Sunday, April 21: Figueroa Mountain Spring Wildflowers
Sky lupine is among the more common and showy annuals on Figueroa Mountain, and it can often be found near California poppy or the similar-looking tufted poppy. Photo by John Evarts.
Field trip with John Evarts and Margie Popper
Coreopsis (yellow) and California gilia tolerate areas of Figueroa with serpentine soil, and they can be relatively abundant after a wet winter. Photo by John Evarts.
Sunday, April 21, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Participation is limited to 20.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. on March 22 for members and on April 1 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683.
Members $10 / Nonmembers $25 / Children $5
Directions to the trailhead will be sent to registrants.
Figueroa Mountain is a celebrated spring wildflower destination known for poppies, lupines, chocolate lilies, mariposa lilies, and many other showy species of annuals and perennials. Naturalists Margie Popper and John Evarts will lead a hike on the mountain to take in some of this botanical diversity. The trailhead will be located on the upper portion of the mountain and will be picked from a number of possibilities based on where the blooms and trail conditions are best. Routes under consideration involve at least 800 feet of elevation gain and around 4 miles of hiking roundtrip. Directions to the trailhead will be sent to registrants.
Catalina mariposa lily is one of five Calochortus species in the Figueroa Mountain area and is usually the first to bloom. Photo by John Evarts.
The trip will start at the parking area below the entrance to Midland School Trails with a short introduction and to allow for voluntary carpooling. Then we will drive approximately 30 minutes to the parking area for the trailhead on upper Figueroa Mountain. We plan a midday lunch stop at a scenic location at the turn-around spot. Sturdy hiking shoes, trekking poles, and long pants (to protect against poison oak and ticks) are strongly recommended. Bring plenty of water, a lunch, and trail snacks. Good physical condition and good balance are recommended for this trip.
Silver bush lupine is a showy and nicely scented perennial that does well on the Monterey shale soils at higher elevation of the San Rafael Mountains. Photo by John Evarts.
John Evarts and Margie Popper have retired from running their company, Cachuma Press, which published Oaks of California, Conifers of California, and other natural history, travel, and gardening books. They helped launch the SYVNHS in 2000 and have been active in the Society since it was founded. They led a hike for the Society down Fir Canyon last fall that concentrated on introducing trip participants to 14 of Figueroa’s 20 native tree species.
