Desert Plant Wrapup – 2014

Despite the three year drought in Southern California, my folks and I racked up a good collection of flower blossoms for our dessert plant wrap up. It amazes me that we are still adding new plants and flowers to our virtual album after all these years, and in increasingly drier conditions! (See previous albums for 2012 and 2013).

Our visit to the chaparral expanded our palette with a collection of plants that are perfectly happy with little water, well-drained rocky soil, and lots of sun. I’m still surprised to think of the huge Ceanothus bushes we saw, with their beautiful blue or white blossoms, basically growing in gravel! Here is this year’s album, showing some of our favorite flowers.

 Paper Bag Bush	 Pink Desert Mat
 Desert Pincushion	 California Buckwheat
Yellow Bush Mallow	Ceanothus
 Deer Bush	Tree Tobacco
 Paint Brush	Climbing Milkweed

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Whitewater Preserve

We visited Whitewater Preserve twice this year – both times on a short schedule. This is one of our favorite outings when we visit Southern California (see 2012 and 2013). The light and sweep of sky and land is spectacular, and the plants and landscape seem to change from visit to visit.

Snow capped Mount San Jacinto

The Visitor Center was closed for parking lot repairs on our first visit. Undeterred, we hiked up the dry river bed to enjoy the plants and vistas. In past years, a healthy creek has flowed through the river bed, varying its course from year to year. Not this time. We could see signs of the recent rainstorm, but the water had soaked into the sand. The nearby mountains still had snow from the downpour of the previous day.

Whitewater River bed

We saw a great display of wild grape vine (Vitis girdiana). The vines are frequently draped over shrubs and plants, and look like they are strangling their hosts. But here, clinging to a boulder, they seemed more appealing. We also saw a natural “rock wall” in the form of a dry river bed. I love finding these in situ landscaping examples.



Wild grape vine

River bed

 

Blossoms were few and far between. As with last year, the Yucca blossoms were almost non-existent; the few we saw seemed small and malformed. The drought continues to take its toll. But we did see lavender colored Phacelia (Phacelia spp.), and yellow tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca). The willows and cottonwoods were thriving even in this dry year.

The sand on the right shows evidence of the recent rains

On our second visit, we ran into the expat Iranians under the beautiful Cottonwoods at the Visitor Center. We had met them just days before in Andreas Canyon under the California Fan Palms. They were on their way back to the Los Angeles area after their desert vacation. What are the odds we would see them twice!

Hearty hikers seeking shade

My folks and I followed the trail up the canyon a ways, looking for familiar land marks, and comparing and contrasting with previous years. Everything is bone dry. Still, there is something magical about that river bed with its big sky and mountains – the sky is brighter, the light is clearer, the colors more intense.

Drive through the Chaparral

For one of our outings, my folks and I drove from East Hemet, California south on Bautista Canyon road to Anza Valley, then met up with the Pines to Palms Highway to drive north through Idyllwild, and on to Banning, and Interstate 10. This beautiful route passes through the San Bernardino National Forest, and encompasses both dense chaparral and fragrant pine forests. I remember taking drives in this area as a kid, when our family travelled south from Alaska to vacation with both sets of grandparents.

Orange groves near Bautista Canyon

The Bautista Canyon road is paved for the first few miles, and passes through orange groves. This is like stepping back in time, when orange groves were common place in Southern California. We stopped for pictures, and breathed in the fragrant orange blossoms.

Bautista Canyon road and dense vegetation of the chaparral



A wash in the chaparral

Shreddy bark

Indian Paintbrush in situ

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Soon, the paving ends and Bautista Canyon road becomes graded gravel, winding through the chaparral, which is densely packed with pines, ironwood, juniper, and manzanita. We saw Indian Paintbrush, and white Ceanothus. Juan Bautista de Anza traveled north from Anza-Borrego Desert through Coyote Canyon and then Bautista Canyon on his expedition in 1775-1776. (Later, their party camped near Burlingame on the San Francisco Bay).

Pleasant stroll around Lake Hemet

Coulter pine

Lupine

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At the Lake Hemet dam we stretched our legs, and enjoyed the mixed forest of pine and oak. Miniature lupine thrives in the gravel. We stopped in Idyllwild for hand dipped ice cream bars, and a quick walk through the winding streets. I remember stopping for ice cream in Idyllwild as a kid, and enjoying the cooler mountain temperature. The pine trees were lovely and fragrant.

Idyllwild in the mountains

Old fashioned candy shop in Idyllwild

Further on, we passed out of the forest and had wonderful sweeping views of Interstate 10 and Banning below, and the Palm Springs area to the south. Here on the exposed, sunny hills, blue Ceanothus and Yellow Bush Poppy grew together. After seeing the sunny, well drained exposures in which they thrive, I can see why Ceanothus labors in the Bay Area. We also saw thriving patches of blue Canterbury Bells, and purple Phacelia.

View of Banning from the Pines to Palms Highway

Yellow Bush Poppy and blue Ceanothus growing side by side on a sunny, well drained slope

Blue Canterbury Bells

White Ceanothus

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We passed through burned areas, left from the tragic fire storms of last year. Still, new growth is already thriving.

Burned trees

We made a few more stops, and then headed for home. Over half racks of ribs at Applebee’s Restaurant, my folks and I reviewed the discoveries of the day, and updated our plant lists.

 

 

Andreas Oasis

Palm Springs is an oasis, surrounded by desert and beautiful mountains. I love its slick modern architecture, its shops and art galleries, and its glamorous past. Palm Springs is also close to another sort of oasis. Several miles away from the town center are the palm canyons of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.

The mountains, windmills, and palm-lined highway near Palm Springs, California

The super hip Tramway Gas Station, designed by Albert Frey and Robson Chambers. It is now the Palm Springs Visitor Center.

Ancestors of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla people settled in the Indian Canyons area, developing communities in the Palm, Murray, Andreas, Tahquitz, and Chino canyons. These palm canyons have an abundance of water, and team with plant and animal life. The California Fan Palm provides shade and shelter. Today, you can visit these sites for outdoor recreation.

Picnic under the California Fan Palms

We headed for Andreas Canyon recreation area for our lunch. The air was warm, but comfortable, under the palms, with Andreas Creek a few feet away. We spread out our  lunch on the picnic table, feeling like we were in an oasis in the Middle East. In fact, we met two expatriate Iranians on vacation from Los Angeles and their nephew, who were intrigued that my folks live in Alaska. It seemed perfectly natural for people worlds apart to meet in the cool of an oasis to exchange stories and news.

Andreas Creek

Later my parents and I hiked up the trail that follows Andreas Creek, sometimes right by the water, other times pulling away and into the rock formations on higher ground. We lingered for a while listening to the birds and watching lizards sun themselves on the warm rocks. The Yerba Santa was fragrant in the sun.



Yerba Santa

The trail had changed from last year – a chain linked fence now shortens the loop, blocking access to property owned by the Andreas Canyon Club, established in 1923. The trail still provides access to higher ground from which to survey the oasis below.

Intrepid hiker enjoying a shady break

California Fan Palms line Andreas Creek

After our hike, we dusted ourselves off and headed to Palm Springs for delicious Mexican food at Maracas Restaurant. Palm Springs was also teaming with life – everyone eager for dinner and evening entertainment. After dinner, we mingled with the crowd, and enjoyed the warm evening and sights of downtown Palm Springs.