elevations, however I would not let this deter you from giving them a try. You might get surprising results.
One challenge you might encounter is growing the species from seed. This can be very tricky, however I can give you some advice in this regard if you run into difficulties.
I will be very interested in your results with Iris munzii, a species from the foothills in the Southern Sierra Nevada. I hope to be traveling into their territory, perhaps this coming spring. Many of the plants said to be I. munzii are in fact hybrids, so I am very keen on seeing the real thing in its native environment.
Do you grow Iris hartwegii? Some forms grow at fairly high elevations in the Sierra Nevada and could be reasonably cold hardy.
There are a few other Iris species that I might encounter in the Snow Mountain region. Iris tenuissima is one and I am certainly open to the idea that other northern species might extend their range into this area. This is the sort of stuff I investigate.
Snow Mountain is north of the Clear Lake area. The Clear Lake region is another area I would like explore thoroughly. There are many interesting species in this region and I have only explored this area briefly a few times while visiting my friend's ranch in the area. I have always wanted to visit and explore the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness to the north of Snow Mountain. I guess I will be renaming my diary "Robert's Adventures in the Mountains of California". or maybe "the wild places of California" :)
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Robert- the first challenge re- Arctostaphylos for me will be to find seed. Then I fully expect the next hurdle to be to try and get some germination. Will have to start travelling down this road for a while to see where it leads.
So far, I am having some great luck with Pacific Coast Iris. Iris innominata, and Iris tenax seem to be untroubled by our colder winters. I am a bit concerned that munzii will not fare as well, but you never know unless you give it a try. I have a pot of open pollinated Iris hartwegii var australis (garden collected- so they may not be the pure species) that will be among those going out in the garden over winter.
It is too late in the season for me to knock them out of their pots and plant them directly in the landscape without risking death from frost heave in late winter, so I plan to sink the pots up to their rims instead, and transplant survivors in spring when they renew root growth. I have at least one close to primary hybrid (innominata x tenax) x op, and another one that may be interesting (Orchid Resprite x hartwegii australis). It will be interesting to see how they all do. Iris douglasiana 'Canyon Snow' is one of the latest to go into the ground here. Douglasiana seems to do ok here, though it looks quite tatty coming through the winter. It takes a bit longer to recover from winter burnt foliage.
Have you ever explored Mt Konocti, on the western shore of Clear Lake? I haven't a clue if it would be worth a trek, since it is so close to human habitation. From what I have read about it, it might even be a bit hazardous due to caves and caverns. Our friends there, sold a piece of land they were planning to develop for themselves which had a high panoramic view of the lake and mountain.
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Gordon
I have never been to Mount Konocti, however there are a number of sites I would like to check out in the Clear Lake area, Mount Konocti being one of them. Right now I need to focus on the Snow Mountain region. It will receive most, but not all, of my attention in the Northern Coast Range.
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Always enjoyable and informative Robert, many thanks.
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Always enjoyable and informative Robert, many thanks.
Ah! Thank you David.
I do the best I can to make a brief report, however I see so much more while out in the field - even at this time of year when many plants are dried up. Many plants still leave many clues as to their identity even when dry and beat up.
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Now I have read through your last report twice, Robert! It is interesting to see the forests with different trees and shrubs and the chaparral. The diversity makes it even more exciting.
I have always been fond of trees - I was with my mum and dad into the forests around Oslo from before I could walk. Dad carried me in a special rucksack.
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This week's outing was more or less rained out. I did go out, however the driving rain prevented me from getting much done, especially photographs.
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My first stop was an attempt to find Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka and A. nissenana on Poho Ridge, El Dorado County, California.
Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka is a burl forming species that will stump sprout after a fire. Most of Poho Ridge was burned over by the King Fire several years ago. Stump sprouting A. mewukka would be easy to spot among the A. viscida. The two species do resemble each other to a certain extent. From the photograph you can see A. viscida had sprouted abundantly. It is very common for the seeds of this species to germinate abundantly after a fire as it is an obligate seeder - i.e. the species will not stump sprout after a fire. I did not find any A. wewukka this day.
Arctostaphylos nissenana, the El Dorado Manzanita, is a local endemic species. There is another isolated population in Tuolumne County, California near the town of Sonora. There is a population of A. nissenana on Slate Mountain not far from Poho Ridge so I thought that there would be a good possibility that I could find the species on Poho Ridge. A. nissenana is interesting in that it is one of the few Arctostaphylos species that does not have red polished bark. The bark of A. nissenana is shredding and gray in color. I did not find any A. nissenana either.
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Many trees were stump sprouting after the fire. This is Notholithocarpus densiflorus, most likely the shrubby variety echinoides as the stump did not look like it belonged to a tree.
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Beautiful autumn colors getting started on Rosa bridgesii.
At this point it decided to try somewhere else lower on the mountain in a hope that the rain would lighten up.
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I did not have any success lower on the mountain, but the rain did stop for awhile. At this point I drove back up the mountain to Peavine Ridge to where there are extremely interesting and diverse populations of Arctostaphylos.
I have one study area where I wanted to gather more information on specific plants.
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I started to photograph one of the selected plants when the rain started to pour down again. I was dry in my rain suit, however everything else was getting soaked. It was impossible even to take some basic field notes.
An upright nascent inflorescence on Arctostaphylos viscida is not common, however this characteristic is not rare either. This plant is unusual in that it has very small fruit (unusual for A. viscida) and very small leaves (also unusual).
This study area has many plants that do not fit the type of A. viscida or A. patula both of which grow in mixed stands nearby.
There are many other species of interest in this area, however the driving rain prevented photography. Some of the species seen in this area are Lilium washingtonianum, Fritillaria micrantha, Ceanothus prostratus, Dichelostemma multiflorum, and high elevation forms of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii.
The weather forecast is for rain to continue for the next week or so. I am grateful for the rain, however I will be pleased if there is a pause for an outing next week.
Until the next time......
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Trond,
It is interesting that you comment about trees. Of the 25 species of trees I encountered near Snow Mountain, there were only 3 species that I do not find in El Dorado County (where the farm is located), Juniperus californica (shrub :-\ ), Quercus garryana, and Quecus palmeri (a shrub ??? ). The mix of trees is different in each region, Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, being being far more dominant in the Snow Mountain region.
I have found Juniperus californica on the east side of the Sacramento Valley in Tehama County - the far northern end of the Sacramento Valley. The rumor is that Quercus garryana var. garryana is found in El Dorado County. I have serious doubts, but I remain open to the idea. Quercus garryana var. breweri is found in El Dorado County.
Another distribution idiosyncrasy is that of Platanus racemosa, our native Sycamore. Platanus racemosa grows along Little Chico Creek and Big Chico Creeks in and near the town (city) of Chico, California in the Northern Sacramento Valley. I have rarely or never encountered this species in the Northern Sacramento Valley (other than in Chico), however I saw it frequently in the Southern Coast Range of California (many years ago).
My first encounter with Quercus palmeri was near Snow Mountain.
Some species may be extinct from parts of there native range. Juglans hindsii most likely grew near Sacramento. Development has most likely wiped them out. The foothills of the Inner Coast Range on the way to Snow Mountain have very little development and Juglans hindsii is seen frequently in the arroyos.
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A mix of Arctostaphylos species under evaluation, A. patula, A. manzanita ssp. manzanita, A nevadensis.
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Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita - An early blooming form with excellent habit from Amador County, California. Gets big.
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One of many tiny Arctostaphylos nevadensis seedlings - looking for a good form that will grow well in our garden.
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We have had about 5 x average rainfall for the month this October, certainly a record. The garden is a mess from all the stormy weather.
So a few California native plants in containers that look good. A Ribes roezlii seedling waiting to be planted out.
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Aspidotis californica
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Ceanothus prostratus - no flower buds yet.
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Rubus parviflorus - it looks much better than the photograph shows.
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Wild Fragaria virginiana from the Van Vleck area. The berries are delicious, however they are best grown in a container so the berries can be protected from the wildlife.
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Nice plants you have there, Robert! Do you feed them with anything special?
I am also pleased to see that life springs back in the fire damaged areas!
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Trond,
Yes, fire does, or at least can, renew the landscape here in California. My next outing, tomorrow, a visit to the Feather River Canyon is planned. I hope to visit a site that has been burned over at least twice in the last 10-15 years. The first burn revitalized much of the understory vegetation. There were thousands of Fritillaria recurva blooming the last time I visited this site.
The frequency of the burn cycle can be critical here in California. Some species that are obligate seeders can be harmed if an area burns too frequently - i.e. the newly established plants need to reach flowering size to produce a new seed crop before the next fire cycle. I will be very interested in what I find at the site that has burn twice in this relatively short time frame.
There is also a large serpentine rock area that I want to check on. I have found many interesting species in this area in the past. This time of year many species will be dormant, others just waking up after their summer dormancy, however I am sure this outing will be productive and interesting.
Nice plants you have there, Robert! Do you feed them with anything special?
Yes, I use a time release fertilizer in the potting mix. I have done this for decades and have the system down so that it works out well. I rarely have to take time to feed the potted plants. They grow well and stay very healthy for about a year, sometimes longer, using this method. I generally get the plants in the ground before they need more fertilizer, or at least this is the idea. :)
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I'm fascinated by your Manzanitas Robert but know nothing about them other than from your posts. I don't know if they are growable in the UK, perhaps others could tell me.
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I'm fascinated by your Manzanitas Robert but know nothing about them other than from your posts. I don't know if they are growable in the UK, perhaps others could tell me.
David,
Very 8) I am glad that you brought up the subject of Manzanitas and their garden use in the UK and beyond. I feel sure that Manzanitas are not only growable, but are already grown in some locations in the UK. I certain do not know for sure, however this is an intriguing topic.
I have much more I want to comment on concerning this subject. The last days of the week are soooo hectic for me, so this will have to wait. Same with may last outing to the North Fork of the Feather River..... :'( :)
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An early morning view of the northern Sacramento Valley looking west across the valley toward Snow Mountain (where I traveled two weeks ago).
I will be reporting on the Feather River outing early next week. :)
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NORTH FORK
of the
FEATHER RIVER
PART I
Thursday, 3 November 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High:71 F, 21.5 C
Low:47 F, 8 C
Placerville Weather
Weather: High Clouds
Temperature, High:68 F, 20 C
Low: 42 F, 5.5 C
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This November is the beginning of my 4th year with this botanical diary. To start the new season I decided to travel to one of my favorite sites in the northern Sierra Nevada. When I was much younger I had a very good friend who lived in Chico, California, a town in the northern Sacramento Valley. We both liked to hike and fish in the mountains east of Chico. I was always looking at the plants. Over the years, I became very familiar with the region and many of its plants. It has been a bit over 10 year since I have been to the canyon of the North Fork of the Feather River. A bit over due, but now was a good time to see this land and its plants again and visit some familiar places.
I started out early from Sacramento and traveled north to the town of Oroville, and then northeast into the foothills. The photograph is a view to the northwest out over the mist filled valley toward the north Coast Range.
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The northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada are quite different from the southern foothills. Many of the plant species are the same, however the life zones transition at a noticeably lower altitude in the north, as there is considerably more precipitation and lower snow levels. Although both the north and the south share many of the same plant species, the are considerable differences too.
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The highway quickly rises out of the valley, cuts through Jarbo Gap, and then quickly descends into the canyon of the North Fork of the Feather River.
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My first stop was near the tiny railroad town of Pulga, elevation 1,587 feet (484 meters). In the past I explored the south canyon face in this area and found many very interesting species as well as some unique forms of more common species.
I also decided I needed to invest in a better vehicle for my botanical travels, after all I plan on doing this for many years. My two wheel drive Toyota truck was not appropriate for snow, mud, and other less than desirable driving conditions. Also any gear or equipment in the back bed of the truck could get dusty or wet from rain/snow. My solution was an all wheel drive Subaru Outback. It seems an excellent vehicle for this sort of work.
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This time of year many species are going dormant for the season, however with the beginning of the rainy season many species are awakening, such as the perennial California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica.
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Spicebush, Calycanthus occidentalis, is a very interesting Magnoliids. Its flowers are a maroon red-brown in color and indeed show a small resemblance to a Magnolia flower. I rarely encounter this species in El Dorado county, California (near the farm), however it is quite common in along streams, creeks, and moist sites in the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
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A fuzzy photograph of Calycanthus with seed pods.
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With the autumn rains the summer dormant fern species are coming back into growth.
Indian Dream, Aspidotis densa, is a very common fern species at lower and mid altitudes in the Sierra Nevada. It is quite tough. It is sometimes found growing in full sun, however it does dry-up completely during the summer. In the garden it will stay evergreen with summer irrigation. It makes a relatively small, compact plant and seems very easy to please in cultivation.
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Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis, is another very common fern species. It favors the lower elevations and generally prefers more shade. This summer dormant fern will also stay evergreen with summer irrigation under garden conditions.
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Eriogonum umbellatum is one species that I never noticed on previous visits to this site. I am not certain on the variety, however var. speciosum is one possibility. This variety is said to grow on serpentine rock. Although these were not growing on serpentine, there is certainly plenty of serpentine in this area. I will want to check on these plants again when they are in bloom.
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Getting around in this terrain is certainly not easy. As you can see it is very steep with many cliff faces.
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About 30 years ago I noticed azaleas blooming on a cliff face above the highway. This site is very close to the old railroad village of Pulga. At the time I thought that they might be from an old abandon farmstead or miner's shack, so I never stopped to investigate. They were always blooming very early in the season, around 15 March. This fact niggled at me for a long time until I finally stopped to investigate the plants about 15 years ago. It turns out they were all naturally growing Rhododendron occidentale. One thing that was remarkable about them is the fact that they were blooming 2 months earlier than the other Rhododendron occidentale in the area. In addition, many were growing in full sun on a south facing cliff face where summer temperatures can easily reach 110 F, 43 C.
