Tag Archives: Lilium maritimum

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Karen Wilkinson found a unique group of Coast Lilies. Lilium maritimum is only found in California north of San Francisco. A typical plant has as many as 13 nodding blossoms. But look what Karen discovered. She wrote, “I went to check in on Gentian on the ridge this morning and came across the most prolific Coast Lily plant I've ever seen.  21 open flowers, nine seed pods, and six buds that hadn't opened yet.” That would total 36 blossoms.

I sent Karen’s photo to botanist Peter Baye, and this was something he hadn’t seen before. He wrote, “That's not only exceptional, it's due to a deformation of the shoot tip during early flower bud development. Notice the flattening of the stem near the top? It's a fasciation. In this case, the ‘deformation’ of the shoot tip, or somatic mutation, doesn't affect the individual flowers. This is the only example of this I've ever seen in any native lily! Excellent find. Thanks! And thanks to Karen Wilkinson.”

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photo with  you here, and for showing us something so unusual!

Not much fog this morning and ironically it's cooler, temps in the 60's. There are passing clouds which always adds interest to sky watching!

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Coast Lilies, Lilium maritimum, are having a wonderful bloom this year. Mary Sue Ittner enjoyed seeing one with a Bumblebee sleeping inside of it.

This particular flower is pale compared to others seen. Here are Coast Lilies as photographed by Beth Roland, blooming on the Gualala Ridge.

And Amy Ruegg photographed these beauties on The Sea Ranch.

They are taller than usual this year, possible due to the ample rains after several years of drought. The wildflowers seem to be celebrating by blooming as big and bountiful as they can.

Thanks to Mary Sue, Beth and Amy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The fog was cool and drippy this morning, as fog is wont to be. But it has pulled back and warm weather has poured in. It should be sunny for the holiday weekend here on the Mendonoma Coast.

 

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Suzy Rudy wrote, “A heads up to local botanical observers. The nice patch of Coastal Lilies at the southern border of Salt Point State Park, northbound lane is blooming. The population is quite a bit larger than last year - no doubt the blessing of the year’s rains.”

These orange beauties are endemic to California and are now only found on the North Coast. A visit to Salt Point State Park would be a great choice for the holiday weekend.

Thanks to Susy for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Super foggy this morning but the sun has chased the fog back over the ocean. It's a beautiful afternoon here on the Mendonoma Coast.

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Susan Rudy wrote, “The patch of Coast Lilies, Lilium maritimum, on Highway One at mile marker 38.8, is spectacular at the moment, and the population has grown considerably over the past several years. This beautiful, rare, endemic species is easy to see on the east side of the road, just inside the southern boundary of Salt Point State Park. It’s in the ditch/mowed verge, and continues for several hundred feet up the road.

I love seeing the bright orange-red flowers of Coast Lilies nodding on tall slender stalks. My neighbor has a patch by her spring box. They can grow three feet tall and more, but the ones Susan is referring to are shorter because of the mowing. Coast Lilies are pollinated by Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds when first opening, and then by native Bumblebees.

Thanks to Susan for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

It's very warm on the Mendonoma Coast. It's toasty even in Point Arena!

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I always look forward to this beautiful native wildflower, which blooms in late spring and sometimes into early summer. It's the Coast Lily, Lilium maritimum. Mary Sue Ittner found it blooming recently.

This wildflower is endemic to the coast and is found near water. You should never pick them or dig them up. They are quite rare and a treat to see. A neighbor has a few that grow near her spring box. And there is a group of them that grows along Highway One at Salt Point State Park. Look for the splash of orange-red now near mile marker 38.83 on the east side.

Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

We have a lovely, calm (no wind!) day today with a chance...oh, I hope it happens...a chance of some rain later today/tonight. Fingers crossed!