2019 - Robert's botanical adventures in Northern California

[ian mcdonald]

Hello Robert, I think this is Mimulus x burnetti, M. guttatus x M. cupreus. Coppery monkeyflower, naturalised in Scotland.

[Leucogenes]

Hello Robert

I, too, cannot say anything about Minulus lewisii at the moment. I checked all the pots today to see if this species was included. I didn't find any...admittedly, I lost track of the amount of seeded species. 😁

I suppose, however, that it behaves like most subalpine and alpine plants...the further they go into higher altitudes, the smaller and more compact (and therefore more interesting for me 😉) they become.

Today, for example, I piqued two different clones of Eriogonum heracleoides. A normal shape and a very compact shape from a relatively high altitude. I'm curious if this difference will also be seen here below (416 m above sea level).

In any case, I wish you continued success and joy in the further research and experiments of your native flora.

[Robert]

Thomas,

I have mixed results with plants from higher elevations. I have some very tight, compact forms of Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum from over 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) elevation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I also grow forms from somewhat lower elevations, which grow larger and have greater internode spacing (as well as other characteristics). Both groups have maintained their original character in our low elevation Sacramento garden, 23 feet (7 meters).

On the other side of the ledger, many, but not all, of the high elevation Penstemon species I grow become leggy and rangy in our garden. There could be a number of reasons, or combination of reasons for this phenomenon.

One idea to consider is that the earth’s atmosphere is less dense at higher elevations, thus there is less CO₂ available for plant photosynthesis. It is possible that this could lead to excessive and exaggerated growth at lower elevations. At this time, atmospheric CO₂ levels are ~ 50% above pre-industrial revolution levels and rising at the rate of 2% per year. This situation is more likely to lead to plants colonizing higher altitude regions in the mountains where other limiting factors are not a consideration. I feel sure that during the last Ice Age, the high altitude limit of plants was much lower than today. The relatively low atmospheric CO₂ concentrations during this time period were certainly a factor.



This chart shows the dramatic increase in nitrate deposition since the 1940’s. Plants definitely respond to an increase in soluble nitrogen compounds in their environment. In an earlier posting, I mentioned how nitrogen aerosols precipitate out of the atmosphere and adversely impact the plants in our Sacramento neighborhood. The proliferation of Candelaria and Xanthomendoza lichens is glaringly obvious in our area. Both lichen types thrive in nitrogen-rich environments. Today my wife and I drove to a “companion bird fair” in a neighboring town. We got caught in a traffic jam and used the time to do some “car seat” botanizing. Next to the roadway there were tree trunks so thickly colonized by Candelaria lichen that the trunks were yellow! The bottom line is that nitrogen aerosols can strongly impact our garden plants in very undesirable ways.

These are just two of many variables that can influence the growth habit of high elevation species when we attempt to grow them in our low elevations gardens. This is the way I like to analyze cultural situations in our garden. I am sure few gardeners will wish to use such methodology, but it works very well for me.

[Robert]

Hello Robert, I think this is Mimulus x burnetti, M. guttatus x M. cupreus. Coppery monkeyflower, naturalised in Scotland.

Hi Ian,

Thank you for sharing the photograph. Mimulus guttatus grows on the family farm property. It is such a beautiful species and it is a "must" for my wife and I in our Sacramento garden. I am always amazed how disjunct species can still be genetically compatible. We see this all the time and it always gets me thinking about things. 

Is Mimulus x burnetti an invasive weed in Scotland?

Things have been incredibly busy for me. I enjoy your natural history diary and wish to get back to it soon. Some parts I need to reread closely and perhaps ask for clarity. Your "Site" is very far away from California, however there are often surprising similarities. Anyway, I enjoy your diary. 

[ian mcdonald]

Thanks Robert. The Mimulus is not a common plant in the UK. According to the BSBI mapping scheme it is mostly found in northern england and southern scotland. For the distribution of plants in the UK see BSBI Maps. It should be noted that these record sites rely on people sending in their records and so are usually under-recorded.