I found a good range of color forms, from pure white, to various combinations of yellow, pink, and cream. In addition, some bloomed very early in the season, others at intervals up to mid May. I took cuttings of various forms and rooted them to grow on and evaluate. As of today we have several growing and thriving in our Sacramento garden. They do indeed retain their traits under garden conditions.
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On this day the azaleas foliage was just beginning to turn color. In our Sacramento garden they turn brilliant scarlet red.
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One reason the azaleas thrive at this sites is the continuous flow of water from springs higher on the canyon face.
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This day, I continued up the canyon side to explore the drier portions of the canyon. Many bulbous species grow in among the rocks. I spent a goodly amount of time looking for the dry remains of bulbous species for future reference when I return in the springtime.
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Of coarse, there are many other species of plants growing in this area. The Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, were looking exceptional with their bright red berries.
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There were a few other sites I wanted to visit this day so I very carefully worked my way down the mountain. From this site I drove east, up river, to Indian and Chips Creeks, near the tiny village of Belden.
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The last time I visited this site 15 years ago, or so, a fire had burn through the area. This fire had consumed much of the under growth leaving most of the tree canopy intact. Since then, another much more destructive fire burn through this area. Much of the forest was completely burned to the ground. The burn area was vast, a far as I could see in many directions. How sad! I had seen so many fantastic plant species in previous years. How are they now?
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Since the last fire, many of the shrub and tree species had stump sprouted creating thickets of brush. The fruit of Choke Cherry, Prunus virgoiniana var. demissa, were very apparent as I hiked up the steep grade of the trail. In the past I had found large stands of Fritillaria recurva and Delpinium nudicaule in this area. I was hoping to find their dried remains.
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Somehow these Sword Ferns, Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum, were surviving in the full sun on this sunny south facing slope. This is a woodland species that enjoys forest shade. It will be many years before they are shaded again in a semi mature forest.
To be continued.......
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NORTH FORK
of the
FEATHER RIVER
PART II
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Despite the widespread damage from the last fire, there are areas that did not burn at all. I see this burn pattern frequently in the mountains of California. The areas that do not burn seem to act as a seed bank, providing a backup source of seed to help regenerate the forest ecosystem.
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Most of the Indian Creek canyon was spared from the flames of the last fire.
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Here I encountered some of my old friends from past outings. Asarum hartwegii enjoys the cool shade in the canyon. This species grows abundantly in the northern Sierra Nevada.
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The molted leaf pattern of this evergreen species is quite attractive. It is also easy to cultivate in the garden, appreciating woodland conditions and some summertime irrigation.
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I was very pleased to see the waters of Indian Creek running clear. Some of our creeks within burn areas can still quickly turn muddy after heavy rainfall like what we have recently experienced.
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Heuchera micrantha is another woodland species. Most of the plants I encounter have green foliage, however some populations have leaves that are beautifully molted with a variety of patterns and colors.
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The autumn rains have awaken many summer dormant perennial species such as this Ranunculus. It is most likely R. occidentalis var. occidentalis, however I admit this is a guess. Its identity can be confirmed when it blooms.
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The trail passed through many different habitats such as this forest dominated by California Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii. Their golden autumn foliage is subtle, but can create a beautiful impact in the mountain landscape.
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Despite the fires there are still many breath taking views. The rusty gold autumn foliage of California Black Oak dominates this seen. A light dusting of snow can be seen on the highest peaks.
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After a distance the trail reemerged into the burn area. This Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii, has stump sprouted well after the fire.
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A close-up view of the autumn color on Cornus nuttallii. Generally the foliage of Cornus nuttallii turns brilliant scarlet, however there has been a lack of autumn chill so far this season - thus some lack-luster autumn colors.
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The berries of Chaparral Honeysuckle, Lonicera interrupta, can be very showy. This species is a common component of the low elevation chaparral plant community. Wildlife must like the fruit as I rarely see plants with an abundance of berries.
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In this photograph the snow on the higher peak is clearly visible.
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After awhile, I came across an extremely interesting community of Manzanita, Arctostaphylos sp. Four species grew at this site, with some suggestion of mixing (hybrids) between the species. I actual encounter this phenomenon within mixed populations of Arctostaphylos somewhat frequently. It is always interesting for me to observe these plants carefully.
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Here is a perfect example of the burl forming Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka stump sprouting from its burl.
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The burl on Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka.
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Here one can see the multiple stems emerging from a burl. Burls or lack of burls is an important characteristic of Arctostaphylos that is useful in keying the species. Unfortunately the burls are not always apparent, thus it is very important to consider all their different characteristics.
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Fruit is another characteristic to consider. These relatively large dark mahogany-brown berries belong to Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka.
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The fruit of Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida is smaller, generally red in color, and glabrous. I encounter 3 subspecies of A. viscida in my travels. The fruit of subspecies mariposa is covered with glandular hairs; the fruit of subspecies pulchella is also glandular hairy, however less so than ssp. mariposa. The berries of ssp. pulchella also have a rough texture.
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Of coarse, the polished red bark of many Manzanita species is extremely attractive. This is Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka.
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Here are two samples of Arctostaphylos.
The sample on the right is classic A. viscida ssp. viscida. Occassionally the nascent inflorescence of A. viscida is upright as seen here. The inflorescence of this species is also very glandular-sticky and the bracts are appressed hiding the flower buds.
The sample on the left is one of those questionable plants of perhaps hybrid origin. This sample exhibits characteristics of both A. viscida ssp. viscida and A. mewukka ssp. mewukka. The inflorescence bracts are spreading exposing the flower buds, a characteristic of A. mewukka ssp. mewukka. This sample has an upright nascent inflorescence which is indicative of A. viscida. The inflorescence is also very slightly glandular. The inflorescence of A. mewukka ssp. mewukka is glabrous.
Another interesting feature of this specimen is that Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka is a tetraploid, 2n=52. Arctostaphylos viscida is diploid, 2n=26. Growing seedlings from this plant could be very enlightening. The plant could be a sterile to semi-sterile triploid like our seedless watermelons (semi-sterile) or Cavendish bananas (completely sterile). Another possibility is that a mistake could have happened during meiosis and the plant is a fertile allotetraploid. Anyway, some interesting hypotheses to experiment with.
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This photograph shows a leaf of Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. truei on the right. This sub species has very large leaves, the largest within the Genus. The leaf tips are generally obtuse. This subspecies does not form burls.
The samples on the left are those of A. mewukka ssp. mewukka. The leaves are much smaller and they generally have an acute tip.
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In this photograph Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita with its dull green foliage can be seen in the foreground of A. mewukka ssp. mewukka.
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A close-up of Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita. The foliage looks completely glabrous, however when examined with a hand lens one can see that the leaf veins are lined with hairs.
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A vigorous Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka. The leaves on this plant were very large, however the leaf tips were generally acute and the plant had a noticeable burl.
This Manzanita population had a fair number of very interesting off type plants and will be well worth my effort to observe over the years to come.
To be continued........
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Robert,
although you are not finished yet I do make a few comments!
It is very interesting when you compare the different manzanitas. Do you think the possibility of hybridization has increased when different species (or ecotypes?) meet more often in the burned areas due to more frequent fires?
I have tried Asarum hartwegii but the slugs chose it as a favorite :(
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Robert,
It is very interesting when you compare the different manzanitas. Do you think the possibility of hybridization has increased when different species (or ecotypes?) meet more often in the burned areas due to more frequent fires?
Trond,
I personally do not have enough information to answer this question, however my observations to date suggest that this might be the case. I have observed the same apparent mixing (hybridization) in the Manzanita populations on Peavine Ridge, El Dorado County, California. Peavine Ridge has burned twice within my lifetime. The intervals between the fires has been greater on Peavine Ridge. Commercial logging also needs to be considered on Peavine Ridge.
Another phenomenon on Peavine Ridge is the gradation between the two species, A. mewukka ssp. mewukka and A. viscida ssp. viscida, as the altitude changes. There are differences between the plants at the bottom of the canyon and the top of the ridge. This may, or may not, shed light on the apparent mixing after fires.
Anyway, it is all very interesting. I could never get bored going to the same location repeatedly. :) Also, for me, it would be good to translate all of this into superior garden plants. No shortage of things to do. :)
-
NORTH FORK
of the
FEATHER RIVER
PART III
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After spending much time checking Manzatinas it was time to move on. There were still several site I wanted to visit, so I continued on through a new section of burned forest land.
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Human activity has had considerable influence in the North Fork Canyon for over 100 years. There is a highway, a major freight railroad line, logging, mining, many recreational sites, as well as numerous hydroelectric installations. As one might expect many invasive plant species have moved in over the years. Bromus tectorum is one of many invasive species in this region. It was seen frequently and had moved aggressively into the latest burn site. Bromus testorum grew in this area well before the fires, however once the forest canopy was burned away, this species quickly colonized the new open space.
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A big surprise was finding Lychnis coronaria as an invasive species in this area. At first I though it might have been an odd chance occurrence, however I found it growing frequently in scattered sites along the trail.
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Monardella odoratissima, a native species, grew abundantly too. One off season flower remained on this single plant.
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Once again I moved into a forested area. I spotted a beautiful specimen of Garrya fremontii above the trail. It was the only plant of this species I spotted on this outing.
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Polypodium calirhiza was still another native fern that was awakening from its summer dormancy. This species has been a bit tricky for me to grow in the garden. It clearly wants to be kept completely dry when dormant and is not tolerant of any moisture during the hot summer months.
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As one might expect, Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum grew beautifully where the forest canopy remained intact. Where the forest had been burned away the plants were often badly burned by the hot summer sun, but they somehow had managed to survive.
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Cirsium occidentale var. candidissimum. What amazing foliage. Despite the fact that it might become weedy in the garden, I am very tempted to give this one a try. Some of the other California native Cirsium species have not caused any problems in our garden. On the contrary the slugs seem to love them and it has been more of a challenge to keep them going.
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Another beautiful view of the canyon and the snow topped mountains.
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The other side of the canyon had been badly burned by the fire too. California Black Oaks, Quercus kelloggii, grew in a huge swath across the mountain side and were glowing with their rusty-gold autumn leaves.
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There were still a number of sites I wanted to visit in and above the canyon. Unfortunately, time had run out and it was time to return home, however there was one last place that I wished to visit just above the Sacramento Valley floor.
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Table Mountain
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Table Mountain does not look like much of anything this time of year, however in the spring it is one of the best wildflower sites in the northern Sacramento Valley.
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Vernal pools, like this one, become dazzling displays wildflowers. The whole place is absolutely ablaze in color and completely amazing.
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Here a lone Valley Oak, Quercus lobata, grew on the flat tops volcanic mesa.
I did not have any time to hike around, however I did see a huge swath of Calochortus seed pods - most likely C. superbus.
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Another view from Table Mountain - the Sutter Buttes.
In addition to the wildflowers, the sunsets can be spectacular at Table Mountain. On my other laptop I have some photographs of some beautiful Table Mountain sunsets from past years, as well as the waterfalls and other beautiful sights.
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There was just no time for hiking so I drove back down to the town of Oroville. Here is one view looking back toward Table Mountain. The big "O" for Oroville is on the side of the mountain.
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One last view of Table Mountain before returning home.
It was a 2-1/2 hour drive to Table Mountain from the farm. From our home in Sacramento it is only an hour away! :) I certainly will be planning a return trip to Table Mountain this spring.
....and what an excellent trip for me. There was more than enough to see. It also felt great to return to some of my old territory. I'll have to visit the West Branch of the Feather River and Chico Creek too. Aahh! So many great places to visit.
Until next time.....
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Catching up and needing it this morning! Wonderful series of outings Robert - you cover so much ground and give so much information, a little more of which sinks in everytime I come to look :). The Manzanitas are truly fascinating and I agree with David about learning more of their potential value in our gardens. I also find the Californian ferns of more and more interest - our summer here was very dry and the garden is developing more and more shade as it matures: ferns are very much on the agenda for future plantings. The Cirsium also interests me - does it have red flowers? I have an old book written by Thomas Hay in 1938 which refers to Cirsium occidentale var. coulteri: "...a most striking and decorative subject, growing five feet high, stout and straight, clothed throughout - leaves, stems and flower-heads - in soft, white cottony wool, and producing its soft scarlet flowers from the axils of every leaf". What a picture! Ron Ratko kindly sent me seed of this years ago but I didn't grow on the young rosettes well enough to reach flowering. Thank you for some reality on an absurd day.
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Tim,
Cirsium occidentale var. candidissimum is "red", actually a hard to describe reddish-magenta. The flowers and foliage are very ornamental. The few mature plants I saw (the ones that were not dead) the other day had a few very well worn-out flowers - definitely not worth a photograph but enough to identify.
Yes, there is much I wish to address concerning the Genus Arctostaphylos. Of 100 + taxa, I have personally seen only 20% or so. Of those, there are only 10-15 taxa that I am intimately familiar with. Many California species are native to regions much closer to the Pacific Coast - both Southern and Northern California. Many are very localized endemic species. I am of the opinion that there is still much untapped potential within the Genus. From my Sacramento base the coastal bio-regions are now within my reach. I do hope to elaborate on the potential of the Genus in the future. David has certainly touched on a good topic.
This week I hope to visit a population of Arctostaphylos nissenana on Slate Mountain in El Dorado County, California (near the farm).
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Many species of California native plants are highly dependent on fire for seed propagation. Various components in smoke are responsible for enhancing the germination rate of fire dependent species. Artificial smoke products can be purchased. I have used them and I have to admit that they are easy-to-use and more or less effective. I prefer to use the real thing - smoke. I have an inexpensive, low tech smoke chamber that I use to treat my seed pans with smoke. It is effective and, at least for me, easy-to-use.
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I found this large plastic container in a pile of junk along our neighborhood street on junking day. I was free for the taking.
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This is the set up. An old pie tin (free). The plastic hood to go over both the pie tin and the seed pans.
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For smoking, I get a small fire going in the pie tin.
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The let the fire consume about 85-90% of the kindling.
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Then I pile semi-dry leaves on top of the coals and remaining flames. I end up with a smoldering pan of leaves.
