Cream cups, goldfields, and native and non-native mix of dandelions edge on the Water of the Woods where Los Rasalies Lake feeds into Noble Canyon.
April 22nd: The group heads out into the Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forest near the Laguna campground. Photo by Justin Daniel.
Our Field Trips to Mt Laguna this year started around the time we expected the bloom to be in full swing. In late April, with the help of Lauren Quon, Forest Service Botanist for the Cleveland National Forest, we toured around the Laguna Lakes meadows from the campground. We quickly found plenty of green happy vegetation, most of it still just thinking about blooming. Many species like the Velvety false lupine (Thermopsis californica var semota) were barely coming out of hibernation. Vernal pools and the lakes were filled to capacity from the long cold winter rains and snowfalls.
A seasonal pool filled with snow melt and rain water. Home to garter snakes, skinks, frogs, and salamanders and an abundance of native sedges. Photo by Justin Daniel.
Parish's meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba var parishii). Photo by Justin Daniel.
In sunny patches, we did find a few examples of common buttercup (Ranunculus californicus) and Parish's meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba var parishii). Further up the road at Lake Cuyamaca, goldfields (Lasthenia sps), Southern checkbloom (Sidalcea sparsifolia), cream cups (Platystemon californicus), Red maids (Calandrinia menziesii), and much more meadowfoam were beginning to paint the edges of the water.
A full Little Laguna Lake, which is often dry by May many years, but still full in 2023. Photo by Justin Daniel.
On the Garnet Peak trail, Cleveland's beardtongue (Penstemon clevelandii) attracts hummingbirds and moths. Photo by Justin Daniel.
Return trips to Mt Laguna in early and again in late May are proving to show that the extended bloom should last into August if the cooler weather holds. Mariposa lilies (Calochortus sps), lupines (Lupinus sps), Ceanothus, cherry (Prunus ilicifolia & virginiana), gooseberry (Ribes sps) and many many more are blooming throughout June and July.
Overall, phenology, or the growth state of a plant, was delayed by as much as six weeks this year in some places and one month behind on average on the mountain. It's apparent that this summer will be spectacular for wildflowers on Mt Laguna, Cuyamaca, Volcan Mtns, Mt Palomar and into the heights of the San Jacinto Mountain peaks.
Checking out the recent prescribed burn area south of the Laguna campground. Photo by Justin Daniel.
Looking for mariposa lilies at the Desert Overlook. Photo by Justin Daniel.
Check out the Chapter Field Trips coming up and the pics posted from past events at San Diego County Native Plant Society Meetup by registering for free. Reserve your space for the trips or contact feildtrips@cnpssd.org for inquiries or special accommodations.
Cheers!--Justin
Pointing out the chirping Pacific Chorus frog happily chilling in its element. Photo by Justin Daniel.