Over a period of 29 years and a range extending from central Oregon to San Diego California,
Mr. Mike McCullough has discovered many forms of R. occidentale.Mr. McCullough has emailed
photos and some information about his R. occidentale discoveries at Sea Ranch, CA.
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Sea Ranch is located in Sonoma County, just South of the Mendocino County line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Ranch
The area of Sea Ranch is quite large. On Google Earth, my Sea Ranch R. occidentale
discoveries are located very likely in the area of 38 45'30.45"N, 123 31'00.63"W to
the East of Highway 1, if not a bit further North. The river to the North, shown on
Google Earth, is the Gualala River, which is the boundary between Mendocino and
Sonoma counties. Many of the R. occidentale are growing in full sun. This is an
area of sometimes strong winds, so the exposed plants are shorter than the plants
growing on the lee side of trees.
On many roads in California, the mile post numbers start at the southern county border.
The 57.85 milepost on Highway 1 is located 57.85 miles North of the Sonoma - Marin
county line.
R. occidentale at Sea Ranch
R. occidentale at Sea Ranch, showing R. occidentale Sea Ranch 2904 and Highway 1
R. occidentale at Sea Ranch The area between the wild area and the house is a putting
green which wiped out a few R. occidentale, including one of my discoveries.
R. occidentale Sea Ranch 1102
R. occidentale Sea Ranch 1102
I have some pinker discoveries at Sea Ranch, but unfortunately only 1102 had any seed
when I went on my seed collecting trip.
R. occidentale Sea Ranch 1606
R. occidentale Sea Ranch 2504
Sea Ranch 2904
Sea Ranch 2905
Sea Ranch 2906
This is not all of my discoveries at Sea Ranch.
In the numbering of my discoveries, I use a modification of the system used by Brett
Smith and Frank Mossman. They started with SM 1 for the first discovery of their first year.
In their second year, they started with SM 101, in their third year, they started with
SM 201, in their fourth year they started with SM 301, etc.
Instead of using anything such as SM or MMc, I use the area of the discovery Stagecoach
(for Stagecoach Hill), Palomar, Sea Ranch, etc.
My first discovery is R. occidentale Palomar 101. The first discovery of my second plant
hunting expedition is R. occidentale Idyllwild 201 (for the town of Idyllwild in the San
Jacinto Mountains, which is within 15 miles of my discoveries in the area, which are both
North and South of the Village), My first discovery for my third year of plant hunting is
R. occidentale Idyllwild 301, and the first discovery of my fourth year of plant hunting
is R. occidentale Stagecoach 401. Since my discoveries are spread out between central
Oregon, and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County, using the name of the area
instead of my initials is a way to keep track of my discoveries.
R. occidentale Sea Ranch 2906 is the 6th. discovery in my 29th. year of plant hunting.
Next year will be year 30.