Last week biologist "Bug Bob" Allen was nice enough to shoot out an email broadcast to the forest service volunteers about a wildflower bloom along Long Canyon Raod about a mile west of Ortega Highway in the Cleveland National Forest. There was a small brush fire a few months ago which created a bloom of the fire-following wildflowers on both sides of Long Canyon Road, a paved road a few miles north of the candy store. According to Bob, the bloom consists primarily of Delphinium cardinale (scarlet larkspur) and Dicentra chrysantha (golden ear-drops).
I don't know if Bob is currrenty teaching any biology classes at Santa Ana College or Irvine Valley College, but check the college course schedule and sign up for his class if you get a chance to. His classes include a number of field trips into the Santa Ana Mountains, and it's incredibly interesting to learn about the natural history of our area from an experienced naturalist. Bob is also an excellent nature photographer.
I checked this area on Sunday, June 26 and the Delphinium cardinale were superb. The Black-chinned hummgbirds were especially happy about the bloom also. I have posted several photos on my Facebook page if you want to see more.
www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1622496627
Ron Vanderhoff
Posted by: Ron Vanderhoff | June 30, 2011 at 10:06 PM
I was out there Sunday as well. I tried to get out there just before sunrise, but missed it by about 10 minutes. Then I spent another 15 minutes shooting on what turned out to be the less favorable side of the road for photos. It's always tough when you don't have time to scout an area first.
I saw the nice photo of the lupine on your Facebook page, but am probably showing my age by confessing I don't know my way around Facebook too well and didn't see your photos of the bloom.
Posted by: Keith | July 02, 2011 at 12:08 AM