Wild lilac moves east from San Diego coast

Ceanothus, or wild lilac, begins its annual blooming cycle this month — at least in the warmer coastal areas. Assuming sufficient rainfall arrives, by March virtually every chaparral-covered canyon and hillside on the coastal strip may exhibit blue- or white-flowering specimens. The peak of the ceanothus bloom will work its way eastward, reaching Ramona and Alpine by March or April, and the Palomar, Cuyamaca, and Laguna mountains by April or May. For the next several years, ceanothus growth will be rampant in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, where the devastating 2003 Cedar wildfire incinerated nearly all of the trees and opened up opportunities for postfire, pioneering vegetation such as the ceanothus species.

Mexican Coral Trees or “naked corals,” are showing their stuff this season by bearing and baring scarlet, flame-like flowers on the tips of their twisting, leafless branches. Commonly planted as park and freeway landscaping, this and other species of coral are blooming along Freeway 94, Interstate 5 through Oceanside, along Harbor Drive near the airport, at the San Diego Zoo, on the lawns in front of San Diego City College downtown, and on the San Diego State University campus. The bloom may continue into late spring, when the naked corals will cover themselves with eight-inchlong leaves, just in time to provide shade for the warm months.

The Mix of Rain and Sunshine characteristic of the last few weeks has triggered the emergence of bright green leaves on sycamore, liquidambar, and other decorative deciduous trees around San Diego. Cruise down 163 through Balboa Park to appreciate the vernal splendor of the sycamores growing in the landscaped center divider. Or walk across the El Prado bridge and look down upon the same.

First-Quarter Moon Wednesday and Thursday evening. The Moon is exactly first quarter at 6:45 am PST on March 10th; this is about halfway between the early evenings of the 9th and 10th for the Americas.

The above comes from the Outdoors listings in the Reader compiled by Jerry Schad, author of Afoot & Afield in San Diego County. Schad died in 2011. Planet information from SkyandTelescope.org.