[Robert]

ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST
El Dorado County, California

Part IV

I continued my survey along the portions of the snow free south facing slopes above the snow covered and flooded basin. Here I found Phlox diffusa starting its new season’s growth.



The weight of the deep snow cover flattened the plants of Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum. In this dormant state they looked dead and appeared that they could never recover. This species suspends its new growth and photosynthetic activity for 7 to 14 days after snowmelt to help prevent its new growth from becoming damaged by hard late season frost. It is an effective strategy, as the plants will generally be dense and full in about 30 to 45 days.



Penstemon newberryi var. newberryi occupies a similar habitat niche as Eriogonium wrightii var. subscaposum. Penstemon newberryi var. newberryi has a less effective snow cover survival strategy. About 35% of the plants that I observe each spring and summer have a degree of partial dieback from the winter season. At this time I am uncertain of the cause of this dieback. I am currently examining the possibility that it is related to a nitrogen deposition / snow mold interaction. There are also other possibilities that need to be considered.



Like many plants, the leaves of Calyptridium monospermum are filled with anthocyanids. During the autumn as photosynthesis shuts down, the leaves of this species turn red from the anthocyanids remaining in the leaf tissue.



Immediately after snowmelt the new shoots of Senecio integrerrimus emerge from the ground. This species generally occupies drier sites. This species makes rapid growth in the spring, flowers, and sets seed before the ground becomes desiccated.

[Robert]

Here Eriogonum nudum and Agoseris retrorsa are seen growing together. Eriogonum nudum remains green all winter, even under a deep snow cover. It is ready to commence photosynthesis immediately as the snow thins and melts. The dormant growth points of Agoseris retrorsa make rapid growth once the snow melts. It needs to bloom and set seed before the extremes of drought and heat arrive during the summer and autumn months.



Ceanothus arcuatus is a shrubby evergreen species. It has a low arching growth habit and is ready to grow once the snow melts.



Ceanothus cordulatus is also a shrubby evergreen species, however it grows much taller than Ceanothus arcuatus. The branches of this species are flexible and generally do not break when crushed by snow. The plants look permanently flatten at snow melt, however they will quickly return to, more or less, their original position in a few weeks time.



This site was logged of most of its large timber about 15 to 20 years ago. The logging operation severely altered the ecology of this site. Restoration work has started at this site and will continue into this coming season. Fire will be used to remove the overgrowth of Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta spp. murrayana. In some ways this will be like setting the “restart button” as this site. The area is very botanically rich especially considering the small area it is confined. Over time it will be extremely interesting to see what emerges after the area is burned over. The project has my full support. The overgrowth of Lodgepole Pine is quickly reducing the diversity of plant species on the site. There are many extremely interesting plants that grow on this site. In addition, there may be additional species in the dormant seed bank within the soil. I will be frequently visiting and recording information from this site into the future.



There is at least one bear that lives at this site. I encountered him last season. After its winter rest, this bear is hungry! It made quick work of this stump looking for insects to eat.

[Robert]

The loggers did not remove all the large timber. This grand old Sugar Pine, Pinus lambertiana, is still alive and thriving. The future “burn” at this site is going to be very selective and controlled. This Sugar Pine and the majority of the older trees at this site will be protected from the fire.



The dirt track that passes through the site was flooded with water, and more or less, acting as a seasonal stream. I have been visiting this site since ~ 1965. At snowmelt every spring, this track is always seasonal stream, so this is nothing unusual at all.



The bear was very active on this day. Bears have an extremely keen sense of smell. The bear certainly could smell me coming long before I could sight it. I have to admit that I am very protective of the bears. They are hunted. I wish them to stay safe and well away from humans.



The old concrete bridge that crosses the basin creek was still covered with deep snow. The water in the creek was chilly too, 40.3 F (4.6 C).



It took me all afternoon to traverse the basin. It was soon time for me to hike out to the Outback. On the way back home I stopped to admire the rushing flow of water in the South Fork of the Rubicon River.

