tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52090632136856147182024-03-12T20:21:22.202-07:00PlantWorldObservations of a Northern California-based plant nerd as he explores the botany and ecology of California, the USA, and the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-23286468414109081112010-08-28T17:19:00.000-07:002010-08-28T17:19:20.945-07:00Tomato Season<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/THlmjyBMrjI/AAAAAAAAktI/ceQfFbevpJg/s1600/Solanum+lycopersicum+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/THlmjyBMrjI/AAAAAAAAktI/ceQfFbevpJg/s200/Solanum+lycopersicum+%281%29.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry tomatoes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCA2VYQqnDI/AAAAAAAAcfM/gs8gqe3CKEk/s1600/Solanum+lycopersicum+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCA2VYQqnDI/AAAAAAAAcfM/gs8gqe3CKEk/s200/Solanum+lycopersicum+19.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vine Ripe tomatoes<br />at the farmer's market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the end of August comes tomato season across the United States. Here in California some of the most popular tomatoes are those cultivated without additional irrigation as the dry hot summer starts. Heirloom tomatoes are also very popular, along with the miniature Cherry or Grape style tomatoes.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato">Tomatoes</a> are believed to originate in the highlands of Peru. They were under widespread cultivation as far north as Mexico by 500 BCE. The Spanish brought them to Europe and the Philippines in the late 15th or early 16th century. Due to their ease of culture they became a staple food in Asia and Europe.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-30585539022553179622010-08-21T20:51:00.000-07:002010-08-21T20:59:34.990-07:00Castilleja and TriphysariaA continual favorite photographic subject of mine are the Indian Paintbrushes and their allies. The names and families have been in a bit of flux over the last decade or so but now they are mostly known as <i>Castilleja</i> and <i>Triphysaria</i> in the Orobanchaceae.<br />
<br />
The genus <i>Castilleja</i> has about 200 species with a center of distribution of western North America. We definitely have a lot here in the Bay Area. Almost every time I head out on a trail or down a back road there are anywhere from 1 to 4 species in bloom.<br />
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Here are some of my favorites:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH4RSVc5AI/AAAAAAAAMuo/6_grYi00UyE/s1600/Castilleja+exserta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH4RSVc5AI/AAAAAAAAMuo/6_grYi00UyE/s320/Castilleja+exserta.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja exserta</i>, <span class="gphoto-photocaption-caption">Panoche Road, <br />San Benito County, California</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBBuEU1_SmI/AAAAAAAATIk/iKzLjsMh7v8/s1600/Castilleja+kraliana+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBBuEU1_SmI/AAAAAAAATIk/iKzLjsMh7v8/s320/Castilleja+kraliana+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja kraliana</i>, Bibb Glades,<br />
Bibb County, Alabama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_6NZkz1beI/AAAAAAAAKXQ/E2O5OaLfr84/s1600/Triphysaria+eriantha+ssp.+rosea+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_6NZkz1beI/AAAAAAAAKXQ/E2O5OaLfr84/s320/Triphysaria+eriantha+ssp.+rosea+%281%29.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">Triphysaria eriantha </span></i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">ssp</span><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">. rosea</span></i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">, <br />Salt Point State Park, Sonoma County</span><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query"><br /></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_6N4oFmK3I/AAAAAAAAKYo/tVQKSLtTAjg/s1600/Triphysaria+eriantha+ssp.+rosea+%285%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_6N4oFmK3I/AAAAAAAAKYo/tVQKSLtTAjg/s320/Triphysaria+eriantha+ssp.+rosea+%285%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">Triphysaria eriantha </span></i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">ssp</span><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">. rosea</span></i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">, <br />Salt Point State Park, Sonoma County</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBsCm1LgZKI/AAAAAAAAXP8/wjAZfqUKqRo/s1600/Castilleja+tenuis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBsCm1LgZKI/AAAAAAAAXP8/wjAZfqUKqRo/s320/Castilleja+tenuis.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja tenuis</i>, near <span class="gphoto-photocaption-caption">Leland Meadow, </span><br />
