Plant of the Week: Panther Lily

I promise this is the last of the Trinity Alps series. I couldn't help but share this tremendous find on our hike. A plethora of these dainty Lilium pardalinums! They were hovering amongst a small spring and practically glowing in the afternoon sun. Apologies for the sun-drenched photos!

Soil: Well drained, nutrient rich couldn't hurt. Grows near streams.
Sun: Part shade
Height: up to 6' tall!
Plant: In the fall after the flowers have faded
Buy it: Yerba Buena Nursery or various bulb companies
Good for: a feast of the eyes! This plant will do well in a high water situation, so if you can't part with your water-loving non-natives, this would be a great companion.


A top view of the lily and it's reflexed petals. Dare I say sexy?

The Case of the Mystery Natives

Here's a little peek into the various plants we ran into on our trip to the Trinity Alps. Although they're quite lovely, I can't see myself being able to find them in nurseries. Usually I'd clamor to introduce myself to their names and locales, but I think this time I'll just relish their beauty. However, I know full well my fellow plant geeks can't resist sharing their know-how, so I invite them to share in the comments!

The little flower above is so sweet- I love how the petals are so separate- almost strawberry-like.


This unusual succulent was found on a north-west facing ravine wall amongst the mosses, reaching out its little succulent arms across the rocks.


I want a dress that looks like this! Such a girly, frilly color!



Cotton candy flowers!



A soft little anemone, resting in the shady spots of the meadows. Enjoy the weekend!

Plant of the Week: Mock Orange

I'm typically a flowery kind of gal, so naturally I lean towards showy annuals and Southern California perennials. Gathering plant lists, I would 'meh' past the Philadelphus lewisii. "It goes deciduous," I thought. "Can't be worth a couple of pretty flowers." Thankfully, the Canyon Creek trail in the Trinity Alps proved me so, so wrong. As the sun cooked the blooms throughout the day, the fragrance made angels sing! Oh, heavenly. I can't wait to find an excuse to use this plant!



Soil: well-drained
Sun: full sun to part shade in the Bay Area
Height: 3' to 8' tall
Plant: in the winter when it goes decidous
Buy it: Hmm, I can't find it among the usual suspects. Bay Natives claims to have a few (I've never purchased from them, just browsed their yummy online catalog!) and Yerba Buena seems to carry them as well. Annie's has some non-native hybrids which are quite tempting.
Good for: camping out next to it from May through July and inhaling its gorgeous scent. Use it as a screen or to "room off" a patio area from the rest of the garden.

The Butterflies of Trinity Alps

Wouldn't that make an entertaining reality show? Gobs of butterflies fluttered away last weekend- congregating at the base of a shallow stream bed, flocking the blooming asclepias, flying by your head just to say hello. It felt like being in the Butterfly Pavilion at the Conservatory of Flowers, only for real!

I'm pretty sure this lovely is a California Sister, or Adelpha bredowi. According to my extremely helpful "California Insects" book, the larvae feed on oaks and are found in "the foothills and middle elevations of mountains throughout the state."


Here's an Acmon blue, or Plebejus acmon. How sweet!

I think these are Lorquin's Admirals. Well, I certainly admire them! They were resting in groups at the base of a creek and would flutter about when someone walked by (or attempted to take a photo for that matter!). How does Vanessa cardui do it?!


And now I've saved the best for last. As we left the campsite, I asked the boys, "can we please please puh-lease stop at the asclepias patch on the side of the road?" They actually complied (gladly!) and we came upon a butterfly city! No Monarchs, which is what I expected, but many Western Tiger Swallowtails. They were so big, they looked like beautiful flying monsters of the sky!


Here's what I think is a Common Hairstreak, or Stymon melinus hanging out with a happy beetle. Look at her tails! I can't wait to plant some asclepias of my own so I can stake out all the amazing pollinators with my camera! Anyone have asclepias planting advice? I've never had much luck (despite following the strict 'no summer water' rules)