I am very pleased to be out on a fairly regular basis now. I was very please to arrive as the first of the early snowmelt species started to emerge from their dormancy. This outing was very productive and a great start to the new season.

Now I am not only very busy, but I also have a backlog of outings to report on as well. In addition to this, I have a full range of outings scheduled for this coming season.

Until the next time…

[Hoy]

Very nice, Robert!

I like spring very much

Seems the hare didn't like the Senecio integrerrimus!
What is the circumference of the grand old sugar pine? It looks huge!

[Robert]

LYONS CREEK
El Dorado County, California
Part I

Thursday, 25 April 2019

Weather for selected location

Lyons Creek, 6,725 ft. 2,050 meters
Weather: Broken Clouds
Temperature, High: 53 F, 11.7 C
                       Low: 30 F, -1.1 C
Relative Humidity: 77%
Dew Point: 40 F, 4.4 C
Wind: N 1




On 25 April 2019, I traveled to the Lyons Creek Basin in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I have meteorological data recorders in isolated locations in the high terrain near the crest of the Crystal Range. I was very eager to check on things. There are a number of challenges that need to be surmounted to properly deploy meteorological instruments in high mountainous regions. Rime build up on sensors is often a major obstacle; however there can be additional challenges. I like to make frequent manual observations and check instruments frequently, but this is not always possible especially in the highest terrain. Due to large accumulations of snow, I had not been able to visit this set of instruments since late November. Recovering data and evaluating my deployment techniques was my prime goal on this outing.

The access road into the site was, more or less, free of snow until I reached 6,400 feet (1,951 meters) where the amount of snow cover abruptly changed. From this elevation onward, deep snow covered the road.



From this point I continued up the road on foot over the snow. There were signs of snowmelt and an awakening landscape everywhere. Conditions were actually somewhat dangerous. The snow was still over 2 meters deep. The runoff had cut deep “sink holes” into the snow that were often capped by only a thin veneer of hard snow. Swift, ice-cold water flowed in the bottom of the sinkholes, with sides consisting of vertical rock hard ice. Caution and knowledge of the terrain was useful to proceed safely beyond the confines of the road.



As I approached the Lyons Creek Basin, I entered a more winter-like landscape. There was some insect and bird activity, but for the most part it was very quiet.



The dormant Aspens, Populus tremuloides, were a beautiful sight. Or I should say partially dormant. With Aspen, cells become photosynthetically active before the trees leaf out later in the spring.



Close to Lyons Creek I encountered my first vista of Pyramid Peak and the crest of the Crystal Range.

[Robert]

Lyons Creek was a swift torrent of ice-cold water, 32.6 F (0.33 C) with shear snow/ice walls that rose abruptly from the flowing current. In many locations the top of the vertical walls stood 2 meters or more in height above the creek.



The upstream view from the Lyons Creek Bridge was quite dramatic. It will be at least a month before I will be able to drive into this site and there will still be plenty of lingering snow on the ground. Snow in the higher terrain will remain much longer.



After checking the condition and placement of the instruments and downloading the data I started back to the Outback. On my return hike I noticed that a bit of moisture was starting to filter into the area.



From the Lyons Creek area I drove down the mountain to Peavine Ridge. It was about noon when I arrived and the convective cloudiness was continuing to develop. The weather was showing signs of becoming interesting.



Viola purpurea ssp. integrifolia has a widespread distribution on Peavine Ridge. In addition to subspecies integrifolia, I will occasionally encounter colonies of V. purpurea ssp. purpurea on the ridge, however this subspecies has a much more limited distribution in this specific area. Subspecies integrifolia exhibits a fair amount of genetic variance. Occasionally very unusual forms of this subspecies can be found.

[Robert]

Greenleaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, is one of three Mazanita species that can be found on Peavine Ridge. Its blooming period is somewhat dependent upon weather conditions. Last season with relatively warm weather until the cold March arrived prompted them to bloom earlier in the season. Their prolonged and variable early spring blooming cycle helps assure an early season food supply for many insects and a few birds.



