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Lots of Rain but Few PoppiesPresident’s Message September 2024by Margaret Rhyne
In the Spring of 2024 at the Poppy Reserve and others places known for carpets of the state flower, heavier than usual winter rains did not result in massive displays of California poppies as many had expected. Instead, the rain pattern resulted in early germination of non-native species including filaree and European grasses that crowded out poppy plants. Researcher Mike Powell, who visited the Poppy Reserve in early September after a storm generated by Hurricane Hillary dropped 4 ¼ inches of rain noted, “during this early September visit, a massive amount of filaree seed germination was observed (basically, a carpet of these plants everywhere) as well as a limited amount of poppy seed germination.” (To read Mike’s full article visit www.prmdia.org/research/)
Other researchers, including Joan Dudney, an associate professor of global change ecology at US Santa Barbara, noted that native plants do better after a period of drought and can outcompete non-native species that are not adapted to a periodically arid climate. “I expected that we would see a bit of a dampened bloom this year, just because we had so much seed production of the non-native grasses last year,” Dudney said. (Los Angeles Times, April 5, 2024)
Year of the Birdcage PrimroseIn other areas of the desert that did not get as much rain as the Poppy Reserve in either 2024 or 2023, species of native wildflowers flourished. Displays of verbena and desert lilies bloomed in parts of Anza Borrego. Closer to home in the eastern Antelope Valley, an outstanding display of verbena and birdcage evening primrose carpeted parts of Saddleback Butte State Park, the Antelope Valley Indian Museum and in and around Lake Los Angeles.
Birdcage evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides) was especially prolific in the eastern Antelope Valley. Other common names for this unique plant include bird cage plant, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, and devil’s lantern. These names reflect the way that the plant distributes its seeds. As blooms disappear and the plant dries out, the branches turn upward forming what resembles a large bird cage (or basket or lantern). Then the dried plant, like tumbleweed, breaks free of its root and tumbles across the desert, dispersing its seeds along the way.
Birdcage evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides) was especially prolific in the eastern Antelope Valley. Other common names for this unique plant include bird cage plant, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, and devil’s lantern. These names reflect the way that the plant distributes its seeds. As blooms disappear and the plant dries out, the branches turn upward forming what resembles a large bird cage (or basket or lantern). Then the dried plant, like tumbleweed, breaks free of its root and tumbles across the desert, dispersing its seeds along the way.
Birdcage Primrose blooms and "cage." Photos 1 and 2: Saddleback Butte State Park, April 2024. Photos 3 and 4: Antelope Valley Indian Museum, January 2024.
Photos by Margaret Rhyne
Visit Saddleback Two events are planned for Saddleback Butte State Park that will allow participants to see one of the “birdcages” in the visitor center and perhaps in the park as well. On October 26, PRMDIA, Support Saddleback volunteers and State Parks will host a Fall Clean Up Day. For details visit our Activities Page.
On January 1, 2024, Saddleback Butte will again be the place for “First Day Hikes.” Three hikes for different ability levels will be led by park staff and volunteers. For more information about this event, the Fall Clean Up Day, and other events, visit our Actvities Page and/or follow us on FaceBook.
On January 1, 2024, Saddleback Butte will again be the place for “First Day Hikes.” Three hikes for different ability levels will be led by park staff and volunteers. For more information about this event, the Fall Clean Up Day, and other events, visit our Actvities Page and/or follow us on FaceBook.
Monarchs and QueensPresident’s Message December 2023by Margaret Rhyne
In California, a small state park is dedicated to protecting just one unique insect, the western monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). The Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, nestled alongside Highway 1 south of Pismo Beach, is a protected overwintering site for western monarch butterflies. It is not the only “overwintering” site along the coast but it is the one that consistently has the most butterflies.
The coastal sites, stretching in a narrow band from San Diego to Mendocino County, provide the ideal climate for monarch’s winter diapause, a period of decreased resource consumption and suspended biological development similar to hibernation. Trees (including eucalyptus, Monterey pines, sycamores, coast live oaks and willows in Southern California), shelter groups of monarchs in camouflaged clusters, with wings closed showing only the tan underside in overlapping layers, resembling dead leaves. Monarchs begin arriving on the California coast in October and leave around February to begin looking for suitable sites for reproduction in California and other western states, west of the Rocky Mountains. Eastern monarchs overwinter mainly in Mexico and migrate to areas of the U.S. and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains to reproduce.
