2017 - Robert's botanical adventures in Northern California

[David Nicholson]

Lovely colour on the Penstemon roezlii Robert. Lewisia triphylla is very rare in cultivation in the
UK I would have thought.

[Robert]

Lovely colour on the Penstemon roezlii Robert. Lewisia triphylla is very rare in cultivation in the
UK I would have thought.

David,

Lewisia triphylla is quite ephemeral. I saw thousands around Loon Lake. In a few week they will have all disappeared until next year.

[Robert]

LOON LAKE
El Dorado County, California

Part II

In forested areas I encountered some beautiful forms of Viola purpurea ssp. purpurea. The reddish pigmentation on the abaxial face of the upper petals is not unusual, however the intensity of the pigmentation is somewhat unusual. Most likely this is a physiological characteristic due to weather conditions. There still may be a genetic component and this would be worth investigating.



Scattered throughout the forested areas were small stands of Delphinium nuttallianum. This is the most frequently encountered Delphinium species in El Dorado County above 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) elevation.



A few daisies, Erigeron glacialis var. glacialis, had started into bloom. This is the most common Erigeron species in the Crystal Range. They are seen in almost every mountain meadow, sometimes in great quantities making a dramatic display.



Another Asteraceae found in bloom was Microseris nutans. This species is rarely seen in great quantities, however an individual plant in bloom can be quite pretty.



Rising out of the Sierra Nevada granite batholith is the exposed basalt lava dome of Brown Mountain. Brown Mountain is located south of Loon Lake above and behind the old Boy Scout Camp. The Boy Scout Camp was built during the summers of 1964 and 1965.  My older brother was part of the construction crew. Even though I was too young to be of much help, I spent part of those summers at the construction site too. I am in B & W photograph posing next to a jeep at the construction site. Maybe I should scan it and post it?

Several years ago on another outing to Loon Lake I had an interesting conversation with a geologist about glacial polish on Brown Mountain. We both knew that this area was glaciated during the last Ice Ages, however we were both pondering how deep the ice might have been. We had both been to the summit of Brown Mountain in the past but neither of us could remember if or where we had seen glacial polish on the Brown Mountain basalt. This is another interesting thing to look into.

[Robert]

Back in 1964-5, up the hill a short distance behind the Boy Scout camp there was a spring that was used to supply water and keep produce cool for the construction workers. Later a hiking trail was constructed across the site and the spring and a portion of the wetland associated with the spring was severely damaged. Today much of the damaged area is filled with Horsetail, Equisetum arvense. Fortunately, if one hikes through the brush a short distance one can observe features of the wetland as they were before the trail was constructed.



I had another destination in mind on this day and did not take time to explore the wetland. I did see a nice colony of Rubus parviflorus near the original spring. This species is often associated with riparian habitats. It is also very easy to cultivate in our Sacramento garden and produces tasty berries.



The trail quickly moves to higher terrain where another set of species can be seen. Ribes viscosissimum, Sticky Current, is one of several Ribes species that grows in the area. When not in flower or fruit this species looks very similar to Ribes nevadensis, which can also be found in the area.



Colonies of Ceanothus fresnensis started to appear as I approached the old Buck Island – Rubicon Reservoir construction road. This species is associated with the mountain chaparral plant community. On an earlier outing this season to Chipmunk Bluff (very near Loon Lake) I observed this species in bloom. The flowers are generally white to very pale blue. This Ceanothus species is very similar to Ceanothus arcuatus. Ceanothus fresnensis can be distinguished from C. arcuatus by its mat-like habit and the shiny green and strigose adaxial leaf surface.



A great find was the annual Mimulus floribundus. This species can be confused with Mimulus moschatus, however M. floribundus is an annual species, occupies a bit drier habitats, and has very distinctive hairs on its stems (especially), pedicels and calyx. It is a very pretty little species.

[Robert]

Calyptridium monospermum grows abundantly in sunny, dry, exposed sites. It is also amazingly easy-to-grow in the rock garden.



The beautiful pink flowers of Spiraea splendens were starting to open. The species is very easy-to-grow in the garden, however the flowers often look pale and washed-out in hot, low elevation gardens. With good selection, forms can be found that maintain excellent flowers color even in hot weather.