The race of Dodecatheon, Primula hendersonii, on Peavine Ridge consists of a very unique ecotype. Over time I have been mapping their distribution and recording the consistent characteristics that defines this ecotype.



Dichelostemma multiflorum is quite abundant on Peavine Rigde. The species occupies a considerable attitude range on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. The new growth as it emerges in the spring is generally green, however a small percentage will have purplish foliage. This plant exhibits this attribute at the extreme end of the purple spectrum. I am quite curious and have recorded the GPS coordinates of this plant. I will continue to watch this plant throughout this growing season, and beyond if it continues to exhibits any interesting qualities.



Calyptridium monospermum is a very common species throughout the western slope of the Crystal Range. It also may have desirable indicator qualities that are of interest to me. I make an effort to be very observant of even the most common species.



I have one very special site on the Ridge where many interesting plants grow. Viola sheltonii is certainly among my favorites at this site. I was very pleased to find them in bloom.

[Robert]

Very nice, Robert!

I like spring very much

Seems the hare didn't like the Senecio integrerrimus!
What is the circumference of the grand old sugar pine? It looks huge!

Hi Trond,

I forgot to answer your question concerning butterflies.

They generally get trapped in narrow vertical shaped objects, like a rain gauge. Unfortunately there are other things around such as hollow posts of various sorts that collect water or pot holes near the mist zone of a stream where I occasionally find them. It is also a scattered occurrence. Sometimes I find many, then there are long periods where I do not find anything.

I will be back where the Sugar Pines grows very soon. I will measure it at that time and report back. 

Seems the hare didn't like the Senecio integrerrimus!     I do not get it.  I guess I made a typing error somewhere? If so, it's not a big deal. Hopeful what ever I did it can be somehow understood. 

[Robert]

LYONS CREEK
El Dorado County, California

Part II

I spent a great deal of time examining the individual plants, taking notes and photographs. Viola sheltonii is beautiful and generally the first Viola species to bloom each spring in this region.



With small bell-shaped flower Fritillaria micrantha could be very easy to over look. Despite the tiny flower I have a great appreciation for this species. Frequently the foliage is tinted a beautiful and interesting purplish-green color (those anthocyanids at work again).



Eriogonum prattenianum var. prattenianum is quite abundant at several sites on Peavine Ridge. This low, almost mat-forming species has beautiful creamy-yellow flowers. The new growth is a striking, with densely hairy silver colored leaves.



It is always nice to stop and take in the view. This is a view off to the Southwest with the canyon of the South Fork of the American River in the foreground and the great Central Valley of California in the far distance.



Turning around and facing east an active weather event was in progress. The convective cloudiness had reached the cumulus stage with the air parcels quickly approaching the LFC. Actually the cloud in the foreground has already reached the LFC.

[Robert]

As much as I enjoy watching clouds and developing weather, the plants also had my attention. There were large blooming colonies of Primula hendersonii growing among the andesite rocks and boulders. In this situation, they seemed to thrive both in the light shade of conifers as well as in full sun.



The bright yellow flowers of the early blooming Sanicula tuberosa were seen throughout this portion of the Ridge. Here the Sanicula can be seen with the new growth of Triteleia multiflorum. Notice, in this case, the leaves are completely green.



Penstemon roezlii is seen frequently in this area. In the wild it always seems to be a rangy unassuming plant with pretty flowers. In cultivation it can be completely transformed. Currently I have seedlings that are very dense, full and bloom abundantly. I am completely dedicated to working with our local native flora. At times, within a few generations, it is possible to make quick progress with some species. Not all species yield to cultivation and improvement easily. Some can be very difficult to work with, but for me the challenges and learning experiences make all worthwhile.



This is the area that was consistently bare of snow this past winter. At this stage of growth, at this site, things look unassuming. I will continue to monitor this site into the future.



The convective clouds exploded in growth when the rising air parcels reached the LFC. Now things were off to the races. From this point on, plus or minus, 45 minutes thunderstorm activity was possible.