Bulbs and other wildflowers - Northern California 2014

[Robert]

2014 could be an interesting season with the severe drought conditions here in Northern California. I thought that it could be interesting to report my observations.

The photographs are from Camp Creek, one of our local areas, where I have been visiting our native plants. I started getting spring water, for drinking, in this area about 1980. This has made it easy to check on the native plants often. Lilium, Fritillaria, Calochotus, Erythronium, and many other bulbous plants grow in this area. The lily population is very fluid with L. parvum growing up stream, L. pardalinum growing down stream and intermediate plants where the photographs were taken.

[Robert]

The first photograph is from Stonebraker Creek a tributary of Camp Creek. Cornus nuttallii supplies the autumn color. There are a number of hybrid swarms of Lilium parvum x pardalinum in this area. At one time Trillium angustipetalum grew in this area. Logging has disturbed the habitat and I have not seen them for many years. Fortunately there are protected areas where they still can be found if one looks carefully.

Thrkild,

If I am lucky I will catch Trillium angustipetalum in bloom and get a good photograph. It is a beauty. 

[annew]

I'll look forward to it, Robert. It will be interesting to read your observations on the effects of the drought.

[Robert]

I'll look forward to it, Robert. It will be interesting to read your observations on the effects of the drought.

Thanks Anne! I'm hoping it will be an interesting project.

Many of the bulbs have a few months to go still. With the recent rains the Dodecathion hendersonii have exploded from the ground - it seems well budded too. Also, maybe, Dodecathion is stretching the term bulb a bit. 

[Thorkild Godsk]

Hello Robert.
I look forward to seeing your photos of Trillium angustipetalum.
Just a couple of Lilium to look at:
Picture 1: Lilium canadense
Picture 2: Lilium Henryi.
Thorkild.

[Robert]

Hello Robert.
I look forward to seeing your photos of Trillium angustipetalum.
Just a couple of Lilium to look at:
Picture 1: Lilium canadense
Picture 2: Lilium Henryi.
Thorkild.

Thorkild,

 My wife and I just got back from opening our Sacramento Valley home for the Farmers' Market season. The Liliums are fantastic! We have some nice L. michiganense at our Sacramento garden. I hope to get some good photographs this season. They are quite nice. There are lots of L. henryi and henryi hybrids that do well there too.

I love the photographs. 

[Robert]

Another nice rainy day in drought stricken California.

In general, at this time, it is soil moisture and not temperature that is driving the growth of our perennial and annual natives. By the end of February Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum are in bloom at the lower elevations. Lots of growth now but no flowers yet.

The Dodecatheon hendersonii is blooming in a tiny habitat restoration bed that I have irrigated during the dry winter. In other areas where there has only been rain water they are still a few week behind.

In our restoration areas we are attempting to reestablish our native bunch grasses. The bed pictured has Festuca californica, Ranunculus occidentalis, various Brodiaea, Dichelostemma, and Triteleia, as well as some Dodecatheon.

The last two photographs are the acres of non-native annual grasses. A month ago the grass was brown where it would have been green. It is good that we are getting rain and things are greening up.

[Robert]

It is becoming clear that lack of rain and snow up through January has impacted and delayed the development of our native bulbs, perennials and annuals. Even with our recent precipitation temperatures have been running much above normal. Our native trees and shrubs are starting to leaf out now and are about 2 weeks ahead of average. The bulbs, perennials, and annuals so far are about 2 weeks behind average. It is going to be very interesting to see how this season "pans out".

Below are photographs of our native shooting stars now just getting started with their bloom cycle. It has been very good to see them spread to new locations around our farm.

[David Nicholson]

Lovely Robert.

[Maggi Young]

Your photos of lovely shooting stars, Dodecatheon hendersonii  remind me that in the last few years the plants in our garden have dwindled somewhat - time for a note about new seed, this season I think.

[Tony Willis]

Robert

very interesting posts. In view of the drought we are giving a trip over there a miss this year and have booked for the French Alps.

[Robert]

The drought is effecting not only California, but the whole Great Basin of the USA. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. It may not be the best year to visit if one is interested in our native plants in their native habitat.

For me it will be a good time to have a "look about", and gather seed for the seed exchange if appropriate.

Thank you for the positive comments. There are some very good places to visit locally, I've been planning locations to visit, and will have camera in hand. Hopefully it will all go over well. 

[Robert]

The season has progressed enough where I made the short walk down the road from our Sierra - Foothill / Mountain farm to check on the serpentine barren. It was a windy day and a little difficult for me to photograph, but not much of a big deal as the plants are just starting to bloom.

Echscholzia californica and Dichelostemma capitatum are among the first to bloom. I also enjoy the early annuals such as 'Cream Cups', Platystemon californicus (Papaveraceae) and 'Goldfields', Lasthenia californica (Asteraceae) that will turn the whole area golden yellow. The show will not be as nice as in wet years however it is nice to see our annuals progressing despite the drought.

My favorite plant in this area is Lewisia rediviva. I think that they can survive anything except development. Some are well budded and will be blooming soon.

[Maggi Young]

Robert, I have loved Echscholzia californica ever since I first saw it in my Grandparents' Scottish garden when I was a very little girl. I has always spoken to me of summer and happy days - I am pleased whenever I see it, all these many years later.  Wonderful how plants can be such memory triggers.   I have seen photographs of huge swathes of these flowering in nature and though I have never seen that myself, nor do I expect so to do, these are happiness flowers for me - I can even imagine the scent of them! 

[Robert]

Maggi,

I definitely can relate to your statement. I think that I started growing our native alpine plants for the good memories they would bring to me. When I was young, my father and uncle brought me along with them on their trips to the high back-country. The first trip was when I was 5 years old! The flowers towered over my head and clearly made a deep impression. Growing challenging plants can be enjoyable; however common and easy plants clearly have there place too. Thank you for sharing your experience.