by Michael Frye | Apr 5, 2011 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
Redbud and Rocks along the Merced River. Soft light emphasized the colors.
Flower Reports
They’re late this year, but the redbud are finally blooming in the Merced River Canyon, along Highway 140 west of Yosemite. I’d say they’re just short of peak; some have not yet bloomed, but none have leaves. Photographically, this is the most interesting time, as once they start to leaf out they’re not as photogenic.
The big snowstorm two weeks ago damaged some of the redbud near El Portal, but further west they’re in great shape. Look for them everywhere near the river along the main highway, as well as the Merced River Recreation Area at Briceburg.
So far few poppies have appeared near the Merced River. They might be late, or it just may turn out to be a poor year for them—time will tell. But the best poppy blooms I’ve seen here have always occurred in March.
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by Michael Frye | Jul 5, 2010 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
Claudia and I spent Fourth of July weekend in the Yosemite High Country, scouting for my upcomingHidden Yosemite workshop. There’s still plenty of water flowing in the creeks and rivers, and some big reflecting ponds remain in the west end of the main Tuolumne Meadow. Some flowers have appeared, like the spreading phlox shown here, penstemon along the side of the Tioga Pass Road between Yosemite Creek and Olmsted Point, and a few patches of shooting stars in damp meadows. I’m sure more flowers will be blooming soon. It promises to be a good wildflower year in the high country, but the peak probably won’t arrive until at least early August.
My nickname for shooting stars is “mosquito flowers,” because they grow in boggy areas and always seem to blossom at the same time as the mosquitos. Just the sight of shooting stars makes me itchy. And sure enough, the mosquitos were out, but we didn’t encounter any maddening, intolerable swarms. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that these little pests won’t be too bad this year, but it’s probably just a little too early for them at the higher elevations. But even clouds of mosquitos won’t keep me away—the high country is just too beautiful to miss.
by Michael Frye | Apr 6, 2010 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
Redbud and rapids along the Merced River, April 5th, 2010
Just a quick note to let you know that the redbud in the Merced River Canyon west of Yosemite are at about peak right now. A few have begun to leaf out, but most are prime. I expect they will remain in good condition for the next week or so, but after that will start fading quickly.
by Michael Frye | Mar 28, 2010 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
Redbud and reflection along the Merced River
Yesterday I drove to and from Yosemite Valley in the dark, but even car headlights were enough to reveal that the redbud are blooming. I’d guess that about half are in full bloom, and the rest should be soon. They’re most photogenic when they just start flowering and before they begin to leaf out—right now for many of them.
March has been dry and warm, but that’s about to change, as a strong and cold storm is expected to reach us Tuesday or Wednesday, with snow levels predicted to reach down to 2500 feet for lower. That cold weather probably won’t affect the redbud much, but might dampen the wildflower bloom in other parts of the state.
by Michael Frye | Mar 15, 2010 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
My wife and I made a quick trip into the Merced River Canyon yesterday afternoon. We saw some dense but small patches of goldfields, and poppies beginning to emerge. The best poppy location right now is probably the beginning of the Hite’s Cove trail. The areas that burned in the summer of 2008 have some poppies as well, but so far not nearly as many as last year. This week is predicted to be warm and dry, so I would expect that more poppies and other flowers will emerge. It’s unlikely that the display will be as amazing as 2009, but it could still be good. On the other hand, the poppies may be confused by the intermittent wet weather we’ve seen over the past few weeks and never amount to much. I’ll keep you posted.
