2017 - Robert's botanical adventures in Northern California

[Robert]

There was a pause in the rain today. Clear skies.



I decided to take a chance and check on things up on Peavine Ridge. I was very surprise to find that there was not much snow at the 5,000 foot level (1,524 meters) on the crest of the ridge. The snow started at 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) and was spotty all the way to the top of Peavine Ridge.



There were beautiful vistas of the Crystal Range and the surrounding mountains.



Where the snow had melted Viola sheltonii was coming into bloom.



New growth of Viola sheltonii.

There was plenty of snow still lingering, however this time of year it comes and goes with the passing of each storm.



Viola purpurea ssp. purpurea grows abundantly in this area. It will begin blooming a little later in the season. Viola lobata also grows nearby, however this site was still buried with snow.

[Robert]

On Peavine Ridge, Viola purpurea ssp.purpurea can be found growing in somewhat open, sunny locations.



Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii can be found growing in similar locations on the ridge.



The main wintertime snow pack on Peavine Ridge must have melt several weeks ago. A few Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii were in full bloom. It is interesting to note, accessions from this area are blooming in our Sacramento garden at the same time.



Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii growing with Sanicula tuberosa. The foliage of Sanicula tuberosa and Viola sheltonii can look very similar. It is important to look closely!



Sanicula tuberosa, another early bloomer, with a flower bud emerging.

[Robert]

Several species of Manzanita are found growing together on Peavine Ridge. Arctostaphylos patula, Greenleaf Manzanita, is getting ready to bloom.



Other specimens of Arctostaphylos patula were already in bloom.



On Peavine Ridge, Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka can be found growing abundantly.



Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka was coming into bloom too.



Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka is often found growing with Arctostaphylos patula. Arctostaphylos viscida is sometimes found in the mix too. There is considerable variation in the plants, which is quite interesting.

[Robert]

A beautiful view of the southern portion of the Crystal Range. Pyramid Peak is to the right, the highest peak in the Crystal Range.



I drove up the mountain to see where the road might be blocked by snow. I did not have to drive far before the snow pack started to become much deeper. I did get a good view of the northern portion of the Crystal Range. There is still a tremendous amount of snow at the higher elevations. It will be quite a few weeks before I am able to drive to the Lyon's Creek area, although I could hike in over the snow.



At 5,100 feet, even sunny open areas have a blanket of snow.



There is an electric powerhouse up the road to Loon Lake so this part of the road is clear of snow. The turn-off to Lyon's Creek is completely blocked by snow. It would be fairly easy to ski up the road toward Lyon's Creek.



Once one enters the forest the snow conditions change and any sort of travel becomes difficult.

[Robert]

The snow is very uneven and there are many hidden obstacles. Shrubs, logs, stumps, and rocks are covered with snow. It is often easy to break through the snow in the spring as the winter snow pack is melting. Plants like Ceanothus cordulatus have spine tipped twigs. It can be very uncomfortable to break through the snow on top of this shrub. Using an ice ax or staff to probe the snow can be extremely helpful. An ice ax is also helpful to cut steps on steep portions of hard, icy snow.



There was not much I could do where the snow was deep, so I drove back down Peavine Ridge. At 4,100 feet I stopped to look at the Manzanitas. This slope is covered with Whiteleaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida. The plants were a mixture of two subspecies, A. viscida ssp. viscida (the twigs are glaberous, or sparsely short hairy), and A. viscida ssp. mariposa (the twigs are glandular hairy). Later in the season I will check the fruit. Ssp. viscida will have glaberous fruit, ssp. mariposa will have sticky glandular fruit. When the two subspecies are found growing together there can be considerable variation in the plants.



Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida coming into bloom. Near the base of the ridge near the South Fork of the American River this species has already finished blooming.

It looks like I will have one more clear day before the rain / high elevation snow returns. I will see what I can get done. 

[Maggi Young]

The snowline is not too far away from the Spring growth - quite something to see this.

[Robert]

Maggi,

In our part of the Sierra Nevada, during the winter, the start of a persistent winter snow pack will generally be found between 4,000 to 5,000 feet (1,219 to 1,524 meters). As spring progresses the persistent snow cover moves up the mountain. Below this level, during the spring, the snow level can drop to 2,000 feet (609 meters) or even lower. This snow generally does not last long and plants will come into spring growth.