The coastal sites, stretching in a narrow band from San Diego to Mendocino County, provide the ideal climate for monarch’s winter diapause, a period of decreased resource consumption and suspended biological development similar to hibernation. Trees (including eucalyptus, Monterey pines, sycamores, coast live oaks and willows in Southern California), shelter groups of monarchs in camouflaged clusters, with wings closed showing only the tan underside in overlapping layers, resembling dead leaves. Monarchs begin arriving on the California coast in October and leave around February to begin looking for suitable sites for reproduction in California and other western states, west of the Rocky Mountains. Eastern monarchs overwinter mainly in Mexico and migrate to areas of the U.S. and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains to reproduce.
It takes both western and eastern monarchs 4 and sometimes 5 generations to complete the migratory cycle and return in Autumn to overwintering sites. All monarchs lay eggs only on species of milkweed, the only host plant used by both western and eastern monarchs.
Current monarch populations remain seriously threatened. 2018 through 2020 were disastrous years for western monarchs. At the Pismo grove, just 122 butterflies were counted during the winter of 2020. Although the 2022 count showed a promising rebound of 24,128, western monarchs have decreased 90% since the early 1990s. (Source: Xerces Society)
Are there monarchs overwintering in the desert? Yes! In 1976, monarchs were observed spending the winter in canyons of the Inyo Mountains adjacent to the Saline Valley. In 2016 formal winter counts began in these canyons and are continuing this year. (See Saline Monarch Count for more information.) A few areas in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona are also known overwintering sites.
Current monarch populations remain seriously threatened. 2018 through 2020 were disastrous years for western monarchs. At the Pismo grove, just 122 butterflies were counted during the winter of 2020. Although the 2022 count showed a promising rebound of 24,128, western monarchs have decreased 90% since the early 1990s. (Source: Xerces Society)
Are there monarchs overwintering in the desert? Yes! In 1976, monarchs were observed spending the winter in canyons of the Inyo Mountains adjacent to the Saline Valley. In 2016 formal winter counts began in these canyons and are continuing this year. (See Saline Monarch Count for more information.) A few areas in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona are also known overwintering sites.
In the spring and summer, monarchs search many areas in the desert both developed and wild in their search for milkweed and nectar. However, if you see an orange and black butterfly in the desert it is most likely one of the monarch’s “lookalikes.” Because of toxins in milkweed, the host plant that they rely on, monarchs (who are usually immune to these toxins) are toxic to predators, who soon learn to leave them alone. It is advantageous then for other butterflies to imitate their coloring. As discussed in a previous newsletter, the most common example of this is the painted lady (Vanessa cardui). Another desert monarch lookalike is the queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus). Queens look even more like monarchs than painted ladies and are found in California’s deserts throughout the year. Like monarchs, they rely on different species of native milkweed as host plants and also are toxic to predators. (Their caterpillars look alike as well! Click on the link below for the Lady Bird Johnson Widflower Center for more monarch and queen comparisons.)
Another orange and black desert butterfly with white dots like monarchs and queens is the California patch (Chlosyne californica). My husband and I spotted one in Joshua Tree National Park in October on a California juniper. Their host plants include a variety of desert sunflowers. The Hydaspe fritillary (Speyeria hydaspe) is another orange and black butterfly. We spotted one in the Tehachapi foothills this past spring, perched on a Mariposa lily.
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Hydaspe Fritillary courtesty Bruce Blackadar
California Patch
What can we do to help monarchs and all butterflies? The best action to take is to plant native wildflowers. It is also helpful for monarchs and queens to plant milkweed but be sure to avoid tropical milkweed (common in garden centers, unfortunately) and plant only native species. Information about host plants used by monarchs and all of the butterflies mentioned is available on Calscape. Visit this great resource for information about California's native butterflies. And look for even more monarch "lookalikes."
