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
*March 2025 update:
According to our Carrizo correspondent Pat Veesart, the Carrizo Plain got about one and a half to two inches of rain over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. That has “greened things up” a bit, but wildflowers are still pretty scarce. We are worried that it is too little too late.
A quick visit to the northern end of Carrizo Plain on March 19 showed some “greening up” along Highway 58 heading out from San Luis Obispo. Wildflowers were visible along the road, but they were small and widely scattered. Shell Creek, which often provides a spectacular display, showed a few stands of goldfields, but that was about it.
Entering Carrizo Plain at the northwest corner, there was one area with a small display of phacelia in a plowed field. Also, Pat reports that some goldfields have shown up along Soda Lake Road, especially in old burn scars where last year’s grass thatch got burned off. Elsewhere, however, the old grass gives the landscape a dull look which hasn’t changed much this season. The beautiful hillside daisies are conspicuous by their absence.
I think there is still a chance for the shrubs and late wildflowers to put on a modest show, but overall this year is shaping up to be a disappointment. I have not been to the southern portion of the Monument but have heard that it’s even drier there. We will continue to keep you posted. Thanks for your interest in and support for the Carrizo Plain and our National monument!
