

Blue heron lunch
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This blue heron is having lunch in a Mountain Center backyard. Photo by Bethany Pulliam

Pipestem Clematis or Chaparral Clematis,(Clematis lasiantha), is one of the two native clematis in California (the other being C. ligusticifolia or Western Virgin’s Bower). Pipestem clematis is a beautiful deciduous vine that can be as long as 20 feet. This native vine can be found growing on hillsides, chaparral, and open woodlands in southern and central California. It blooms April to May, displaying many small, creamy white and fragrant flowers. This vine prefers shade for its roots, and sun for its top, and is completely drought-tolerant when established.
A quick rustle in the leaves and this yellow-striped racer had a fence lizard meal in its stretchy jaws.