The latest storm to soak Orange County helped raise seasonal rainfall levels to near normal — or above – in many areas. And a stronger storm is expected late Sunday night; forecasters say 1” to 2” of precipitation could fall by noon Monday.
The eventual result of all this?: A wondrous local wildflower season. And soon.
CLICK HERE for an interactive graphic on the flowers, and where you’re likely to see them.
Katharine Suding, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist at UC Irvine, ays, “Give the wildflowers a warm period after this rain and it will be a great show! There is a lot to see: California has over 7,000 species of plants, and over a thousand of these are found nowhere else in the world.
Some to look out for:
- Lupines (these are pea-like plants, often blue or purple)
- California poppies (our state flower)
- Mariposa Lilies (these are often the favorites of wildflower enthusiasts, many colors, a real treat to find).
- Wild Hyacinth (Blue Dicks) and Golden stars … two other bulbs that are blooming right now.
“Another flower that people will see on the hillsides is yellow mustard,” Suding says. “It is not native to California and is considered to be a serious threat to native wildflowers. Look for the others — they are our natural heritage!”
Did you miss …
- Rare photo of the “end” of the rainbow in O.C.
- Rarely seen species of sea lion pops up off Newport
- U.S. Energy secretary sees potentially huge loss in key O.C. water source
- Google relocates Dana Point to Newport Beach
- Joshua Tree National Park photographed from space
Near Normal! Must be all that global warming.
Will the rain hold off long enough to go see these gorgeous beauties?
The forecasts were for a very dry winter especially because a La Nina pattern was seen in the Pacific Ocean. Were those more of the computer models which the Weather Service says are all screwed up and meaningless? At least, we can use the rain. Let’s hope we get normal rainfall or somewhat above normal rainfall for the rest of the season.
The US. Climate Prediction Center didn’t forecast that we would have a dry winter. It forecaster that the period through the end of January would be drier than average. That’s not the same as saying dry, as in no rain. The agency forecast drier than normal. As previously stated, the forecast was correct throughout most of its 3 month run. Also, the National Weather Service doesn’t do long-term forecasting. That’s done by the CPC.
I’ve been photographing the plants and wildflowers as they bloom, locally. Visit my website, “Nature In Orange County” and click on the “Photo Albums” link to see all the photos I have taken in Laguna Canyon (the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park). We’re getting some really pretty ones these days!
LOVE your site, will visit again
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