Dry Creek wildflower meadows, Tulare County
| Coordinates: | 36.44217 N 119.02939 W |
| No: | 26 (list of all attractions) |
| Category: | Ecosystems |
| Values: | Biology |
| Rank: | 9 |
| Address: | North America, United States, California, Tulare County, 4 km north-east from Lake Kaweah, valley of Dry Creek |
| Dominating species: | California sycamore (Platanus racemosa Nutt.), California poppy ((Eschscholzia californica Cham.), baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii Hook. & Arn.), fiddlenecks (Amsinckia sp.) and others |
Spring wildflowers of Dry Creek Preserve.
Simon Sun, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Meadows of Dry Creek Preserve.
Simon Sun, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Valley of Dry Creek in Tulare County is better known and protected due to rare biotope - sycamore alluvial woodland community. In total there are only 17 such woodlands known in California and the one in Dry Creek is third largest and considered to be healthy. Ares contains numerous rare plants.
This monument here is included due to impressive spring wildflower displays - there are few wildflower meadows in this part of California which can be compared to Dry Creek wildflower meadows regarding thew size and visual impressiveness.
Gravel mine turns into preserve
In 2004 California Portland Cement Company suspended mining of gravel in their Dry Creek mine located at the lover reaches of valley. The land of the former quarry was granted to Sequoia Riverlands Trust.
Unfortunately the mining operations did change the landscape. Old sycamores and oaks were felled, streambed of Dry Creek was changed. Restoration activities include re-establishment of natural stream patterns and vegetation. Diversity of the unique Californian nature is returning here. As the activities will brong more success, area will be opened for tourism.
Beautiful dream coming true
If the winter has been generous with the right amount of rain in right times - there can't be more beautiful place to enjoy the spring than the valley of DXry Creek. Walk through the endless cover of diverse flowers and sparse growths of sycamores with bright orange and green hillsides in sight... this world can't get more beautiful than this.
Part of this beauty is man-made - thorough work of nature conservation activists and landscape designers has turned the former industrial landscape into magnificent scenery. Here man has proved that he is venerable part of nature.
Map
See Dry Creek wildflower meadows on the map of United States!
Dry Creek wildflower meadows are included in the following list:
References
- Beautiful gallery! Spring Wildflowers before the Storm, Creator's Palette, accessed in 27th February 2010
- Dry Creek Preserve, Sequoia Riverlands Trust website, accessed in 27th February 2010
- Dry Creek Preserve, Visalia website, accessed in 27th February 2010
- Wildflowers, Visalia Times Delta, accessed in 27th February 2010
27 February 2010 Gatis Pāvils