Well folks, we did get some rain in the Carrizo recently, but it’s still looking dry out there. Our Carrizo correspondent Pat Veesart reports that the seasonal total so far is only three inches at the most. A brief tour on February 19 showed very little grass, and no evidence of any kind of wildflower bloom.
Interestingly, there were a few shrub and perennial herb species with scattered individuals in bloom, but they were few and far between. Among the plants with early blooms were Bladderpods (Cleomella) and locoweeds (Astragalus) along Highway 58 on the eastern side of Carrizo Plain, but that was about it.
One area where I thought there might be some evidence of wildflowers was at the southern end of Soda Lake, where the alkaline soil keeps most grass out, and a species of goldfields can often be found. This time there was virtually nothing and the area looked dry as a bone.
There is still some hope for a turn around, but the forecasters are saying no significant rain is in the offing for the next two weeks. A wet March could still make our day but we will need to see it shaping up. To be honest, I am not too optimistic right now about the wildflower outlook. Keep your fingers crossed, do your rain dance, and pray for a wet spring.
We will keep you posted!
Neil Havlik, President
Carrizo Plain Conservancy
