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Flowers of Figueroa

Figueroa Mountain area is a haven for wildflower hunters. Many make a trip there at least once each spring. Pictured left Catalina Mariposa Lily & right Sky Lupine.

The Figueroa Mountain area is one of Santa Barbara County’s premier wildflower hot spots. This area provides habitat for a huge variety of wildflowers and is well known for its spectacular color displays in winter and spring. Due to the large range of elevation and associated variations in temperature and moisture conditions, complex geology that gives rise to different soil types, and north and south facing slopes, many different environments are available here for plant growth.

A close-up of Tidy Tips shows the bright white petal tips that gave the their name.	The Figueroa Mountain area is a haven for wildflower hunters, and many people make a trip there at least once each spring. I usually take several trips, beginning in February or so, with the intent of following the succession of different species that flower through the season. Each year the wildflower shows are different due to the amount and timing of the rains as well as the winter and spring temperatures. Snow falls here at higher elevations; it may melt quickly or it may remain on the ground for much longer. After mild winters, the soil warms more quickly, and wildflowers bloom earlier, whereas after very cold winters, the first flowers are slower to appear. A trip up Figueroa Mountain Road is a must for all springtime visitors to the Santa Ynez Valley. Not only will you see wildflowers, but you’ll also see spectacular views, beautiful trees, and interesting birds. Plan to spend a whole day on your trip, and, if the road is open, make the whole loop from Los Olivos, along Figueroa Mountain Road over Cachuma Saddle and back by way of Happy Canyon Road. There is a stretch of unpaved road near De La Guerra Springs, and so high clearance vehicles do best here. If it has rained recently, this part of the road is often closed. You can check the Los Padres National Forest Website for information about road conditions or call the Santa Barbara Ranger District at (805) 967-3481. Here are a few suggestions as you prepare for your trip. Pack a lunch and some drinks, and bring a map, your camera, and a pair of binoculars. Picnic tables are available in Figueroa Campground, but you might bring a blanket in case you want to enjoy lunch among the flowers. Be sure to have a full tank of fuel and check the coolant level in your vehicle. During wildflower season, the road can be quite busy on Saturdays and Sundays, and, as it is narrow, you will need to drive carefully. You would be wise to display a National Forest Adventure Pass in your car. If you don’t already have a pass, you can purchase one at the Country Market in Los Olivos. The Book Loft in Solvang, a wonderful bookstore with many books of local interest, carries a good selection of wildflower identification books and cards. Set out from Los Olivos and proceed along Figueroa Mountain Road. You will drive through scenic agricultural landscape with cattle grazing on the hills and hay and other crops cultivated on the flats. You’ll see huge spreading deciduous Valley Oaks in the lower areas as well as darker green Coast Live Oaks dotting the surrounding hills.
California Buttercup
A Checkerspot Butterfly on Salvia.

Larkspur

Lavendar Gilia

Silver Bush Lupine

A couple of miles after you pass Midland School, a well-known private boarding school, the road turns to the right and crosses a bridge. From this point onward, the road is narrow so be sure to watch out for oncoming cars. The road passes through land owned by different entities. Some of the land belongs to Midland School, and further on you will reach the National Forest. Other areas that belong to the University of California Sedgwick Reserve are fenced off and have “No Trespassing” signs (see note about access below).
The vegetation changes rapidly, and you will begin to see Gray Pines and Blue Oak trees. As you drive higher, other species of pines appear, and on the higher slopes you will see the Bigcone Spruce, a magnificent tree that is related to the Douglas Fir.
There are a number of safe places to stop along the road; you should stop often and take little walks, because in this way you will see the greatest diversity of flowers. (And please, just look–don’t break the law by picking them.)

Tufted Poppies

Scarlet Bugler Penstemon

In some areas you will see shiny green rock along the roadside. This is Serpentinite, a metamorphic rock that is actually the state rock of California. Soils developed from this rock are toxic to some plants, but allow other specially adapted plants to grow without many competitors. Often these soils support abundant wildflower displays.
In February, the earliest species to bloom on the grassy slopes include beautiful pink Shooting Stars, shiny yellow California Buttercups, and the exquisite, glossy brown Chocolate Lilies or Mission Bells, which are, in themselves, a reason to visit the area. The scientific name of the Chocolate lily is Fritillaria biflora, and, if you are a gardener you will know that this plant has some beautiful cultivated relatives.

Many flowers are easy to spot while driving along Figueroa Mountain Road; however, the Chocolate Lily is difficult to see as its color blends in with the grasses and you will not find it unless you stop and walk a little. In moister places you may be lucky enough to spy small patches of the pretty and delicate Baby Blue-Eyes.
Later in the spring, from about mid-March to April, (although the exact timing differs each year) Figueroa is known for its wildly colorful mixed displays of poppies and lupines. Quite far up the road, just before the left-hand fork that leads up to Figueroa Summit, there are steep gravel slopes above the road.

Chocolate Lilies

Baby-Blue-Eyes	At the height of bloom, these will be covered with bright orange poppies and a couple of species of blue lupines. The poppies here are not actually the common California Poppies but they belong to a closely related species and are called Tufted Poppies. One difference between the two species is that Tufted Poppies lack the small disc-like rings that you can see below the petals of the California Poppy. Completing the picture are the large, fragrant, blue-flowered Silver Bush Lupine and also the smaller Sky Lupine, which has brighter blue and white parts on the petals.
Carpeting the grassy meadows in some areas are different yellow daisy-like flowers. Did you know that each “daisy” is actually a head of many tiny flowers or florets? Two of the common daisies here are Tidy Tips and Goldfields, and both of these may create golden masses in a good year. You may also find different Gilia species, exquisite flowers of the Phlox family that have blue pollen. From the same family, you will see True Babystars, often in patches, with its small flowers varying in color from white through pink and pale mauve. Even later, from about mid-April until May, many other species begin to bloom: bright red Scarlet Buglers, beautiful blue Larkspurs, pale orange Sticky Monkeyflowers, Golden Yarrow and many more. There are fragrant sages of several species: White Sage (used ceremonially by various Indian tribes), Black Sage, Purple Sage, and Chia, which has whorls of tiny bright blue flowers and produces nutritious seeds much prized by the local Chumash people. Many of the sages are favorites of the bees and butterflies, and they may be all a-buzz with pollinating activity. The Clarkias, some of which are known as “Farewell-to-Spring,” flower now as well. Many pages could be written about our local wildflowers, where to go, and what to look for, but space is limited here. Good tips are to stop often, take short walks, look carefully, take lots of photos, and, most of all, to have fun as you enjoy the wonders of nature.
If you want to try to identify flowers, use a field guide, and, when you go home, explore the Cal Flora Website at www.calflora.org to see if you can identify more of the species that you have seen. If you get hooked on wildflower hunting, take classes, travel around the state, and explore more wildflower hot spots. California is incredibly diverse from a global botanical point of view… we have over 5,000 types of native plants!	True Babystars
Note: If you would like to take a guided natural history tour in this area, you can make a reservation to visit the University of California Sedgwick Reserve, where delightful docent-guided nature hikes are held on the second Saturday morning of each month. To learn more about public access to the reserve or to book for a hike, please visit http://sedgwick.ucnrs.org. Guided spring wildflower trips of Figueroa Mountain and other local areas are also offered on occasion by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (phone (805) 682-4726 x102 for information). Sally Isaacson, a botanist and educator, worked at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for 20 years. She currently works part-time for the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County at Arroyo Hondo Preserve near Gaviota.