There is a series of high ridges and peaks at the southeast end of Loon Lake. The terrain looks rocky, dry, and somewhat barren, however there are a number of small lakes hidden in the clefts between the ridges. The lakes are quite beautiful, but one needs to be determined to access them. There are no trails and the terrain is filled with brush, cliff faces, and many other obstacles.



Before traversing the ridge to Spider Lake there were some good views of Tells Peak to the south.



Almost all the exposed rock in this area is granite, part of the Sierra Nevada batholith. The granite in this area consists of milky white orthoclase feldspar, quartz, biotite mica, and long rectangular needles of amphibole/hornblende. The Sierra Nevada batholith consists of many plutons. The granite of each pluton is unique with it own mix of minerals.

[Robert]

Devils Peak is a prominent landmark at the northeastern end of Loon Lake.



Before connecting with the Buck Island Reservoir construction road, I took time to explore the granite slopes at the southeast end of Loon Lake. As well as the usual Jeffrey Pine, Pinus jeffreyi, and Red Fir, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, a few Juniperus grandis dotted the slopes.



A number of rock ferns grew in this dry landscape. Cryptogramma acrostichoides was seen with its fertile and sterile fronds. Pellaea bridgesii and Myriopteris (Cheilanthes) gracillima also grew on the dry rocky slopes.



The wiry stems and airy white flowers of Eremogone kingii var. glabrescens poked up among the granite boulders.



Mats of Antennaria flowed over and around the rocks. We have a number of Antennaria species in the Sierra Nevada that are similar in appearance and are best identified when in bloom.

[Robert]

LOON LAKE

El Dorado County, California

Part III

At the base of the escarpment at southeast end of Loon Lake there is a small creek and a series of spring fed riparian habitats. Juncus chlorocephalus is quite at home growing in the shady coniferous forest that lines the watercourse.



Closer to the running water where the soil remains quite moist Aquilegia formosa grows abundantly in scattered stands.



In sunny locations near the seeps Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venonesum pokes up through rock crevices where there are pockets of moist soil.



Above the seeps in much drier terrain Aspidotis densa occupies the granite crevices.



Drymocallis galndulosa var. glandulosa is generally found in moist habitats, however the species is surprisingly drought tolerant. I sometimes find this species in habitats that are only vernally moist and quite dry in the late summer and autumn. Good forms of this species are very attractive. I will demonstrate this later in this section.

[Robert]

Eventually I reached the old Buck Island – Rubicon Reservoir construction road and started the climb upward to the pass, Spider Lake and Rockbound Valley.



The route over to Spider Lake is very exposed, hot, and dry. Hot-Rock Penstemon, Penstemon deustus var. deustus is perfectly adapted to this environment. This species forms low mounds of evergreen foliage with many creamy-yellow flowers.



Penstemon newberryi var. newberryi also thrives in this environment. Their bright magenta-pink flowers are striking against the silvery granite rocks.



Calochortus leichtlinii replaces Calochortus minimus in the dry granite talus on the route to Spider Lake.



There is one seasonal watercourse along the route to Spider Lake. Here in a thicket of Salix scouleriana I spotted a Wilson’s warbler, Cardellina pusilla. This migratory bird was once seasonally abundant, however their numbers have dropped dramatically.

[Robert]

Before turning eastward there was one last view of Brown Mountain.



Near the summit and Spider Lake the terrain flattens somewhat. Here there are hundreds of small seasonal pools, small ponds, and a few small lakes. Most of the seasonal pools and small ponds are ringed with the moisture loving Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana. All these water features are leftovers from the last Ice Age. Many of the bare granite faces show glacial polish and the ancient moraines can be seen if one observes closely.



There are also numerous small rocky meadows. Carex subnigricans forms tufts of green foliage with a myriad of the white flowered Calochortus minimus sprinkled throughout the meadow.



Quickly one arrives at Spider Lake. The wilderness trail does not go directly to Spider Lake but traverses to the south. Sadly the Rubicon Trail passes along the north shore of the lake.