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At this time I place pre-watered seed pans and the pie tin of smoldering leaves under the plastic hood.
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I let the seed pans smoke for a hour or so. I know when they are done when the grit on top of the seed pans in noticeable discolored by the creosote in the smoke. I then water the seed pans lightly and place them out unprotected to receive natural stratification and rain/snow water. Depending on the species, germination will start in 7-10 days or in the early spring - approximately February-March.
I am completely satisfied with this method. :)
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I'll have to give it a go with some of the South African and Australian seeds which have yet to germinate!
Which American species respond to it, Robert?
cheers
fermi
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Robert, I once tried using 'Hickory Liquid Smoke' (half in jest) with seed of the Californian 'dicentras' (Ehrendorferia). A few germinated but I can't say it was a great success. Your method is simple and straightforward and I must try it. The pictures you showed earlier of Manzanitas in pots appeal to the nurseryman and gardener alike!
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I'll have to give it a go with some of the South African and Australian seeds which have yet to germinate!
Which American species respond to it, Robert?
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
A considerable number of California species respond well to this treatment. Off the top of my head I can think of Chaenactis artemisiifolia, Salvia carduacea, and most Arctostaphylos species. I get good germination with Chaenactis in 10 days with this treatment. Without treatment I am lucky to get 2-3 seeds to germinate. With Arctostaphylos it is like a miracle. This seed needs cold stratification too, however by spring germination is reasonable good. I also scarify the Arctostaphylos seed with a bonsai bite cutter, just enough to remove part of the hard endocarp, but not to the embryo.
This works well for me and I am very satisfied with the results.
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The pictures you showed earlier of Manzanitas in pots appeal to the nurseryman and gardener alike!
Tim,
It is interesting that you mention this. Currently I am working on understanding the breeding system for the Genus. I believe that there is considerable potential within the Genus. In the past, chance seedlings (both wild and within gardens) were selected and cloned as garden varieties. This worked well, however it only skimmed the surface of the potential within the Genus. Most likely I am incorrect, but it appears that no one has ever done any systematic breeding with Arctostaphylos. Consistent and reliable seed germination is most likely an impediment. The flowers are small and not easy to work with (same with blueberries but this hasn't stopped blueberry breeding). So far I have observed that some species appear to be obligate out-breeders, i.e. they will not self or they do so with difficulty. There also appears to be two (maybe three) phylogentic lines within the Genus, an important consideration when breeding. Breeding for a high degree of resistance to Phytophthora would be helpful. Some of our native endemics, such as Arctostaphylos myrtifolia, are threatened with extinction due to Phytophthora in their native habitat. Just a few considerations. So it appears to me to be "the wide open spaces" with many directions to go with the Genus.
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The Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, were looking exceptional with their bright red berries.
.......
Toyon seedlings - sown 18 Sept and 1st germination 16 October.
Should they be pricked out now or when they go dormant?
cheers
fermi
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Toyon seedlings - sown 18 Sept and 1st germination 16 October.
Should they be pricked out now or when they go dormant?
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
I have good success pricking out Toyon seedlings at this stage, especially if the weather is not too hot. You might want to keep 1-2 seedlings in the seed pan in case something goes wrong. Once they get established in a liner pot, they will grow quickly and will benefit from being moved to the next size pot when ready. By autumn the plants could easily be 30-40 cm tall and be ready to plant out in the garden. Once established in the ground they will need little or no summer irrigation (they are tolerant of some summer irrigation). In their natural habitat they can be found in full sun or part shade. I like to give them a little bit of shade at the farm. Once they are established in the ground and are receiving less irrigation, they will grow very slowly. Older plants can be tidied up by being cut to the ground (they stump sprout after fires in their natural habitat). This is generally not necessary, but it is an option with a very old plant.
Good luck. The seedlings look great. :) They are fairly easy-to-grow, at least here in California - not surprising. ::) I am here at the farm right now. If I have time (have to take my mother to the doctor) I will take a photograph of one of the plants on the property here.
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I am sure there would be a great deal of horticultural interest in the Manzanitas Robert, especially plants that are resistant to Phytopthora and tolerant of more summer-moist climates. They are virtually unknown in cultivation in the UK but with a clear tendency to more Mediterranean-like weather in the south, as a result of climate change, they could become more amenable to cultivation. Ceanothus are so widely grown here that it is surprising that Arctostaphylos have not been trialed more.
Heteromeles arbutifolia looks interesting too; there is a striking picture of it in Nevin Smith's book 'Native Treasures', and he mentions a form 'Davis Gold', but says it has had little horticultural selection. Do you know this book Fermi? http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520244269 (http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520244269)
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Nevin Smith's book 'Native Treasures', Do you know this book Fermi? http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520244269 (http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520244269)
Also available via https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Native-Treasures-Gardening-Plants-California-Phyllis-Faber/0520244265/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478885982&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Native+Treasures+Gardening+With+the+Plants+of+California+Nevin+Smith+%28Author%29 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Native-Treasures-Gardening-Plants-California-Phyllis-Faber/0520244265/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478885982&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Native+Treasures+Gardening+With+the+Plants+of+California+Nevin+Smith+%28Author%29)
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Also available on ABE Books from a British seller, £20.78 included p7p
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I have only tried smoke on some Australian seeds once. The seeds germinated but I don't know whether it was the smoke!
Have to try your technique next time, Robert.
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I have this foolish rush to the head about books every now and again and have a list as long as my arm gleaned from Amazon and http://www.nhbs.com (http://www.nhbs.com)! One I came across which has very good reviews is: 'The Californian Deserts - An Ecological Rediscovery' by Bruce M. Pavlik. I wonder if anyone has this or knows more? Another is 'Little Big Bend' (Trans Picos, Texas) by Ray Morey, which I do have. There is a fine detailed literature on the flora of the USA, another reason why Robert's adventures are so compelling.
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I am sure there would be a great deal of horticultural interest in the Manzanitas Robert, especially plants that are resistant to Phytopthora and tolerant of more summer-moist climates. They are virtually unknown in cultivation in the UK but with a clear tendency to more Mediterranean-like weather in the south, as a result of climate change, they could become more amenable to cultivation. Ceanothus are so widely grown here that it is surprising that Arctostaphylos have not been trialed more.
Heteromeles arbutifolia looks interesting too; there is a striking picture of it in Nevin Smith's book 'Native Treasures', and he mentions a form 'Davis Gold', but says it has had little horticultural selection. Do you know this book Fermi? http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520244269 (http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520244269)
Tim,
Resistance to Phytopthora is literally a one-in-a-million proposition. I mention this because we all need to keep an eye out for such plants. They are out there.
There are so many Arctostaphylos species that are native to the California fog belt. Certainly these would, or could, thrive in the UK. Arctostaphylos columbiana must be grown in the UK? Cold hardy and from a maritime climate. There must be at least 50 taxa of Arctostaphylos native to our fog belt. As I can I hope to visit some of the northern California sites.
It is interesting that you mention the Genus Ceanothus, another fascinating group. This Genus is even semi-neglected here in California. There are some excellent clones, and unfortunately some terrible ones that float around in our local nursery trade. Many of the lesser know species are completely overlooked. The obvious reason is that they do not amend themselves to commercial nursery production. This does not mean that they cannot be excellent garden plants. Many are - I will make a point to share photograph from our garden.
Nevin Smith is well known, and well respected, here in California. I do not grow Heteromeles 'Davis Gold', however it does have nice golden fruit. If I see one around perhaps I can gather some fruit. Who knows a % might come true from seed.
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I have only tried smoke on some Australian seeds once. The seeds germinated but I don't know whether it was the smoke!
Have to try your technique next time, Robert.
Trond,
Yes, this method does work! :)
I missed my chance to get to Slate Mountain this week. It is one site where Arctostaphylos nissenana grows. Hopefully next week I can make the trip. Low snow levels are excepted so I might be looking around in a snow storm. This is why I have all-wheel-drive. :)
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A few photographs from around the farm today.
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Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia - dry farmed i.e. no summertime irrigation. It is about 1 meter tall and grew about 15 cm last year. There is another plant in the garden with berries, however it is semi-covered in honeysuckle. :(
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Micranthes californica awakening from summer dormancy.
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Pellaea mucronata - no irrigation and completely evergreen! It is getting well established now and will most likely put on some good growth this year.
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Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis - this plant receives no summertime irrigation, but goes completely dormant during the summer. With summer watering they will stay evergreen.
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Salvia sonomensis - It seems to thrive on dry conditions. For me it is bliss - the scent of the foliage is divine. I have seen several different color forms in the wild, white, pink, and various shades of lavender-blue.
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Trond,
Yes, this method does work! :)
I missed my chance to get to Slate Mountain this week. It is one site where Arctostaphylos nissenana grows. Hopefully next week I can make the trip. Low snow levels are excepted so I might be looking around in a snow storm. This is why I have all-wheel-drive. :)
Hope you don't get stuck in the snow!
I haven't a 4 wheel drive but use snow socks on the car if necessary. It works fine it the snow cower isn't too thick.
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A few photographs from around the farm today.
Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia - dry farmed i.e. no summertime irrigation. It is about 1 meter tall and grew about 15 cm last year. There is another plant in the garden with berries, however it is semi-covered in honeysuckle. :(
Micranthes californica awakening from summer dormancy.
Pellaea mucronata - no irrigation and completely evergreen! It is getting well established now and will most likely put on some good growth this year.
Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis - this plant receives no summertime irrigation, but goes completely dormant during the summer. With summer watering they will stay evergreen.
Salvia sonomensis - It seems to thrive on dry conditions. For me it is bliss - the scent of the foliage is divine. I have seen several different color forms in the wild, white, pink, and various shades of lavender-blue.
Here everything has gone into dormancy due to the cold weather we have experienced. The last flowers were damaged by unseasonally cold weather. September was very warm, October was average and November has so far been unusually cold.
The Goldback Fern looks nice!
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Tim - Steve Krebs at the Holden Arboretum is breeding for phytoph. resistance in rhododendron for hot steamy places and is having favourable results.
You might be interested in an Arctostaphylos that is growing up against Glendoick House in Glencarse. A damp climate - likely not as wet as here though (actually E. Scotland 1183mm /yr vs Hfx. 1452mm / yr.) - but it was 10-12ft tall with very colourful copper-red bark. I think it was indeed A. columbiana but I could dig through my slides if you'd like confirmation.
john - clear and a chilly 4c.
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Hope you don't get stuck in the snow!
Trond,
I know what you mean! Sometimes having all-wheel-drive can get one stuck even worse than with 2 wheel drive. I had a Toyota 4x4 for 25 years. I always carried a 50 foot wire cable and a long chain with hooks to get out of difficult positions. I did not have a winch, however a come-along worked just as well. I have no plans to use the Subaru as I did the Toyota 4x4! With my Toyota 2x I was always compromised with mud or other difficult road situations that the Subaru can handle easily. Also light snowfall, especially on pavement, will be easy with the Subaru. At times when I have needed to rent an auto I always requested a Subaru Outback because they fit my needs so well. :)
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Robert, you always manage to introduce something new to me each time I read your posts. Ferns are a new interest for us, and I have to second Trond's remarks about the Goldback fern. It has great form. I suppose it would be wishing too much for it to be very cold hardy!
The genus Ceanothus is also of interest to me. I hope to be able to germinate some Ceanothus americanus to trial here. I somehow doubt any of the evergreen Ceanothus would survive here without coming through winters looking like burnt toast. It would be nice to find that some of the blue flowered members of the genus could take Nova Scotian winters without looking like death each spring.
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Gordon,
Generally I find Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis, at lower elevations, so... perhaps it may not be very cold hardy. I just do not know. I think it is a good idea to trial species of unknown cold hardiness. The results could be surprising.
There are a number of Ceanothus species that are both evergreen and cold hardy. Ceanothus cordulatus is a common species at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada. I encounter Ceanothus velutinus at high elevations on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. It too is evergreen. Unfortunately both have white flowers. The foliage of C. cordulatus can be a very beautiful glaucus-gray. Wicked thorns! ....but still worth a try.
High elevation forms of Ceanothus prostratus do have "blue" flowers. C. prostratus is evergreen. Most likely the high elevation forms are cold hardy, as I have seen this species on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. I am growing some forms that have very deep blue flowers. The flowers lose some of their intense color in hot weather, so more selection is necessary to find forms that hold their flower color better in hot weather.
The above are some of the most cold hardy, evergreen species. There are other species that would be worth a try. Ceanothus may have a reputation of being tender to the cold as most of the commercial varieties are from low elevations near, to somewhat near, the California coast. There are cold hardy California species. They are mostly overlooked and little or no effort has been made to find or create good selections of the cold hardy types. Something like Ceanothus parryi looks unassuming in its natural habitat. It flowers are blue and its range extends into fairly high elevations in the coastal mountains (above the snowline). I see no reason why much improved forms could not be found. As far as I am concerned there are still tremendous opportunities to introduce improved forms of many California species.
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I was able to make a short reconnaissance to Slate Mountain today to see Arctostaphylos nissenana. I did not have much time, but enjoyed myself never-the-less. Back to a hectic schedule. I'll report as I can. :)
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I've been going through your last posting Robert - a bit of virtual traveling in the evening is always great :)
I wanted to tell you and forgot that, during a short trip to Vancouver Island this early summer, I encountered Pentagramma triangularis and recognized it thanks to you - upon seeing the curled fronds glistening in the sun, the 'goldback fern' came instantly to my mind! I admired it a lot in your pictures but one has to see it in real to understand the true meaning of its common name.
I've never tried growing ferns from spores but this one is so tempting that I will give it a try.
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Gabriela,
I am very happy to hear that you are enjoying the botanical diary. :)
Autumn in our part of California is a bit like springtime as many species end dormancy and grow all winter into the late spring - early summer. This is true of many of our fern species. Some species such as Polypodium calirhiza are not tolerant of excessive moisture during their summertime dormant rest. Other species such as the Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis, that you mentioned, are very tolerant of summer moisture and will stay evergreen if watered during the summer. They do not seem to grow, they just stay evergreen.
