Thank you for sparing these photos. It is the Salvia I am looking for seeds !

A few days ago I looked at some along Hwy 371 near Anza, and they were still smal and a long way from flowering. Mine at home are in exacty the same condition. This species has also been sited in prior years as abundant along Hwy S2 in Earthquake Valley (aka "Shelter Valley"), but I haven't been out there this year to check.

Shelter Valley is were I observed these thistle sages. These plants next to the creek were in full bloom and there were many more several feet away on the mini plateau above and they were just germinating w/o any flower spike formations yet. I bet the bloom season is going to be long this year. There was probably 2-3 hours of heavy rainfall there about 10 days ago now.

Sorry: I meant "cited," not "sited" (sheesh!).

Hi ccroulet,
I have one plant flowering at the moment thanks to you !

Good to hear from you. Glad you've had success with S. carduacea. Somebody mowed the grass at two of the places where they grew in Temecula last year, so I didn't see any locally. There were good batches in Aguanga (Hwy 79/371 junction) and along Hwy 371 near Anza, however. We had a cool spring, so everything flowered later this year. It's hot now.

Sure I have mentioned this before, but if you collect seeds from this gorgeous species, please be very very careful, wear gloves, as the spines are vicious!!! There will be plenty of seeds, once the inflorescences have gone brown. Just take care! From young inexperience, I can compare this with stepping on a sea-urchin.....no exagerration! Very painful, and the spines are difficult to remove! What a silly Salvia this is!!!

I beat the seeds out of the dried heads while they're still on the plants. I don't rip them apart or handle them. I wear heavy boots when walking among them, but I'd do that anyway, as there are other hazards.