Welcome to the 29th Annual Wildflower Hotline, brought to you by the Theodore Payne Foundation, a non-profit plant nursery, seed source, book store, and education center dedicated to the preservation of wildflowers and California native plants. This is the Friday, April 8th report. New reports will be posted each Friday through the end of May. There is excellent wildflower viewing throughout southern California in mid spring. The following is just a sampler of popular sites for flower enthusiasts. Enjoy strolling through two very different environments within the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach. Along the trails of the bright, sunny desert section see brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), desert mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea). By contrast go along the trails in the lush shaded riparian habitat and see Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis), California wild rose (Rosa californica), blackberry (Rubus ursinus), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathaceae), Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana), coral bells (Heuchera sp.) Travel south to San Diego County, home of Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve and enjoy the final days of peak bloom in the park. Canyon shrubs lush from winter rains and showing off bright yellow flowers, include Nevin’s barberry (Berberis nevinii), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea), rock rose (Helianthemum scoparium), and bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida). These woody plants are often laced with the climbing pink San Diego rose pea (Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii). San Diego sea dahlia (Coreopsis maritima), goldfields (Lasthenia coronaria), and tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) are scattered in patches along the trails along with coast paintbrush (Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis), owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta), and cream cups (Platystemon californicus). Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) and golden stars (Bloomeria clevelandii), poke up through grasses and around the bases of shrubs. Some pathways in the reserve are closed for repair. Check in at the Visitor Center to ask about the status of popular trails. Drive east from San Diego along Highway 79 for some stunning roadside scenery. Just before descending into Anza Borrego, the wildflower displays around Cuyamaca Rancho State Park will likey distract, then detour you from your intended desert destination. Lake Cuyamaca is known for its open meadows, bubbling creeks and excellent trails. Meadows are decked out in shades of chiffon yellow with Johnny jump-up (Viola pedunculata), cream cups (Platystemon californicus), and buttercup (Ranunculus californica). Spreading over the slopes above the meadows are masses of goldfields (Lasthenia sp.). with pink checkerbloom (Sidalcea malvaeflora), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), and white popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys sp.) scttered about. On the way into Anza Borrego Desert State Park along the Montezuma Valley Road, the display of heart-leaved primrose (Camissonia cardiophylla) continues to be spectacular. On the rocky cliffs, some plants are nearly three feet tall. The yellow flowers, which will turn red with age, are being joined by the orange blossoms of apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua). Use the turnouts to stop for a close-up photo of these showy plants, and notice the tiny blue flowers of the few-flowered wreath-plant (Stephanomeria pauciflora). Nearby you will find the yellow green inflated fruit on the thick-leaved ground cherry (Physalis crassifolia). On the Valley floor, the bloom of wildflowers is fading, but in Desert Gardens, red blooms at the tips of Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), and deep dark blue flowers on the indigo bush (Psorothamnus schottii) are still coloring the landscape. There are yellow flowers on the barrel cactus (Ferrocactus cylindraceus), and the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). On your walk to look for flowers, you may find yourself in the company of a good number of birds feasting on the fruits and seeds of desert’s bounty. Heading north into the Palm Springs area, try hiking in one or more of the Indian Canyons at the base of the snow covered San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mtns. Right now in Tahquitz and Andreas Canyons, creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), and desert apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) are very showy. There are more smaller wildflowers scattered around, but not in great numbers. Trails and roadsides throughout Joshua Tree National Park, except at the highest elevations, are bright with flowers. More than 140 species have been reported in bloom. The best way to see wildflowers is to stop, park safely in a designated turn-out, get