One of my favorite discoveries this spring was a small meadow
on Sugarloaf Drive, between the Pozo turnoff and Sugarloaf Village. This less-traveled
road is found on the Kern County AAA map at approximately section A-13 (north of
CA 155). Located in the far southern portion of Tulare County at about 4,000 feet, this
little patch of "floribundance" was sandwiched on the inside of the road's hairpin turn.
Blue and black oak, ceanothus, and western buckeye were the dominant species growing in
this location. Lightly shaded by a mature blue oak, I never would have believed that
one meadow could harbor so many flowers. Elegant madia, bearded clover, pinpoint
clover, foothill pretty face, valley lupine, California indian pink, and rosy fairy
lanterns resided in perfect, if not crowded, harmony. Across the street, in full sun,
a riot of California indian pink, valley tassels, purple owl's clover, blue fiesta
flower, and cream sacs grew merrily. There were lots of "firsts" for me in this small
corner of the western Sierra. As usual, a small selection is represented here.
Valley tassels
[aka. Narrow leaved owl's clover]
(Castilleja attenuata) and California Indian Pink
(Silene californica) growing in full sun across the
street from the blue oak meadow.
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