2017 - Robert's botanical adventures in Northern California

[Robert]

I am very sorry but my Tells Peak posting will be delayed for a few days. My services are urgently needed on a project to help save a local oak woodland.

[Maggi Young]

Don't worry - we can wait!  Good luck with this project.

[Robert]

I finally finished my presentation to the City of Sacramento and can get on with my posting of the Tells Peak outing. In the mean time, some photographs from EL Dorado National Forest taken two days ago at Lyons Creek.



Lyons Creek



Water levels have dropped considerably now that the bulk of the snow has melted.



Fireweed – Chamerion angustifolium ssp. circumvagum



Pyramid Peak and the southern portion of the Crystal Range



The monsoon has arrived and there are huge afternoon thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada.

[Robert]

Some of the late season bloomers have started. Anaphalis margaritacea.



Potentilla gracilis



Solidago elongata is another late bloomer.



Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei

[Robert]

TELLS PEAK

Thursday, 27 July 2017

Part I

Sacramento Weather

Weather: Clear
Temperature, High: 99 F, 37 C
                       Low: 63 F, 17 C


The previous week I had botanized the upper sections of the Red Peak trail and the area around Lake No. 3 at the base of Red Peak. On this outing I returned to the same area to botanize the lower sections of the Tells Peak trail (aka the Highland trail) from the Van Vleck trailhead to the junction of the Shadow Lake trail. The Tells Creek trail and the Red Peak trail share the same rout for a short distance before the two trails diverge. After a mile or so, the Red Peak trail bears southeast over a low ridge to the Bassi Fork drainage. The Tells Peak trail immediately crosses Tells Creek (again) and bears off the northeast.



The initial portion of the trail is quite interesting. After existing a mixed coniferous forest and crossing Tells Creek, the trail (actually an old dirt logging road from the 1970’s) traverses a mesic – xeric mosaic, with a long meadow in the shallow valley to the north and a thick coniferous forest to the south. A number of seeps and areas of shallow subterranean moisture emerge from the southern forest creating patchwork of lush vegetation that is punctuated by an otherwise xeric landscape.

Chrysolepis sempervirens, Bush Chinquapin, is found growing occasionally along this section of the trail.



Eriogonum incanum is seen frequently in the dry gravelly soil. This superb specimen stood out among the numerous plants of this species seen along this route.



Eucephalus breweri is a late season bloomer and they were just starting into their flowering cycle as I worked my way up the trail. This xeric species grows abundantly at this elevation on the western slope of the Crystal Range.



Sidalacea glaucescens is another very common species that blooms over a long period of time. Most forms are unassuming, however occasionally nice forms with many flowers, such as this one, are seen.



Lupinus fulcratus is one of a number of xeric Lupinus species found in this area. The raceme of this specimen is about as good as it gets with this species. More often, they are seen with only a few open flowers at any one time.

[Robert]

In the xeric environment, many Poaceae species can be seen growing in scattered stands. Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus (pictured) is one. Other grasses frequently seen include, Stipa lemmonii var. lemonii, Bromus carinatus var. marginata (yes, we have native Brome Grasses), and Elymus elymoides var. elymoides to name a few.



One of my favorite small grasses is Danthonia californica, seen here with Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea.



The minty fragrance of Monardella odoratissima ssp. pallida is divine.



Of coarse, there are plenty of subtle plants and tiny flowered plants in the xeric landscape. In sunny openings of the forest, the Rubiaceae, Kelloggia gailioides is seen occasionally with its small pinkish flowers.



In shaded portions of the coniferous forest, the white umbels Ligusticum grayi brighten the dark forest floor.

[Robert]

The previous week I had seen many Nodding Microseris, Microseris nutans, at peak bloom. This week they had mostly gone over. The majority of the plants encountered are unassuming, however those with many flowering stems are quite impressive.



The moist mesic sites along the trail were spectacular with lush gardens filled with a variety of species in full bloom. Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei and Senecio triangularis dominate this patch.



Senecio triangularis thrives in moist mesic locations. With abundant moisture they grow luxuriously with large heads of yellow flowers.



Many of our native Lupine species are quite xeric, however Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei is quite dependent on mesic conditions for optimal growth. Lush stands can be found near streams and seeps or where ever an even supply of moisture is available throughout the year.



Lilium parvum is a favorite of mine. The small orange bells are very showy. Generally, I see 5 to 10 flowers per stem, but at times I have found robust specimens with up to one hundred flowers on a single stem. Personally, I like the plants with fewer flowers.

[Robert]

It is quite enchanting to see the flowers of Aquilegia formosa mingling with the other flowering plants in the lush mesic gardens.