On Peavine Ridge (5,000 feet + or -) the winter snow cover must have melted 3 to 4 weeks ago (at least in some locations – southern exposures), as there was considerable new growth on some species. At 5,100 feet there was no new growth and most of the ground was still covered with snow. In the few places where the ground was bare of snow there were no signs of new growth yet. The winter snow pack must have just melted. Even higher on the mountain I could see that the conifers were still covered with snow from the storm the previous day. In addition, the depth of the snow pack increased rapidly as I drove higher into the mountains. My guess is that there is still 1-2 meters of snow on the ground at the lower end of Lyon’s Creek. The way the weather has been this season it might be the end of May before I can drive to Lyon

[Robert]

Yesterday I checked the road conditions on Iron Mountain road in the southern portion of El Dorado County. Someone had plowed a single lane up to the 5,785 foot level (1,763 meters). The view of the snow capped Crystal Range to the north was spectacular.



Despite the fact that there was nearly a meter of snow on the ground in most places, there were a few bare spots on the rocky ridge tops. Allium obtusum had emerged from the ground. A few plants had flower buds nestled between their new leaves.



I also spotted a few plants of Viola purprurea ssp. purpurea.



There were also a number of Greenleaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, that had been used by bucks in rut the previous autumn.



Some plants had been partly stripped of leaves as the bucks attempted to remove the velvet from their antlers. Most often the bucks use short young conifers for this purpose.

[Robert]

The snow had just melted. Most of the plants were still dormant, such as this Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum.  It looks dead, however new growth will emerge shortly.



There were a few plants of Arctostaphylos mewukka ssp. mewukka. 1,763 meters is, more or less, its published high elevation limit. This was a first for me to find this species at this elevation. There were many people in this area, and few shooting guns, so I decided to leave.



As I drove down the mountain, I stopped at the Flemming Meadow Trailhead, 3,795 feet (1,157 meters). It was crowded with people too. I guess this is why I almost always go out on week days! I did take this photograph of Ceanothus integerrimus var. macrothyrsus with new growth.



I still had some time, so I traveled down into the canyon of the South Fork of the American River.



Near the bottom of the canyon, 1,692 feet (516 meters), I found a few nice clumps of Iris hartwegii in bloom.

[Robert]

Another Iris hartwegii.



One of the clumps had a number of open flowers.



Claytonia parviflora ssp. grandiflora was still in bloom.



Some large drifts made attractive displays.



There were even larger drifts of Nemophila heterophylla in bloom.

[Robert]

Nemophila heterophylla is a small annual with equally small flowers. One plants is hardly noticeable, however when blooming in mass they are very pretty pretty.

[Hoy]

Nice views as usual, Robert!

Your picture of the snow condition in the forest reminds me very much of my youth in Oslo! The winters lasted much longer in those days 

I also remember that the moose liked to use young pines to remove the velvet from their antlers. They destroyed quite a few nice young pines!

Have just come home from the mountains. We got an inch of snow last night and it was snowing but not blowing when we drove so we crossed the mountains easily. Full winter at the Hardangervidda plateau and spring and trees leafing out in the valleys and along the fjords. Very nice - but no pictures...

[Robert]

Trond,

The Hardangervidda Plateau. Thank you for including the geographic name. I will look it up!

It would have been nice to see some photograph, but I do understand. It is not always possible. I deal with the same situation(s). Just the other day I wanted to take a photograph where a plow had cut through the snow at Iron Mountain. With people shooting guns all over the place and other people speeding around in their jeeps, it was better to move down the mountain than risk getting run over or shot accidentally.

I do not know how I forgot this photograph from the other day.



Calochortus monophyllus

They are blooming now in the American River Canyon near Mosquito Bridge. Generally I have a difficult time getting a good photograph of this species. I wonder if anyone else is growing this species? It has been so easy for me in the garden - both at the Placerville farm as well as in our Sacramento garden. Repeatedly, this species seems very tolerant of some summer moisture, or at least much more than many other Calochortus species.

Now that spring has arrived, at least at the lower elevations, it is time for me to return to Snow Mountain. Not this coming Wednesday, but next. After that I hope that enough snow has melted that I can get into Salt Springs Reservoir. I only visited one time last year and got rained out by a thunderstorm. This week will be busy - not sure I will be able to get anything done. That is how it goes sometimes. 

[Hoy]

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

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!

This one greeted me at home (at the shed roof - almost out of reach for the slugs!

[Gabriela]

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.