California: Wild flower report

BradS · Mar 24, 2006

Wild flower season is upon us. I thought it would be interesting to hear what's blooming in your area.

Here in the S.F. Bay area, we've had poppies for a couple of weeks already. I don't think thatthey've peeked yet however. The ice plant along I-680 is just coming into bloom. Maybe next week?

What's happening in your area? I's especially lik eto hear from somebody in Kern county.

SteveH · Mar 24, 2006

Brad,
This is actually a *very* interesting idea. I wonder if we can get a map or something - like they have on the weather channel in the fall to show fall color peaks - to list various enviromental/seasional occurances (flowers, cherry blossoms, etc).
Here in Northern DE/South East PA, the flowers started about a week ago to bloom. Bulbed types opened mid last week, and the wildflowers just started yesterday.

Regards,

kaiyen · Mar 24, 2006

I'm not sure where Kern County is, actually, but...I found this report online:

http://www.calphoto.com/wflower.htm

Looks like we're a bit behind schedule, or perhaps just not looking so good...

I'll be going to the Pinnacles with some fellow photo-clubbers next month. Hopefully it'll be pretty there.

allan

MattCarey · Mar 24, 2006

kaiyen said:
I'm not sure where Kern County is, actually, but...I found this report online:

http://www.calphoto.com/wflower.htm

Looks like we're a bit behind schedule, or perhaps just not looking so good...

I'll be going to the Pinnacles with some fellow photo-clubbers next month. Hopefully it'll be pretty there.

allan

Kern County covers a big area from Bakersfield, through the southern Sierra, and into the Mojave desert. It is hard to consider it one place!

The trees along I5 in the central valley were flowering a few weeks back. It was pretty much over a week ago when I was driving through. The mustard (I think) plants in the orchards near the old IBM/San Jose plant are going gangbusters. I would expect that to be the same throughout the Santa Clara valley.

Poppies are not very prominent around my area. Some are out, but not as much as previous years.

I'll be driving down to Bakersfield in a week. I'll see what it is like then.

Matt

rbarker · Mar 24, 2006

I thought I saw a sprout of a wildflower last week here in Rio Rancho, but it turned out to be a weed in my rawn (lawn made of rocks).

BradS · Mar 24, 2006

MattCarey said:
The trees along I5 in the central valley were flowering a few weeks back. It was pretty much over a week ago when I was driving through. The mustard (I think) plants in the orchards near the old IBM/San Jose plant are going gangbusters. I would expect that to be the same throughout the Santa Clara valley. Matt

re: Trees - Yeah, we drove up (out?) to Oakdale a few weeks ago. All the almond orchards were in bloom. Absolutely stunning!. I would imagine that the bloom is off the bud now though.

There is a field of mustard (?) weed growing along I-680 in Fremont. Must be 10 acres of bright yellow. Hope to get out and about this weekend to photgraph some of this stuff. My accountant is workign though so, not sure if I'll have the opportunity in my role as Mr. Mom.

roteague · Mar 24, 2006

BradS said:
There is a field of mustard (?) weed growing along I-680 in Fremont. Must be 10 acres of bright yellow.

Sounds more like canola (rapeseed).

BradS · Mar 24, 2006

roteague said:
Sounds more like canola (rapeseed).

This particular field is really kinda funny. Every year about this time it erupts in a flood of bright yellow. The owner mows it and the yellow plants return in a few weeks. Later in the season, it is planted with, what I assume, is the cash crop...wheat perhaps? Anyway, the "flowers" are obviously just a nuisance to the farmer. I suspect he considers them to be weeds.

Aggie · Mar 24, 2006

Actually the mustard plants are a great organic version of replenishment/fertilizer/nitrogen fixing plant. They just cut it and let it compost itself in places like farms, or vineyards, or they plow it under. It's in the same family as alfalfa. Damn now I am showing my farmer's daughter roots.

BTW in the valley's here the flowers are just starting. On the mountains (real ones) it will be late June before they start.

BradS · Mar 25, 2006

Aggie said:
Actually the mustard plants are a great organic version of replenishment/fertilizer/nitrogen fixing plant. They just cut it and let it compost itself in places like farms, or vineyards, or they plow it under. It's in the same family as alfalfa. Damn now I am showing my farmer's daughter roots.

BTW in the valley's here the flowers are just starting. On the mountains (real ones) it will be late June before they start.

Ah, sounds something like the corn farmers do with the soy beans.

California: Wild flower report

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