Figueroa Mountain Wildflower Update: April 29, 2024

Greetings everyone! In scouting the wildflowers late last week, I noticed that they are changing rapidly. While there are some California poppies still out, the majority of them are fading and preparing to spread their seeds for next year’s displays. The carpets of poppies, for the most part, are gone, leaving mostly sky lupine. The snow that we had a couple of weeks ago may have played a role in their departure.

Grass Mountain never did have a poppy display this year. I believe that they may have been there, but after two years of heavy rain, the mountain was covered by the tall grasses and the poppies could not be seen. While the early and some mid-season varieties have taken their exit bow, the late varieties are starting up. Let’s take a look and see what’s out there.

Starting at the first cattle guard and continuing to the canopy area, hummingbird sage, blow wives, buttercups, Chinese houses, blue dick, fiesta flowers, miners’ lettuce and lupine are doing well.

In the canopy area, look for Johnny jump-ups, fiesta flowers, buttercups, hummingbird sage, blue dick, poppies, lupine and the start of Mexican elderberry.

As you continue to climb the hill, California poppies can still be found along the road and on the rocky hillsides accompanied by golden yarrow, purple onions, buttercups, dudleyas, lupine, wallflowers, arroyo lupine, goldfields, Colter’s lupine, and stunning Catalina mariposa lilies are making their grand appearance as they pop up throughout the grassy fields. This year appears to be a good year for these beauties! Also look for wild canyon peas in the shaded rocky areas before getting to Vista Point.

Vista Point (large gravel turnout about 11.4 miles from the bottom) still has goldfields plus two types of clover, dandelions, as well as blue-eyed grass. The blue-eyed grass didn’t look the greatest, perhaps the snow of two weeks ago may have stunned them. I’ll keep you posted on their condition. Across from Vista Point and going past the Figueroa Station, look for golden yarrow, chia, dandelions, the start of golden yarrow, coreopsis, bush lupine, sky lupine and mustard.

The field before Tunnell Road looks so happy with beautiful orange wallflowers dancing around as the wind sways them back and forth, Goldfields and wild onions can also be spotted.

About a half mile further, the beautiful hillside that two weeks ago carpeted the area with orange and purple has lost the orange. The poppies are gone, probably from the snow, but it didn’t bother the sky and bush lupine one bit. This hillside, as well as the surrounding ones, remain purple with these two beauties and if the sun is shining and warms them up, one can smell their delightful, breathtaking aroma. Within this hillside, globe gilia and caterpillar phacelia are coming in. As you continue down the road, one can still see small sections of poppies within the rocky hillsides. Perhaps they didn’t get exposed to the snow as much as the others did because of the tree cover?

As one continues along this stretch to the Davy Brown Trailhead, look for common phacelias, sky lupine, wild onion, globe gilia, poppies, chia and beautiful bush lupine.

Continuing on this stretch to Ranger Peak, look for popcorn flower, chias, lomatium and beautiful Indian Paintbrush.

As you drive halfway up Ranger Peak, those adorable, whimsical baby blue eyes continue to peek at you along the bottom portions of the shaded hillsides.

Ranger Peak to Cachuma is gorgeous with bush lupine lining portions of the road, accompanied by their heavenly smell. Bush poppies are quickly joining the fun, along with sticky monkey flowers that are just starting to come out. Also look for popcorn flower, poppies, chia, common phacelias, Colter’s lupine, scarlet buglers and Mexican elderberry.

Sunset Valley is pretty active these days. Check out the popcorn flower, small yellow poppies, golden yarrow, Mexican Elderberry, bush poppies, black sage, thistle, common phacelia, stinging lupine, prickly phlox, morning glories, Chinese houses, baby blue eyes, charming clematis, chia, Colter’s lupine, caterpillar phacelia, the start of stick monkey flowers, and a couple of punch bowl clarkia were spotted as well. A carpet of a new variety of flowers to this area decided to join the fun. These sweet little things are known as gypsym spring beauties, and they certainly are beauties. Having never seen them before, I had a member of the California Native Plant society ascertain that my identification was correct, and he verified that they were. Apparently they can be found within portions of the Los Padres but it was the first time I’ve spotted them in the Figueroa area. Check them out as you start going down the hill on the right, along the same side as the Chinese houses.

Happy Canyon has similar flowers to Sunset Valley only nowhere as active. As you head down the hill, look for sky lupine, stinging lupine, poppies, popcorn flower, bush poppies, Colter’s lupine, chia, globe gilia, vetch, clematis, Mexican Elderberry, black sage, and mustard. When you get to the shaded grassy fields on the right, once you go over the creek crossings, look for fiesta flowers, vetch and the start of Chinese houses. Also, look for prickly phlox on the rocky slopes beyond these shaded fields.

Beyond the rocky hillsides and continuing down to Chicken Springs, a few poppies can still be spotted, although they never really made a big appearance on Happy Canyon Road this year. Also look for arroyo lupine, sky lupine, lovely Catalina mariposa lilies dancing in the grassy fields and seep spring monkey flowers in the wet spring areas along the road.

As you continue down the hill beyond Chicken Springs, keep your eyes open for poppies, sky lupine, common onion, prickly phlox, sky lupine, Chinese houses, morning glories, and caterpillar phacelia.

A reminder to all wildflower viewers…when stopping to take pictures, to take a hike or for any other reason, please do not block the road at any time or double park. As you all know, this is a hazard and makes it impossible for an emergency vehicle to get through if their assistance is required. Also remember, that violation notices will be issued if parked vehicles are blocking access.

That’s all for this update. If you would like to be added to the Figueroa Wildflower Update email list, please contact Helen Tarbet by e-mail at helen.tarbet@usda.gov. See you in two weeks!