California wildflowers
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August 13, 2022
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The beauty of wildflowers brings joy to gardeners, botanists, artists, and many others. In Marin, our wildflowers bloom in April and May. I have recorded 44 species of wildflowers at Chimney Rock in April. In the Sierra Nevada (near Truckee), I made a list
of 36 species in July. Why do we have such great diversity throughout California?The obvious reasons are the temperature and precipitation. The timing and amount of precipitation (whether snow, rain, or fog drip) are important. The soil (texture, depth, and nutrients) affects which plants grow where.
California has low basins and high mountain peaks, ranging from 282 feet below sea level in Death Valley to 14, 491 feet at Mt. Whitney. Only certain plants are adapted to grow at each elevation.
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Katie Martin