[APWG] Finest 50-mile contiguous transect in lower-elev. USA?

[scott_davis at blm.gov]

And also three years ago in Death Valley, Calif.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7182113/


Scott Davis, Regional Science Coordinator
Bureau of Land Management
P. O. Box 25047
Building Fifty
Lakewood, Colorado  80225-0047

scott_davis at blm.gov
303-236-6646





                                                                           
             "Craig Dremann -                                              
             Redwood City Seed                                             
             Company"                                                   To 
             <Craig at astreet.co         apwg at lists.plantconservation.org    
             m>                                                         cc 
             Sent by:                                                      
             apwg-bounces at list                                     Subject 
             s.plantconservati         [APWG] Finest 50-mile contiguous    
             on.org                    transect in lower-elev. USA?        
                                                                           
                                                                           
             04/02/2008 07:26                                              
             PM                                                            
                                                                           
                                                                           




Dear All,

A glitch in California's rainfall may have unearthed the best contiguous
native understory in lower-elevation (<5,000 ft. elev.) in the USA?

The rain here normally falls between November and April, and then nothing
from May to October.  We got rain in central and parts of southern
California December and January, and then next to nothing in Feb. and
March.

What happened, is that the wildflower seeds still in the seedbank
underneath the exotic grasses, sprouted, and then the exotic annual
grasses were severely suppressed by the Feb-Mar drought, which then
allowed the wildflowers to flourish in their full glory.

This is a once-in-100 years show, especially in San Luis Obispo County,
and it should continue for another week or two.

You take US 101 to San Luis Obispo, and that is the best place to get a
hotel.  But expect to pay $110-120/2 people <$100 are sketchy.>

Go 10 miles north to Santa Margarita, and take Cal. 58 east.  The
wildflowers start in about 12 miles, and go on mile-by-mile for another 61
miles.

Some of my wife's pics are posted at http://www.ecoseeds.com/wild.08.html

There is also a good display at Joshua Tree NP in Riverside County, and
there is a few pics from there also from two weeks ago.

Anyone interested in seeing what a North American native understory should
look like, should come and see this spectacular example along Highway 58.
20 miles from Santa Margarita, there is another road that comes off 58 and
goes north, that is also very awesome.

I would be interested in knowing about any other good examples around the
country, and what month the flowers would be blooming?

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333


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