<span class="gphoto-photocaption-caption">off CA 108, Tuolomne County, California</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_9bU0fa9EI/AAAAAAAALR8/2Lx3iGSPLJo/s1600/Castilleja+coccinea+%286%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_9bU0fa9EI/AAAAAAAALR8/2Lx3iGSPLJo/s320/Castilleja+coccinea+%286%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja coccinea</i>, near Eureka Springs, Arkansas<i><br /></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAkM56CwIPI/AAAAAAAAPZY/lv11q1wYtSM/s1600/Castilleja+foliolosa+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAkM56CwIPI/AAAAAAAAPZY/lv11q1wYtSM/s320/Castilleja+foliolosa+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja foliolosa</i>, off Brim Road, Colusa County</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExyg2Vl9_I/AAAAAAAAjdo/Rp9T50EtVc8/s1600/Castilleja+affinis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExyg2Vl9_I/AAAAAAAAjdo/Rp9T50EtVc8/s320/Castilleja+affinis.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja affinis</i>, Bean Hollow <br />
State Beach, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx0qBpbd4I/AAAAAAAAjhQ/3wtTNC8spHw/s1600/Castilleja+ambigua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx0qBpbd4I/AAAAAAAAjhQ/3wtTNC8spHw/s320/Castilleja+ambigua.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja ambigua</i>, Bean Hollow State Beach<br />
San Mateo County</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAkMci--n2I/AAAAAAAAPYo/BchgmnMsX-0/s1600/Castilleja+attenuata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAkMci--n2I/AAAAAAAAPYo/BchgmnMsX-0/s320/Castilleja+attenuata.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja attenuata</i>, Bear Valley Road,<br />
Colusa County</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-71791826997716740422010-08-20T21:31:00.000-07:002010-08-20T22:05:21.554-07:00Hobbs State Park / Conservation Management Area, Northwest Arkansas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_9ZM-I-xqI/AAAAAAAALOU/cmq-gFwZFBc/s200/Camassia+scilloides.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camassia scilloides</i></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Back in April of this year Brian and I spent a week in the Eureka Springs area of northwestern Arkansas. We're planning a relocation there the first half of next year some time. This is prime <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozarks">Ozarks</a> territory and the countryside is verdant, lush and green.<br />
<br />
I picked up a hiking book at the local megabookstore during our day trip to Fayetteville and thumbed through it for a day or so. There were a couple hikes that were close to Eureka Springs: Lake Leatherwood and Shaddox Hollow Loop in the Hobbs State Park / Conservation Management Area. I've <a href="http://plantworldbyeric.blogspot.com/2010/06/lake-leatherwood.html">already blogged</a> about Lake Leatherwood.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_82MQDgS3I/AAAAAAAALJg/rmritmzhhno/s200/Camassia+scilloides+%281%29.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camassia scilloides</i></td></tr>
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The drive from Eureka Springs over to Shaddox Hollow took me through rolling green hills dotted with houses, farms, and the occasional light industry. I see a flash of pale blue go by to my right, on the north side of the road. A few u-turns later on the sleepy road I find a safe place to pull over. I get out of the car and walk back a dozen yards or so to find a spectacular mass bloom of <i>Camassia scilloides</i>. This is only the second species of <i>Camassia</i> I've seen, but I really love them. The pale blue heads of flowers evoke blue fireworks going off over the grass. An added bonus - the hillside is in the shadow of the morning sun and dew droplets are everywhere.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFNpn0_liI/AAAAAAAAMMM/9cY1TW7HMT0/s200/Trillium+viridescens+%287%29.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trillium viridescens</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was very pleasantly surprised to find a robust and healthy colony of <i>Trillium viridescens</i> in the ditch itself! They were a little wind and insect damaged but were otherwise in great shape, with almost all plants in bloom.<br />
<br />
Once I enter Hobbs State Park, the farms and houses disappear and the forest comes almost up to the side of the road. Along the shoulder were miles of <i>Viola pedata</i>, one of the showiest <i>Viola</i> I've ever seen! Upon reaching Shaddox Hollow I check in on the clipboard at the trailhead and head out. I didn't stay long - the entire area had undergone a controlled burn 4 weeks earlier. Burns of this nature are an integral part of maintaining a healthy forest but you have to visit them the next season, not 4 weeks, to see what a positive effect they have. After about 20 minutes and realizing the burn covered the entire area I headed back to the car.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFPWy7UYDI/AAAAAAAAMPY/tPK5ysDb-j0/s200/Viola+pedata.