out of the car and walk around with your camera. Recommended areas for those ―turnout moments‖ are (in addition to the south end of the park we’ve been reporting on for weeks) trails around the West (Joshua Tree) Entrance; the, 49 Palms Oasis Trail, and the Geology Tour Road. Four wheel drive is recommended if you go beyond Malapai Hill on the Geology Tour Road. Ubiquitous, but always spectacular shrubs pop out throughout the landscape and incude brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), the fragrant desert lavender (Hyptis emoryi), and sunny yellow-gold Parish’s viguiera (Viguiera parishii). Filling in the patches of sand between the shrubs with their own colorful displays are desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), Parish’s golden poppy (Eschscholzia parishii), brown- eyed primrose (Camissonia claviformis), and Chia (Salvia columbariae). Ribbons of Wallace’s woolly daisy (Eriophyllum wallacei )and Bigelow’s monkey flower (Mimulus bigelovii) border the sandy washes and draws. Heart-leaved evening primrose (Camissonia cardiophylla ssp cardiophylla,) silky dalea (Dalea mollis) wild heliotrope (Phacelia distans), rock hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus), desert bell (Phacelia campanularia), brittle spineflower (Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu), and several buckwheat species (Eriogonum spp.) embrace rocky slopes and bajadas. If you are driving out to the Colorado River for a little boating and recreation, travel U.S. 95 south of Needles to see fields of yellow desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata) sprinkled here and there with blue phacelia (Phacelia spp.) The showy wildflower bloom has finally started to move to the higher elevations in the northern boundary of the Needles BLM Field Office region. Giant nolina (Nolina parryi), Indian paint brush (Castilleja sp.) and Mojave gold poppy (Eschscholzia glyptosperma) are all in bloom. Enjoy a high desert flower show along the Kingston/Excelsior Mine road north of I-15 between Baker CA and Primm NV. Take the Cima Rd exit and turn north. The road is maintained until it intersects with Kingston Road 10 Miles North of I-15. From this point on, the road is normally passable for another 10 miles to Tecopa pass in the Kingston Range, but it is no longer maintained. Drive with caution and enjoy the colorful desert scenery. Cruising north along the eastern slope of the Sierra on Hwy 395, watch for the stirrings of spring bloom. In the Alabama Hills and along roadsides just south of Big Pine are good places to see patches of scale bud (Anisocoma acaulis) lining the highway. Brown-eyed primrose (Camissonia claviformis), apricot mallow, (Sphaeralcea ambigua) and desert paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa) show off their bright colors as well. You have to get out of the car to inspect other flowers including yellow throats (Phacelia fremontii), Fremont gold (Syntrichopappus fremontii), Wallace’s woolly sunflower (Eriopyllum wallacei), sand blossoms (Linanthus parryae), little blazing star (Mentzelia albicaulis) and the dainty little gilia Giant nolina (Nolina parryi), photo credit to (Gilia sp.). Along Movie Road the showy the Needles BLM Field Office scarlet milk-vetch (Astragalus coccineus) is in full bloom. The geology of the area provides a dramatic background for the bountiful flowers. The best hikes at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve are along the North Poppy Loop and the Kitanemuk Vista Point trails. The poppy (Eschscholzia californica) bloom is still moderate at the Reserve, but the grape soda lupine (Lupinus excubitus var. hallii) is very showy with blue-purple flower stems standing tall above the silvery foliage. The purple owl's clover (Castilleja exerta), another favorite of visitors, is blooming everywhere. If you are on the trails in late afternoon, carpets of evening snow (Linnathus dichotomus), closed and invisible during the day, open up to bid you a good evening. Traveling from the desert to the mountains there are sweet little wildflowers blooming even with snow on the ground in much of the region. In the San Bernardino Mountains the Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve sits on a special substrate called the pebble plains. There are loads of Douglas' violet (Viola douglasii), and Parish’s rock cress (Boechera parishii) in full bloom, as well as a cute short morph of shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersonii). Other bell flowers in flowering now include the pygmy flower rock jasmine (Androsace septentrionalis), alkali draba (Cusickiella douglasii), slender phlox (Microsteris gracilis) and much much more! In neighboring Riverside County in the Santa Ana Mountains, visit another very special habitat at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. The main trails — the vernal pool trail and trans preserve trail—offer up a number of excellent flowers. There are a few remaining chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora)