Tag: Native wildflowers

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Native Wildflowers of the San Gabriel Mountains

Posted on June 17, 2015 – Written by Chris Kasten
The following photos were recently taken while out hiking in three different canyons on the Angeles National Forest.  These three native wildflowers of the San Gabriel mountains are in full bloom as of this writing.  The first image, Crimson Columbine Aquilegia formosa, was captured along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, just downstream from the confluence of Mine Gulch, Vincent Gulch and the Prairie Fork.  Its’ bright red and yellow created a vivid contrast against the thickets of white alder that line the stream course.

A solitary Crimson Columbine flower, Aquilegia formosa, leans out over the upper headwaters of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Photo was taken just downstream from Mine Gulch campsite, Sheep Mountain Wilderness. June, 2015

The second image, Humboldt’s Lily Lilium humboldtii, was taken in the Big Santa Anita Canyon between Fern Lodge Junction and Roberts’ Camp.  These lantern-like beauties favor June as their time to make their brief appearance.

The purplish leopard spots against an orange background make for this unforgettable sight. The Humboldt Lily (Lilium humboldtii) growing here was found in Big Santa Anita Canyon, just upstream from Roberts’ Camp at the confluence of the main canyon and Winter Creek.

This final image, Heart Leaved Penstemon Keckiella cordifolia, was taken alongside the Gabrielino Trail in the Arroyo Seco, between Switzer’s Campground and the confluence of Bear Canyon.  This close-up view is taken amongst chaparral plants on warm southwest facing slopes.

This symmetrical floral scene caught my eye while heading down the Arroyo Seco. Heart Leaved penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia) is a showy climbing vine that can be found throughout much of the chaparral plant community of the San Gabriel mountains.

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Chantry Flats Spring Wildflowers are out Early

Posted on May 11, 2015 – Written by Chris Kasten

Sticky leaf monkey flower and indian pink grace a slope in San Olene Canyon near Chantry Flats, Big Santa Anita Canyon.

As the Spring days lengthen, look for Sticky Leaf Monkey Flower (mimulus aurantiacus) & Indian Pink (silene laciniata) in full bloom on your next hike out of Chantry Flats.  Despite our lack of winter rains and snow, the grass covered hillsides of our front-country canyons still remain mostly green.  It’s as if many of our chaparral flowering plants have a sense that if they’re going to bloom at all, then they need to do it now.  The flowery scene shown here would typically take place during the warmer summer season, almost a couple of months out from May.

Both the Upper Winter Creek and Gabrielino Trails provide the best viewing of wildflowers.  If you take the Upper Winter Creek Trail, your best opportunities for seeing flowering plants will be between the Chantry Flats picnic area and the high point of the trail where it begins to descend toward Hoegees Campground.  On the Gabrielino, most of your opportunities will be between Fern Lodge Junction and Cascade picnic area.

Whichever way you go, the ideal locations will likely be out in the direct sun or semi-shade.  Besides finding the above pictured flowers, you’ll likely see Ceanothus, commonly known  as buckbrush or wild lilac with its’ clusters of tiny, fragrant, lavender flowers.  Also, look for Phacelia, with beautiful purple, trumpet-shaped flowers.  Vines of wild cucumber along with a myriad of small, white flowers (non-edible) can be seen tangled throughout lots of the shrubs this time of year.  The spiked seed pods are bright green and soft in the Spring.  A great website to visit for details of hundreds of plants, including photos of wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains is:  www.calflora.net.

This is a really good time to be out hiking the front-country.   The temps are still mild and a number of canyons still have some flowing water.