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Viola pedata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_80VsR2k2I/AAAAAAAALGg/v6QlFkBj3-8/s200/Arisaema+atrorubens.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arisaema atrorubens</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the drive in, I'd noticed a few other trailheads so I stopped at one of them on the way back: Van Winkle Hollow. The main attraction here is a restored lumber mill and attendant examples of life in the area during the mid-19th century. More interesting to me was a short wildflower trail right off the parking area. The trail was a short loop around the creek in the hollow. I noticed a controlled burn had happened here, too, but stopped short about 15 yards from the water's edge. A full crop of wildflowers was in bloom!<br />
I was greeted by a bright yellow clump of <i>Senecio aureus</i> along the water's edge at the start of the trail. Drifts of <i>Polemonium reptans</i> and <i>Collinsia verna</i> were along both sides of the trail. Then I spot <i>Arisaema atrorubens</i>. It was stunning! A surprisingly large flower, almost 2 feet tall, it really lives up to the Jack-in-the-Pulpit common name. This was quickly followed by another spectacular find, the miniature crested iris, <i>Iris cristata</i>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAEymQhRbqI/AAAAAAAALnQ/8JeNfYLBSIk/s200/Collinsia+verna.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Collinsia verna</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I continued down the trail, there were <i>Vitis</i> vines here and there, surprisingly little Japanese honeysuckle, but it <i><b>was</b></i> present. The American Dogwood, <i>Cornus florida</i>, were almost finished blooming but every so often one would be in perfect condition. I started seeing large patches of <i>Podophyllum peltatum</i> along with <i>Phlox divaricata</i>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAE8IFp-oPI/AAAAAAAALyk/CYq3U6fpvXE/s200/Iris+cristata+%281%29.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris cristata</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Taking a detour up to the edge of the floodplain and up the gently sloping hillside i find a huge colony of <i>Adiantum pedatum</i>. The newly emerging fronds were captivating. Other species I noticed were <i>Ribes missouriense</i>, <i>Viola pubescens</i>, <i>Hydrophyllum virginianum</i>, and lots of <i>Delphinium</i>. One of the last things on the trail was a large <i>Platanus occidentalis</i> with a hole in the base of the trunk. The tree was leaning a bit but otherwise seemed perfectly fine. Nature!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are some additional shots from the day:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_8zDJSqBCI/AAAAAAAALEc/i0ZKdilk4jE/s320/Adiantum+pedatum+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adiantum pedatum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFHPAZgqbI/AAAAAAAAMDE/KYMkNm-aYxo/s320/Polemonium+reptans+%281%29.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Polemonium reptans</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFG2wF9pxI/AAAAAAAAMCU/g-MMlpN7AN4/s320/Podophyllum+peltatum+%285%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Podophyllum peltatum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFJRWbsdrI/AAAAAAAAMFI/AMRJRIzYqTc/s320/Ribes+missouriense+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ribes missouriense</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAEzNqo5PfI/AAAAAAAALoY/JDdq2fKLroE/s320/Cornus+florida+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cornus florida</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com1Hobbs State Park / Conservation Management Area, Rogers, AR 72756, USA36.296933955322537 -93.9590692520141636.292610455322539 -93.966364752014158 36.301257455322535 -93.951773752014162tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-69184410472368959172010-08-15T14:24:00.000-07:002010-08-20T20:04:43.443-07:00San Benito County Geophytes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFRnlr9RSI/AAAAAAAAMRs/ckf1Ll3xmDg/s1600/Allium+crispum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFRnlr9RSI/AAAAAAAAMRs/ckf1Ll3xmDg/s320/Allium+crispum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allium crispum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In mid-May I set off for a day of wildflowering south of San Francisco. My destination was Panoche Road, a few miles to the northeast of Pinnacles National Monument, in San Benito County. It was prime geophyte season and I was looking forward to seeing what species were in bloom.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PanocheRoadSanBenitoCounty17May2010#">Panoche Road</a> is about 2.5 hours south of San Francisco, reached via Hollister, a sleepy agricultural town south of San Jose. The day started off with threatening clouds and scattered light rain.
Funny thing that rain. We had rain almost every weekend in May, which is
a little unusual compared to the recent 3-4 years. The road runs through large ranches with the greatest diversity of flowers found all along the roadsides in the hilly sections.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFSBP9BeQI/AAAAAAAAMS0/Cw6HOVVCK9U/s1600/Bloomeria+crocea+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFSBP9BeQI/AAAAAAAAMS0/Cw6HOVVCK9U/s320/Bloomeria+crocea+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bloomeria crocea</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My first stop yielded <i>Allium crispum</i>, <i>Delphinium</i> spp., <i>Collinsia heterophylla</i> by the thousands, <i>Lupinus microcarpus </i>var<i>. densiflorus</i> in heavy patches right up against the road, <i>Castilleja subinclausa</i>, the stupendous <i>Clarkia breweri</i>, <i><span class="PhotoTitle">Triteleia</span> laxa</i>, <span class="PhotoTitle"><i>Dichelostemma capitatum</i>, and <i>Lomatium</i> spp.</span><br />
<br />
The local land use was mainly ranching but the road was nestled in hills so the flora diversity remained high. I honestly didn't see many cattle. There were stupendous displays of <i>Calochortus luteus</i> and <i>C. venustus</i> going up rocky <i>Quercus</i>-studded hillsides, out of reach behind a fence and No Trespassing sign.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH7xw5bE6I/AAAAAAAAMxA/jw46P0mPxO8/s1600/Clarkia+breweri+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH7xw5bE6I/AAAAAAAAMxA/jw46P0mPxO8/s320/Clarkia+breweri+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia breweri</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I continued south on Panoche Rd I continued seeing <i>Calochortus luteus</i>, heavy in some places, along with large populations of <i>Eriogonum fasciculatum</i>. There was a small area where scattered plants of <i>Castilleja exserta</i> grew, exhibiting a robustness and size of growth I'd never seen before in this species. <i>Brodiaea</i> were out and I even encountered the uncommon <i>Bloomeria crocea,</i> growing at the base of a single-lane roadcut. Around this point <i>Clarkia unguiculata</i> really started making a robust showing right alongside the road. For many miles there were scattered colonies of <i>Calochortus venustus</i>, some with many flowering individuals close togther. Other species encountered were <i>Cirsium occidentale, Penstemon heterophyllus, Ephedra</i> sp., <i>Castilleja</i> spp., <i>Lupinus</i> spp., <i>Delphinium</i> spp.<br />
<br />
The rain ended my day a few hours earlier than I'd wanted. The drive back always seems to take less time than the drive down and before I realized it, 2.5 hours was past and I was back navigating city streets in San Francisco. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFSaQzT_MI/AAAAAAAAMTo/aqdX4nR8t2w/s1600/Brodiaea+species.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFSaQzT_MI/AAAAAAAAMTo/aqdX4nR8t2w/s320/Brodiaea+species.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Brodiaea</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH2XsBabWI/AAAAAAAAMrE/8NgSrOxgPfk/s1600/Calochortus+luteus+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH2XsBabWI/AAAAAAAAMrE/8NgSrOxgPfk/s320/Calochortus+luteus+%284%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus luteus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8e9o58LI/AAAAAAAAMyQ/l_dYaVTlA5I/s1600/Collinsia+heterophylla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8e9o58LI/AAAAAAAAMyQ/l_dYaVTlA5I/s320/Collinsia+heterophylla.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Collinsia heterophylla</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH4FkCcEHI/AAAAAAAAMuY/LxlWQqsUFfQ/s1600/Calochortus+venustus+%2811%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH4FkCcEHI/AAAAAAAAMuY/LxlWQqsUFfQ/s320/Calochortus+venustus+%2811%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus venustus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH9rRuWxSI/AAAAAAAAM0Y/l7AGI0BLe0g/s1600/Lupinus+species.