2017 - Robert's botanical adventures in Northern California

[Robert]

Guns? Are they hunting at this time of the year or is it "just for fun"?

Trond,

Yes Guns! Hunting season is in the autumn. I think that what was going on is considered fun.    I feel very uncomfortable with the guns and shooting, especially alcohol and guns. The mess of lead, empty shell casings, beer bottles, human excrement, and trash of all sorts is nothing that I like to see and gives responsible gun owners, hunters, and target shooters a very unnecessary poor reputation. I also feel very uncomfortable with drunk, semi-drunk, gun toting, adult (?) males speeding around in jeeps heedless of anyone else on the road. The law (sheriff-police) was not in the area. It made good sense to leave. During the week (especially Tuesday to Thursday) there are no people and it is very peaceful.

I don't grow Calochortus monophyllus but are willing to try  Looks very nice. The other plants in your photograph look easy anyway - if it is Trifolium and Geranium! Looks like some spots at my summerhouse!

The clover was most likely Trifolium hirtum, a very common invasive species. When in bloom, Trifolium hirtum can be surprisingly beautiful at times. I'm not sure of the Geranium - maybe G. molle or G. dissectum both very common (invaders too). The flowers didn't look quite right to be one of the weedy Erodium species.

I think that Calochortus monophyllus could work for you. Keep the slugs away if you can. I guess good luck with that one.    Anyway, I will do my part in the effort. 

Beautiful wildflowers Robert, as usual! Such a rich flora - I am envious, in a good way
I like Calochortus species, never had the chance to see any in the wild though.

Gabriela,

Yes, thank you.    It is that time of year. From what I have seen posted, it looks like spring is arriving in your part of Canada. Such beautiful plants! I have never tried growing Hepatica. I guess it is possible in our area, but I think that it might be torturous for them considering our long hot summers.

[Robert]

Yesterday 17 April, I set out for Peavine Ridge to gather information on the Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) and a few other species. I was hoping to get everything done before the rain arrived. You can see from this view of the canyon of the South Fork of the American River that the skies were threatening.



This was my first opportunity to gather information on the Manzanita species mix at various elevations along this section of the canyon. On this slope at 3,624 feet (1,105 meters) the Manzanitas consisted of Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida. The plants had finished blooming and fruit had been set.



Farther up toward the canyon rim, this slope at 4,616 feet (1,407 meters) consisted of a mix of subspecies viscida and ssp. mariposa.



Here the plants were still in bloom.

When I arrived at the top of Peavine Ridge it started to pour rain! It was 46 F (8 C ) and the snow that I saw on Friday was long gone. I did gather some additional information on the Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii and Viola species at one site, however it was raining extremely hard (no photographs) so I returned to the farm in El Dorado County.

Today I will be at home in Sacramento, before I attempt another visit to the canyon of the South Fork of the American River on Wednesday. More rain is in the forecast.    Friday and beyond the forecast is for sunny and warm weather. With the crowds and the guns there is no way that I will be going out over the weekend! I'll stay at home.  The following Wednesday I hope to spend all day in the Snow Mountain area. The timing could be excellent. 

[Gabriela]

Gabriela,
Yes, thank you.    It is that time of year. From what I have seen posted, it looks like spring is arriving in your part of Canada. Such beautiful plants! I have never tried growing Hepatica. I guess it is possible in our area, but I think that it might be torturous for them considering our long hot summers.

Manzanitas are my favourites
Regarding Hepatica americana - they are quite hot/drought resistant as long as they are in the shade. Last year there was a record drought, really bad, and I thought the flowering will be poor this spring, but I was wrong. I don't know how they would react to your mild 'winters' though
There will be seeds if you want to try them

[Robert]

Manzanitas are my favourites
Regarding Hepatica americana - they are quite hot/drought resistant as long as they are in the shade. Last year there was a record drought, really bad, and I thought the flowering will be poor this spring, but I was wrong. I don't know how they would react to your mild 'winters' though
There will be seeds if you want to try them

Gabriela,

Concerning Manzanita, do you grow any of the high elevation California species? Some species like Arctostaphylos patula and A. nevadensis grow in the Lake Tahoe Basin where winters are cold. If you do not have any, I would be glad to share some seed this autumn if this is something you want to try. There are possibilities with other species too. Understanding how they perform under different climatic conditions would be extremely interesting to me too.

We have plenty of woodland type conditions in our Sacramento yard. It sounds like Hepatica americana would be worth a try. I have had success with other eastern species like Jeffersonia.

[Gabriela]

Robert,
If you can grow Jeffersonia then for sure H. americana is worth a try (pm with your address please)

Concerning high elevation Californian species - no, I don't have any and I have no knowledge of someone else growing them here. The region in Canada where is possible to grow them is BC - Vancouver Island.
That's the way it is, we cannot grow everything, there is not enough space in our garden anyway Thank you for the offer, if I see something I would like to try I'll let you know.
Maybe some annual species...I just planted outside the Mimulus alsinoides, grown from the seeds coll. last year

[Robert]

It was a beautiful day to check on our local wildflowers. I had some business in town, but I also had some time to take the scenic route along the South Fork of the American River.