Depending on where you saw Goldback Ferns on Vanouver Island, they undoubtedly could be more cold tolerant than those from mild areas of California. I do see Pentagramma in fairly cold locations in our region. I saw them in the canyon of the North Fork of the Feather River a few weeks ago and this is a somewhat cold region. I am sure that 10 F, -12 C is a common temperature every winter. Extreme lows are much more - in the neighborhood of O F, -18 C, maybe a bit colder.
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SLATE MOUNTAIN
Monday, 14 November 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 73 F, 23 C
Low: 52 F, 11 C
Placerville Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 73 F, 23 C
Low: 43 F, 6 C
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I had a short period of time on Monday to do some field botany. Slate Mountain is a short distance from the farm and is home to a population of El Dorado Manzanita, Arctostaphylos nissenana. The species is known from only 11 sites in California. Most of the sites are in El Dorado County, however at least one site is in neighboring Placer County to the north. There is another disjunct population is in Tuolumne County some distance to the south.
The Slate Mountain site was partly burned over several years ago. It is uncertain to me if this fire was part of the larger King Fire complex or a separate fire. Judging from the regrowth this area did burn at about the same time as the King Fire.
There is a road to the top of Slate Mountain, however I parked at the junction at the base of the mountain (3,527 feet, 1,075 meters) and hiked to the summit along a cut fire line.
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Yerba Santa, Eriodictyon californicum, had sprouted and grown abundantly in the burned areas. The plants were quite vigorous and healthy, many 1 meter tall of more.
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Pseudognaphalium beneolens, a cudweed (native), was another opportunistic species taking advantage of the cleared burn areas.
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There were plenty of invasive species too, such as Horsewwed, Erigeron canadensis. There were plenty of grasses, most likely invasive species, however I could no identify any from the dried remains. Sprouting among the dry grass were many Lupine, Lupinus sp.
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I was very surprised to find the dried remains of a good colony of Delphinium sp. They could have been any of a number of species - too dried up to even give a hint as to their identity.
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As I walked the fire line there was the intact forest to the north, a mixture of Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa, Sugar Pine, Pinus lamberiana, and broad leaf evergreen species such as Mondrone, Arbutus menziesii, and Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis.
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To the south was a forest of large White Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida. The majority of the plants had burned and died in the fire, however a few giants remained.
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Arctostaphylos viscida ssp viscida is an obligate seeder and the thousands of new seedlings were growing throughout the burn area.
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It was only a short distance to the summit of Slate Mountain (3,759 feet, 1,146 meters). There were many fine views. This photograph is to the southwest toward the Sacramento Valley.
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To the east-southeast was a view of the canyon of the South Fork of the American River and the High Peaks in the distance.
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There were many dead White Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp viscida, but no signs of the El Dorado Manzanita, Acrtostaphylos nisssenana.
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Another abundant resprouter from the fire was Bush Poppy, Dendromecon ridgida.
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The Bush Poppies must be putting on a fantastic show in the late spring with their golden yellow "poppies".
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My goal this day was to find El Dorado Manzanita, Arctostaphylos nissenana. This view shows part of the continuing ridgeline of Slate Mountain. The area lives up to its name, as this area consists of exposed slate - prefect habitat for El Dorado Manzanita.
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I spent the bulk of my time wandering and scanning for El Dorado Manzanita. The White Leaf Manzanita growing on the exposed slate are very stunted. Most grew only 30 cm tall, with a few to maybe 60 cm. Unfortunately I was not finding any El Dorado Manzanita.
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For a short time I struggled through a maze of giant White Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida. Many of the plants must have been ancient. They were at least 6 meters tall, maybe a bit more. The giant, polished, and twisted trunks were amazingly beautiful.
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In other places not much of anything grew at all.
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With closer examination, these areas turned out to be the perfect crevice garden. Dudleya cymosa was one of a number of species growing out of the tight crevices in the rock. I will want to return in the spring and see the full spectrum of species growing in these crevices.
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After zig-zagging up and down and around on this mountainside, I worked my way up to the ridge crest. I am certainly not the only person wandering around this mountain. Weather instruments? Most likely.
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At this point I had exhausted most of my time. I had seen thousands of White Leaf Manzanitas, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida, and not one El Dorado Manzanita, Arctostaphylos nissensana.
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I decided to end this outing with some photographs of the nascent inflorescence of Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida.
An upright inflorescence. Notice the appressed bracts that hide the dormant flower buds.
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Other plants had a semi-pendant inflorescence.
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..... As well as the usual pendant nascent inflorescence. Sooner or later most if not all of the inflorescence become pendant. I can't say I have ever seen an upright fruiting cluster.
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At this point I was ready to call it a day, however after hiking back to the Outback I found that I still had a tiny amount of time remaining before I needed to return. There was one last site I could check on that was only a short distance away. As the fishermen say "just one more cast!" I had to go check this site out.
..... And there they were El Dorado Manzanita, Arctostaphylos nissenana.
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Not just a few but a whole hillside of them. This was quite interesting. This site consisted of the same slate formation as I had just visited and was less than a kilometer away. The whole colony of El Dorado Manzanita was surrounded by White Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp viscida. Within the colony there were a few very stunted White Leaf Manzanita. I was rushed as I looked around and did not see any signs of hybridization between the two species. At some point I have more thoughts on this.....
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Part of this site had burned too and there were abundant seedlings.
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Arctostaphylos nissenana is an obligate seeder, they not not have burls. I was very pleased to see them reproducing well.
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Arctostaphylos nissenana is a low spreading species. Most of the plants grew about 25 + or - cm tall and maybe 50 to 90 cm wide. The foliage is the same glaucous-gray as White Leaf Manzanita, however the stem are not glabrous, but have many long hairs. The inflorescence bracts are leaf-like.
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Another semi-close up of this beautiful manzanita.
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Another characteristic that distinguishes this species is its bark. It is gray-brown and somewhat shredding. Most, but not all, Manzanitas species have polished reddish bark.
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A beautiful gnarled trunk.
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Here one can see the same slate rock strata.
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And one last quick view before I needed to leave.
Not bad for a quick outing. I was very pleased.
Until next time......
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Wow! What great outing - and for a couple of minutes there I thought you were in Anne S' ("astragalus") garden!
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Wow! What great outing - and for a couple of minutes there I thought you were in Anne S' ("astragalus") garden!
Maggi,
I think it will be even better in the spring when everything is in bloom - and less than a hour away!
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Maggi,
I think it will be even better in the spring when everything is in bloom - and less than a hour away!
Well that's a happy prospect!!
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Robert, I, too am looking forward to revisiting these sites via your reports next year! The manzanitas are really striking. I remember seeing my first one in the wild, while hiking Mount Daniel on BC's sunshine coast. I am guessing it was Arctostaphylos columbiana. The smooth contorted coppery-brown branches were spellbinding.
Your focus on the genus had me snooping around the web, and I found an article that might be of interest to others: http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/arctostaphylos-for-pacific-northwest-gardens/ (http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/arctostaphylos-for-pacific-northwest-gardens/)
Thank you so much for sharing your treks and experience with us!
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Thank you so much for sharing your treks and experience with us!
Gordon,
From our base in Sacramento it is now much easier to travel to the north coast range. There are a considerable number of Arctostaphylos taxa to see in this region. And I have to admit there are many other species that I am interested in such as Calochortus, Iris, Ceanothus, Erythronium to name a few that can be found in the northern coastal mountains. Right now I am limited to what I can do in a one day journey. Actually not a bad situation. I would rather carefully get to know a region before moving on. I certainly have my hands full right now with a number of projects in El Dorado County, California. Snow Mountain is high on my priority list.
I agree, there is some good information on the Genus Arctostaphylos out there. I found a graduate paper at our public library concerning Arctostaphylos myrtifolia, one of our local endemic species. There was another article on the lineages of Arctostaphylos using the ITS region of the nuclear genome (seems to be a standard procedure). This had some information that may, or may not, be useful if one is interested in breeding Manzanitas. Very fascinating information, however there seemed to be some some information that appeared to be incongruent with field observations. Certainly more study on my part in necessary.
In the end, I hope all of this can translate into beautiful gardens and the inclusion of all of us.
Thank you for your comments!
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Trond,
I know what you mean! Sometimes having all-wheel-drive can get one stuck even worse than with 2 wheel drive. I had a Toyota 4x4 for 25 years. I always carried a 50 foot wire cable and a long chain with hooks to get out of difficult positions. I did not have a winch, however a come-along worked just as well. I have no plans to use the Subaru as I did the Toyota 4x4! With my Toyota 2x I was always compromised with mud or other difficult road situations that the Subaru can handle easily. Also light snowfall, especially on pavement, will be easy with the Subaru. At times when I have needed to rent an auto I always requested a Subaru Outback because they fit my needs so well. :)
Excellent car - we have had one for six years now.
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Ralph,
Up at the farm it seems half the folks have Subaru of some sorts, then this is snow country. :)
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Robert:
Well I can say they do well here in the "wilderness" of the NY metro area.
A fiend of mine calls them the Urban assault vehicle.
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Do you know many fiends?
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Well, there's certainly one fiend who resides in the middle of Manhattan.
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Robert:
Well I can say they do well here in the "wilderness" of the NY metro area.
A fiend of mine calls them the Urban assault vehicle.
.....the Urban assault vehicle. Oh my! :o Does that make El Dorado County, California (maybe Maine, etc. too) a war zone? ;D
I guess the traffic of the U.S.A. holiday this week does create a freeway war zone in our part of California. I will be staying home this week... I dislike the rude and dangerous driving in urban California. No botanical outing this week. :'( :( I look forward to my next outing and will miss getting out. Until the next outing.......
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The manzanitas never ceases to impress!
Subaru is no 9 among sold 4x4 SUVs here. No 1 is Mitsubishi Outlander and no 2 is Toyota Rav4.
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My neighbour has just had to have an engine replacement on his Rav 4 after only 53,000 miles :(
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You don't see or hear a lot about Subaru here in the UK, and what you do hear is largely negative (boy racers in WRX, etc.), but the Outback is superb in my view. Not a volume seller here though.
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I think there are quite a lot of Subarus in the car park of many SRGC events - a case of workhorses with large load-carrying capacity for plants!
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I think there are quite a lot of Subarus in the car park of many SRGC events - a case of workhorses with large load-carrying capacity for plants!
[/quote
And compost and grit and gravel etc etc
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The best car I ever had to get around with was a VW 1300. Never a problem with snow, ice, sand or anything - except the space inside!
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Robert - very many thanks for the seed of Arctostaphylos that arrived a few days ago; I am in your debt. I will copy your method of using 'smoke' to stimulate better germination. This would be a great genus to experiment with, even if it might not prove so easy to grow in our relatively damper summer climate.
These a few photos from a recent walk in 'The Blean', an area of 'ancient' woodland (which means very long managed) near to Canterbury, where we often take the dog for a walk (and quite often get lost taking new paths!). The landscape here is so very different to your experiences in California - there is hardly any that is natural wilderness except in the ways it reverts from human use, or adapts to this, but still a great deal of beauty in different places. I shall try to copy your example and show how this changes through the year - it would be a fascinating exercise both photographically and in getting to know the woods better. There is a good website describing 'The Blean' here: http://www.theblean.co.uk (http://www.theblean.co.uk).
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Tim,
"The Blean" certainly looks like an interesting and beautiful place to hike. There must be more there than many can imagine.
I am glad that the Arctostaphylos seed arrived safely. It could be a very interesting batch of seed.
Today I will return to the site where I gathered the seed. I have an ongoing project at this site and some niggling questions about the Manzanitas that grow there, as well as questions surrounding the interpretation of some molecular-based phylogentic data. As you most certainly know, introgression and hybridization can influence the interpretation of molecular-based phylogentic data, including data based on ITS region(s). There is a hypothesis that Arctostaphylos mewukka is an allopolyploid originating from a cross between A. viscida and A. patula. At this site, all 3 species grow in fairly close proximity to each other. There is considerable evidence that introgression and hybridization is taking place. In addition, Fire has occurred in this area several times in the past 50 years. The disruption cause by fire has certainly influenced pollinators and pollination, as well as the distribution and spread of seed by birds and mammals. This raises questions of the integrity of species boundaries, mostly in the case of fire and other major disruptions. There are other uncertainties I would like to addressed too.
Anyway, the seed could be very unique. While visiting this site I will be checking on all the other plants and will report on my findings.
Until then..... :)
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It was a beautiful clear morning to be out, cold and crisp. I had a few free hours and drove up the mountain toward Peavine Ridge. My goal was to check on the Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos sp.); tag specific plants and record information; then enjoy and survey the other plant species in the area.
When I arrived at the 3,500 foot level (1,067 meters) I was surprised to find snow on the ground. I drove on, winding my way up the mountain. The snow became deeper and deeper. Eventually it became clear that this was not going to work! The site I wished to visit is situated at slightly above 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) and the plants would be buried, to partly buried, in snow. To be honest, I was quite please. 30-50 cm of snow on the ground is a typical snow cover for this time of year at this elevation. We have not seen this for awhile. :) If we have an average winter (temperatures and precipitation) I will not be visiting this site until late March at the earliest when there has been sufficient snow melt.
So on to plan "B" for the day......
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It was easy to stop at Traverse Creek on my way back down the mountain. It was good to make a quick visit. My last visit was in the early spring of 2016. Even though the winter dormant season has started there was still plenty to see. I will be reporting on this short outing soon.
I will have one more short outing next week, then I will be returning to home in Sacramento. From there I have a number of trips planned to the inner coast ranges. This will be very different habitat with many familiar plant species as well as many that do not grow in the Sierra Nevada.
But first Traverse Creek ...... (soon) :) ......
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Robert,
Snow on the ground at 1000m? It is almost like here! (Have to go up to several 100 meters (and a bit inland) to find snow. On the eastern side of the mountains they have a lot of snow even at low altitude.
Looking forward to your next report.
