Monkeyflowers

Monkey flower (Mimulus) is a pretty diverse genus formerly in the recently re-thunk snapdragon family (Scrophulariaceae), now in the lopseed family (Phrymaceae).  The genus is at home in western North America and Australia.  The two species pictured here are sticky monkey flower (M. aurantiacus - above) and seep monkey flower (M. guttatus - below). Note M. auriantiacus, seems to be moving to another genus: Diplacus.

Sticky monkey flower is a shrub that grows in dry slopes throughout California. The sticky is on the underside of the leaf.  It's a resin produced by the plant to discourage caterpillars from devouring the leaves.  Seep monkey flower is an herbaceous annual that grows in low lying ever-moist areas like springs and drainage ditches.

M. aurantiacus photos at top taken on May 20 at Alder Creek near Manchester.  M. guttatus photos above taken near Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, and M. guttatus photos below taken by the side of Orr Springs Road east of Comptche on May 1.

Poppies, part 2

Poppies close up for the night - presumably to protect the pollen.  The phenomenon of plant movement in response to day/night is called nyctinasty.  Poppies accomplish this with a change in turgor pressure caused by movement of fluid in and out of special cells at the base of the petals.

This photo made me fall in love with California poppies all over again (double click the photo for a better view).  Out for a drive on a Sunday morning to take some landscape pictures, I was disappointed that the poppies along the way were still all closed up from the night.  But when I saw this lone flower by the road as I stepped out to take a photo of a field of buttercups, I realized that the closed-up poppies had an elegance all their own.  The petals gracefully enclosed each other in a neat little hug and the morning light showed off the color and curve of the petals sublimely.

Poppies, part 1

The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is kind of California's flower mascot. It's an iconic image: wide golden California poppies nodding in the foreground on a grassy bluff over-looking the rocky coast and crashing waves.

Poppies are so obvious this time of year. They're not only stunningly beautiful, but they seem to be able to grow anywhere. In the gravel the side of the road, on the dirt built up on an old train trestle, through the cracks in the sidewalk. As long as there is sun, they thive. The petals come in shades of yellow to deep orange. I've even seen a plant with white flowers this year (in Sonoma co.).

As the state flower, they're protected, so you're not meant to pick them in the wild! (In fact picking native wildflowers is something I tend to avoid in general.) Cultivated varieties are available for the garden.

The first two photos taken on April 27, outside the historic Ukiah depot building. The last two on April 1 in front of the Mousse Cafe in Mendocino.