I especially like the contrast between the blue-purple of Delphinium nuttallianum and the orange-red of Aquilegia formosa flowers.



I have been observing Delphinium nuttallianum in bloom for many weeks now. With a cursory look, the flowers appear to be quite uniform in color from one plant to the next. If one observes closely, it is quite apparent that there is a considerable range in flower color. Some are a light lavender-blue, many are a rich lavender-blue, and others deep almost inky blue.



A terrible photograph moment, but…..       On rare occasions pure white forms of Delphinium nuttallianum can be found. They are very striking. There is so much variation in nature; nature’s diversity seems to go on infinitely. When out, I try to pay attention to everything, even the very common and abundant species. I am always finding an unusual form of something: an unusual flower color, odd foliage, a chance hybrid, or some other interesting characteristic.



Rubus parviflorus is often found near springs and seeps. I enjoy the fresh, bold foliage of this species. In addition, the red autumn berries can be quite tasty and are beautiful against the lush green foliage.

[Robert]

TELLS PEAK

Part II

As I continued up the trail, the towering stems and large white heads of Heracleum maximum dominated the next lush garden I encountered. A few flowering stems of Veratrum californicum var. californicum can also be seen.   Many of the stems were approaching 2 meters in height. The orange flowering plants in the foreground are Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata, with a few yellow flowering Senecio triangularis mixed in.



Where there was abundant moisture there were often thick stands of Herucleum maximum. With such lush conditions, the leaves on many of the Herucleum were easily over 0.3 meters across.



Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata is such a beautiful species when in bloom. The flowers last for many weeks and often new flowering stems will emerge and continue the blooming cycle.



In these lush, highly mesic gardens, a new set of Poaceae is found. Drooping Weedreed, Cinna latifolia, is one. In the highly mesic environment, plants can sometimes reach 2 meters in height. Superficially this species resembles Manna Grass, Glyceria elata, however on close examination the spikets of Cinna have only one floret, while those of Glyceria have 8 or more florets per spiket.



The distance to the junction of the Red Peak trail and the Tells Peak / Highland trail is only about a mile (1.6km), however it took me several hours a I examined the plants closely. At this point I crossed Tells Creek again and started up the Tells Peak trail. Shortly, another large meadow appears on the right hand side of the trail as one moves up the trail. From the trail, it appears that there is not much flowering action in the meadow.

[Robert]

I know better, so I left the trail and started to walk out into the meadow at one of my favorite sites. Large drifts of the yellow flowering Helenium bigelovii were in full bloom. A few of the white flowering Apiaceae, Yampah, Perideridia parishi ssp. latifolia, were mixed in creating a beautiful sight.



The Helenium were worth a closer look. There were many other flowering species mixed with the Helenium that could not be seen from a distance. Thousands of blooming Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii fill this meadow earlier in the season. This bulb is quite tolerant of moisture as many were observed growing and thriving in standing water.



There were also masses of Oreostemma alpigenum ssp. andersonii in full bloom.



Most of the meadow was still flooded with water, the perfect environment for many sedges, Carex sp., and Bulrush, Scirpus diffusus. As I slogged through the meadow on slightly higher and drier ground there were thick stands of our native barley, Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. brachyantherum.



Looking back toward the trail there was a good view of the mixed Red Fir, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, forest.

[Robert]

I continued to slog through the meadow. There was an incredible variety of species to see. In places giant stands of Aconogonon phytolaccifolium blocked my progress.



At my feet was a myriad of species in bloom, such as Mimulus tilingii with its large showy yellow flowers.



There were many pleasant surprises. It is always a delight to find the Orchidaceae, Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys, in bloom. This species thrives in swampy environments.

The actual delight and surprise for the day was finding another Orchidaceae in bloom, Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis. This species enjoys much higher and drier ground in the coniferous forest. I wished that I still had some memory remaining in my camera when I found them. Their white, pink spotted, flowers are quite amazing.



The colorful yellow and white flowers of Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia were also present among the grasses, sedges, and other flowering plants.



I eventually made my way to the upper end of the meadow and rejoined the trail as it moved to higher ground. In a small dry clearing I found Cirsium andersonii in bloom. This was a great spot to sit and photograph butterflies, as the butterflies are attracted to Cirsium andersonii.

[Robert]

After a considerable amount of time photographing butterflies (it takes considerable patience), I continued on up the trail. In this xeric environment I found a small group of Astragalus bolanderi in flower.



The plants are quite small, however they are nothing like the tight bun making species seen near the summits of the highest mountains of the Crystal Range.



