May 4 - Weed Warriors
The volunteer work party known as the "Weed Warriors" will meet from 9 am to about noon. Anyone is welcome to join in and help pull obnoxious invading weeds and work on projects to reduce erosion. Wear comfortable shoes, long pants and sleeves, and park at the north end of 15th Street in Los Osos. Ron rewards his warriors with his delicious homemade cookies as the mornings labors conclude!
Deerweed
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May 18, 9:30 a.m. – Wildflower Walk
Whether or not there have been April showers, the Elfin Forest always has May flowers because the Forest's hardy native plants are used to doing without water. Dirk Walters will take us on a delightful tour of every blooming plant that is visible from the boardwalk in the Elfin Forest. There will be bright yellows of Fiddlenecks, Rush-roses, Deerweed , Golden Yarrow and of course, California Poppies. White Popcorn flowers, Pearly Everlasting and Yarrow plants are in abundance too, as well as pink Cobwebby Thistles and blue Wild Hyacinths. The Silver Dune Lupines at Bush Lupine Point should be covered with pale blue blossoms, and alive with honeybees and Moro Blue butterflies. Treat yourself to a springtime experience in Nature's own garden.
Blue Lupine
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Besides docent-led events, visit the Elfin Forest any day to experience the quiet natural beauty of this small wilderness area. Park at the north end of any street from 11th through 17th streets off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos and take a sand path to the boardwalk or the wheel-chair accessible boardwalk entrance at 16th Street.
Coming Up in the Elfin Forest
Our Elfin Forest is never dull, but May is an especially colorful month with lots of flowers in bloom attracting many butterflies and birds. Flowers to look for against the green backdrop include white California sagebrush, chamise, and popcorn flowers and the bright yellows and oranges of California poppies, dudleya, deerweed, fiddleneck, golden yarrow, and sticky monkey-flowers. Slightly less common but worth looking for are small pink California roses and larger pink native cobwebby thistles. On the ground under the oaks are Indian pinks—bright red flowers with edges seemingly cut by pinking shears. Blue flowers blooming this month include blue dicks (wild hyacinth) and the lovely spikes of blue flowers on silver dune lupines around Bush Lupine Point.
Gabb's Checkerspot
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Silver dune lupine bushes host caterpillars for the small but lovely Moro Blue butterfly. This host plant has been so displaced by urban development that it and these butterflies dependent upon it are found in few places now. Their survival is of concern and it is encouraging that both the plant and the butterflies now appear to be thriving in the Elfin Forest. Among the other species of butterflies often seen in May are the Variable Checkerspot, Gabb's Checkerspot, green Coastal Bramble Hairstreak (pictured at right), Silvery Blue, and Anise Swallowtail. Bumble bees and honey bees are also busy around the many flowers in bloom.
Most of our year-around birds and the summer breeders that wintered in Central or South America are very busy building nests, incubating eggs, or already feeding their first clutch of chicks. Perhaps easiest to see and hear are Anna's Hummingbirds, California Jays, California Quail, Spotted Towhees, California Towhees, Bewick's Wrens, Bushtits, at least five species of sparrows, and California Thrashers. Wrentits are often heard but seldom seen. Their songs are easily distinguished by sex, a series of notes staying at the same pitch for the females while the males' song is similar but descending as the song ends.
Don't forget your binoculars and camera as you enjoy a stroll around the boardwalk surrounded by the beautiful flowers and busy wildlife of springtime.
Sticky Monkey Flower
