March 2020

March rain has been falling abundantly on Dictionary Hill. Our region has been slightly above average with more rain expected the week of March 22 to March 28.

Posted on March 22, 2020 08:36 PM by dhosa dhosa

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The peak blooming period for Dictionary Hill and surrounding area is expected in the latter half of March and early April. Currently blooming and on the increase: (Indigo) Munz Sage, (Yellow) Deerweed, (White) Pearly Everlasting, (Cream color) Southern California Veatch, (Pink and White) Ground Pink, (Purple) Bludix, (White) Wild Cucumber, (Pink) San Diego Pea, (Purple) Parish's Night shade, (Yellow) Johnny Jump Up, (White )Shooting Star , (Red) Indian Paintbrush, (Magenta) Wishbone Plant (White) Popcorn Flower, (Red) Bee Flower, (Yellow) Variegated Dudleya, (Yellow /Green) Coastal Barrel Cactus

Posted by dhosa about 4 years ago

To date (March 2020) iNaturalist shows the dominant plants receiving the most (occurrences) posts which would be expected, with possible inferences : Large , Noticeable, Commonly occurring perennials. Several dominants are not being commonly posted but will likely show up in the future as more are uploaded such as : Munz Sage, Deerweed, San Diego Sunflower.

The striking pink flowered annual California Centaury would not be included as a "Dominant" because of its seasonal "annual" aspect.

California Sagebrush 49

Laurel Sumac 47

White Sage 42

California Centaury 30

Desert Broom 28

Posted by dhosa about 4 years ago

The last week of March has proven to be fruitful for naturally occurring additional species not seen before on or around Dictionary Hill. Here is a list of some of the usual suspects and some new ones. Hill 842 has had a huge bounce back after the fires with a swath of bright yellow Deerweed covering several acres. Recent species in bloom from Hill 842 are : California Pea, Munz Sage, California Everlasting, Everlasting Neststraw, Chaparral Mallow, Whispering Bells, Caterpillar Phacelia, Parry's Phacelia, Fringed Linanthus. and numerous Popcornflowers (Several Species) the main one being the 10 -15 inch high white flowered Clearwater Cryptantha with its Scorpion Tail shaped flower head.

Dictionary Hill proper and the Bancroft Creek Wetlands have offered up some interesting and new flowers and plants that haven't been seen or have been missing for some time. The rare Variegated Dudleyas are now starting their bloom cycle and although they are plump and abundant the flowers are late this year likely because of the cold wet weather. It's goliath sized cousin Chalk Dudleya, is readying itself to bloom but it's always late and will have red flowers come June. The big news for succulent lovers is the appearance of the Finger Tip Dudleyas, which are only slightly smaller than the Chalk Dudleyas. These beautiful graound covers were recently rediscovered and confirmed from the 2003 surveys, on some steep cliff faces. The populations are holding steady and quite healthy but viewing them with anything but binoculars is far from safe. Still to be seen but never observed in surveys on DH is the Lance Leaved Dudleya. Common in Coastal and near Coastal San Diego.

One new flower seen in the same area was a cute little yellow wild Mustard called Dobie Pod. Never seen or listed on Dictionary Hill before. Nearby were (Yellow/Gold) Royal Goldfields a little daisy more common in Baja just as many plants on Dictionary Hill are more common there because of our protected status, and proximity to Northern Baja. The best example being Munz Sage which comprises the dominant sage of our Hill's Elfin Forest.

The Summit and Hill 942 aka Munz Plateau and surrounding areas have great displays of : Monkey Flowers (2 species and hybrids as well) Santa Barbara Vetch (vital for several Blue Butterflies and Whites) , San Diego Pea, Deerweed, Popcornflowers, Variegated Dudleyas, Munz Sage, Fringed Linanthus, Caterpillar Phacelia, Strigose Lotus, Golden Yarrow, Parry's Phacelia, Shooting Stars (Peaked in Jan and Feb), as did Wild Cucumber. Still to come in April all the (blue) Snapdragons and (yellow) Tarweeds, (Pink) Centaury to follow.

More to be announced at another time.

Posted by dhosa about 4 years ago

The last week of March has proven to be fruitful for naturally occurring additional species not seen before on or around Dictionary Hill. Here is a list of some of the usual suspects and some new ones. Hill 842 has had a huge bounce back after the fires with a swath of bright yellow Deerweed covering several acres. Recent species in bloom from Hill 842 are : California Pea, Munz Sage, California Everlasting, Everlasting Neststraw, Chaparral Mallow, Whispering Bells, Caterpillar Phacelia, Parry's Phacelia, Fringed Linanthus. and numerous Popcornflowers (Several Species) the main one being the 10 -15 inch high white flowered Clearwater Cryptantha with its Scorpion Tail shaped flower head.

Dictionary Hill proper and the Bancroft Creek Wetlands have offered up some interesting and new flowers and plants that haven't been seen or have been missing for some time. The rare Variegated Dudleyas are now starting their bloom cycle and although they are plump and abundant the flowers are late this year likely because of the cold wet weather. It's goliath sized cousin Chalk Dudleya, is readying itself to bloom but it's always late and will have red flowers come June. The big news for succulent lovers is the appearance of the Finger Tip Dudleyas, which are only slightly smaller than the Chalk Dudleyas. These beautiful graound covers were recently rediscovered and confirmed from the 2003 surveys, on some steep cliff faces. The populations are holding steady and quite healthy but viewing them with anything but binoculars is far from safe. Still to be seen but never observed in surveys on DH is the Lance Leaved Dudleya. Common in Coastal and near Coastal San Diego.

One new flower seen in the same area was a cute little yellow wild Mustard called Dobie Pod. Never seen or listed on Dictionary Hill before. Nearby were (Yellow/Gold) Royal Goldfields a little daisy more common in Baja just as many plants on Dictionary Hill are more common there because of our protected status, and proximity to Northern Baja. The best example being Munz Sage which comprises the dominant sage of our Hill's Elfin Forest.

The Summit and Hill 942 aka Munz Plateau and surrounding areas have great displays of : Monkey Flowers (2 species and hybrids as well) Santa Barbara Vetch (vital for several Blue Butterflies and Whites) , San Diego Pea, Deerweed, Popcornflowers, Variegated Dudleyas, Munz Sage, Fringed Linanthus, Caterpillar Phacelia, Strigose Lotus, Golden Yarrow, Parry's Phacelia, and (Yellow/Violet) Johnny Jumpup, (Magenta) Checker Bloom, (Blue/Yellow) Blue Eyed Grass, (Magenta ) Checker Bloom, Shooting Stars (Peaked in Jan and Feb), as did Wild Cucumber. Still to come in April all the (blue) Snapdragons and (yellow) Tarweeds, (Pink) Centaury to follow.

More to be announced at another time.

Posted by dhosa about 4 years ago

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