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH9rRuWxSI/AAAAAAAAM0Y/l7AGI0BLe0g/s320/Lupinus+species.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lupinus microcarpus </i>var<i>. densiflorus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8X49JK9I/AAAAAAAAMyA/pMJ7pCBO81c/s1600/Clarkia+unguiculata+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8X49JK9I/AAAAAAAAMyA/pMJ7pCBO81c/s320/Clarkia+unguiculata+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia unguiculata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAJyjBMRh_I/AAAAAAAAM88/GkEv5kGVhSw/s1600/Penstemon+heterophyllus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAJyjBMRh_I/AAAAAAAAM88/GkEv5kGVhSw/s320/Penstemon+heterophyllus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Penstemon heterophyllus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8oF87nhI/AAAAAAAAMyk/Y6n82N_SYkk/s1600/Delphinium+parryi+ssp.+parryi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8oF87nhI/AAAAAAAAMyk/Y6n82N_SYkk/s320/Delphinium+parryi+ssp.+parryi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Delphinium parryi </i>ssp<i>. parryi</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0San Benito-Bitterwater, CA, USA36.666525652155137 -121.1794996261596736.662222652155137 -121.18679512615967 36.670828652155137 -121.17220412615967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-83776466458987985072010-08-14T19:12:00.000-07:002010-08-15T21:24:32.662-07:00Bay Area Scenic VistasMy botanical wanderings take me to some pretty spectacular open spaces and preserves. The floral diversity is delightfully large and the weather generally pleasant and enjoyable. What doesn't fully come through in my blog postings so far are the wonderful vistas and views these preserves provide. Most people I encounter in the park are there for the hike, to jog, or to enjoy the ever-changing scenic vistas while I'm heads-down at the plants growing trailside.<br />
<br />
I've made an effort to get my head out of the flowers at my feet and into the amazing scenery all around. It's working. <br />
<br />
Here is a brief visual journey where I skip from park to preserve to open space, all looking up and out, over the varied landscape of the Bay Area:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExyWx8oT8I/AAAAAAAAjdY/5AJECzFVtEQ/s1600/Bean+Hollow+State+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExyWx8oT8I/AAAAAAAAjdY/5AJECzFVtEQ/s320/Bean+Hollow+State+Beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bean Hollow State Beach, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBZTkn1czLI/AAAAAAAAUpo/EfiYM6tCQf8/s1600/Lake+Sonoma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBZTkn1czLI/AAAAAAAAUpo/EfiYM6tCQf8/s320/Lake+Sonoma.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Sonoma, near Healdsburg, Sonoma County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9EcSvPmBI/AAAAAAAAkEU/jbxWnxSZ43w/s1600/Pt.+Reyes+National+Seashore+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9EcSvPmBI/AAAAAAAAkEU/jbxWnxSZ43w/s320/Pt.+Reyes+National+Seashore+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Marin County</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD044ykX3kI/AAAAAAAAi8s/y5tCrGw7Xkg/s1600/Pt.+Reyes+National+Seashore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD044ykX3kI/AAAAAAAAi8s/y5tCrGw7Xkg/s320/Pt.+Reyes+National+Seashore.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Marin County</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBlS-fjmiwI/AAAAAAAAVmo/VBWwj6XJ6Zo/s1600/San+Bruno+Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBlS-fjmiwI/AAAAAAAAVmo/VBWwj6XJ6Zo/s320/San+Bruno+Mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Bruno Mountain as seen from <br />
Sweeney Ridge, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAiNDTxaXMI/AAAAAAAAO8M/zrBwTeL9frY/s1600/Belvedere+and+Golden+Gate+Bridge+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAiNDTxaXMI/AAAAAAAAO8M/zrBwTeL9frY/s320/Belvedere+and+Golden+Gate+Bridge+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Gate Bridge from Old St. Hilary's Botanical<br />
Preserve, Marin County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAiPvVo8iYI/AAAAAAAAPBQ/84wf9bTIDm8/s1600/Old+St.+Hilary%27s+Church+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAiPvVo8iYI/AAAAAAAAPBQ/84wf9bTIDm8/s320/Old+St.+Hilary%27s+Church+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old St. Hilary's Church, Marin County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD1K5aIVGpI/AAAAAAAAjKQ/rmb4uTQx1OY/s1600/The+Golden+Gate+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD1K5aIVGpI/AAAAAAAAjKQ/rmb4uTQx1OY/s320/The+Golden+Gate+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Gate Bridge from The Presidio,<br />
Golden Gate National Recreation Area,<br />
San Francisco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAME2IQU8vI/AAAAAAAANdo/uu_H9aHQ-UQ/s1600/Tiburon+Peninsula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAME2IQU8vI/AAAAAAAANdo/uu_H9aHQ-UQ/s320/Tiburon+Peninsula.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiburon Peninsula as seen from Tank Hill Open<br />
Space Preserve, San Francisco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_jBMf5VEAI/AAAAAAAAHmk/yqh-A530Fuo/s1600/Southern+Marin+County.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_jBMf5VEAI/AAAAAAAAHmk/yqh-A530Fuo/s320/Southern+Marin+County.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Marin County from Mt. Burdell Open<br />
Space Preserve, Novato, Marin County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8wB29JvmI/AAAAAAAASKs/dYsJkueVTlI/s1600/Tiburon+and+San+Francisco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8wB29JvmI/AAAAAAAASKs/dYsJkueVTlI/s320/Tiburon+and+San+Francisco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiburon, Belvedere, and San Francisco from<br />
Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve, Marin County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_ah7gpjBwI/AAAAAAAAF_M/UbO2IgLJ50k/s1600/DSC_0500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_ah7gpjBwI/AAAAAAAAF_M/UbO2IgLJ50k/s320/DSC_0500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northwestern Contra Costa County and Suisun Bay,<br />
Mt. Diablo State Park, Contra Costa County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAfOYKHO95I/AAAAAAAAOB4/cGbGdb3YGJM/s1600/Colma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAfOYKHO95I/AAAAAAAAOB4/cGbGdb3YGJM/s320/Colma.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colma from San Bruno Mountain State Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-67067415648894496842010-08-14T10:55:00.000-07:002010-08-14T14:24:06.576-07:00Summertime on the Northern California Coast<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9Cb-Ghw1I/AAAAAAAAj_c/ndtvFkoz_yU/s1600/Dudleya+farinosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9Cb-Ghw1I/AAAAAAAAj_c/ndtvFkoz_yU/s320/Dudleya+farinosa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="PhotoTitle"><i>Dudleya farinosa</i>, growing along <br />cliffs at Pt. Reyes National Seashore</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The spring bloom in California is world-renowned as one of the best natural floral displays on the Earth. Less known but just as interesting are our summer-blooming flowers, especially along the coast.<br />
<br />
This summer I visited the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/ChimneyRockAndLighthousePtReyesNationalSeashore#">Chimney Rock and Lighthouse Trail</a> areas of Pt. Reyes National Seashore, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/AbbottSLagoon17July2010#">Abbott's</a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/AbbottSLagoon11July2010#">Lagoon</a> at Pt. Reyes, and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/BeanHollowAndPescaderoStateBeaches24July2010#">Bean Hollow and Pescadero State Beaches</a> in San Mateo County. The rugged coast, with tidepools and crumbling cliffs make for a spectacular background to the flowers, appearing like colorful jewels sprinkled among the dry grasses of summer.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExzM6fZ5YI/AAAAAAAAjes/VWoTOmjUsKE/s1600/Castilleja+affinis+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExzM6fZ5YI/AAAAAAAAjes/VWoTOmjUsKE/s320/Castilleja+affinis+%284%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja affinis </i>and<i> Dudleya farinosa</i>, Bean Hollow <br />
