After a ride up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in June 2008, I accompanied Tom Chester on an excursion to the aptly named Hidden Lake in the San Jacintos Mts. Our goal was the find the Hidden Lake bluecurls (Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum) which had been listed as a threatened species in 1998. To protect it, all references to the lake's location was removed from maps and signs. In the years since the beautiful and fragrant 4" plant has recovered sufficiently that it is no longer in need of protection. Hidden Lake is a vernal pool that fills and empties as the seasons pass and according to the rainfall and snow melt. Tom has a plant checklist for the area which is online HERE. Click HERE to see a comparison photograph taken of the scene above by CNPS in 1983.

Mountain prickly phlox
Leptodactylon pungens
Polemoniaceae

Parish's bedstraw
Galium parishii
Rubiaceae
[Named for Sanuel Bonsall Parish, 1838-1928]

San Jacinto buckwheat
Eriogonum apiculatum
Polygonaceae

Snow plant
Sarcodes sanguinea
Ericaceae

Mountain snowberry
Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii
Caprifoliaceae

San Jacinto Mountains daisy
Erigeron breweri var. jacinteus
Asteraceae
[Named for William Henry Brewer, 1828-1910]

Hidden Lake bluecurls
Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum
Lamiaceae

Downy monkeyflower
Mimulus pilosus
Scrophulariaceae

Brewer's monkeyflower
Mimulus breweri
Scrophulariaceae

San Jacinto lupine
Lupinus hyacinthinus
Fabaceae

Common spikerush
Eleocharis macrostachya
Cyperaceae

Diverse-leaved pondweed
Potamogeton diversifolius
Potamogetonaceae

Pine lousewort
Pedicularis semibarbata
Scrophulariaceae