Category: Wildflowers

Wildflower Mania!!

Oh, lordy, I was in heaven today, June 1, 2010. Several of my absolute favorite wildflowers were in bloom today – mostly, these are summer wildflowers, or that’s when I normally see several of them. But the delicate beauty is easy to miss among the tall brown grasses. Not today – and not for me. Once I saw the first one, heading down my driveway, I was on a mission.

Okay, this first one, the Calochortus albus, or Fairy Lantern, I featured a few days ago, but they are really going off, and I got more shots, and better shots, and … well … they are Fairy Lanterns, for pete’s sake. Can you really see too many of these beauties? Nah …

Fairy Lanterns #1

Isn’t this sweet? Don’t you feel blessed when you see one of these? Like, maybe a fairy is going to run out from under a near-by bush?

Field of Fairy Lanterns

And this! A whole field of them! Some fairies are going to have a party here!

Fairy Lantern, close-up

Oh, I just couldn’t resist – one more. Can you tell I’m a nut for these beauties?

Then, there were the sweet delicate clarkias, a wine cup, and what looked like a miniature farewell-to-spring. These are on my property, so I’ll be going out to visit again tomorrow, with grubby clothes, so I can get down and dirty!

Clarkia

But this is the flower that started it all. It is a delphinium, or larkspur. That baby is so tall, it comes to my waist! Electric blue catches the eye!

Driveway Delphinium

This is the way I saw it, from the Jeep. I backed the Jeep up, and took this shot. Yes, I have closer photos, and I’ll post them in a moment. But first, a story to tell.


Okay, this is the only “stand” of larkspur I know about anywhere near me, and it never has more than 5-6 stalks of larkspur. One year, I collected seeds and planted them. I had little success. Of course, it doesn’t help that I used a weedwacker who thinks a stand of hummingbird sage is a weed. I set out rocks around them, and told him, “If you cut them down again, I will cut off your arm.” Well, not really, but I felt like it. Anyway, one year, I just collected the seeds and scattered them, outside my garden, thinking they would not get wacked.

Driveway Delphinium, #2

This is the result. Isn’t that just gorgeous?

Driveway Delphinium #3

It is times like this that I wish I had a macro! That’s my next “toy.” This baby is on my “down-and-dirty” list for tomorrow, too!

And right across the road, one of my all time favorites – the Calochortus venustus – some call it the Mariposa Lily. Both Calochortus are in the Lily family.

Calochortus, unopened

But right next to this one, one was completely opened. Oh, Joy!
Calochortus venustus, unfurled

Isn’t she a beaut? My favorite native wildflower up here! I am blessed that she loves this land and graces me with her presence!

And so, tonight’s sunset on the Wildflower Mania, but I’ll be back soon with some down-and-dirty photos!

Sunset on the first day of June

Wildflowers & Weather

I don’t know about where you are, but it has been mighty cold up here all day. Have been inside, running the heater to stay warm. BUT my internet seems to be cooperating at the moment, so will upload a few of the photos I took on Wednesday of the incredible wildflower displays.

Poppies on a Hill

Douglas Irish

Douglas Iris, close-up

Calochortus albus - Fairy Lanterns

Sticky Monkey Flower

Nettle, perhaps?

Western Columbine

I also have photographs of owl’s clover, lupine, vetch, indian paintbrush, and others. It is hard to keep up with all the wildflowers in bloom right now!

Wildflowers, Misc. & Storm …

Here are some photographs I took on Friday of the wildflowers.

Lupines at Turkey Flats


Also, a reminder that the BSMAAC meeting is this Friday at 10 am.

Storm report later …

Okay, according to NOAA, today’s storm could bring an inch or more, and showers could linger through Wednesday night, with another possible storm for Thursday and Friday.

Miscellaneous Big Sur

Because of Storm Watch, Gideon, and other projects, I have some photographs I took over the last week or so that have accumulated, and so I thought I’d share a few with you.

The Santa Lucias begin

Jade Cover Poppies

Poppies popping

Photogenic Cone Peak

Quercus lobata

Easter: A Time of Rebirth

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a Happy Easter and to share more wildflower and other photographs to remind us of the rebirthing surrounding us each wonderful spring.

Turkey Flats

Turkey Flats got its name because the wild turkeys used to roam through here. Now, vehicles do, despite the signs prohibiting same. I am saddened when I see vehicles driving, parking, doing “donuts” in this wonderful wildflower meadow, disrupting the seeding and sprouting of the wildflowers.

Wildflowers at Turkey Flats

But the birth and rebirth of living things is a wonder to watch. Here is a baby pine tree stretching and growing with the season.

Baby Pine

And Oaks, battered and seemingly broken by the winds, sprout new and abundant life, to make up for their missing limb.

Wind Damaged

And the abundance of recovery –

Recovery

And the beautiful blue lupine to wish you and yours a very Happy Easter!

