By Amy Patten | Pictures by Amy Patten, Jose Esparza, Jen Aguilar, Victoria Ramirez, and Luis Rincon
In the beginning of June, CNPS met up with our buddies Latino Open air Fresno for an unforgettable journey to the southern Sierra Nevadas in Kern County! Situated the place the Sierra Nevadas, the Transverse Vary, and the Mojave desert all come collectively, the Kern River watershed is house to a singular assemblage of crops and animals. We felt excited to share the wonder and pure historical past of the realm with our contributors and loved a weekend of climbing, tenting, botanizing, and birding.
On Saturday, we set off into the mountains to search for uncommon crops on the Cannell Meadows path. This path begins out on the base of the Sierra the place the desert meets the mountains, and shortly climbs into chaparral interspersed with scenic grey pine, juniper, and blue oak woodland.
Our aim for the day was to seek out Kern Canyon clarkia (Clarkia xantiana ssp. parviflora, CRPR 4.2), a southern Sierras endemic. Drought circumstances proved lower than supreme for June wildflowers, however we have been nonetheless handled to some blooms from paintbrush (Castilleja sp.), rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), and crimson spot clarkia (Clarkia speciosa). As we climbed up the path, somebody noticed a touch of shiny pink peeking out from a rocky outcrop–we discovered our Kern Canyon Clarkia!
After just a few extra miles of climbing, we stopped to speak about CNPS conservation efforts within the space and mentioned among the superb uncommon crops we discovered. We rested on an ideal rock face with a sweeping view of the valley beneath and took within the view over lunch.
Whereas climate in June will be variable in Kern County, we have been fortunate sufficient to have good climate for a giant hike! After the hike, we headed to the river to chill off and revel in spending time collectively in a fantastic place. Again at camp, we cooked up a burrito bar feast!
The next day, we awoke shiny and early to satisfy the Tulare County Audubon Society, who introduced binoculars to share with the group and helped us observe recognizing and figuring out birds within the campground. Then, we headed over to the Kern River Audubon Protect in Weldon to take a look at riparian crops and proceed birding below the shade of the towering cottonwoods lining the river valley. Certainly one of our favourite crops within the protect was yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica), a resident of streambeds, seeps, and wetlands.
The understory of the cottonwoods was teeming with chook exercise. Home wrens, music sparrows, and red-wing blackbirds sung loudly and we obtained a take a look at some stunning (and sometimes laborious to seek out) Lawrence’s goldfinches. As we walked again on the finish of our hike, an excellent crimson summer time tanager landed proper over the group!
Following our time on the protect, we drove into the close by Greenhorn Mountains to take a look at among the burn space from the 2020 French Hearth and make observations for the Hearth Followers group science venture.
The burn space was blanketed with a whole lot of butterfly mariposa lilies (Calochortus venustus) and twining snakelilies (Dichelostemma volubile) winding between shrubs and charred logs. Yerba santa, a prolific resprouter following wildfires, had grown again in full drive; many crops exhibited extra-large progress types.
In the meantime, our Vegetation crew was close by surveying plots within the valley ground close to the Kern River. We joined them to search for some uncommon crops, and so they discovered a historic incidence of the alkali mariposa lily (Calochortus striatus, CRPR 1B.2)!
We had an incredible weekend in Kern County that we’ll always remember! Thanks to our funders, the Virginia and Alfred Harrell Basis, for making this journey potential.
