But, I seem to be on a good pace. My 2011 surveys and explorations allowed me to make the acquaintance of over 400 new-for-me species. A number being true rarities or surprise finds.
Here, in order of seasonal appearance, are 20 favorites.
California Pipe Vine, Aristolochia californica, on San Bruno Mountain
Tuolumne Fawn Lily, Erythronium tuolumnense, along the Stanislaus River
Scarlet Locoweed, Astragalus coccineus, in the Alabama Hills off hwy 395
Charlotte's Phacelia, Phacelia nashiana, near Indian Wells off hwy 395
The previously adored Calico Monkeyflower, Mimulus pictus, from the Tehachapis
Yerba Amarilla, Mentzelia multiflora ssp. longiloba, on the Kelso Dunes
Desert Mariposa, Calochortus kennedyi, in the eastern Mojave
Lilac Sunbonnets, Langloisia setosissima, in the eastern Mojave
Tacky Phacelia, Phacelia viscida, on the Chimineas Ranch
Hoffman's Jewelflower, Streptanthus glandulosus var. hoffmani, in The Cedars
California Lady Slipper Orchids, Cypripedium californicum, in The Cedars
Serpentine Milkweed, Asclepias solanoana, in The Cedars
Limestone Liveforever, Dudleya calcicola, in the Tehachapi Mountains
San Mateo Thornmint, Acanthomintha duttonii, in Edgewood Preserve
California Groundcone, Boschniakia strobilacea, in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Scarlet Fritillary, Fritillaria recurva, in the Tahoe National Forest near the Yuba Pass
Bach's Calicoflower, Downingia bacigalupii, in Sierra Valley
Milkwort Jewelflower, Streptanthus polygaloides, near Mariposa
Fringed Pinesap, Pleuricospora fimbriolata, SFSU Field Campus, near the Yuba Pass
Inyo Green Gentian, Swertia puberulenta, south of Mono Lake
I sure hope we start getting some good rain soon. Else, 2012 might not be nearly as colorful.
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References:
- Roger's Ramblings - Roger Raiche's posts on The Cedars in Sonoma County
- Friends of Edgewood - Edgewood Nature Preserve
- San Francisco State University - Sierra Nevada Field Campus
- Nature of a Man (this blog) - posts on the Chimineas Ranch
- Nature of a Man (this blog) - In the Lands of the Mono
- Nature of a Man (this blog) - The Importance of Reading Ernest
That California Groundcone, Boschniakia strobilacea is amazing. Never seen one for all the time I have spent in the Santa Cruz Mts. Do they get down my way. I will have to put those on the 2012 wish list.
ReplyDeleteLots of great photos. I am happy to have shared 7 of them with you. Thanks for pointing them out.
Lovely collection.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! I hesitant to state I'm adding some of these to my "want to see" list" like the CA groundcone. Hey, did you recently post about your garden at home? I've been looking through archives to find a recent clarkia post, but I can't seem to find it now.
ReplyDeleteOop, figured it out - too many different online platforms. Apologies for the typos... need tea to fully wake up.
ReplyDeleteAwesome wildflower photos, and you really do get around, don't you? The Scarlet Locoweed has been on my list of must sees for years, but we've never been able to take our trips to the Alabama Hills/Eastern Sierras earlier than July, which is too late in the season for these guys. Where are "the Cedars," btw?
ReplyDeleteThanks camissonia. Yes, July is far too late to see the Astragalus - we caught it in late March. The Cedars is a 500 acre serpentine canyon in Sonoma County that's absolutely loaded with endemics and rarities - several that are found no where else.
ReplyDelete