Chaparral Journal

A record of the chaparral habitat that inspires my art. Wildflowers, wildlife, more. 🌿 View my work: Mozaic Studio. #ChaparralJournal

[chaparraljournal]

A wild hyacinth (Dipterostemon capitatus) doing a land-office business on pollen.

[chaparraljournal]

The flat, oval fruit of a hairy lace pod (Thysanocarpus curvipes). It’s native to California and much of the western U.S.

It’s an annual herb that supports caterpillars and butterflies.

I’m sorry I didn’t see it as a flower, as the images I found for it look quite interesting.

[chaparraljournal]

A royal purple version of a California bluebell (Phacelia campanularia), also known as a desertbell.

It’s a California native of the Mojave Desert, but has been cultivated elsewhere. It’s been designated as a G3 “at-risk” category for conservation, two steps below “secure.”

[chaparraljournal]

Every year, after the rains, we get a carpet of wild grass and the occasional weed, such as this sweet clover (Melilotus indicus). It’s kind of charming, though, isn’t it?

It provides nectar for bees and can be used as forage for livestock, and is found in much of the world’s temperate areas. It’s a member of the pea family.p

[chaparraljournal]

Bristly fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata) bears the same small yellow flower as its close cousin Amsinckia menziesii (below).

The difference between the two seems to be in the shape of the stem; bristly fiddleneck has a straighter stem, while the more common fiddleneck bends back into a loop.

[chaparraljournal]

California bloom (Acmispon glaber), also known as deerweed, or deer vetch.

It’s a perennial shrub with clusters of yellow blooms that turn red with age, giving the plant a pretty multicolor effect. It’s a member of the pea family.

[chaparraljournal]

The collared annual lupine (Lupinus truncatus). I call it the “little lupine” because it’s the smaller of the two varieties that bloom here, typically reaching only a foot or so high.

It has a deep, rich purple bloom stalk that resembles a sweet pea.

[chaparraljournal]

Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii), the pretty flower that belies its villainy. Invasive, and poisonous to cattle.

[chaparraljournal]

Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) with its rosette leaves and tiny white flowers at the center.

It’s edible and reportedly got its name when miners in the 1849 California gold rush found it growing wild and used it to supplement their meager food supplies.

It prefers a cool, moist environment and comes and goes quickly with winter rains.

[chaparraljournal]

Sugar sumac (Rhus ovata) beginning to bloom. Eventually the tiny flowers become deep red seeds resembling those of a pomegranate.

[chaparraljournal]

A single California goldfield (Lasthenia californica).

Goldfields grow fairly close to the ground and can effortlessly carpet whole fields and hillsides.

[chaparraljournal]

There’s a secret garden vibe in this shady spot with California bluebells (Phacelia minor) growing up into an old sumac.

[chaparraljournal]

Love the veining on this Texas toadflax (Nuttallanthus texanus).

[chaparraljournal]

What looks like an ordinary dandelion is actually the flower of a Lindley’s false silverpuff (Uropappus lindleyi).

It gets its “silverpuff” name for the round head of silvery seeds that appears after blooming.

[chaparraljournal]

The beautiful purple owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), a wildflower with a color as intense as the finest hothouse orchid.

It’s a California native in the same family as the Indian paintbrush.

[chaparraljournal]

Fringed redmaids (Calandrinia menziesii) in a pinky-lilac tone.

It’s a California native that closes up at night and reopens in late morning.

[chaparraljournal]

A budding collared annual lupine (Lupinus truncatus), a smaller cousin to other wild lupines.

Although they can get as tall as 1.5 feet, ours usually come in under 1 foot. Their diminutive size just adds to their charm.