Diogenes' Lanterns

honesty

Diogenes’ Lantern

Daily Photo

They grow on the lower slopes in well drained light woods.  Along Highway 101, there is a delicate stand of them between Sylavandale and the Redway Exit but they are shy little creatures and not easily found.  None grow in  Salmon Creek that I have ever seen. They tend to huddle  in little clusters like a crowd of fairies holding high their lights as they walk home in an eerie world(see photos here). The blossoms glow in shady spots as if lit from within.

I’ve read that their bulbs are delicious but the flowers are so sweet and rare that I would have to be hungry indeed to sacrifice this equisite bloom to my appetite.

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My photo was taken at the Manilla Spring Wildflower Show.  If you can go this weekend, it is a wonderful experience.  People are friendly and helpful and other showgoers are gregarious and well-informed, too.

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15 Comments
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Toni
Guest
14 years ago

That would be a shame to eat the bulb and forego the fantastic flower. It really is beautiful.

forkboy
Guest
14 years ago

Lovely picture. I really like the little ruffle-edge along the petals.

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago

Calochortus… Some of the other lilies are the same genus but I’m too lazy to go look. Mariposa lilly? Never tried on but I have munched brodea bulbs. Diogenes lanterns will appear soon on the Avenue of the Giants between Rocky Glen Creek and Ohman Creek, on th hillside by the road. That is the only place I have seen very many of them. Beautiful photo… it shows the peculiar mysterious quality of the flower. I do look forward to these every spring.

Jen
Guest
Jen
14 years ago

Stunning picture. And I love what you’ve done with your site!

Robert Burcul
Guest
14 years ago

Pretty specimen…

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago

Kym.. We were in Willits today and went out Reynolds Highway and the purple camass is fabulous! I urge anyone going down that way to have a look. Reynolds Highway is north of Willits at the north end of the valley. Turn east and go 1/2 mile or so and the camass will appear to your right. Fields and fields of the most beautiful blue/purple flowers ever. The peak will be in about two weeks. We intend to go back soon.

Staff
Member
14 years ago

Ben, That sounds beautiful. I’ve never been out that road.

Ernie's Place
Guest
14 years ago

They glow on the hillside south of my house, a rocks throw from my deck.

Ben, what were you doing on a side road in Willits??? Chasing history?

Staff
Member
14 years ago

Lucky dog!

I’ll bet Ben was chasing wildflowers. He drives around and just enjoys. I have a date to go down to Willits with my grandma now and see the road he described.

Pernel
Guest
14 years ago

http://www.digthatcrazyfarout.com/whittemore/PlantsWhittemore.html

The Calochortus Amabilis on this page is part of the swarm on the Ave of the Giants as mentioned above.

Staff
Member
14 years ago

Pernel, what a coincidence! I have your postcards from here bookmarked and now I’ve added your wildflower page. Thank you!

Pernel
Guest
14 years ago

Kym, here are two panoramas of Redwood Creek from yesterday and today, you may use them if you wish.

Cheers, Pernel
http://pernel.com/fotos/Redwood_Creek_05-09_web.jpg
http://pernel.com/fotos/Whittemore_Creek_05_09_web.jpg

Staff
Member
14 years ago

Those are wonderful. Now I want to figure out how to do panoramas!

Pernel
Guest
Staff
Member
14 years ago

Thank you! I’ll do that.