The trail went from one meadow to the next. Each meadow is distinct with it own unique mix of plant species. The mix of species is partly determined by moisture levels, soil type, elevation, exposure, and other factors. This time of year they are gloriously beautiful.



Like the Poaceae, there are plenty of Carex species to see in a variety of habitats. Carex athrostachya (pictured) is quite common in the moist meadows in this area. Caex fracta is seen frequently and enjoys a bit drier ground. Another frequently seen species, Carex utriculata, is often found in shallow standing water.



Now that the flowering season is advancing, Aconitum columbianum is coming into its blooming cycle. The flowers pictured are typical for the species, however darker flowered forms can sometimes be found. I am sure that white flowered forms are out there, however I have never seen any.

[Robert]

TELLS PEAK

Part III

Manna Grass, Glycera elata, is frequently found growing near seeps and springs. It is a robust species often reaching 2 meters in height. The ripe seeds are edible and make a very good grain.
 


This was a typical scene as I hike up the trail toward Tells Peak – one beautiful garden after another.



Many of the more xeric meadows were filled with the annual Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea. Yampah, Perideridia can also be seen in bloom. Earlier in the season this site was filled with blooming plants of Leptosiphon ciliata, Allium campanulata, and other early blooming species.



Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea is quite showy when seen blooming in mass.



One wet meadow was full of Yampah, in this case Perideridia parshii ssp. latifolia.

[Robert]

As I continued up the trail, the terrain was becoming much drier in many locations and a whole new set of wildflowers started to emerge.



This beautiful xeric meadow is full of tiny flowered species: Navarretia leptalea ssp. leptalea (lavender-pink), Castilleja tenuis (yellow), and Perideridia (white).



As I slowly climbed higher, there were some nice vistas of the northern Crystal Range. Here the northern slopes of Red Peak can be seen with some large snowfields.



My timing was perfect to catch Wyethia mollis at peak bloom. What caught my interest the most at this location were the andesite rocks and boulders scattered among the usual granite (I will have more on this on a later posting).



This large xeric Wyethia mollis dominated meadow goes on for several miles in every direction. Last year when I hiked through this meadow there was an ocean of Collomia grandiflora in full bloom between the Wyethia. This year there was not even a trace of this annual species.

At the top end of this meadow (7,100 ft. – 2,164 m) I meet the junction of the Shadow Lake Trail. It had taken me all day to hike 3.83 miles (6.16 km), but then I took my time and studied the flora in detail. In addition, considerable time and patience is needed when photographing butterflies. It was 3:30 p.m., 75 F (24 C), and time to return to the Outback.

This was another extremely productive and successful outing.

Since this outing I have returned to the Gerle Creek – Loon Lake area (not far to the north). I will be reporting on this very soon.

Until next time…….

[Robert]

GERLE CREEK

On Saturday, I went to Gerle Creek where my father’s mountain cabin was located. This is the old turn off to Gerle Creek. Back in 1965 when my father built the cabin, the paved road in the foreground was gravel. The road off to Gerle Creek was a narrow dirt track.



The old dirt track wound its way through the forest for several miles and then crossed Gerle Creek at Airport Flat. Back in 1965, Airport Flat was a clearing in the forest, now there is a new young forest of conifers growing there.



A short distance down stream from the Gerle Creek Bridge there is a large pool where I fished when I was very young.



It was a short hike from my father’s cabin down to the pool. Back in 1965 I never saw anyone at this site, even on the weekends. Now there are people all over the place. The extreme volume of visitors is hard on the ecosystem and difficult to manage.

The old dirt track to the former sites of Francis Cow Camp, Lawyer Cow Camp, then to Wentworth Springs on the south side of the Gerle Creek Bridge is now an off-road vehicle area. Off road vehicles are extremely hard on the environment. I do confess that having a designated off road vehicle area is better than none. Without a designated area, the off road vehicle riders will go anywhere they like, including very sensitive sites. Wetland areas seem to be especially attractive. They love to splash through to water and turn a swamp or a vernal pool into a mud hole. The designated area does limit the destruction to a limited area. In addition, regulations are posted and this helps with enforcement of the laws.

Riders are required to stay on “posted” trails. Most follow the rules, however those that do not created a considerable amount of damage very quickly. It is very difficult for the authorities to manage the extreme volume of visitors.



The turn off at Angel Creek goes down to Gerle Creek Reservoir. Gerle Creek Reservoir is about a mile or two down stream from my father’s cabin. I liked to hike down to the reservoir and fish when I was young. I caught some huge brown trout in this cove when I was a boy.