In these descriptions of the flowers blooming along the trails and roads, plants are generally only listed the first time they are seen along a given trail or road. An exception occurs for trips with significant elevation change. For those trips, the plants are repeated in each elevational section, so that one may see where each one drops out and thus obtain an elevational range, and a sense of the progression of seasons by altitude.
Single plants are listed for reference only and are not included in the Plants Blooming list or Blooms table. Plants that are just beginning to bloom are marked with (b) after the name, and those ending with (e).
For some plants where the common name might be ambiguous, we have given the scientific name in its first occurrence (in time order).
December 20, Big Dalton Canyon (various trails)
- Big Dalton Canyon Trail from Gate to east end: hillside gooseberry, German ivy, tree tobacco, beggar-ticks (e), white nightshade, smartweed, wild cucumber (b), telegraph weed (e), long-stemmed buckwheat (e), mulefat, arroyo willow (b).
- Big Dalton Canyon Road from Trail end to end public access near the Dam: alyssum, rosemary, toyon (red berries), cliff aster (e), white alder (buds), white-stem filaree (bloom and seed), Mediterranean mustard, sow thistle, wild sweet pea, hairy ceanothus (buds).
- "Landfill Road" above Big Dalton Canyon Road at the tunnel for the creek: redstem filaree (bloom and seed), one hoaryleaf ceanothus, Russian thistle.
- Waterpipe Canyon trail, Paul Kaiser Nature Trail, Lower and Upper Coulter Pine Trail (all east of Dunn Canyon): bay tree, two-toned everlasting, chickweed, one miner's lettuce, sunflower, felt-leaf everlasting.
- Wren Meacham Trail: senecio (e), lots of mule fat.
December 14, Mt. Lowe (Sunset Ridge from Millard Canyon) Fire Road to Sierra Saddle return via Sunset Trail
- mule fat, cliff-aster, senecio (e), white nightshade (b), Mediterranean mustard, two-toned everlasting (b), felt-leaf everlasting (both old and new flowers), wand buckwheat, California buckwheat (e), rosemary, twiggy wreath plant, chaparral currant, hillside gooseberry (b), wild cucumber with many leafless ropy vines (b), toyon (red berries), California fuchsia (e), telegraph weed, beggar-ticks, sugar bush (buds); many basal leaves for scarlet larkspur; many rosettes...rockcress, thistle, mustard, filaree.
December 13, Eaton Canyon
- mule fat, cliff-aster, senecio (e), white nightshade (b), Mediterranean mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), California everlasting (Gnaphalium californicum, leaf green on both sides, scented) (b), two-toned everlasting (Gnaphalium bicolor, leaf green on top, white beneath, scented) (b), felt-leaf everlasting (Gnaphalium canescens ssp microcephalum, leaf gray and hairy on both sides, spoon-shaped, unscented) (both old and new flowers), red-stem filaree, wand buckwheat, beggar-ticks.
November 25, Chantry Flat to Mt. Zion
- Chantry Flat to Lower Winter Creek Trail: mustard, California buckwheat (e), toyon (red berries), everlasting (b), white nightshade (b), mule fat, cliff aster, twiggy wreath plant, bladder senna (b; plus many seed pods).
- Lower Winter Creek Trail from Sturtevant Trail to Zion Trail: hillside gooseberry (b-full), a single Indian pink, alder (buds).
- Zion Trail from Winter Creek Trail to Mt. Zion: sugarbush (buds close to opening), goldenrod (e), chaparral currant (b-full), manzanita (buds, red-brown berries), hoaryleaf ceanothus (buds), bedstraw (seeds), honeysuckle (berries), goldenbush (haplopappus parishii(?); 4-5' high; e; in beautiful full seed)
October 25, San Gabriel Canyon Road, SR 39
- Azusa to Rincon Station: Kansas sunflower (Helianthus annuus), senecio, toyon (red berries), twiggy wreath plant, California fuchsia, California walnut (yellow leaves), shortpod mustard, long-stemmed buckwheat, ragweed, brickellbush, California buckwheat, a buckwheat with pinkish flowers and wide-angled stems, hollyleaf cherry (with an abundance of large red fruits), one unknown yellow composite similar to telegraph weed but shorter and with different leaves (gray and wavy edged), morning glory
- Rincon Station to road's end past Crystal Lake: brilliant scarlet poison oak, bigleaf maple (golden leaves), sycamore (golden leaves), box elder (lemon-yellow leaves), goldenbush, willow (yellow leaves)
October 22, Glendora Ridge Road
- Glendora Mountain Road to Glendora Ridge Road: cliff aster, senecio, toyon (red berries), twiggy wreath plant, green grass about 2-4 inches high along roadside, California fuchsia, California walnut (yellow leaves)
