Prelude to Spring

It was very breezy here this morning in La Cresta, adding a bit of wind chill to an otherwise sunny, beautiful, almost spring day.

We went to Armstrong Nursery in Temecula and bought 8 bags of chicken manure to amend the soil around the fruit trees. And heck, since I was on a roll, I also gave them a dose of fish emulsion, micronutrients, and ironite. The first 10 trees was kinda fun, but 20 more trees later, my enthusiasm began to wane. Thank goodness Gilbert got the gardening bug today and put aside his garage puttering tasks for awhile to help me out.

Hana, needless to say, was basking in the sun all day and remained utterly useless...

On the Cal native front, there are signs of a forthcoming bounty of riotous spring color and growth:

3/14/10 Paradise Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pajaroensis), with its very showy, signature bronzy-red new growth.

3/14/10 Idyllwild Rock Flower (Heuchera hirsutissima), with its tiny pink blossoms just emerging. Native to rocky areas in the San Jacinto Mountains.

3/14/10 'Mountain Haze' Ceanothus.

3/14/10 Feltleaf Ceanothus / Island Mountain Lilac (Ceanothus arboreus). Native to the Channel Islands. I planted this one less than five months ago, but it seems to have taken and has even offered a few blooms. Mine is a mere 18 inches in height, but at maturity, this beauty can span 20 ft. tall x 10 ft.wide. 

3/1/10 Laguna Manzanita / Adam's Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. adamsii). Native to Southern California in the E. Peninsular ranges (including central & eastern San Diego County).

With the warming weather, the wildlife are out in force too. 

3/14/10 Hummingbird feasting on 'Hot Lips' Salvia (Salvia microphylla).

3/14/10 House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) on California Sycamore. 

3/13/10 California Quail (Callipepla californica). Here's the He-Man, marching, unabated, to the birdfeeder.

3/13/10 California Ground Squirrel, stuffing his cheeks with birdseed. Love 'em or hate 'em, but they're still pretty darned cute!

3/13/10 What a cast of characters. Los Tres Amigos. They're somewhat obscured by the shadows, but there's a California Quail on the right, a California Towhee on the left, and a bunny just behind and in between them (you can see his ears silhouetted against the fence). 

3/14/10 Coyote running up the hill in front of our house at around 4:00pm. Hana was whining like a banshee, and that's how we noticed him. Lucky my camera was within reach at the time (just a tad out of focus). What a handsome fellow he is!

3/14/10 Bunny looking for a way in under the wire fencing. Wascally wabbit!

Coyotes and Meadowlarks on the Plateau

Around 11:00am this morning, Gil and I (with Hana in tow) drove out towards the vernal pools to scout out coyotes or other wildlife along the way. We spotted four coyotes frolicking on the hills to the east side of Clinton Keith Road, just before the junction with Tenaja Road.

It was fairly overcast today so the lighting was on the tricky side, but I managed to get a couple discernible shots of these wily and fascinating canids.

3/7/10 East side of Clinton Keith Rd., just north of Tenaja Rd. junction, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

We could also hear the ubiquitous whistly-bubbly-jumbly call of the Western Meadowlarks in Hi-Def throughout our drive. These guys were everywhere, mostly hidden in the grassy expanses of the reserve, but a few would occasionally pop up on the fence posts or rocky outcrops to sing their warbly tunes. 

3/7/10 Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Via Volcano, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

3/7/10 Engelmann Oaks (Quercus engelmannii). East side of Via Volcano, between Tenaja and Rancho California Roads. Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

3/7/10 Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii). East side of Via Volcano, between Tenaja & Rancho California Roads. Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

3/7/10 Fenceline Trail, between Tenaja and Rancho California Roads, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

3/7/10 Vernal pools, Via Volcano just before junction with Avocado Mesa Rd., Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

3/7/10 Vernal pool, Via Volcano just before junction with Avocado Mesa Rd., Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

3/7/10 Grasses emerging from vernal pool. Via Volcano, just before junction with Avocado Mesa Rd., Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

Mallards at the pond

A very soggy, windy, cold day it is today. But the driving rain is not deterring the birdies from flocking at and under the bird feeder. The quail were out in force, and I was even surprised to find one of them actually on the the bird feeder itself (which is fixed on top of a 6 ft. post with a squirrel baffle), duking it out with the House finches and Juncos.

