Outdoors with Don Q: All kinds of colorful wildflowers at Davis Lake

Here's an annual reminder of a special event at this time of the year! The Davis Lake area, just north of Portola, California has some spectacular displays of colorful wildflowers blooming at the present time.

How to get to the Davis Lake area:
It can be reached from Carson City by taking U.S. 395 north to Reno.
From Reno, drive on U.S. 395 past Bordertown and the Nevada-California state line to a junction with California S.R. 70 at Hallelujah Junction.
At Hallelujah Junction, take S.R. 70 to the west, drive past Vinton, the Beckwourth airport, Beckwourth, a State roadside rest area on the left, an old cemetery on the right, and finally, Grizzly Road on the right.
Turn right onto Grizzly Road and go north for about six miles to Davis Lake.
The entire trip will be about 80 miles (one-way) from Carson City.

The wildflowers:
They can be seen:
01. On both sides of Grizzly Road, especially as you drive north past the golf cart overpass for the Grizzly Ranch Golf Course.
You will see all kinds of yellow Mule Ears and purple Lupine.
02. Across from the fire station on Grizzly Road. This is an area that contains countless Mule Ears. An awesome display!
03. All along the east side of the lake, from the junction at the south end to the end of the paved road at Lightning Tree Boat Ramp.
04. Included in the annual display of wildflowers are:
Yellow Buttercups, yellow California Poppies, a “zillion” yellow Mule Ears, all kinds of purple Lupine, the rare and beautiful red Snow Plants (also known as Snow Flowers) and some kind of blue-colored ground cover (I’m not sure what it is called).

The spectacular Snow Plant (AKA Snow Flower):
My all-time favorite wildflower is the Snow Plant. It is gorgeous.
Your best bet for seeing Snow Plants is on the right side of Grizzly Road, as you drive north along the lake, but you’ll need sharp eyes to see them.
The Snow Plant has a bright red color that almost looks unreal and it is found near pine trees in forested areas in late spring and early summer.
It can be either a single plant or in groups.
It resembles a tightly wrapped asparagus plant in the early stages of its growth and then opens slightly into a gorgeous red, bell-shaped flower.

The Snow Plant can be anywhere in size from only several inches tall up to a foot or more in height.
Remember that it is against the law to disturb a Snow Plant in California.
Do not pick or dig up a Snow Plant, as it could cost you a lot of money if you’re caught.

Some special tips:
01, You better hustle to enjoy the wildflowers because they won't last long due to this year's dry conditions, the hot sun and the high winds
03. When you do spot some flowers, carefully park, well off the highway, and then casually wander through the forest.
04. When you park your vehicle or walk across Grizzly Road, be aware of the high-speed traffic whizzing past.
05. Don’t forget your insect repellant, the bugs are out in full force, especially the flies, gnats and mosquitoes.
06. Take a camera and enjoy Mother Nature’s beauty at this time of the year.
07. When driving on Grizzly Road, keep a sharp eye out for mule deer.
08. At Davis Lake, you can see all kinds of birds such as seagulls, coots, pelicans, ducks, Canada geese and hawks.

Finally:
When you are done, be sure to stop at “The Frosty” of the J & J Grizzly Store on the south end of Davis Lake for some food and drinks or supplies.
At the frosty, my favorite, tasty lunch combination is a cheeseburger (no onions) with French fries, followed by chocolate ice cream.
Try it, you’ll like it!
And, be sure to tell owners Jim and Jeanne that Don and Elaine said, “Hi!”

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you what is our personal all-time record for seeing the most Snow Plants at one location.
If he grins and says, “In 2009, Elaine found a group of 13 Snow Plants at one location at Davis Lake,” he could have been with us on that outing.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com