Early Blooming for Common Deerweed (CA Broom / Broom Lotus, Lotus scoparius)

While hiking Little Sycamore Canyon today, in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, I came across an early bloomer - strangely early, perhaps...

Take a look at these photos of Common Deerweed, taken on a chilly Sunday afternoon, today 14 December 2008 at around 2:45 pm.


According to calflora.net, Common Deerweed "blooms from March to August" (visit the entire page on deerweed HERE (http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/commondeerweed.html). So, this specimen was at least 3 months early!!! What's going on???

To visit all NIOC's photos of Deerweed, visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/NatureInOrangeCounty/CommonDeerweed#