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Robert,
Snow on the ground at 1000m? It is almost like here! (Have to go up to several 100 meters (and a bit inland) to find snow. On the eastern side of the mountains they have a lot of snow even at low altitude.
Looking forward to your next report.
Trond,
It was not that long ago that we could have snow at 425 meters on 1 November. My personal weather records show a definite warming over the last 45 years. Days with snow and snow accumulation have decreased at the farm. 45 years ago there could be snow in Sacramento (not much). This never occurs now.
I have definitely settled in at our Sacramento home. It is an equal distance to the Sierra Nevada as it is to the Coastal Mountains. I plan on taking advantage of this situation. It will be a challenge dividing my time between the two regions. There are many plants of considerable interest to me in the coastal mountains. Good species for us in California and like climates, however some species can lack cold hardiness as one moves closer to the Pacific Coast.
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TRAVERSE CREEK
Friday, 2 December 2016
Placerville Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 54 F, 12 C
Low: 30 F, -1 C
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As stated earlier there was too much snow to be effective on Peavine Ridge so I stopped by Traverse Creek on my way back down the mountain. Traverse Creek is always an interesting place to visit. There is an extremely large diversity of species that grow in this area, and all within a fairly small site. Generally something new comes to my attention when I visit.
From the main staging area, there are a number of trails that take off it several different directions. Each trail leads to an area with a different habitat and different plants.
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The autumn rains have brought many species out of their summer dormancy. The rains have also triggered seed germination of many annual and perennial plants.
The second season of half-way decent precipitation and we have a bumper crop of Delphinium hansenii coming on. I found many older clumps coming into growth as well as numerous new seedlings sprouting. They will likely put on a massive display this spring.
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Frangula californica ssp. tomentella is one of our common chaparral species. Good forms of this evergreen species have very attractive foliage and can look very nice in the garden.
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I hiked north from the main trailhead and shortly crossed one of the tributaries to Traverse Creek. Rosa californica is one of several species that grow in a thicket along this tributary. The bright red rose hips were brilliant against the blue sky. Sadly the photograph of the hips did not turn out. :'(
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Umbellularia californica is an evergreen species seen frequently in the Traverse Creek area. This species is known for its strongly scented foliage.
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As you can see the California Bay trees, Umbellularia californica, are budded and ready to bloom. Depending on the weather, the flower buds will start opening in January or early February. The open flowers create a hauntingly sweet fragrance in the forest. The fragrance is most delightful, however it is often difficult to detect from where the fragrance emanates.
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Much of the Traverse Creek Botanical Area consists of exposed serpentine rock. Quercus durata, one of a number of dwarf oak species native to California, is frequently found in serpentine rock habitats.
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Rhamnus ilicifolia is still another of our the more common chaparral species. This evergreen is unassuming until the fruits turn bright red in the summer and then into the autumn. I have a few planted out in our Sacramento garden and I am quite impressed with its appearance. It takes well to trimming and seems to always look good.
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The Traverse Creek area is the only location where I have seen Quercus garryana var. semota. I checked the few plants that grow at this site very closely. They best fit variety semota, however they did not not match completely. I have always wondered how they ended up at this location as I have yet to see this variety anywhere else in this area. My guess is that they are a surviving relic. Maybe at the end of the last Ice Age they were much more numerous and slowly gave out as the climate warmed and dried. The plants do produce acorns, however I have never found any seedlings.
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A beautiful scene of the Traverse Creek area on a beautiful day.
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Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis coming into growth. The plants were identified from a previous determination. There are a number of Ranunculus species that are native to California that can be very difficult to identify, sometimes even when flowering. This is one of them.
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Drymocallis glandulosa waking from summer dormancy. This is a tough, xeric species topped with yellow flowers in the spring.
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Monardella villosa, Coyote-Mint, is very attractive when it flowers in the spring and is fairly common throughout the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Monardella sheltonii is less common, however I have found it growing here at Traverse Creek too.
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I saw many dried seed pods of Calochortus superbus this day. Calochotus superbus is our most common "Mariposa type" Calochortus species in this part of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. C. albus and C. monophyllus can also be found in the Traverse Creek area. I did not see any dried pods of these species on this day.
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Eriogonum tripodum, looking sleepy and half dormant, is rarely seen in our part of California. There is a strong population growing here at Traverse Creek.
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There is a strong population of Lewisia rediviva at Traverse Creek. Last year was a good blooming season for them and the spring rains encouraged a good crop of new seedlings which I noticed coming back strong this year. More plants to enjoy when they start flowering!
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Our California blooming season is already getting started with Alnus rhombifolia.
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I ended my short hike through a grove of Buckbrush, Ceanothus cuneatus. There were also a few plants of Ceanothus palmeri growing nearby. I do see Ceanothus palmeri occasionally in El Dorado County, but mostly at lower elevations.
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The die-off of Ponderosa Pines, Pinus ponderosa, continues! Once the trees were weaken by the drought the bark beetles have continued to attack them. Our other native conifer species have suffered much less from the drought. I have read several articles lately stating that the tree density is far to high in our California forests and some natural thinning is needed, however it is still difficult to see such beautiful tree dead and dying.
Anyway, this ended my short outing for this day.
Next week I hope to make a brief trip to see the Ione Manzanita, Arctosrtaphylos myrtifolia.
Until then.....
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I am not quite satisfied with the identity of the Quercus garryana var. semota from Traverse Creek.
Pictured are samples of Oracle Oak, Quercus xmorehus from the farm, center. Oracle Oak is a naturally occurring hybrid between Q. kelloggii, California Black Oak, and Q. wislizenii. I have never seen acorns on Oracle Oak.
Quercus wislizenii, Interior Live Oak, with acorn from the farm, left.
Quercus garryana var. semota from Traverse Creek with acorn, right.
The oaks from Traverse Creek seem to be completely evergreen. I have never seen the trees - shrubs without leaves or even appearing semi-evergreen. Quecus garryana is deciduous. Huh! ??? Also, the leaves are not quite right as some of the leaf lobes are spine tipped. The leaves from the oaks at Traverse Creek do have some spreading stellate hairs on their abaxial surface. The cup of the acorn is also partly tubercled. Both are characteristics of Quercus garryana var. semota.
After some reflection, I thought that the Traverse Creek oak could be some strange form of Oracle Oak, Quercus xmorehus, however this approach just does not fit at all. I guess that it is possible that the oaks could be an evergreen form of Q. garryana var. semota. Another possibility is that they could be some sort of hybrid with Quercus chrysolepis. The acorn cups of Q. chrysolepis can have tubercles and the leaf margins can be spin-tipped.
There always seems to be something interesting to see and learn about at Traverse Creek.
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Robert,
I can't help you with the oak issue! The two species and one hybrid of oak that we have here is more than enough for me!
Although a short one, your outing was interesting as always :)
With the moist weather and lack of sun the mild temperature (5 - 10C) doesn't lure out any plants.
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Trond,
Calflora lists about 15 hybrid oaks native to California. Some are not valid names. Tracking down the identity of the Traverse Creek oak is challenging. I did find a reference to Quercus xsubconvexa (Q. durata x garryana). Quercus durata grows abundantly in the Traverse Creek area. Without a botanical description one can only guess - is the tree Q. xsubconvexa or something similar or ? ???
We are having typical wintery-like weather here in Northern California. Gray, overcast skies; cold nights -1C to -2C and about 12C during the day. We are expecting heavy rainfall of subtropical origin in a few days. I'll take the rain, however it would be nice to have lower snow levels with this series of storms.
The garden is more or less sleepy now with the odd flower here and there. Berries, rose hips, silvery foliage, etc. can look good as well as the bark on some trees and shrubs. :)
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Robert, you seem to have quite a temperature range at this time. In our area the plants go dormant in Autumn until early Spring.
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Robert, you seem to have quite a temperature range at this time. In our area the plants go dormant in Autumn until early Spring.
Ian,
Yes, the weather has been quite changeable over the past month or so. Right now a cold front is moving through with somewhat low snow levels - about 900 meters. Tonight it will likely get to -4 C. Wednesday a warm front moves in. The trapped cold air will create conditions for freezing rain. :P This occurs in the mountain/foothill valleys where the cold air is easily trapped. The warm front will bring in subtropical moisture and high snow levels, then a cold front with low snow levels once again. Our weather has just zig-zagged back and forth like this lately.
My wife and I had our wedding anniversary today! :) :) :) I spent most of the day at home with my wife. The weather in Sacramento is just about subtropical. Morea polystachya was in full bloom and many of the early Hoop Petticoat Narsiccus were about open. No protection from the "winter weather". I say "just about subtropical" because we still get enough chilling hours for our peach trees (heirloom types that need a great deal of chilling hours). It will get to about -1C tonight at our Sacramento home.
The cold and snow weather has brought a variety of birds into our Sacramento garden. Oregon Juncos, Hutton's Vireos, and Red-breasted Sapsuckers are some of the new arrivals. Scrub Jays, Crows, and Mockingbirds are year round residents. I am glad that the Crows do not hang out in our garden. They can be pests, however we see them around the neighborhood all of the time. White-breasted Nuthatches are frequent visitors at the farm. I have tried to take some photographs of the birds but they spook easily.
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Happy anniversary, Robert and Jasmin!
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Thank you Maggi! :)
For 11 years Jasmin (no "e") has been my Best Friend and True Love through thick and thin. What a blessing! :)
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Our weeather forecast is for periods of rain, heavy at times for the next week or more. This is good news, as we can use all the rain we can get. Unfortunately, this weeks outing may be cancelled. Right now I have a very fixed schedule, so if it is raining hard on the planned outing day I will have to "punt" (American Football). :)
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Between rain showers I was able to make a short visit to the vicinity of Ione, California. The area around Ione is habitat to a local endemic Manzanita species, Arctostaphylos myrtlifolia, the Ione Manzanita.
The photograph pictures the landscape in the vicinity of Ione to east and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I will be reporting on this outings soon.
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Robert:
I'd rather not comment on everyone of your posts.
I will say that for me they are wonderful.
A view or the part of the US I barely know. Keep the Journey going and hope you had a memorable anniversary and are looking forward to the holiday season.
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Robert:
I'd rather not comment on everyone of your posts.
Arnold,
This is never a problem! :)
I will say that for me they are wonderful.
A view or the part of the US I barely know. Keep the Journey going and hope you had a memorable anniversary and are looking forward to the holiday season.
I will say it is important to me to know that my efforts are appreciated. Thank you. :) 8)
I do enjoy my work and I do put considerable effort into creating something that is interesting and informative for everyone.
Things are looking up! I will be home in less than a week and will be enjoying the holiday season at home with my wife. :)
The outing today was a bit short, however I was able to fit some more pieces into the Arctostaphylos puzzle. This does raise even more questions for me, and creates very fascinating issues that I will enjoy resolving.
There are also less technical matters that I enjoy reporting on. Today, even with, more or less, winter-like weather I found much to report on - even with our common "everyday" species.
Soon I will be traveling to the Northern California Coastal Ranges. Spring arrives here first! .....at least at the low elevations at the southern end of the northern ranges. So, yes, my journeys will continue... and in the Sierra Nevada too.
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I do enjoy my work and I do put considerable effort into creating something that is interesting and informative for everyone.....Soon I will be traveling to the Northern California Coastal Ranges. Spring arrives here first! .....at least at the low elevations at the southern end of the northern ranges. So, yes, my journeys will continue... and in the Sierra Nevada too.
Robert,
We'll be looking forwards to your continuing adventures!
cheers
fermi
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Getting on for 20 thousand people have already read these pages, Robert, so I think you can be sure that you are doing well with your information and reports!
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IONE FORMATION
Ione, California
9 December 2016
Part I
Placerville Weather
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 57 F, 14 C
Low:50 F, 10 C
24 Hour precipitation: .30 in. , 7.62 mm
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I left the farm in the morning on a gray, drizzly, overcast day. My objective was to revisit several sites where Arctostaphylos myrtlifolia, Ione Manzanita, grows on a geological feature called the Ione Formation. The Ione Formation is a 200 mile long band located at the transition zone between the Sacramento Valley Plain and the base of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. This formation dates back to the middle Eocene when a tropical or subtropical climate created conditions leading to considerable weathering of the soil and rock. Today, the formation is known for its abundant Kaolintic clay which is mined at several sites long its 200 mile length. Near the town of Ione, California where the formation surfaces over a considerable area in western Amador County and a small section of northwestern Calaveras County, there are large tracts of highly acidic, nutrient poor sandy to clay type soils that are ideal for a number of endemic species. Near the town of Ione there are 3 local endemic species; Arctostaphylos myrtlifolia, the Ione Manzanita; and two forms of the Irish Hill Buckwheat, Eriogonum apricum var. apricum and var. prostratum. All 3 taxa are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
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My first stop was near the transition zone between the Ione Formation to the east and the Sacramento Valley Plain to the west, elevation 234 feet (71 meters). Here the habitat abruptly changes from open grassland to oak woodland. The dominant oak in this area is Interior Live Oak, Quercus wisilzenii, however there are also a few Valley Oak, Quercus lobata, and Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii.
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At this site Common Manzanita, Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita grows abundantly.
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Of the widespread Manzanita species in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada it is generally the first to bloom. 9 December seems a bit early in the season, however where it and White-leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida co-mingle, Common Manzanita is almost always the first to bloom.
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The bright red berries of Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, brighten the forest setting this time of year. By 11:00 A.M. the temperature had hit 63 F, 17 C. With this sort of wet and warm "winter" ??? weather the berries will quickly rot or hopefully get eaten by birds.
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I like to keep my eyes open for anything different. Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii, is a common and widespread species throughout the Sierra Nevada Foothills. The leaves on this specimen were quite unique. Generally the lobes of Blue Oak are rounded and not pointed at the end. This leaf structure is rare, but I have observed it before. I do not know if it represents a hybrid of some sort, a recessive trait, or something else. Whatever the case it is quite interesting and attractive.
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Sanicula crassicaulis is a common perennial herb the comes into growth when the autumn/winter rains return.
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The rains have also brought the fungi into growth and fruiting.