The rain has not quit yet and there is still plenty of water cascading down the slopes into river at the bottom of the canyon.



The canyon slopes are full of blooming wildflowers.



Tangier Pea, Lathyrus tingitanus, is an invasive annual, however they are quite beautiful this time of year.



The huge trusses of Lupinus benthamii look great with the annual poppies.

[Robert]

Some of the slopes are covered with the annual Poppy, Eschscholzia caespitosa.



The large patches of Lupinus nanus fill the air with their musky fragrance.



Miniature Lupine, Lupinus bicolor, has very small flowers, however they look good sprinkled in with other blooming wildflowers. In burned over areas or disturbed sites they can sometimes grow in mass and can be very striking.



Petrorhagia dubia is another invasive species that is frequently seen in bloom this time of year.



In areas that are a bit shaded Nemophila menziesii can be found.

[Robert]

The rocks on shaded ledges are covered with blooming plants of Sedum spathulifolium.



They form tight mats directly on the rocks. During the late summer-autumn they can dry up and almost disappear. The first autumn rain starts them back into life.



In the garden with a bit of summer irrigation they stay green. Two clones have been sold in California for ages; 'Cape Blanco' with silvery-gray foliage; and 'Purpurea' with a purple cast to the foliage.



Calochortus albus is blooming in semi shaded locations.



Back in the sun Lupinus albifrons can be found blooming almost everywhere.

[Robert]

Mats of Silene laciniata ssp. californica are scattered about on semi-shady slopes. Most have many more flowers than this specimen and look great.



The annual Mimulus kelloggii is still blooming.



I liked the combination of Mimulus kelloggii with Lupinus albifrons.

On Wednesday I will have a full day in the field!    I will be exploring the lower slopes around Snow Mountain. If there is no rain, the timing seems like it will be perfect!

Until then.....

[Alan_b]

As a fan of snowdrops, I was quite taken with the look of Calochortus albus - a spring bulb with white nodding flowers.  I wonder if it will grow here in the UK?  The RHS says it was last listed in the Plant Finder in 2013 so I cannot answer this question for myself by trying.

[David Nicholson]

Spring has sprung Robert.

[Robert]

As a fan of snowdrops, I was quite taken with the look of Calochortus albus - a spring bulb with white nodding flowers.  I wonder if it will grow here in the UK?  The RHS says it was last listed in the Plant Finder in 2013 so I cannot answer this question for myself by trying.

Alan,

There might be challenges growing Calochortus in the UK. In general, the bulbs need a dry rest in the summer while they are dormant. Moisture around the bulb at this time normally causes the bulb to decay. Maybe this is a good question to put out there on this forum? I'm sure that Calochortus can be grown in a glasshouse or a covered frame like many other bulbs are grown such as many dryland Fritillaria. In an alpine type garden open to the weather? Maybe others have the answer to this. 

Clearly in our part of California summer moisture in not an issue. I have tested a few Calochortus species for tolerance to conditions in an irrigated garden. I have only had success with Calochortus monophyllus (A big surprise!). Calochortus albus is one of the easier species for me to grow and I have numbers that I can use for testing out in our garden. So far, C. albus has never survived a summer with irrigation. Still I think that it could be worthwhile to find out the experiences of gardeners in the UK. Is there anyone who would like to share their experiences cultivating Calochortus in the UK?

[Robert]

Spring has sprung Robert.

David,

Yes, spring has sprung.

I am looking forward to Wednesday and getting out to see the details. Right now the weather forecast is for a chance of rain, especially in the Snow Mountain region. I may need to adjust my plans. 

[hamparstum]

Hi, I was wondering growing Calochortus in my part of the world. We have very dry summers about 2 months long. However never as hot. So I might face lack of summer temperature as an hindrance. It would be very easy to place them in semishade next to our native Alstroemeria aurantiaca, that die down in early summer for that dry spell. Alplains carries quite a selection but monophyllus is not mentioned. Many years ago in my youth I passed thru Sacramento towards Yosemite, while visiting friends in UC Berkeley. I still keep fond memories of the area. Your wildflowers are stunning, (and so your pics) and whets my appetite in trying some of them in a very similar environment. My regards from the S. Hemisphere.

[Robert]

Arturo,

Very pleased to hear from you.

I am very curious, in what part of Argentina do you garden? With such short summers it seems like you could live far to the south (maybe Patagonia?) or in the mountains near the border with Chile.

With dry summer weather it seems that some type of Calochortus species would certainly do well for you. Are the winters cold? There are a number of Calochortus species that are native to the Sierra Nevada Mountains as well as other mountainous regions of the western U.S.A. These species might be appropriate if your winters are very cold. Those species that are native to lower elevations, especially in California may not be extremely cold hardy. Having said that, I encourage you to try whatever Calochortus species come your way. We all certainly fail if we never try! I also admit that I would be very curious with what sort of success or failure you have with them; the climatic conditions you garden with; and any other challenges you may have to deal with.

Thank you so much for your comments. If I can be of further assistance to you please do not hesitate to PM me.