In the fourteen years I have enjoyed here in Bryson, I have been fascinated by the number of related species emerging sequentially as spring progresses into summer. Through years of drought as well as years of abundant rainfall, the diversity of wildflowers continues to inspire awe.
Members of the Ceanothus genus are a highly visible example of closely related species succeeding one another throughout the season. First to appear in March through early April, is buckbrush, Ceanothus cuneatus. In good years, buckbrush blankets whole hillsides with fragrant white-blossomed shrubs, some as tall as 20 feet. As the white blossoms begin to fade heading into May, Ceanothus papillosus comes to the fore. Its brilliant showy purple flowers have earned it the name of California lilac.
Castilleja is another group that enjoys successive waves of divergent species. The earliest to bloom is the bright orange/red woolly indian paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa) found in rocky outcroppings. Next to appear is denseflower indian paintbrush (Castilleja densiflora). Bracts tipped in bright purple are interspersed with pale flowers that resemble tiny hearts. A bit later in the season, purple owl's clover (Castilleja exserta) will take over meadowlands, interspersed with sky lupines and white popcorn flower.
Among the most varied are the Calochortus lilies. Despite their delicate appearance, the mariposa lilies are surprisingly hardy, proliferating in dry rocky soils along road cuts. Our local lilies have long, thin, parallel-veined leaves, flower parts in threes, and grow from bulbs. Beyond these similarities, they are quite different in appearance and bloom time.
The petals of fairy lantern (Calochortus albus) form a closed orb as the common name suggests. Fairy lantern blooms earliest, in April, and favors shaded hillsides. Next to emerge in late spring are the pink to purple splendid mariposa (Calochortus splendens). Splendid mariposa prefers a more open grassland habitat. The last to appear in May and June are the butterfly mariposas (Calochortus venustus). If you know Spanish you'll recognize the redundancy of the name (mariposa is butterfly in Spanish). The petals of the butterfly mariposa are white to pale pink with a large dark blotch in the center.
It is shaping up to be another SuperBloom this year. “These rare and unpredictable wildflower blooms occur when high precipitation levels in natural landscape areas are combined with a years-long drought,” according to the California State Parks website.
Comentarios