A special treat, however, was the arrival of a pair of Mallard ducks at the pond. This was the second time we've seen Mallards on the property. The male swam around the water for a short time, then hopped up onto the nearby rocks to preen his feathers. It was really hysterical watching him do these amazing calisthenics as he stretched out one of his bright orange webbed feet at a 90 degree angle to his body, like one of those fab "blokey belles" of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo http://www.trockadero.org/.

Death Valley Days

I recall that the 2004-2005 winter season in California was, like this year's, a wet one, and the abundant rains were a harbinger of some great wildflower displays in the Southland.

3/25/05 Silver Slough (normally a bone dry lake), north of Baker on the west side of Hwy. 127, en route to Death Valley NP, San Bernardino County, CA

Most memorable, however, was the truly spectacular wildflower show that manifested itself in Death Valley National Park. So spectacular, that some hailed it as a once-in-a-lifetime, best ever seen in the last 50 years.

Death Valley? Au contraire!

The annual rainfall at DVNP is typically under 2 inches, but that year saw three times the norm, with around 6 inches of precipitation.

3/25/05 Alluvial fans chock full of Desert Sunflowers (Geraea canescens), Black Mountains at Ashford Junction, Hwy. 178, Death Valley National Park.

Gil & I were compelled (i.e., I gave Gilbert an ultimatum) to take a couple days off work in March of '05, in order to experience this Floral Palooza.

Death Valley is not a hop and a skip from LA. We drove out to Barstow on the 24th and spent the night there at a pet-friendly Best Western, since we could not bear not to bring our then 6-month-old Akita along, and to also give ourselves more time for wildflower viewing the next day.

3/25/05 Dogs are only allowed along the roadways and in developed areas of the National Parks, so here's baby Hana, looking feisty around the Desert Sunflowers just off Hwy. 178. Gilbert managed to keep her occupied near the roadside while I was photographing a little further in. And, ahem, of course we told her not to eat the daisies...

Our time was limited and, as such, we decided to focus our attention on the south end of the Park along Highway 178, around the Ashford Mill area east of Salsberry Pass. It was unbelievable, not just for the abundance and diversity of wildflowers, but also for the sheer number of people out there.

3/25/05 Black Mountains at Ashford Junction, Hwy. 178, Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Desert Five Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia). Ashford Junction, Hwy. 178, Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Twining Snapdragon (Antirrhinum filipes). Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, 1 mile west of Shoshone (just outside DVNP boundary).

3/25/05 Desert Linanthus/Humble Gilia (Linanthus demissus). Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, 1 mile west of Shoshone (just outside DVNP boundary).

3/25/05 Bigelow's Monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii). Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, east of Salsberry Pass, Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Broad-flowered Gilia (Gilia latifolia).Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, east of Salsberry Pass, Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Fremont Phacelia (Phacelia fremontii). Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, east of Salsberry Pass, Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Desert Sand Verbena (Abronia villlosa). Ashford Junction, Hwy 178. Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Desert Star (Monoptilon bellioides). Gravelly wash at end of Hwy. 178 between Shoshone and Salsberry Pass, just outside boundary of DVNP. 

3/25/05 Desert Alyssum/Bush Peppergrass (Lepidium fremontii).Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, east of Salsberry Pass, Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Caltha-Leaf Phacelia (Phacelia calthafolia).Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, east of Salsberry Pass, Death Valley National Park.

3/25/05 Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia). Roadside wash off Hwy. 178, 1 mile west of Shoshone (just outside DVNP boundary).

3/25/05 Desert Chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana).Gravelly wash at end of Hwy. 178 between Shoshone and Salsberry Pass, just outside boundary of DVNP. 

3/25/05 Desert Dandelions (Malacothrix glabrata). Ashford Junction, Hwy. 178, Death Valley National Park.

12/5/99 Desert Holly (Atriplex hymenelytra). Entrance to Mosaic Canyon, Death Valley National Park. Not related to the 2005 series, but this is the first plant that I ever photographed at DVNP. A nondescript desert plant that got me all excited about desert plants. Don't ask why...

Photo Shoot at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

Ok, it wasn't really a photo shoot, but I was fulfilling an assignment, due next Saturday, for Dick Cronberg's level 2 photography class, which was to submit a photo of any subject taken on the Reserve, as long as Homo sapiens is in absentia from the scene.

We're only about a 15 minute drive from the vernal pools, so Gilbert and I got there at a reasonably early hour, around 9:30am. Weather was cool, breezy, partly cloudy, with a few sprinkles thrown in.