State Beach, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most people botanizing along the coast in the summer are looking for orchids. The most common coastal orchid is <i>Piperia elegans</i> and its various subspecies followed by <i>Spiranthes romanzoffiana</i>. However, orchids are not the showiest or most numerous. Other showy wildflower genera in bloom include <i>Grindelia, Eriogonum, Dudleya, Monardella, Angelica, Agoseris, Orobanche, Camissonia, Castilleja, Cirsium, Madia</i>.<br />
<br />
My favorites are the orchids and the various <i>Castilleja</i> species.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is a sampling of what I saw on my walks:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9DhmPvE1I/AAAAAAAAkCI/L2vzNmxangA/s1600/Piperia+elegans+ssp.+decurtata+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9DhmPvE1I/AAAAAAAAkCI/L2vzNmxangA/s320/Piperia+elegans+ssp.+decurtata+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Piperia elegans </i>ssp<i>. decurtata</i> is a locally<br />
endangered subspecies restricted to a<br />
few sites in the southern part of <br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9C--h4f_I/AAAAAAAAkA0/zZL5nXYt7n0/s1600/Orobanche+californica+ssp.+californica+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TF9C--h4f_I/AAAAAAAAkA0/zZL5nXYt7n0/s320/Orobanche+californica+ssp.+californica+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Orobanche californica </i>ssp<i>. californica</i> - Chimney Rock,<br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExxG5hXQoI/AAAAAAAAjbY/3aI9-dhcZGc/s1600/Angelica+hendersonii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExxG5hXQoI/AAAAAAAAjbY/3aI9-dhcZGc/s320/Angelica+hendersonii.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Angelica hendersonii</i> - Bean Hollow State <br />
Beach, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx3_TN7YqI/AAAAAAAAjnw/Gb7qT4GATKw/s1600/Spiranthes+romanzoffiana+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx3_TN7YqI/AAAAAAAAjnw/Gb7qT4GATKw/s320/Spiranthes+romanzoffiana+%282%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spiranthes romanzoffiana</i> - - Bean Hollow <br />
State Beach, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx2-lub6qI/AAAAAAAAjl0/eHHzH1l-Phw/s1600/Oenothera+elata+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx2-lub6qI/AAAAAAAAjl0/eHHzH1l-Phw/s320/Oenothera+elata+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oenothera elata</i> - - Bean Hollow State Beach, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx0qBpbd4I/AAAAAAAAjhQ/3wtTNC8spHw/s1600/Castilleja+ambigua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx0qBpbd4I/AAAAAAAAjhQ/3wtTNC8spHw/s320/Castilleja+ambigua.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja ambigua</i> - - Bean Hollow State <br />
Beach, San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExzlOzfdkI/AAAAAAAAjfQ/HsJ2P21rKKM/s1600/Castilleja+affinis+%286%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExzlOzfdkI/AAAAAAAAjfQ/HsJ2P21rKKM/s320/Castilleja+affinis+%286%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja affinis</i> - - Bean Hollow State Beach,<br />
San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExyDFh3WPI/AAAAAAAAjc0/SOLallSwjxw/s1600/Astragalus+pycnostachyus+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TExyDFh3WPI/AAAAAAAAjc0/SOLallSwjxw/s320/Astragalus+pycnostachyus+%284%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Astragalus pycnostachyus </i>var<i>. pycnostachyus</i> - <br />