- Glendora Ridge Road to Mt. Baldy Road: bigleaf maple, shortpod mustard, long-stemmed buckwheat, ragweed, brickellbush, California buckwheat, hollyleaf cherry (with an abundance of large red fruits), redbud (yellow leaves and large reddish brown seedpods), two unknown yellow composites, one similar to telegraph weed but with different leaves, and another one rounded and covered with yellow bloom growing out of the sides of the granite cliffs
- Mt. Baldy Road to San Antonio Dam: brilliant scarlet poison oak, many colorful trees in Baldy Village
October 19, Angeles Crest Highway, La Cañada to Wrightwood
- La Cañada to Charlton Flat: senecio, California fuchsia, long-stemmed buckwheat (Eriogonum elongatum), bigleaf maple (bright gold, good leaf coverage, best in years), poison oak (scarlet leaves), ragweed, California buckwheat, telegraph weed, twiggy wreath plant, California aster, goldenbush, brickellbush
- Charlton Flat to Blue Ridge Summit: willow (yellow leaves), Fremont cottonwood (yellow leaves), gooseberry and thimbleberry (light yellow leaves), bracken fern (golden brown), ash (yellow leaves), rabbitbrush finished
- Blue Ridge Summit to Wrightwood: California black oak (golden leaves), squaw currant (yellow leaves), chokecherry (brownish-red leaves), Lombardy poplar (brilliant yellow leaves)
September 21, Angeles Crest Highway (Charlton Flat) to Devil Peak
- Charlton Flat to Devil Peak via trail: leafy aster (e), California aster (e), narrow-leaved goldenbush, wand penstemon (red leaves), goldenrod (e), gray-green everlasting, bigberry manzanita (buds and brown berries), poodle-dog bush (last few flowers)
- Devil Peak to Charlton Flat via dirt road: spreading dogbane (yellow leaves), nude buckwheat, mountain mahogany (seeds), California fuschia
September 15, Angeles Crest Highway to Cortelyou Spring (just past Islip Saddle)
- Forest boundary to Red Box: senecio, telegraph weed, gray-leaved everlasting, ragweed, bigleaf maple (some yellow leaves), California fuchsia, cliff-aster, nude buckwheat, California buckwheat (red seed), chamise (rust red seed), mountain mahogany (transparent seed plume), hollyleaf cherry (green berries), virgin's bower (in seed)
- Barley Flats Road: goldenbush, rabbitbrush (b), poison oak (red leaves), brickellbush, bristly bird's beak (Corylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus) (the one found at higher elevations like Buckhorn is Nevin's bird's beak), deerbrush (yellow leaves), tarragon, California aster, empty trash can!!!
- Red Box to Cortelyou Spring: Fremont cottonwood (a few yellow leaves), Parish's buckwheat (very short, threadlike, red stems making a filmy carpet on the edge of the road), a reddish-purplish short, branched monkeyflower on a cut bank
- Sulphur Springs (Santa Clara Divide) Road: squaw bush (deep, dark red, beautiful!), yellow vinegarweed, Great Basin sagebrush
August 30, Silver Moccasin Trail: Shortcut Saddle to Chilao
- Shortcut to Streambed: poison oak (red leaves), mistletoe buds, woolstar (e), squawbush (red leaves), wand penstemon (red leaves), California aster, leafy daisy, nude? buckwheat, vinegar weed (Lessingia lemmonii), virgin's bower (seed), bracken fern (yellow leaves), goldenrod, mustang mint (e), scarlet monkeyflower (e?), California fuchsia (b), unknown flower with yellow or purple center and green "petals" (artemesia?).
Lots of fall color!- Streambed to Charlton Flats: everlasting buds (the tall variety with narrow linear leaf), pink gilia, white snapdragon (all in seed except for a few flowers), pine goldenbush (seeds and buds with a few flowers), California buckwheat (half white, half brown), bedstraw (seeds), chicory, ashy leaf? buckwheat, strange fat buds on some California fuchsias, wand penstemon (few last flowers), honeysuckle (red berries), manzanita (brown berries), Great Basin sage (buds).
- Charlton Flats to Chilao: sulphur buckwheat, bird's beak (Jane's kind), mustang mint relative (single terminal flower), wallflower (last bloom on one plant), Bridge's? penstemon, Spanish broom (a few plants with a few last flowers), rabbitbrush (buds), hollyleaf cherry (berries).
August 19, Kenyon De Vore Trail
- Mt. Wilson to Gabrielino Trail: California fuchsia, mountain mahogany (full seed), hollyleaf redberry (yellow-green berries), poison oak (red leaves, white berries), California aster (b), manzanita (tiny buds, a few berries left).
Finished: bird's beak, sulphur buckwheat, sticky-leaf monkeyflower.