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I know next to nothing about our fungi, however they can be very interesting in shape and coloration.
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From the first site I moved on into an area of chaparral within the Ione Formation, 304 feet (93 meters). Here Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, grew abundantly.
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This is, of coarse, the habitat of Ione Manzantita, Acrtostaphylos myrtlifolia. In this photograph Interior Live Oak, Quercus wisilzenii, can be seen growing in the background. In front of it is a band of White-leaf Manzanita, Acrtostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida. In the foreground, in front of the White-leaf Manzanita is Ione Manzanita.
Dead-center of the Ione Manzanita is a very interesting plant. After careful examination it appears to be an Arctostaphylos myrtifolia hybrid of sorts. Hybrids between A. viscida and myrtifolia have been reported. My guess is that it is a A. manzanita x myrtifolia hybrid. Both species bloom at the same time and many of the features of this plant suggest a hybrid of this type. I will continue to give this one thought.
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A closer view of Arctostaphylos myrtifolia.
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.....and another close view. Many of the plants of this species were coming into bloom. Ione Manzanita is a very compact low growing species. I have rarely seen a plant over 60cm tall. Most of the time they grow much lower. The small leaves are very attractive as well as the young stems that are covered with long glandular hairs.
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Within the populations I saw this day the bark on older trunks was a ghostly glaucus-gray. In other populations plants can be found with red bark.
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The White-leaf Manzanitas, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida, within the Ione Formation are extremely attractive. Here they tend to grow very small, tight, and compact, undoubtedly due to the poor soil conditions, however I would not mind trying some from seed to be sure. Compact plants like this would be exceptional ornamentals for the garden.
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This is a view of Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida growing next to A. myrtifolia - an attractive combination.
This ended my time at the Ione Formation. From here I would move on to confirm a very interesting find.
to be continued...............
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Robert,
We'll be looking forwards to your continuing adventures!
cheers
fermi
Thanks Fermi! :) 8)
Getting on for 20 thousand people have already read these pages, Robert, so I think you can be sure that you are doing well with your information and reports!
20 thousand ??? I guess that is a lot. ;) ;D
Seriously, thank you for the compliment. :)
As you know I enjoy doing this and am very pleased that I am making something good of it. Within the natural world one can only scratch the surface of its secrets. There is plenty to keep me fascinated many life times. :)
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Robert,
Some of the 20k followers may be people like registered several times!
Another nice outing. It is interesting to see the flora of the acidic soil. We have plenty of that kind of soil here but the flora is meager.
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Robert, it is good to read your forays into the wild. We only have two Arctostaphylos species here, A. alpina (an un-common upland plant) and A. uva-ursi. Both these are prostrate shrubs.
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PART II
Peavine Ridge
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Over the last few days, the weather had been very mild with a considerable amount of rain, even at the higher elevations. The odds were in my favor that much of the snow that prevented me from reaching Peavine Ridge the previous week would have melted. This could be my chance to survey the Arctostaphylos species along the top of Peavine Ridge before a long lasting snowfall occurred. So off I went toward Peavine Ridge hoping I could get some productive work done.
When I arrived at the top of the ridge I found that my assumptions were correct, not only was there considerably less snow, but it was not raining either.
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When I arrived at the first site, 5,184 feet (1,580 meters) there was still some snow on the ground, as well as a thick drizzly fog as the cloud deck collided with the ridgetop. It was a balmy 46 F, 7.5 C.
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It may have been drizzly, but I was still able to survey the plants comfortably and take photographs.
Part of this site burned in the Cleveland Fire, back in the 1980's. The adjacent area did not burn and is forested with mature Jeffrey Pine with an understory of Acrtostaphylos and other shrubby species. This site is quite unique.
Pictured is the area that burned during the Cleveland fire. Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp mewukka is the dominant shrubby species. What is extremely interesting is that there are also plants of Acrtostaphylos viscida ssp viscida scattered throughout. With reasonably good weather I was able to plot a number of key plants within this stand. Some of the plants appear to exhibit evidence of introgression and/or hybridization. This I wish to study further.
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Here is a beautiful example of Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka from this site.
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Also growing at this site is Arctostaphylos patula. Adding this species to the mix creates a very interesting situation.
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An example of Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida also from the same site.
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Only approximately 5% of the Manzanita population at this site consisted of Arctostaphylos viscida ssp viscida.
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As I stated in an earlier post, it has been hypothesized that Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka is an allotetraploid originally derived from a cross of A. patula and A. viscida. The prevailing thought is that this could not be possible as the two species do not grow in the same habitats. This is generally true, however at this site all 3 species are growing together often within a meter of each other or less.
The photograph above shows Arctostaphylos patula and A. mewukka ssp. mewukka growing directly next to each other. Within a meter or two was a plant of A. viscida ssp. viscida.
Another interesting fact is that the latest molecular genetic studies have suggested that the Genus Arctostaphylos can be divided into two monophyletic clades. Arctostaphylos mewukka and patula belonging to one clade, A. viscida to another. If indeed Arctostaphylos mewukka orginated from a cross of A. patula and A. viscida then this presents some serious challenges to the current methodology and thought of this classification.
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Rodents are thought to be the primary agent responsible for the dispersal of Arctostaphylos seed. This may or may not be true, however other mammals are clearly responsible for a much wider seed dispersal system. Pictured is bear scat loaded with Acrtostaphylos berries and seed. Four years ago I also posted photographs of Acrtostaphylos plants growing from an old pile of droppings - deer or coyote.
The distribution of Arctostaphylos species along the east-west axis on the top of Peavine Ridge, as well as the north-south elevation axis is interesting. Clearly Arctostaphylos seed is being transported both up and down the ridge as well as east-west along the ridgeline. There is evidence from several outings I made earlier this year in this area that there is some sort of gradation occurring among the Arctostaphylos species. It is possible that this represents a degree of introgression and hybridization and a breakdown of species boundaries or perhaps completely different factors. This is something that needs further investigation.
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I did not spend all of my time checking on Manzanitas. Ceanothus cordulatus is one of 3 Ceanothus species I have found growing on Peavine Ridge. Ceanothus too is know for its natural hybrids, however I have never noticed any in this area.
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At this site Aspidotis densa is seen in sunny areas among the Manzanitas. The plants from this area must be tough as they endure both heat and cold, freezing and thawing, as well as drought and considerable amounts of time under snow.
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I was very please to find Pyrola picta growing under the mature Jeffrey Pines, Pinus jeffreyi. This is the first time I have spotted this species growing at this site. Luckily they were not buried by snow! The flowers of this species do not amount to much, however I enjoy the veining and coloration of foliage.
In addition, I located more colonies of Lilium washingtonianum and Fritillaria micrantha. This is something good for me to look forward to next spring/summer.
I was very please to get back to this site on Peavine Ridge before a more permanent snowfall occurred. Now I will start planning my next outing - most likely to the Coastal Mountains.
Until then.....
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Robert,
Some of the 20k followers may be people like registered several times!
Another nice outing. It is interesting to see the flora of the acidic soil. We have plenty of that kind of soil here but the flora is meager.
Trond,
Yes, I have noticed your comments about acidic soils in Norway, however I am puzzled by the lack of diversity in species. Is this true in other northern areas such as Alaska, Siberia, or even Finland? I just do not know! I have read about what happened to the flora in Iceland or even the diversity of grasses in California.
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Robert, it is good to read your forays into the wild. We only have two Arctostaphylos species here, A. alpina (an un-common upland plant) and A. uva-ursi. Both these are prostrate shrubs.
Ian,
Arctous alpina or Arctostaphylos alpina grows in the North Cascade Mountains on the Washington - British Columbia border. Many years ago I hiked in the mountains in this area, however I never remember seeing it.
I enjoy your outings too. Each outing paints a better picture in my mind.
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Trond,
Yes, I have noticed your comments about acidic soils in Norway, however I am puzzled by the lack of diversity in species. Is this true in other northern areas such as Alaska, Siberia, or even Finland? I just do not know! I have read about what happened to the flora in Iceland or even the diversity of grasses in California.
Robert,
The last ice age removed most of the flora of huge parts of Europe, and possibly almost every plant from Norway. When the plants later spread from south to north they couldn't easily cross the deep trench (Norskerenna - Norwegian trench) separating Norway from Denmark (Skagerrak and the North Sea are rather shallow and were partly dry during this period and some time afterwards when the ice started to melt). In east a lake and later the Baltic sea was a hindrance Also the huge forests in east made an effective barrier. Only in northeast the plants had relatively easy access and some very rare plants (in Norway) grow only in the north. About 1/2 of the species in Norway today have arrived with the help of people (intended or not) especially with the development of agriculture.
10,000 years isn't enough time for new species to evolve!
Here are 3 species which doesn't grow in the south although they could possibly have survived in the mountains.
Silene furcata
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Polemonium boreale
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Braya purpurascens
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Robert, you could secure a lot of seeds out of that bear scat!
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Trond,
Perhaps there are fewer species in Norway (than California), however there are certainly some lovely species. I especially liked Polemonium boreale and Silene furcata. I have not tried all of our California native Polemonium species, but P. californicum has proved reasonably easy to please in the garden. The slugs do not seem to bother this species (at least our slugs). Of coarse, we have many Polemoniaceae here in California, both annual and perennial. The annual, Collomia grandiflora, is especially nice. I was fortunate and found that I had saved a few seeds from my F1 plants and have them planted out. The photograph I posted this past spring did not look so good. Bummer! It is quite colorful and easy to please in our garden. I definitely want to keep this one going.
I know that you are very busy, however when you get a chance I would like to know if there are any relic species that survived the Ice age(s) in Norway? From your last response I take it that Norway was more or less completely covered with glaciers during the Ice Age. We had our glaciers during the last Ice Age (mostly in the mountains), but there was plenty of nearby land that was ice free. There appears to be a fair number of relic species in California too.
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My return to my Sacramento home has been delayed by one day, however I will be home this evening. :)
I have had plenty of time to research my next outing to the inner coastal mountains of California. One stop will be to the Cedar Roughs Wilderness area. The site I plan to visit has much exposed serpentine rock, so there is a good likelihood that there will be very interesting species to find in this area. December is too early to see blooming plants, however it will be good to scout the area for later visits.
The Cold Canyon Reserve is also nearby so it will be easy to check this site too.
Until then....
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. . . . .
I know that you are very busy, however when you get a chance I would like to know if there are any relic species that survived the Ice age(s) in Norway? From your last response I take it that Norway was more or less completely covered with glaciers during the Ice Age. We had our glaciers during the last Ice Age (mostly in the mountains), but there was plenty of nearby land that was ice free. There appears to be a fair number of relic species in California too.
Regarding relic species (of plants) that survived the last Ice age here in Norway this has been an issue ever since it was accepted that it had been a big glaciation. Some argued that a few species had survived on nunataks other said this was impossible. Now I think most botanists agree that no plants survived inland in what is now Norway but maybe on islands/land to the southwest (the North sea continent that is named Doggerland) or/and in north east, pars of Russia, that was free of ice during that time.
A few examples are Artemisia norvegica, Oxytropis deflexa ssp norvegica, Oxytropis campestris ssp campestris and ssp sordida and ssp scotica (the last one you also find in Scotland). It is very few endemisms here and most, if not all are younger than 10000 years.
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Trond,
Very interesting information. I have often wondered how plants migrated up and down the Sierra Nevada during the Ice Age. Of coarse, maybe Ice Ages is a better term as there were periods of glaciation broken by abrupt, short warm periods. This may have created conditions idea for the relative rapid evolution of species and may be partly responsible for the vast diversity of species in California.
Tomorrow, Wednesday I will be traveling to the Cedar Roughs Wilderness and Cold Canyon in the southern portion of the northern inner coastal mountains. I very much look forward to exploring some new territory. A report will follow as soon as possible.
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I had a very successful outing to the inner coastal mountains of Northern California yesterday. I will be reporting on this outing soon. :)
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POPE CREEK
and
KNOXVILLE STATE WILDLIFE AREA
Part I
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High:58 F, 14.5 C
Low:38 F, 4 C
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Wednesday I traveled to the southern portion of the northern inner coastal mountains of Northern California. Although I have traveled through this area in the past, I had never stopped to explored the area. This was completely new territory for me and turned out to be quite the adventure and learning experience.
My first goal was to explore the Cedar Roughs Wilderness Area. This wilderness area is located west of Lake Berryessa and consists partly of a long north-south running serpentine ridge. Many interesting plant species are generally associated with serpentine rock formations in California, so I was quite eager to find and explore this area.
This wilderness area is surprisingly remote considering where it is located in California. After a bit of trial and error, I eventually found the trailhead leading into the wilderness. The "mountains", more like large hills, in this region are quite low. The starting elevation at the trailhead was only 530 feet, 162 meters.
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Common Manzanita is indeed very common in this area. It is also one of the first species to bloom. As you can see it is the first day of winter and some of the plants were starting to bloom.
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Another Manzanita was the Coastal Whiteleaf Manzanita, Acrtostaphylos viscida ssp. pulchella. This species is generally associated with serpentine rock and there was plenty in this area where I had stopped.
This subspecies of Whiteleaf Manzanita has a different "look" from our Whiteleaf Manzanita in the Northern Sierra Nevada Foothills and Mountains. Generally this subspecies can be identified by its rough, glandular-sticky fruit. I looked all over for fruit but did not find any. Fortunately, this subspecies can also be identified by its densely glandular-hairy panicles.
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Quercus berberidifolia, a "dwarf" oak species, was seen scattered throughout this area. This species is somewhat similar to another dwarf oak, Quercus dumosa. The acorns of Q. berberidifolia are very different from those of Q. dumosa making it easy to distinguish between the two species.
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At one spot there were many dried seed pods of a Calochortus species. It was impossible to determine the species, however given the serpentine in the area they were most likely Calochortus superbus. The stand must me quite lovely when they are in bloom. I look forward to returning when they bloom in the spring. I actually hope they turn out to be Calochortus vestae which also grows in this area.