Lupines

On the weather front, a gentle rain started here around 12:15 pm, but did not last long. NOAA discussion informs us: “THEREFORE EXPECT RAIN TO RAPIDLY INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS ACROSS MOST OF THE DISTRICT. RAIN WILL BECOME HEAVY FOR A TIME JUST AHEAD OF AND DURING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WHEN WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST. BEST TIMING FOR THIS NOW LOOKS TO BE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS FOR THE NORTH BAY…EARLY EVENING BAY AREA AND MID TO LATE EVENING FOR THE MONTEREY BAY REGION.”

Poppies in Profusion

I went down to the coast today, and the poppies are just amazing. The way I’ve witnessed Spring here is that the wildflowers often start going off at the lower locations and make their way up. Today was “Poppy Day on the Coast” Here are a few I shot.

Poppies #1
Poppies #2
Poppies #3

Poppies #4

Pacific Valley Center, you are looking so good!

I have a special place in my heart for Pacific Valley Center. It is where I landed in April of 1989, when I desperately needed a soft and safe place to fall. This was mine.

Through the Lens of Spring

I am a Spring baby – born in May. This is my time. My spirits soar and my heart sings. I listen to the bullfrogs in my itty bitty pond at night, just outside my cottage door.

Eagle's Nest

A friend came up today, who hadn’t been here in a very long time, and looked around in awe, and said, “This really is The Eagle’s Nest.” Ah, yes. it is.

It's a Wonderful World

The wonder of the smallest flower, creeping across the ground in back of my deck, it is not my garden, but Mother Nature’s Garden. I creep with it, so I can get a closer look!
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There is some talk on the NWS discussions of a series of storms slated to begin next week. I’ll be keeping an eye on this development in the next few days. The very late night Tuesday forecast stated: “BUT RAIN IS POSSIBLE AS FAR SOUTH AS MAYBE THE MONTEREY BAY BY THURSDAY MORNING.”

March Wildflowers

Some of last month’s gems are starting to fade, but new ones are coming along to take their place. These are just a few of the flowers I saw yesterday. Some of the tiny ones really need a macro lens to do them justice, which I don’t have yet. One of these days … sigh …

Fields of Popcorn flowers

I don’t know the botanical name for these flowers, but they can cover an entire field with their tiny flowers. Here is a closer look with a poppy.

(Note took down the ceanothus and buttercup photo as it did not seem to be loading properly every time I loaded this page.)

And who could resist a lupine backed by the ocean and mountains?

Lupine

I have more, but it is too beautiful to be inside on the computer. Need some sun time.

February’s Wildflowers

On the way down the mountain a couple days ago, I spotted some new wildflowers in bloom. I’ll have to look up the botanical names, but I’ve included the common names, for now. I’ll add a couple more later today.


The shooting stars are beginning to come out.


This is the sweet hound’s tongue. It likes moisture and shade. This is the only spot on Plaskett where it grows, that I have ever seen, anyway.


These sweet little milk maids like the shade and moisture of the redwoods.


Mission or Chocolate Bells, Fritillaria Biflora, is just beginning to blossom, only one or two so far.

January’s Wildflowers

Today, I was lucky enough to spot these wildflowers on my way down the mountain.


This is an Indian Paintbrush, probably Castilleja chromosa, the most common western paintbrush. I say probably, as I have misplaced my $75 Jepson’s. This paintbrush is also called Early Indian Paintbrush or Desert Paintbrush. It is found all over the Western United States in dry conditions. The genus Castilleja is generally considered a hemiparasite. It can live without a host, however it performs better with one. The patches I usually photograph are intertwined with a local vetch, which is high in nitrogen.


This is the vetch that grows with the paintbrush, as well as on its own. It is probably Vicia americana, which is native to all of California. It is high in nitrogen and makes a great cover crop as well as functions well for erosion control.


This lupine is probably the Lupinus albifrons or Silver Bush Lupine. It is a perennial and likes dry conditions. As with the vetch, this is a great nitrogen fixer. I have several natives growing in my garden. This one was shot at a much lower elevation, where plants bloom earlier.


This is the Santa Lucia Gooseberry, or Ribes sericeum. It is a favorite of birds, and the berries are delicious, although I rarely get more than a few, as the birds beat me to them! Here is one in berry form that I took last June. See those spikes? Ouch. They are quite sharp, and thus the name, “gooseberry.”

I hope to post two of these monthly wildflowers each month during the blooming season. I am not the best at identification, despite my best efforts to be accurate. In order to assure accuracy, I am asking firefox, of Fire Safe Gardens, and XT of Xasauan Today to check these for accuracy and post in the comments below. Both are listed in the Big Sur/LPNF links to the right, as well as direct links in this post. Both have extensive knowledge of local flora and are wonderful human beings. Thanks, gentlemen, for all your help this past year and a half with blogging!