November 2011

Plant List
An online plant list for More Mesa has now been compiled and loaded onto the web site. The entries on the list are derived from the 1982 and 2010 Biological Resources Studies, a list from the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, and a few other observations. Please click here for the list.

Native Plants Blooming on More Mesa
Whenever possible, the monthly news will feature some of the plants blooming on More Mesa at that time. Plants blooming in November are for the most part those that bloom year round, and are not limited to spring and summer flowerings.

More Mesa Native Plants – November
California Poppy – Coastal Variety California Bush Sunflower
poppy sunflower

California Poppies have showy flowers and fine gray-green leaves. The flowers unfurl from a pointed cap, after which the petals open in sunshine, and close in the evening or cooler weather. Sometimes bees rest in the closed petals overnight. In warmer areas especially with coastal fog, they grow as several-year perennials. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew, and has yellowish edging to the petals. On seeding, the long and pointed capsules twist as they dry, to pop and scatter the seeds.

Bush Sunflower is a perennial shrub growing mostly on coastal bluffs and open slopes in coastal sage scrub and chaparral below 2000 feet. This shrub grows to a height of about four feet. Flowering can start as early as the first rains in fall, and continue through the moist months of spring. Under the right conditions, some flowering can even extend throughout the whole year. In hot and dry conditions, the plant ceases flowering and may lose leaves. Seeds are set during summer, and attract many native birds.

Similar Posts

  • February 2015

    Last month we reported on the beautiful greenery and grasses of More Mesa. This month we are pleased to present the next installment of emerging spring … flowers. A great many species are contributing to the show. And among all the introduced species (mustard, radish, Bermuda Buttercups, etc) there are some truly delightful natives popping…

  • |

    Living with the Lockdown Treasure Hunt #2

    Welcome to the second of our treasure hunts. The plant we bring you now, Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), can be found in shady places on More Mesa, along creeks and in parks everywhere around Santa Barbara. Remember to keep your 6 foot distance and have fun!! The Surprising Truth About Miner’s Lettuce Miner’s Lettuce got its…

  • July 2015

    An irritating reminder … Yet another manifestation of the drought concerns poison oak; harbinger of itchy rashes. If you have been out on More Mesa you may have noticed that our abundant poison oak populations have come up in profusion this year, and in spite of little water. And you may also be aware that poison oak being…

  • |

    August 2011

    Stories of More Mesa Over the past year or so, we have been collecting stories from folks who regularly use More Mesa.  These stories describe what More Mesa means to those who cherish it.  This month we share one of our most favorite ones with you. (If you, too, have a story you would like…

  • |

    July 2011

    A teaching moment … Although we have not had any documented fledglings at More Mesa, as yet, we have an amazing kite photo to share with you this month.  The image was taken by wildlife photographer Barry Rowan, late in May at Lake Los Carneros.  We thought it would be fun and informative to list…

  • February 2011

    It has been several years since the More Mesa Preservation Coalition has reported on the growth of our supporter base, and how important it is to the success of our mission … to preserve More Mesa forever. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to reemphasize the significance of building this already large and…