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Pope Creek was located very close to the trailhead. The trail immediately crosses Pope Creek and proceeds up the hills on the other side of the creek. Our rainfall season has been fairly productive so far this season and Pope Creek was running high and cold. I did not wish to get wet or cold so I did not attempt to cross the creek. Fortunately, there was a fair amount of area to explore on this side of the creek.
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I found a fair number of Iris clumps. I could not determine them to species either. They were Iris fernaldii or I. macrosiphon. It will be easy to determine the species come spring.
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I found a rocky cliff face with many plant species growing in the rock cervices. Dudleya cymosa and Pellaea andromedifolia can be seen in this photograph.
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Phacelia imbricata was another species that enjoyed this rock face.
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A very interesting rock formation. I did not climb onto it as it was on private property.
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Another photograph of Dudleya cymosa.
Many, but not all, of the woody trees and shrubs in this area were very familiar as they also grow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There were many annual species that were sprouting that I could not identify. There were also many bulbous species emerging that could not be identified at this time either. There is plenty of motivation to return several times in the spring.
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Given that I could not cross Pope Creek, I soon ran out of public land on the north side of the creek to explore. I returned to the Outback and drove down stream to where Pope Creek enters Lake Berryessa. At this point I could have gone to Cold Canyon as planned, however the parking area seemed crowded when I drove past the area earlier in the morning. At this point I quickly decided to explore the Knoxville State Wildlife Area, a large tract of public land.
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Going to the Knoxville Wildlife Area turned out to be an excellent choice. Much of the area is very remote and there were many places to hike and explore.
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At the first place where I stopped, elevation 660 feet (201 meters), the habitat was open oak savannah where I saw many bulbous species emerging from the ground, such as this Dichelostemma capitatum.
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A seasonal creek drained the area and where there was moisture I found stands of Cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium.
To be continued.......
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Interesting things to find even in winter. (Doesn't look like winter though - sunny and green :) )
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Interesting things to find even in winter. (Doesn't look like winter though - sunny and green :) )
Trond,
It was like spring - 18 C! perhaps a bit more. Spring comes to this region very early. The Sacramento valley to the east was 3.5 C cooler.
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POPE CREEK
and
KNOXVILLE STATE WILDLIFE AREA
Part II
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At the first stop at the Knoxville Wildlife Area I hiked up a drainage toward the western ridge crest. Along the way I spotted this very unusual oak. I some ways it was like a Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia, however there were major differences.
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Among the differences was the corky, rough bark. The leaf shape and form was also unusual for a Coast Live Oak. In the areas of open savannah it was easy to spot unusual oaks from a considerable distance. Oak hybrids are reported from this region, however I did not see the "right" mixture of oak species to account for the "hybrids" ? I noticed. A few trees looked to be hybrids with California Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii, however I did not see one Black Oak all day. All of this is something for me to ponder!
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Eventually I arrived at the top of the ridge. From here there were some great vistas of the surrounding countryside. This is a view down a valley to the northern end of Lake Berryessa.
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The trail branched at the top of the ridge. Two trail branches traveled the top of the ridge in each direction. Another branch lead down into this beautiful valley. From this vantage point I could see that there were many different habitats to explore in this area. Rather than explore one of the trails I actually decided to return to the Outback and explore another part of the Wildlife Area. ??? ;D
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I did take a different route back to the Outback and came across this view of Mount Saint Helena poking over the distance ridge (the mountain that is more or less right-center in this photograph). The Mount Saint Helena area would be a interesting area for me to explore at some future date. There are a number of endemic species known to this area, including Erythronium helenae.
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What I wanted to do was find a trail that would lead up onto Blue Ridge (pictured) to the east. This ridge drops steeply on its eastern side down to the Capay and Sacramento Valleys. My intuition prompted me to see if I could find a way to explore the chaparral and rocky cliffs near the crest of the ridge. Maybe there would be interesting plants to find in this area.
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Near the northern end of the Wildlife Area I found the perfect trail that led up a small valley and drainage toward Blue Ridge. The bottom of the drainage was studded with Valley Oak, Quercus lobata, while Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii, inhabited the shallow, rocky soils on the flanks of the drainage.
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In places there is evidence of considerable moisture and rainfall during the cool rainy season. In these areas the trees are covered with "moss". I think this is a Usnea species, less likely a Evernia species. Maybe someone can help me out with this one?
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With adequate rainfall and relatively warm weather many of the perennial species are advanced in growth, such as this Sanicula crassicualis.
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Sisyrinchium bellum was well into growth too.
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Along this trail I found a good diversity of plant species.
Cynoglossum grande coming into growth (pictured).
There were also the dried remains Wyethia species in this area.
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A Ranunculus species that will need to be identified when it is flowering early in the spring.
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Western Redbud, Cercis occidentalis, grew abundantly along the creek drainage. The dried seed pods lingering well into the winter.
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I saw two subspecies of Frangula californica along this trail. Subspecies crassifolia was the most abundant, however there were a few plants of subspecies californica (pictured). The leaf tip of subspecies crassifolia is obtuse and the stems and abaxial leaf surfaces are tomentose. With subspecies californica the leaf blades are more or less green.
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Interesting were the upright forms of Acrtostaphylos manzanita. Subspecies elegans is reported from this area and has an upright rather than a rounded growth habit. The fruit of subspecies elegans is minutely glandular-hairy making it easy to distinguish from the other subspecies of Acrtostaphylos manzanita - if one can find the fruit! Unfortunately I could not find any old fruit on the plants or on the ground near the base of the plants, so positive identification was impossible.
To be continued......
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POPE CREEK
and
KNOXVILLE STATE WILDLIFE AREA
Part III
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Common Manzanita, Acrtostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita, is an early bloomer. As I continued to hike up the trail I came across many in bloom. Generally the flowers of this species are white, maybe sometimes with a hint of pink. I did find one plant with clear pink flowers. Late in the day in the shadows the lighting was poor, so my attempt to photograph this plant did not work out.
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There are many species of Ceanothus that inhabit the coastal mountains of California, many of which are different from those that are found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Foothills. Along this trail I found Ceanothus oliganthus. I some ways it resembles C. integerrimus, Deer Brush, a very common species in the Sierra Nevada. This time of year Ceanothus oliganthus can be identified by its deep green adaxial leave surface and the distinct hairs on the veins of the abaxial leaf surface.
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Another Ceanothus species seen along the trail was Ceanothus incanus. The twigs of this species are stiff and short often coming to a short spiny point. Like Ceanothus cordulatus in the Sierra Nevada, it is not a species one wants to hike through!
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Lepechinia calycina grew mixed with other species in the adjacent chaparral. The plants had clearly lost all of their foliage during the late summer / autumn season and were now leafing out again. Generally I think of this species as being evergreen.
This is a pleasant plant to encounter as the foliage has a very strong and agreeable scent.
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The dwarf oak, Quercus berberidifolia, grew in the chaparral on the surrounding hills.
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Near the creek there were thickets of Rosa californica. This time of year the red rose hips can be very attractive, however by this time they had all been eaten by the wildlife.
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Pellaea andromedifolia was the dominant Cliff-Brake species in this area. I rarely encounter this species in the Sierra Nevada, Pellaea mucronata being the dominant species in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
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Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, is a common plant found throughout California foothill chaparral plant communities. The bright red berries are always a delight to see during the autumn and winter seasons. At some point the birds and other wildlife will eat the berries.
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Late in the day Blue Ridge was still bathed in the light of the setting sun. I was less than a mile from the base of the ridge, however 21 December is the shortest day of the year and darkness would arrive quickly. It was time to return to the Outback and drive home.
Although everything did not turn out as planned this was an excellent reconnaissance outing. I have some good sites to return to throughout the spring and summer. I would like to visit the Cedar Roughs Wilderness Area early in the spring, however high water in Pope Creek could be an obstacle. Maybe I will buy a pair of fishing waders so I can stay warm and dry while fording the creek.
Next week the plan is to visit the eastern portion of the Cache Creek Wilderness. This area is located in the northern inner coastal mountains between Snow Mountain to the north and the Lake Berryessa region to the south. After that I will be returning to the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
Until then........ :)
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A delight to have this report from the shortest day to enjoy today, Robert - merry Christmas to you!
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A delight to have this report from the shortest day to enjoy today, Robert - merry Christmas to you!
Maggi,
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and may Spirit bless everyone this new year!
We had many blessings today. ??? Our refrigerator died today. What a blessing we discovered the problem before the house burned down! It is also cold during the day and frosty at night so our food will stay good until tomorrow and we get a new refrigerator. We enjoyed a delightful neighborhood holiday party two days ago and feasted on Salmon today. We enjoyed the exchange of gifts with our Native American friends this morning. I hope everyone had an equally blessed and delightful day! :) :) :)
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Hi Robert,
hope you have got a new refrigerator!
We lost all power yesterday due to the gale "Urd" that hit us early in the evening. Got the electricity back this morning. No serious damage around here as far as I know, but I have not been out yet.
Nice outing you had! But why do you prefer to follow a path when the wood looks so open? Seems spring is there already! Here we still have 2 months of winter left.
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Trond,
Things have been hectic. I am sure it is hectic for many around the holidays season. Having remarked about this, I managed to get to the Post Office early on the Tuesday before Christmas. No lines! ;) :)
Yes, we bought a new refrigerator, however it will not be delivered until Thursday. At least the weather is cool both day and night (-1 night, 9 C day). We bought a block of ice and this will be enough to keep our food cold and fresh. The automatic defrost element did not turn off and started to melt the plastic in the refrigerator! :o The whole thing stinks! :P and the old refrigerator is now in the driveway ready to go to recycling. At least the house did not burn down! :)
Yes, spring comes very early to this part of California. This week's outing will be to the Cache Creek area to the north. Here the weather is much cooler during the winter. Wednesday looks like the best day this week.
One reason I traveled on the trail was that the surrounding hillsides were covered with dense chaparral. The trail up the valley was very convenient and took me in the direction I wanted to travel. Another consideration is Poison Oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum. I is dormant at this time of year. Extra caution is required while hiking, especially off a trail and being vigilant for Poison Oak slows progress. I did stray off the trail a number of times to investigated sites that looked interesting.
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Yesterday I had a very productive day exploring the Cache Creek region of the inner coastal mountains of Northern California.
I spent the first part of the day exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains near Cache Creek, Yolo County, California.
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The last part of the day of the day was spent exploring the hills near the North Fork of Cache Creek in Lake County, California.
As usual, I will be reporting on this outing soon. :)
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Robert,
Glad your house didn't catch fire!
Chaparral and poison oak - I do understand why you prefer the paths :)
When I was a kid we didn't have electricity at our summer house (which at that time actually was a boat house) and therefore we used an old fashioned icebox. Once a week we had to take the boat to the city and buy a big block of ice. I still remember my father and uncle working hard with the heavy block. They used a big ice tong to lift it.
The Cache Creek region looks great!
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Trond,
The Cache Creek area was indeed a fascinating region to explore. Much of the area I had traveled past when visiting my friends ranch in Mendocino County, California, however I had never stopped to look around. The wilderness area is fairly large. I am sure that I could spend a lifetime and more exploring the area. It is winter and I still found many interesting plants that I will want to see in bloom come spring. A major bonus is that this area is not that far from our Sacramento home.
Thank you for sharing your memories of father and uncle working with the ice blocks. Were the ice blocks sawed from lake ice and stored in a cave with straw to keep the blocks frozen all summer? or something similar? Nobody does it that way any more!
We have our new refrigerator now. :)
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Trond,
. . . . . .
Were the ice blocks sawed from lake ice and stored in a cave with straw to keep the blocks frozen all summer? or something similar? Nobody does it that way any more!
We have our new refrigerator now. :)
Robert,
The ice was cut from frozen lakes and stored in big ice houses isolated with straw and sawdust during summer. In 1890 until WW1 Norway was the biggest ice exporter in the world. The trade diminished during the wars (and the ice machine was also invented) but the trade went on until about 1960. An ice cube was 2 x 2 x 2ft. A major place for the trade was Kragerø where we have our summer house. The ice trade was also very important for the shipping companies :)
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isdrift#/media/File:Norway_ice_trade.jpg
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Trond,
The ice block photographs were very interesting. I can see how the ice trade must have been important to shipping companies, especially long distant sea shipments of perishable products. As I vaguely remember ice was cut in a similar way in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and shipped to the Sacramento Valley and elsewhere by the railroads. As I remember San Francisco and its ports were an important destination.
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CACHE CREEK
and
THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
Part I
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
Sacramento Weather
Weather: Clear
Temperature, High:55 F, 13 C
Low:32 F, 0 C
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On Wednesday I traveled to Cache Creek and the Blue Ridge Mountains located near the southern end of the inner coastal mountains of Northern California. The region I wished to explore was located just to the north of the area I had visited the previous week. The route I traveled took me northward up the Capay Valley. The photograph is of the eastern slope of Blue Ridge on the west side of Capay Valley. Last week I had hiked very near the opposite side of this ridge.
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At the north end of Capay Valley, Cache Creek cuts through the Blue Ridge Mountains creating a roughed steep gorge. Here the coastal mountains start to gain elevations as one travels northward. The mountains are also much more extensive in an east-west direction with many convoluted canyons and ridges.
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My first stop was along Cache Creek where Fiske Creek enters Cache Creek. The temperature at 9:00 a.m. was still a bit chilly at 31 F, -.5 C. Here spring arrives later in the season as the marine air from the Pacific Ocean has a greater distance to travel before arrive here. Higher altitude also contributes to the cooler temperatures during the winter months.
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I parked the Outback on a bluff overlooking Cache Creek, elevation 594 feet (181 meters), and hiked the short distance down to Cache Creek, elevation 568 feet (173 meters) and crossed a very compromised cement bridge.
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From here I hiked a short distance up Fiske Creek and then started up the northwestern ridge of the Fiske Creek drainage. Here the slopes were forested with oaks and California Gray Pine, Pinus sabiniana. Most of the oaks were Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii, however there were also California Black Oaks, Quercus kelloggii, some with a few leaves still hanging on their twigs.
