CSERC Blogger

It’s that time of year where I have to put my skis away for another long summer (sigh). Fortunately, spring is kind to me and sends comfort in the blankets of wildflowers that now cover our foothills, and are beginning their seasonal creep up the sides of our mountains. Stalking wildflowers and reveling in their beauty comes high up on my list of obsessions.

Yesterday, my classmate Mae and I paused outside of Knight’s Ferry on Highway 108 to do some field observations for our Geomorphology class, but were quickly distracted by the rainbows of lupine, poppies, vetch, and popcorn flower to name a few of the flowers that are in full bloom in that location.

Nature’s rock garden is so inviting!

Here’s a few more of my favorites that we have photographed in our Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains.

Brodiaea or Blue Dicks- found all over, blooms early in areas that quickly dry as summer heat kicks in.

Corn lily- found in moist, open montane meadows.

Loco weed- a high country dweller. I took this picture up by Leavitt Lake, just past Sonora Pass.

The Scarlet monkey flower- I encounter this flower around creeks and rivers in the mountains. So dramatic!

Shooting stars- Always a favorite, these ladies prefer a moist habitat to live in, and can be found at many elevations depending on the time of year.

Striped coralroot- found throughout mature coniferous forests in this region. This is one of a many different species of flowers (including several orchids) found in our region that unlike the overwhelming majority of plants, actually do NOT get their energy from the sun! Instead they have a parasitic relationship with a type fungi that live in the soil, from which they get their nutrients. If you see plants in the forest without any green pigmentation, the chances are they are “myco-heterotrophs” too.

Western columbine- A common yet lovely showy flower that is found along creeks, rivers, and in moist areas like meadows.

This is of me smelling one of my all-time favorite flowers- the Washington Lily. If you are ever lucky enough to encounter one of these beauties before they have been munched on by deer, stop and smell the flowers! Their fragrance is intoxicating. They can be found sporadically throughout mature forests, in sunny spots between the trees.

Well, I hope these pictures inspire some of you to get out there and find some wildflowers for your own viewing pleasure. Right now the foothills are still just exploding with a diverse assortment of flowers, and the Knight’s Ferry, Table Mountain, or Red Hills areas are great spots to get easy access to some excellent viewing.

Let me know what your favorite wildflower is, share a great picture, or tell us about a wildflower adventure that you have had! Happy Spring!

Julia Stephens
CSERC Associate