We were suited up, geared up, and ready to go, and then I took my first photo at the information kiosk at the trailhead. Hmmm...what was that flashing on the back panel of my camera? NO! GET OUT! NO WAY! No CF card???????

How could I forget the CF card? Well, apparently I did. When I was downloading pictures last night to post on this blog, I left the card in the reader without putting it back in the camera. Stupid, stupid me. Anyways, on to Plan B. Gilbert suggested we head down to Ralph's Supermarket in Murrieta to pick up some groceries and then stop by CVS pharmacy next door to see if they carried photo supplies/accessories. So, that we did, and yes, CVS did indeed have a 4GB card that fit my camera.

By 10:30am, we were back at the vernal pools and ready for action.

2/21/10 Vernal Pool Trail.

2/21/10 View from Vernal Pool Trail.

Dogs are not allowed in this 8,000 acre reserve, except on the equestrian trails in the Sylvan Meadows area. I respect that. We love Hana and want to take her everywhere, but dogs and the sensitive habitats of the vernal pools just don't mix. So we had sensibly left her at home, with the soothing background white noise of Food Network on the telly.

So, here's the side story. As we were hiking up the Vernal Pool Trail, we heard some rustling behind us and I was stunned to see a boisterous family of 7 or 8, walking their German Shepherd through the grass just off trail. There's a sign at the trailhead that clearly says, no dogs allowed on the trails, so what was up with these people? Normally, I would say something, but I felt stupefied and awkwardly outnumbered by a coterie of folks who didn't seem too keen on following the rules. The kicker was, we overheard the "father" tell one of his daughters to make sure she walked the dog off the trail in the grassy area (on the native bunchgrass that us people are barred from traversing), so as not to transgress the rule that says "dogs not allowed on trails." Wow. The logic just defies imagination. I hope they crossed paths with a ranger on their way back.

2/21/10 Sign reads "Boardwalk Closed." The boardwalk over the main vernal pool appears to be partially submerged, but hopefully not damaged, from the recent heavy rains.

2/21/10 Boardwalk over main vernal pool.

2/21/10 Main vernal pool.

2/21/10 Main vernal pool.

The photo I needed to take for next week's class is actually part of an amateur contest for the 8 of us who are enrolled in Dick's photography course at the reserve. Feeling the pressure of a newbie, I took about 70 shots today, not knowing if any of them would be worth a submission. 

2/21/10 Verdant grasses emerging from last year's remnants. Vernal Pool Trail.

2/21/10 View from Trans Preserve Trail.

2/21/10 Vernal Pool Trail.

Not much in bloom yet on the reserve, but a few stalwart late-winter staples are making their appearance.

2/21/10 White Chaparral Currant (Ribes indecorum). Trans Preserve Trail.

2/21/10 Wild Cucumber (Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus) trailing over lichen-encrusted rock. Trans Preserve Trail.

2/21/10 Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) growing in shaded oak woodland. Yes, it's edible, just like lettuce. So if you're ever planning to get lost in these woods, just make sure you remember to pack the balsamic & extra virgin olive oil. 

2/21/10 Common Bedstraw (Galium aparine). Another sweet-tasting native that's chock full of Vitamin C. Trans Preserve Trail.

2/21/10 Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum), not yet in flower. I've also found this wavy-leaved lily in abundance at the Tenaja Trail trailhead and along Tenaja Truck Trail (Forest Route 7501) in the Cleveland National Forest. Was used by Native Americans for food, lather, and cleansing. Also purported to treat Poison Oak rashes.

2/21/10 Padre's Shooting Star (Dodecatheon clevelandii), budded and ready to bloom. I have one sole specimen of this species growing in my garden (see my previous blog entries for the low down). 

Based on my brief survey of all the sproutlings and early bloomers, here's a partial lineup for the upcoming wildflower show this spring on the reserve:

Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis)

Johnny Jump-Up (Viola pedunculata)

Wild Cucumber (Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus)

White Chaparral Currant (Ribes indecorum)

Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsilfora)

Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum)

Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)

Common Bedstraw (Galium aparine)

Cleveland's/Padre's Shooting Star (Dodecatheon clevelandii)

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Ground Pink (Linanthus dianthiflorus)
Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)
Red Maids (Calandrinia ciliata)
Goldfields (Lasthenia californica)

2/21/10 Rock art (Lichen on rock), Trans Preserve Trail.

2/21/10 More rock art (Lichen on rock), Vernal Pool Trail.