OUR SECRET SUPERBLOOM
Elysian Test Plot / May 25 2023
By Jenny Jones
Elysian volunteer, Terremoto partner
The Rainbow River is here, y'all! If you're anywhere near Elysian Park this week, run over to Marian Harlow Grove to see our own secret superbloom. This past January, at the first ever Test Plot, we improvised and manifested a spontaneous vision to plant a chaotic mix of wildflowers in the shape of a serpent. And the vision has finally taken form, snaking up and down the hillside. Clarkia is dominating but we're not mad about it, as she's hosting a tremendous amount of caterpillars, and putting on quite a show. This was definitely the year for Clarkia, but we also had many other flowers come up: Poppies, Owl's Clover, Tidy Tips, Baby Blue Eyes, Lupines, Chia, and Phacelia. And there are currently hundreds of caterpillars on the Clarkia, mostly all White-Lined Sphinx Moth, whose colors range dramatically from black, to green, to striped. The shape of the Rainbow River even looks a bit like a caterpillar! Check out our previous post called RAINBOW RIVER AT ELYSIAN to read more about the humble origins: a simple scythe, the sweet little seedlings, and some light hand weeding. This dream was all about timing and patience. The incredible rains plus the gentle hands of our devoted volunteers made it come true. Thank you to all who helped.
Drone pics by Nina Weithorn
On the ground pics by Rio Asch Phoenix
Elysian Test Plot / May 25 2023
By Jenny Jones
Elysian volunteer, Terremoto partner
The Rainbow River is here, y'all! If you're anywhere near Elysian Park this week, run over to Marian Harlow Grove to see our own secret superbloom. This past January, at the first ever Test Plot, we improvised and manifested a spontaneous vision to plant a chaotic mix of wildflowers in the shape of a serpent. And the vision has finally taken form, snaking up and down the hillside. Clarkia is dominating but we're not mad about it, as she's hosting a tremendous amount of caterpillars, and putting on quite a show. This was definitely the year for Clarkia, but we also had many other flowers come up: Poppies, Owl's Clover, Tidy Tips, Baby Blue Eyes, Lupines, Chia, and Phacelia. And there are currently hundreds of caterpillars on the Clarkia, mostly all White-Lined Sphinx Moth, whose colors range dramatically from black, to green, to striped. The shape of the Rainbow River even looks a bit like a caterpillar! Check out our previous post called RAINBOW RIVER AT ELYSIAN to read more about the humble origins: a simple scythe, the sweet little seedlings, and some light hand weeding. This dream was all about timing and patience. The incredible rains plus the gentle hands of our devoted volunteers made it come true. Thank you to all who helped.
Drone pics by Nina Weithorn
On the ground pics by Rio Asch Phoenix
Weather
With more than 28 inches of rainfall since July 2022, the 2022-2023 rain season (ending June 2023), is now L.A.'s 8th wettest season in 145 years.
Seed mixes from Theodore Payne Foundation:
Rainbow mix:
- Clarkia amoena (Farewell-to-Spring)
- Clarkia unguiculata (Elegant Clarkia)
- Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)
- Eschscholzia californica var. maritima (Coastal Poppy)
- Gilia capitata (Globe Gilia)
- Lasthenia californica (Goldfields)
- Layia platyglossa (Tidy Tips)
- Lupinus succulentus (Arroyo Lupine)
- Phacelia campanularia (Desert Bluebells)
- Phacelia tanacetifolia (Lacy Phacelia)
Hummingbird mix:
- Castilleja exserta (Purple Owl's Clover)
- Clarkia unguiculata (Elegant Clarkia)
- Peritoma arborea (Bladderpod)
- Mimulus aurantiacus (Sticky Monkey Flower)
- Penstemon centranthifolius (Scarlet Bugler)
- Penstemon spectabilis (Showy Penstemon)
- Salvia columbariae (Chia)
-
Salvia mellifera (Black Sage)