Farewell to Spring

We enjoy the most wondrous of winters here in Southern California…from the warm beaches to the sunny mountains, all on display in crisp sunny days at the Rose Parade.  But in late February, we begin another remarkable season that lasts through June:  Spring!

In the foothills and canyon trails of the eastern San Gabriel Valley, there are clear  signs when the season turns.  Every year,  Spring brings the return of old friends, the wildflowers that bloom along the creeks, on sunny trails and on the hillsides.

Through the years, I’ve learned that the mountains, canyons, parks and byways in the eastern San Gabriel Valley produce a reliable bloom of Spring flowers regardless of the weather.  From late February, when wild cucumber and wild peonies give way to white and lavender ceanothis and yellow mustard, we see the nearby foothills painted yellow and green.  Then in March, purple canterbury bells, monkey flower,  and pink and white wild radish add color.

Pearly Everlasting and Penstamen:

Penstamen and Pearly Everlasting

Bycyclist

We don’t get superblooms along our trails.  Superblooms occur rarely and in desert areas, such as Lake Elsinor or the Antelope Valley where annual flower seeds lie dormant in dry desert soils until a rainy winter.  This year, after a rainy and cool winter, our hiking trails burst out in large stands of color in April and have been blooming all through May.  I’ve been calling it a superbloom because of the vibrance of this year’s display.   [Below:  nightshade and mustard, mustard and wild daisies.]

Mustard and Nightshade

Mustard and wild Daisies

Farewell to Spring means just that.  And in 2024, it means goodby to a remarkable bloom.  We will continue to have sunflowers, cliff asters, heart leafed pentstamon and red chuparosa.  In higher elevations, red fuschia.  Whether they appear in the abundant bloom of this Spring, we will see and hope.

If I failed to mention your favorite wildflower, leave a comment below…or better, leave a photograph!