Clematis lasiantha (Pipestems)

Crinkled Onion

Bishop Lotus

Chocolate Lily

Pacific Pea

Blue Eyed Grass

California Poppy and Goldfields

Sky Lupine and California Poppies

Sky Lupine

Bush Lupine

Buttercup

Indian Paintbrush

Johnny Jump Ups

Mariposa Lily

Miner's Lettuce

Hummingbird Sage

Black Sage

Prickly Phlox

Purple Fiesta Flower

Purple Nightshade

Red Maids

Sacred Datura

Shooting Stars

Tree Poppy

Wild Hyacinth (Blue Dicks)

Shell Creek Road - March 25, 2008

Posted below are pictures taken at Shell Creek Road on March 25, 2008. I got there just before sunset, so I didn't have much time to take pictures. I went back here on Saturday, March 29, 2008 as well, but it was fairly cloudy and misty. I will post those pictures later on, too.

Shell Creek Road is located off of Highway 58 West, about 19 miles east of Santa Margarita, CA.

Shell Creek Road Pictures

Carrizo Plain National Monument - March 25, 2008

thatAfter the mess with my driver's license was cleared up (see my other blog for all the info on this if you want a good laugh or want to read a good "omg" story), I took a drive up to Carrizo Plain National Monument and then down Highway 58 West to Shell Creek Road, because I had heard this was a good spot for wildflowers (trust me, it was! - I will post pics from that area tomorrow). Carrizo Plain did not disappoint! It was alive with color. There were vast fields of yellow (Goldfields and Hillside Daisies), and purple (Wild Heliotrope, Wild Hyacinth, Filaree, Red Maids and Owl's Clover), as well as patches of blue (Baby Blue Eyes). The plain looked like someone had driven over in an airplane and threw paint down on the earth.

The birds have also returned to the plain. I saw Western Meadowlarks, Horned Larks, Red Tailed Hawks, Sparrows and Mourning Doves, to name a few. I also spotted a few Pronghorn at dusk when I was driving back.

I posted some pictures below. Enjoy!

Links to check out:

Carrizo Plain National Monument
Wikipedia: Carrizo Plain
Carrizo Plain - a 3D Tour
Sierra Club: Carrizo Plain

Goldfields in bloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument

The Temblor Range

unknown yellow flowers

Hillside Daisies

Wild Hyacinth (Blue Dicks)

Tidy Tips

Red Maids

Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia)

Owl's Clover

Goldfields

Filaree

Baby Blue Eyes

California Poppy

Cushion Crypantha

Horned Lark

Mourning Dove