The Rubicon Trail is the route of the Jeeper’s Jamboree and is used by many off road vehicle enthusiast throughout the summer season. The route was also the catalyst of considerable environmental damage and a number of lawsuits. In the early 2000’s I hiked a portion of the Rubicon Trail to see for myself what was going on. My first impression was that I needed a facemask. The stench of human excrement was over powering and everywhere. There was evidence of frequent petroleum spills polluting both the ground and riparian habitats. Empty beer cans, whiskey bottles, condoms, discarded automobile parts, and trash were scattered everywhere. The riparian habitats were severely degraded, wildlife was scarce and the flora had been hacked on, run over, or was non-existent. After much effort a settlement was reached and the Jeeps continue to use the route. Now they must stay within 50 feet of the centerline of the trail, respect private property along the route, and pick up after themselves. The route also needs to be patrolled by the sheriff’s department to enforce compliance.

I have never returned to the Rubicon Trail to see how the situation may have changed, hopefully for the better. I did check the Jeeper’s Jamboree web site the other day and noticed that the event is touted as “Family Fun”. From what I have seen from the past, I hope they indeed live up to this slogan.



I continued to encounter Viola purpurea ssp. purpurea along the route as I continued from the summit down to Buck Island Reservoir.

[Robert]

At this point I had entered Rockbound Valley, the headwaters of the Rubicon River. The blue water seen in the center of the photograph is Rockbound Lake.



This is an example of Drymocallis glandulosa var. glandulosa at its best. It is a beautiful lush specimen with many cymes of yellow flowers.



On the trail down to Buck Island Reservoir I found a few plants of Ribes nevadense in bloom. The dense clusters of flowers can be pink to almost red, however I generally find pink flowering specimens.



As I moved into Rockbound Valley I encountered a few Western White Pine, Pinus monticola,



On the last leg of the trail down to Buck Island Reservoir there was a beautiful view southward up into Rockbound Valley and Dick’s Peak in the distance (center).

[Robert]

Finally Buck Island Reservoir appeared.



I cannot remember the last time I hiked into Buck Island Reservoir. It has been far to long. One of my great pleasures when I was young was to hike into Buck Island Reservoir after getting off work. It is a little over 6 miles (9.7 km.) from the Loon Lake Trailhead into reservoir. I could reach Buck Island before the sunset, however it would generally start getting dark as I traversed the trail back around Loon Lake. Hiking in the dark around Loon Lake was like walking down the hall at night. From Loon Lake it was a 15-minute drive to my father’s cabin at Gerle Creek and a peaceful night of sleep.



Like my hikes to Buck Island in earlier days, I did not have much time to look around before returning back to the Outback. As I stood gazing over the reservoir, I looked down to see that the rocky ground was carpeted with the tiny Asteraceae annual Hemizonella minima.



As I said, there was no time to procrastinate, but I ended up talking to some pleasant overnighters anyway. They had just arrived and needed some directions. Of coarse, I ended up telling a story or two about Horseshoe Lake and a few other nice places to visit in Rockbound Valley. Now running late I sped off to Loon Lake and the Outback parked at the trailhead.

This is only the millionth time I have hiked through this area, but this was still an outstanding outing. I accomplished a great deal, noted numerous details, and felt I had returned to heaven. Not bad!

As you might imagine, I have a many historical stories of this region, as well as my own fascinating tales from this place I call home. I will save them for another time.

Until the next time……

[johnralphcarpenter]

"Maybe I should scan it and post it?"

Please do!

[hamparstum]

Robert, what a wonderful good morning view on a wintery Sunday this far south. Our  landscapes are so simmilar, forests, glacial moraines, flattened summits, and further east dry   mountain steppes. Your descriptions just sent me back to my own travelling memories. All of us that have been blessed to  enjoy untrammelled nature surely find ways to relate to this thread. It does a lot of good...
 I'm shocked to hear about the Jeep whatsoever... . In spite of my great respect of personal freedom,  like anything else, it requires regulation otherwise it degenerates into chaos with degradation of the environment which pays the greatest toll. If more people enjoy your way perhaps there could be enough of a constituency to bring that kind of abuse to a definitive halt. This thread is a proof of how much alternative source of joy is being lost along the way.  What a pity...
  Back to the individual plants I've a few questions:
   The Spiraea you showed looks very similiar to S.bumalda, that I grow here. Is it a tall bush that sheds its leaves with beautiful fall colours?.
   The Ceanothus that you show is dwarf? Could it become a good companion in a large rockery scene?
   The Penstemons are one of ( unfortunately many) Genera that I'm partial about. I'm growing here already quite a few and hope to expand these. P.roezlii caught my eye as a potential P for the rockery by its procumbent habit. As I searched for information in the American Penstemon Society pages it appears as a difficult P to cultivate because it seems to have special requirements...which it doesn't explain. Have you tried growing it in any of your gardens? The same question applies to P.deustus.
   My other fav is the Delphiniums. D.nuttalianum is just spectacular. Have you grown it?
   I'm assuming that the plants that you show at these higher elevations are already more mesic than strictly xeric, although they withstand summer drought. The evapotranspiration balance should be much more favorable up there. Am I right?
   I drool over Calyptridium...I'm very happy that you found it easy to grow it in your garden!