August 3, Angeles Crest Highway to Vetter Mountain
- La Cañada to Charlton Flat: California buckwheat, senecio
- near Vetter Mountain: woolstar, leafy daisy, California aster, Penstemon rostriflorus, rabbitbrush (b), goldenbush (b)
July 24, Angeles Crest Highway to Dawson Saddle
- La Cañada to Clear Creek: cliff-aster, senecio, California buckwheat, toyon, California fuchsia
- Clear Creek to Charlton Flat: leafy daisy (fleabane), wand penstemon (Keckiella ternata), California brome grass, still a few Spanish broom, narrow-leaved bedstraw (Galium angustifolium ssp. nudicaule)
- Charlton Flat to Islip Saddle: woolstar, sulfur buckwheat, naked buckwheat, sulfur buckwheat with red flowers (Eriogonum umbellatum var. minus), scarlet penstemon (Penstemon rostriflorus), silvermat lotus, many-flowered monkeyflower (Mimulus floribundus), willow herb, chinkapin, white yarrow, elderberry, Parish's campion (Silene parishii), Nevin's bird's beak, white hawkweed
- Islip Saddle to Dawson Saddle: blazing star, prickly poppy, sneezeweed, scarlet columbine, Indian paintbrush, scarlet monkeyflower, Penstemon labrosus
- Dawson Saddle Trail: dusky maiden (Chaenactis santolinoides), Ivesia santolinoides, a prostrate buckwheat with leaves about 2 mm in length and small pink flowers, Grinnell's penstemon
July 20, Angeles Crest Highway to Vetter Mountain
- La Cañada to Charlton Flat: California buckwheat, toyon, yucca
- near Vetter Mountain: woolstar, leafy daisy (fleabane), wand penstemon Keckiella ternata
July 12, Angeles Crest Highway, Cloudburst Summit to Dorr Canyon (~6000 - 8000')
- Cloudburst Summit to Islip Saddle: California buckwheat, smoothleaf yerba santa, elderberry, California fuchsia, cinquefoil, horkelia, golden yarrow, silverleaf lotus, wallflower, Spanish broom (e), Grinnell's penstemon, fleabane daisy, broadleaf lupine, a silvery-leaved lupine, Johnston's monkeyflower, San Gabriel beardtongue (Penstemon labrosus, a scarlet penstemon with the lower lip having three very long reflexed petals), Bridge's penstemon (Penstemon rostriflorus, another scarlet penstemon with the upper lip domed and the three lower petals short and pointing straight down, often having purple leaves and stems), coyote mint, pine drops, naked buckwheat, rock buckwheat, Parish's buckwheat.
- Islip Saddle to Dorr Canyon: popcorn flower, prickly poppy, shooting star (e), white yarrow, scarlet columbine, Indian paintbrush, scarlet monkeyflower, blazing star, sneezeweed, sulfur flower, blue-eyed grass, two 1/8" yellow-flowered monkeyflowers under two inches tall, one with reddish leaves and the other with fuzzy light gray green leaves, both near water, willowherb, lemon lily, stream orchis (not a misspelling), white bog orchid.
July 10, Upper Dark Canyon Trail to Grizzly Flats, Vasquez Creek (~3400')
- Upper Dark Canyon Trail to Loop Road Around the Tree Plantation: mustard, California everlasting, golden yarrow, heart-leaved penstemon, California buckwheat, chamise in gold seed, fringed Indian pink, unknown purple flower (e), virgin's bower (seed head), abutilon (e), orangebush monkeyflower (e), laurel sumac, yucca, very last bush lupine flowers, cliff aster.
- Loop Road Around the Tree Plantation (counterclockwise) to Grizzly Flats Fire Road: unknown short yellow composite, short popcorn flower, prickly phlox, thistle, Spanish broom (e, most in seed), horehound, raspberry fruit.
- 0.3 miles on the Fire Road to Mt. Lukens Fire Road: bedstraw, tree poppy.
- Grizzly Flat Fire Road to Grizzly Flat: Grinnell's penstemon, bird's beak (buds)
July 10, Angeles Crest Highway, La Cañada to Three Points, Barley Flats Road, Sulfur Springs Road (3N17 and 5N04 plus hike to springs)
- La Cañada to Clear Creek Vista: California buckwheat, cliff-aster, white sage, yucca, laurel sumac, poison oak turning red, toyon (b), prickly phlox (e), dodder, orangebush monkeyflower (e), deerweed (e), senecio.
- Clear Creek Vista to Three Points: mountain mahogany in seed, milkweed, Spanish broom (e), chamise in gold seed (rust at lower elevations, still with white blooms at higher ones), heart-leaved penstemon, rock buckwheat, white yarrow, fleabane daisy.
- Barley Flats Road: common hareleaf, narrrowleaf milkweed, very short lupine species, naked buckwheat (2 varieties), turricula (poodle dog bush), California thistle.
- Sulfur Springs Road (3N17 and 5N04 plus hike to springs): woolstar, pine green-gentian, Indian paintbrush, flannelbush, San Gabriel (scarlet) penstemon, yerba santa, sulfur buckwheat, popcorn flower, silverleaf lotus, golden yarrow, Rydberg's horkelia, grey-leaf (curve-flowered) skullcap, mustang mint, flax-leaved monardella, southern mule's ears, virgin's bower (b), Scouler's St. John's wort, Great Basin sagebrush (b).
Observations April-June 2000
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Copyright © 2000 by Jane Strong and Tom Chester.
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Comments and feedback: Jane Strong | Tom Chester
Updated 12 January 2001.
