Wildflowers

Don't Touch!

Reading about Elizabeth's Sumac, and her discussing poison ivy and poison sumac, made remember a shot I took of Poison Oak, at Oso Flaco Lake near Santa Maria, CA. Most of the year the leaves are green, but in fall they turn orange to red. I had never seen them as bright red as these were, and needless to say I didn't get too close. As kids we were always told that when the leaves are red they are extra "poisonous". These were just a few leaves from a plant that was climbing in the trees, as high as 6 or 8 feet high. I looked up the scientific name for this plant, Toxicodendron diversilobum, which grows in western north America, with poison ivy in the east. Contact with the leaves of this plant cause an itchy rash on the skin. I haven't experienced it for a long time, but remember "getting" poison oak after childhood hikes. We were taught early to look for the shape of the leaves, growing with three leaves on the stem. 12/4/19 Judith Sparhawk

Jimson Weed Flower

One of the plants still blooming in San Timoteo Canyon last week was the Jimson Weed. Some of the flowers were small, but this one was large and lovely, with a tinge of purple on the edges. The Jimson Weed, or Datura, or Thorn Apple, is an invasive weed introduced probably from Central America. Some parts of the plant and the seeds have some medicinal uses, although it is generally considered poisonous. It has some hallucinogenic properties, but is NOT recommended! 10/15/19 Judith Sparhawk

California Pepper Tree

The leaves and red berries of this Pepper Tree were photographed in San Timoteo Canyon on my hike there a few days ago. These trees are common in California, although they originated in Peru. They are fast-growing and long-lived, up to 200 to 300 years. 4/23/19 Judith Sparhawk

Up Close & Personal of a Joshua Tree

Yesterday I posted the image of a Joshua Tree covered with flower spears. I promised to show more detail, so here is one showing the bud coming out, and one showing the flowers at the ends of Joshua Tree branches. I believe that the brush of dry stems is the leftover flower stems from a previous year--thus several stages of growth and bloom. I decided to show both today, as I will be off the grid for a day or two, and wanted to follow up on yesterday's shot. Clearly I don't have arctangent's skill in collage! 4/7/19 Judith Sparhawk

Joshua Trees Gone Crazy!

I made a birding and photo trip out to the desert yesterday, and among other places, went by Black Rock Campground, part of Joshua Tree National Park. The effect of an extra rainy winter was in evidence, with blossoms all over the Joshua Trees. In drought years the trees look dry and quite unhappy, sometimes hardly blooming at all. This spring they are covered in blooms, and there was even some green ground cover between the trees. Stay tuned for a closer look at this interesting tree and its blossoms. 4/6/19 Judith Sparhawk

Fiddlenecks

One of the wildflowers at San Jacinto Wildlife Area was the Fiddlenecks. Although they grow in the vacant lot in my neighborhood, I'd never tried to photograph them. I like their curled stem tips with the flowers. They are in the Borage Family, and are sometimes called Rancher's Fireweed. 3/28/19 Judith Sparhawk

Eucalyptus Beauty

Los Angeles Arboretum.

Eucalyptus Trees

These special Eucalyptus trees were at the Los Angeles Arboretum. I loved the colors of the bark. They were called Eucalyptus deglupta or Mindanao Gum, native to New Guinea and the Phillipines.

Datura Bloom

At the Lavender Festival, out in the lavender fields there was an occasional Datura plant. This was a flower on one of the plants. I liked the nice purple tinge on the edges of the petals. Also known as Thorn Apple and Jimson Weed. Either way, it is poisonous.

Jimson Weed in Bloom

It's that time of year for the Jimson Weed to be in flower, and I found these purple-tinged blooms at Whitewater Canyon Preserve yesterday. So often they are pure white--very pretty--but the purple ones are my favorite.

Jimson Weed Flower

One of many beautiful flowers of Jimson Weed in Whitewater Canyon Preserve.

California Poppies

The California State Flower, the CA Poppy, is a beautiful golden orange. This shows the buds, flowers and seedpods. Judith Sparhawk

Lotsa Baby Blue Eyes

These Baby Blue Eyes are one of my favorite wildflowers. I remember then from childhood hikes--these and Shooting Stars were the flowers I always searched for. These were photographed at Descanso Gardens in the Los Angeles area, a few years ago. When I just ran across them, I decided to post them for today. 3/9/19 Judith Sparhawk

Texas Bluebonnets ~ Springtime in Texas means fields of beautiful bluebonnets.

Bluebonnets in Texas

No wonder they talk about this flower as being such a favorite in Texas. I have seen many species of lupine in many places, but these are the brightest blue ever!

Free At Last! ~ My new milkweed plant has many seed pods on it. This is the first one to open up, to let out its seeds. They began to lift and fly in the afternoon breeze. I had to grab my camera to capture them before they could fly away.

Pyramid of Seeds ~ Another shot of the milkweed seeds just out of one of the small pods on the plant I just got. Still waiting for a Monarch to happen by and choose it for a home for it's babies!

Me & My Shadow

~ All these seeds came out of a small pod milkweed plant. I liked the way the one on the right showed its shadow. They glistened beautifully in the sunlight.

Milkweed Seeds

~ This is a close-up of some of the milkweed seeds from the plant in my patio. I loved the shine from the sunlight.

Puff Ball ~ This seed head and bud of the Yellow Salsify was photographed at Cherry Creek State Park in Colorado. I loved the pattern and shine in the seeds of this puff ball, which was several inches across.

Matilija Poppy

This beautiful poppy is a wildflower of spring in Southern California. This one was very large--about 6 inches across.

Dogwood in the Sky

Dogwood in the Sky ~ The Pacific Dogwood trees are blooming in the mountains now, with many blossoms covering the boughs. They are a lovely sight.

Pacific Dogwood

~ The Pacific Dogwood trees are blooming in the mountains now, with many blossoms covering the boughs. They are a lovely sight.