Summer Wildflower Viewing in the Eastern Sierra

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Here are the current Hotspots for June/July 2008: The wildflower show has moved to the 6,000 ft. level and above at the north end of the Bishop Field Office area, but there are still some lower elevation spots that are still very beautiful like the eastern portion of the Volcanic tablelands (PDF 120KB) and the alluvial fans of the White and Inyo mountains! Plant phenology is right on schedule now with the progressive increases in temperature. This is a great year for the perennials which have put on lush growth.  The high country will probably peak around mid July.  Key upper elevation locations to check out are Lower Rock Creek, Long Valley, Mono Basin and the low sage flats of the Bodie Hills area, north of Mono Lake. Periodic wildflower updates will be made available and please see our Wildflower Hotspot PDF attachments to find out some key places to catch the blooms. For more information on where to see wildflowers and what’s blooming, contact the BLM Bishop Field Office botanist at (760) 872-5022. Now Showing:

Venus blazing star Mentzelia nitens Photo by Anne Halford   Purshe’s milkvetch Astragalus purshii Eriogonum umbellatum (sulphur buckwheat)   sagebrush Fritillaria Fritillaria autropurpurea Photo by Gary A. Monroe OTHER WILDFLOWERS TO SEE: Larkspur (Delphinim andersonii) – Tall stemmed dark purple flower with a little spur. (*)   Applegate’s paintbrush (Castilleja applegatei) – Red flower with resinous, wavy leaves. (*)   Balsam-Root (Balsamorhiza hirsute) – Bright yellow daisy-like flower on medium long stems with wavy leaves. (*)   Anderson’s lupine (Lupinus andersonii)- White-flowered lupine with long stems. (*)   Silver lupine (Lupinus argenteus) – Common blue-flowered lupine. (*)   Cushion phlox (Phlox condensata) – Light pink flowered, cushion-like plant. (*)   Mariposa lily  (Calochortus bruneaunis)  – Creamy white lily on slender green stem. (*)   Dugaldia (Dugaldia hoopesii) – Large yellow daisy flower on stout, fleshy, stems. (~)   Hawksbeard (Crepis intermedia) – Medium sized yellow daisy with basal and stem leaves entire to wavy in shape. (*)   Showy penstemon  (Penstemon specious) – Sky blue, long throated flower with white inside and smooth, clasping leaves. (*)   Site Legend:   * Upland site – Dry/Rocky ~ Wet spring/meadow site *~ (Moist rocky faces)      General Wildflower viewing information for the Eastern Sierra  Peak blooming periods for wildflowers in the Eastern Sierra and surrounding Deserts. (PDF 201KB) The Volcanic tablelands (PDF 120KB) can radiate swathes of yellow and fuschia from the venus blazing star and purple mat. Learn more about the many recreation opportunities and the cultural significance of the area. The Alabama Hills (PDF 120KB) are host to fragrant fields of evening snow interspersed by scarlet locoweed and golden linanthus. Learn more about the history of the Alabama Hills.   Along the drainages and in recently burned areas entire hillsides can be covered in blue swathes of the Inyo bush lupine which has a distinctive grape soda smell. The spring bloom can extend on a good year, from early April through the beginning of June at the lower elevations, and then start again at the 7,000 ft. level in the sagebrush communities of Mono County, where the alkali shooting star, and rare alkali Ivesia begin to bloom in early to mid June. See listing of wildflowers in the Bodie Hills area, north of Mono Lake (PDF 128KB). For more information on where to see wildflowers and what's blooming, contact the BLM Bishop Field Office botanist at (760) 872-5022. Wildflower Hikes in the Eastern Sierra (PDF 70KB) Photos of some local Eastern Sierra Desert wildflowers (PDF 342K)