If there has been adequate rainfall, shooting stars (prob. Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. patulum) can germinate and bloom in early January at some lower elevation areas of Southern California.
From a run earlier this week in the Simi Hills.
Related post: Shooting Stars
Following the little bit of wet weather we had at the end of the year, Southern California has been enjoying idyllic weather with highs in the 70’s and 80’s. Southland cities recorded the highest temperature in the continental U.S. several days this week. Tuesday San Diego recorded a high of 84 degrees, tying Kalaeloa, Hawaii for the warmest temperature in the nation.
The weather’s been great for trail running — and for the chaparral plants. Alternating periods of wet weather and warm weather have encouraged growth and flowering, and I’ve been seeing a number of rainy season wildflowers. In addition to the milkmaids in the photograph above, some of the early bloomers include nightshade, peony, shooting star, woolly blue curls, prickly phlox, chaparral mallow, rattlesnake weed, and several others.
Rainfall totals in Southern California this rain season to date have generally ranged from an inch or so above normal to an inch or so below (WRCC). As of yesterday, Downtown Los Angeles (USC) precipitation was 0.56 inch above the norm for the water year to date. Although January has been dry so far, it looks like we may see a shift to more seasonable — and wetter — weather around midweek next week.
The precipitation pattern we’ve seen on the West Coast so far this rain season has a bit of an El Nino flavor to it, and that pattern may become better defined in the coming weeks. Today’s 6-10 day and 8-14 day precipitation outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center indicate above average rainfall for Southern California. We’ll see!
From a run at Sage Ranch earlier this Summer.
Kotolo milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa) on Lasky Mesa.
From a run last week in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (formerly Ahmanson Ranch).
Some related posts: Bumblebee, Milkweed Bug Nymphs, Blue Milkweed Beetle, Tarantula Hawk
Like many runners, I like to do a recovery run the day after a race, or strenuous run. Combined with some stretching before and after, an easy-paced run helps to work the bugs and stiffness out of the body and mind.
It may have been only 14 miles long on the map, but from my legs point of view, yesterday’s hike/run up and down Mt. Baldy’s South Ridge felt more like about twenty normally hilly miles.
The photo above is California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum), at Sage Ranch Park.
Pleasant run on the Chumash Trail this afternoon.
Despite its small size, the scarlet flower of Indian pink (Silene laciniata) is easy to spot along the trail. Indian pink is a member of the carnation family, and although not as ornate as its cultivated relatives, there is a clear family resemblance.