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I found many ferns growing in the shaded north facing draws. Adiantum jordonii was seen frequently.
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Adiantum jordonii is a very pretty little Maidenhair Fern. I have found it a bit challenging to cultivate in the garden, however I have managed to keep a few alive. Providing favorable conditions during its summer dormancy has been my challenge.
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Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis, was seen frequently both on this outing as well as last weeks outing. Here the plants exhibited considerable genetic variation with some plants approaching the appearance of Pentagramma pallida, the Silverback Fern.
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The ghostly white trunks and branches of California Buckeye, Aesculus californica, stood out in the landscape.
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Cerocarpus betuloides is a common species of the lower chaparral and oak woodland plant communities both in the coastal mountains as well as the Sierra Nevada foothills.
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Once again Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita, Common Manzanita, was seen frequently on this outing. Even with cooler temperatures some plants were still found in bloom.
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Some of the plants were quite large and the beautiful chestnut-red bark on the older trunks was striking.
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Plentiful numbers of Eriophyllum lanatum were seen. When they bloom in the spring they can create a spectacular floral display with their showy golden yellow daisies.
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Up to this point, most of the area I hiked through was oak savannah with some scattered brushland. This region is now a protected wilderness area, however at one time it had clearly been grazing land. I found large numbers of invasive species on this portion of my hike, which is not unusual for this type of habitat in California. The dried seed heads of Gastridium phleoides were easy to spot. The dried remains of Avena sp., Cynosurus echinatus, Bromus diandrus, and Elymus caput-medusae were some of the other invasive species that were frequently seen this day.
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Micranthes californica was well into growth in shady, moist locations. Later in the spring they will send up stems of small white flowers. The individual flowers are not much, however large drifts of this species in bloom can be very showy. This is a summer dormant species that I have finally established in cultivation at the farm and hope to establish in our Sacramento garden too.
To be continued.........
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Wishing you all the best in the coming year, Robert - and looking forward to your reports as ever!
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CACHE CREEK
and
THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
Part II
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Continuing up the ridge, the terrain leveled somewhat and the habitat shifted abruptly to a large expanse of dense chaparral. I thought that this might be an interesting place to explore and I was fortunate to easily find a way into this large tract of chaparral.
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Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, was the dominant species in this chaparral community. This is not unusual for low elevation chaparral plant communities in this part of California.
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Scattered among the dense growth of Chamise were Coastal Whiteleaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. pulchella. It was not surprising to find them in this location, however this find does extend their range into Yolo County, California. I will certainly add this find into the appropriate data base.
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What was a surprise was finding Mimulus aurantiacus growing in small clearings surrounded by Chamise. I usually find this species growing on steep rocky cliff faces or dry rocky slopes.
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Where the sloping hillside became steep and shaded California Bay, Umbellularia californica, grew in dense colonies surrounded by an ocean of Chamise. In these shaded groves Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis, grew abundantly with scattered plants of Soap Plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, Ceanothus oliganthus, and where there was a bit more sun Lepechinia calycina.
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As I hiked through the chaparral the terrain gradually gained altitude. Eventually a nice vista opened to the east with a dramatic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the seam cut by Cache Creek Canyon.
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To the west the rolling hills and ridges continued off into the distance.
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After investigating the chaparral, I followed a trail that opened into an area of Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii, savannah.
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Here the grassland was dominated by invasive species. Geranium molle was one of many invasive board-leaf species that grew with the grasses. In addition, Torolis arvensis, Erodium botrys, and E. cicutarium were some of the most frequently seen invasive species in this area.
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Hiking along I found this bird nest - more or less intact. I have no idea who made it or lived in it.
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After hiking around and exploring the area for several hours, I decided to check another site to the west in neighboring Lake County on the North Fork of Cache Creek.
As I hiked back to the Outback I discovered a small patch of Coyote Bush, Baccharis pilularis ssp. consanguinea, with their attractive white pappus getting ready to carry the seed off into the surrounding countryside.
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After a short drive I arrived at the North Fork of Cache Creek. I have driven past this trailhead many times in the past, but this was the first time I ever stopped to look around. I was kinda' shocked by my first impression of the trailhead. :o The trail headed directly and disappeared into a vast expanse of tall invasive weeds. Maybe I made a mistake coming here! This did not look very productive. I was not impressed by a 2 meter high jungle of dry Star-thistle, Centaurea sp., Ripgut Bromegrass, Bromus diandrus, Medusa Head, Elymus caput-medusae, and many other noxious, invasive weeds.
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I did not want to give up easily, so I started off down the trail. After 1 or 2 km I came to a seasonal stream and started to find some native plant species such as Bush Lupine, Lupinus albifrons.
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Among the Bush Lupine were many small clumps of Eriogonum nudum with their dry flowering stems still attached.
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There were also a few large shrubs of Frangula californica ssp. crassifolia. I saw this same species on my previous outing, last week, and this time a was able to get a satisfactory photograph to share.
To be continued.......
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Wishing you all the best in the coming year, Robert - and looking forward to your reports as ever!
Thank yo so much! :)
And may you and all of the other forumist have a blessed new year! :) There may, or may not, always be evil in this world, but it is always pleasant to reflect on our many blessings. The troubles of this world are but one tiny grain of sand in a limitless universe of love that surrounds us. We can be reminded of this constantly in the faces of loved ones we share this planet with. :) 8)
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CACHE CREEK
and
THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
Part III
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Beyond the seasonal creek the trail left the open, and weedy Cache Creek flood plain and entered the oak forest that clothed the surrounding hills. The forest in this area had burned approximately two years ago. Not much was remaining of the trees and shrubs except the blackened remains of the trunks and larger stems.
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Even very destructive fires can often renew the land in this part of California. Many of the stump sprouting trees and shrubs showed lush, exuberant new growth such as this Cercocapus betuloides.
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Everywhere there were signs of new growth. Pictured are new seedlings of Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita.
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As I climbed higher into the surrounding hills it became apparent that the fire had burned the vegetation is a patchwork manner, some areas being burned, other areas not being burned at all. This is a common characteristic of wildfires in California. Beyond this California Gray Pine, Pinus sabiniana, parts of the terrain where not burned at all.
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Another view from high on the hillside showed the Cache Creek flood plain and the "badlands" above, on the northeastern bank of the creek.
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Not only was there a renewal of the tree and shrub species, but the annual and perennial species were also benefiting from the release of nutrients and increased light created by the loss of the tree canopy. Pictured is the lush new growth of Cynoglossum grande.
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On shady north facing banks there were many colonies of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii.
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Everywhere there were the dried flower stalks of a full spectrum of different Themidaceae species.
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A lousy photograph, but a reminder of the many large drifts of dried Calochortus pods I saw. There were at least three different species growing in this area. All of this was very exciting and it will be a pleasure to return repeatedly as the blooming season unfolds.
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For me it was quite surprising to find Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum growing in this habitat and elevation. The trailhead started at 1,004 feet (306 meters) and the highest point I reached was only 1,414 feet (431 meters). I do encounter this species in the Sierra Nevada Mountains but generally at a higher elevation and also in a much different type of habitat.
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A little surprising too was to find some of the Erysimum in bloom.
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Although the temperature this day was average for this time of year, late in the afternoon there was still ice and frozen areas in the densely shaded north facing ravines. I'm not sure what was prompting the Erysimum into bloom so early in the season. Maybe some sort of micro-climate along the ridge.
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It was getting late in the day and I was needing to return to the Outback and home before it got too dark. I was hoping to reach the ridge crest and get a peak over the other side, but there was not enough time. At least from this vantage point there where some good views of the surrounding countryside.
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Another view off to the southeast.
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This last photograph was taken well off the trail on rise slightly below the main ridge crest. It shows the countryside off to the north. The view was okay but the great find for me at this site were the signs of elk - everywhere. Very fresh tracks and droppings - I must have just missed them! :'( Elk where once plentiful in California but not any more. I will keep an eye out for them on my next visit to this area.
When I first arrive at this site I thought it might turn out a "disaster" - a complete waste of my time. Instead this area showed the potential to be rich in plant species and interesting wildlife. This was a thrilling way to end the 2016 season and a wonderful end to a very productive day.
In a few weeks I will be off to start the 2017 season.
Until then.......
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Robert,
Once more you have showed us beautiful landscape and exciting plants! Thank you :)
Is the chaparral a climax community or is it a transient state that will end as a forest?
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Robert,
Is the chaparral a climax community or is it a transient state that will end as a forest?
Trond,
This is an excellent question. In many cases chaparral appears to be a climax plant community. Under these conditions, the soil type and other factors may not support a climax oak - pine woodland. I have spent time pondering this question. Our original ecosystems have been altered by humans in may ways, first by Native Americans, then by immigrants. It is very difficult for me to arrive at a conclusion based on my observations or reading historical descriptions of past conditions. I have observed evidence, in a very few cases, where a plant community could over time transition from chaparral to oak - pine woodland, however the bottom line is that I do not know. I actually like such perplexing questions, so mange takk for asking. :)
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Robert,
I suppose the heathland we have here is what is most similar to your chaparral. The heathland is artificial but a very old plant community. It has been maintained by fire for several thousand years. Now the practice of putting fire to the heath every 15th year has ended and trees are spreading rapidly. This process has only been going on for about 80 years but already heathland is becoming rare.
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Trond,
It is very surprising how quickly the heath land becomes forest when fire is no longer a factor. Our coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada become choked with too many trees when fire is suppressed. If the forest is not thinned a forest fire can destroy the whole forest. Now, we see this all the time in California. :'(
We are prepared for the heavy rains now. Flooding and periods of heavy rain are excepted for most of the week. Right now the wind is howling and it poured rain all night. When it is light I will check the ditches and make sure they are clear of debris. It is far to dangerous to hike and travel back roads now - falling trees, mudslides, and flooding. No outings until the weather calms.
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Robert:
Good move staying put.
I can imagine the hazards hiking in the areas I've seen you explore.
We have 17F with 4 inches of snow here. Going to 50 on Wednesday!
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50F or 50 inches?
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Battening down the hatches on both coasts! Stay safe, Robert. I hope this wet weather will help undo some of the damage from California's drought of the past several years. Snow started here last night, and hasn't stopped since... about 15 inches down so far. When I woke this morning at quarter of six, someone was stuck in the dark- couldn't see where they were going.... why anyone would be out there, driving on uncleared roads, in whiteout conditions, baffles me!
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So far the worst of the storm has passed to the north and south of us. Our precipitation total of 3" (76mm) for the last 24 hours is a common occurrence at the farm - at least during an "average" winter and is far less than the 10"-15" predicted. Additional good news is that the snow levels are lowering. Heavy rain on the snow pack today has created some flooding in other parts of California, but even this has been relatively minor - so far.
This is the good news.
Right now there is still a hard rain falling and very gusty winds. Heavy rain is still in the forecast for tonight and Tuesday - only light rain on Monday. The 'flood watch" has expired and now there is a 'flood warning" (i.e. flooding is occurring or will be occurring shortly) for the next 72 hours. At this time our properties have not flooded or suffered any major damage. I plan on sticking around with a shovel in hand - to keep the drainage ditches flowing. :)
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RALPH:
Sorry 50 F.
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An update on our weather:
Here it is Monday 5:30 am. The rain and wind have stopped. It did storm for a good part of the night, but nothing out of the ordinary.
At this point I am not sure why everyone in the local news media is getting so worked up over the weather. Maybe they have a short memory, maybe they think the public has a short memory? Maybe they need to "sell" the news? What was it like before the drought started? Here are a few extremes that put things in perspective. The following are precipitations extremes at the farm:
21.87" (555.5mm) for February 1986. So far we have only 6" (152.4mm) for January 2017. At this rate we could exceed February 1986, but at this point it does not seem likely. There was major flooding and levee breaks in 1986. If it keeps raining this could happen again, but we are not there yet.
4.86" (123.44mm) was the recorded 24 hour precipitation total on the 17th of February 1986. 4.60" (116.84) was recorded on the 31st of December 2005 (before the drought started). There was major flooding in February 1986 and December 2005/January 2006. Our 3", 24 hour rain total yesterday is a lot, but certainly not extreme.
More heavy rain is expected in the next few days. At this point all the rain is welcome and no communities in California have suffered any major flooding. :)
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Robert,
I am glad you get some water over there! The spring should be very nice hen time comes. Hope you don't have too much damage before the winter ends. I just read that The Pioneer Cabin Tree broke in the storm.
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Robert,
I am glad you get some water over there! The spring should be very nice hen time comes. Hope you don't have too much damage before the winter ends. I just read that The Pioneer Cabin Tree broke in the storm.
Trond,
After too many years of drought and warm winters we are finally getting a "normal" (i.e. cold and wet) winter. The last storm that pasted through last night did cause some damage. A levee on the Mokelomne River failed. Fortunately, only farmland was flooded. Locally, the usual roads and streams flooded, however this is not unusual when we finally get some rain in our area. What we need to keep an eye on is the next set of storms that are forecast to arrive sometime next week. This set of storms will be tapping subtropical moisture too. As of today there is 1 to 3+ meters of heavy, wet snow in the Sierra Nevada. Even with 5-6 days of dry weather, if there are high snow levels and heavy rains with the next series of storms we are more likely to have major widespread flooding issues. I do not know that type of news reaches Europe, but scenes of the Russian River flooding are boring. Guerneville, on the Russian River, has flooded so many times I am surprised they have not moved to higher ground. Scenes of Guerneville flooding seem to always make our U.S.A. national news. I guess it makes a good story.
Ah yes! The Pioneer Cabin Tree, a Sequoiadendron giganteum, did fall. RIP! :) The tree is in Calaveras Big Trees State Park and will hopefully be kept safe from the souvenir hunters (vandals). The park officials are going to leave it as is and move the hiking trails around it. Calaveras Big Trees State Park is on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada on the Highway to Ebbetts Pass. This is the most northern grove of Sequoiadendron, except for the tiny grove in Placer County near our farm.