[Robert]

"Maybe I should scan it and post it?"

Please do!

Ralph,

My wife knows where the photograph is located. 

I tend to forget such things.

[Robert]

Arturo,

So many well thought out questions.

>The first question regarding the Jeepers is the most difficult. I am just reporting on what I saw back in 2004 (I am not sure about the year, but sometime in this time period). There was clearly a major problem that needed to be addressed. The Jeepers have their point of view and it needs to be considered.

I have a feeling that the Jeepers are a diverse group and like any group there may be undesirable elements loosely associated with the general group. From my observations, no one has any control over these rogue elements except the sheriff’s department and the legal system. As of today, some sort of agreement has been arranged with Jeepers that are using the Rubicon Trail. I also know that the organizers of the Jeepers Jamboree make it clear that the new rules of the trail need to be strictly followed. Unfortunately, anyone with a Jeep can use the trail, including elements that are completely disregardful. I have a feeling this is why the sheriff’s department needs to watch the situation very closely. I am very aware of the undesirable elements and encounter them from time to time on the mountain roads. They tend to feel they have the freedom to do whatever they please regardless of their impact on others. They carry firearms, alcohol and illegal drugs seem to be their two major food groups, and they do not want to be told what to do by anyone, including the sheriff. Because of such people, some U.S. Forest Service Ranger now carry firearms. Only a show of strong force, arrest, and jail time seems to be effective with this type.

I have talked with some of the Jeepers in the past and they clearly do not want to be associated with this sort. They just want to enjoy their Jeeping experience. It may not be my thing but it seems reasonable that they have a place where they can do “their thing”. The Rubicon Trail seems a good location for Jeeping. It has a long history of this type of activity and it seems like a good way to keep environmental damage contained.

I am not involved with this issue at all, but hopefully there is continued dialogue, problems and concerns are being addressed and consensus is found with the parties involved.

>Spiraea splendens (densiflora) grows to about 1 meter. It is not really known for its autumn leaf color, however plants can be selected that have better autumn colors. It is easy to cultivate, however very little selection or effort has been made to select superior forms.

>As far as I know Ceanothus fresnensis is not in cultivation. It is a xeric species, grows very dense, and would most likely be perfect for a large xeric rockery. I have a feeling that deep blue flowered selections could be made with some effort, however, to my knowledge, nothing has been done to date.

>I do have some young plants of Penstemon reozlii / laetus in our Sacramento garden. It seems easy-to-grow in a deep scree (0.3 meters deep minimum). There is nothing to indicate that it needs anything special other than a deep, extremely well drained root run. It may dislike excessive summer moisture / humidity, but then that is not an issue for us.

I do grow Penstemon deustus var. pedicellatus from the east side of the Sierra Nevada. It thrives with the same culture as P. roezlii / laetus.

>To date, I have not had much success with our California native Delphinium species. The exception is Delphinium hansenii and D. gracilentum. They have been very easy. They are xeric species and need to be watered (or not watered) very carefully while dormant during the summer.

>No. Many of the plants that I am showing are not mesic at all. Conditions on some of the granite screes are extremely hot and dry. The meadows with Carex subnigricans become parched dry. Juncus parryi grows under extremely dry conditions. The only factor limiting evapotranspiration is temperature. Certainly the higher elevations are cooler than the Sacramento Valley or the Sierra Nevada Foothills. The growing season is shorter, so this might be a factor too. Summer rainfall due to thunderstorm activity is limited. I have grown some of these plants either at the Placerville farm (foothills), or in our Sacramento garden (Valley). Once established, many species go dormant (dry up and look dead) under xeric conditions. Many are tolerant of some summer irrigation but might still be dormant even though they look green and active.



A few photographs from yesterday.

The canyon of the South Fork of the American River from the top of Peavine Ridge.