Pescadero State Beach, San Mateo County</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="goog_1199518536"></span><span id="goog_1199518537"></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TGaxb2dY01I/AAAAAAAAkNE/sDIuA-YK0Dw/s1600/Gentiana+affinis+v.+ovata+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TGaxb2dY01I/AAAAAAAAkNE/sDIuA-YK0Dw/s320/Gentiana+affinis+v.+ovata+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gentiana affinis </i>var<i>. ovata</i> - Abbott's Lagoon, <br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TGaxs7OAr_I/AAAAAAAAkNo/hGEggOq3TwQ/s1600/Horkelia+californica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TGaxs7OAr_I/AAAAAAAAkNo/hGEggOq3TwQ/s320/Horkelia+californica.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Horkelia californica - </i>Abbott's Lagoon, <br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TGax-wWpquI/AAAAAAAAkOI/_IAbOdn9xVQ/s1600/Polygonum+amphibium+var.+emersum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TGax-wWpquI/AAAAAAAAkOI/_IAbOdn9xVQ/s320/Polygonum+amphibium+var.+emersum.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Polygonum amphibium </i>var<i>. emersum - </i>Abbott's Lagoon, Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD02lTH6uQI/AAAAAAAAi4k/oloALOXDcAk/s1600/Eriophyllum+stoechadifolium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD02lTH6uQI/AAAAAAAAi4k/oloALOXDcAk/s320/Eriophyllum+stoechadifolium.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eriophyllum stoechadifolium</i> - Abbott's Lagoon, <br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD03ZdUiXuI/AAAAAAAAi6E/w1CxNoC7W0k/s1600/Mentha+arvensis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD03ZdUiXuI/AAAAAAAAi6E/w1CxNoC7W0k/s320/Mentha+arvensis.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mentha arvensis - </i>Abbott's Lagoon, <br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD057Dx3ShI/AAAAAAAAi-I/PzrYzuikfMA/s1600/Stachys+chamissonis+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD057Dx3ShI/AAAAAAAAi-I/PzrYzuikfMA/s320/Stachys+chamissonis+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stachys chamissonis - </i>Abbott's Lagoon, <br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD06ic5mTqI/AAAAAAAAi_M/gaaO2dLKXgU/s1600/Symphyotrichum+chilense.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD06ic5mTqI/AAAAAAAAi_M/gaaO2dLKXgU/s320/Symphyotrichum+chilense.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Symphyotrichum chilense - </i>Abbott's Lagoon, <br />
Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx2DD3v77I/AAAAAAAAjj4/RiJe1o2ob8g/s1600/Castilleja+species+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx2DD3v77I/AAAAAAAAjj4/RiJe1o2ob8g/s320/Castilleja+species+%283%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja affinis</i> - Pescadero State Beach,<br />
San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx2m-_qm3I/AAAAAAAAjk4/yU_jF8u_lyM/s1600/Navarretia+squarrosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TEx2m-_qm3I/AAAAAAAAjk4/yU_jF8u_lyM/s320/Navarretia+squarrosa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Navarretia squarrosa</i> - Pescadero State Beach,<br />
San Mateo County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0Bean Hollow State Beach, South Coastside, CA 94060, USA37.2257194 -122.408819437.208633400000004 -122.4380019 37.2428054 -122.3796369tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-91441497149944083582010-07-16T23:46:00.000-07:002010-07-16T23:52:02.962-07:00Abbott's LagoonOne of my favorite botanizing spots is Abbott's Lagoon at Point Reyes National Seashore. The terrain is haunting and windswept. The dunes and adjacent scrub covered hills are home to a spectacular array of coastal wildflowers.<br />
<br />
San Francisco, particularly the western half of the City, consisted of this ecosystem before the arrival of Europeans. I enjoy looking out over the lagoon and imagining how San Francisco used to appear. Lake Merced, in the southwestern corner of San Francisco, used to be a coastal lagoon similar to Abbott's Lagoon.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my favorite images from Abbott's Lagoon:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD03N9VcYcI/AAAAAAAAi5w/3Ujgo_k9bYY/s1600/Grindelia+irsutula+v.+maritima.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD03N9VcYcI/AAAAAAAAi5w/3Ujgo_k9bYY/s320/Grindelia+irsutula+v.+maritima.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="PhotoTitle">Grindelia hirsutula </span></i><span class="PhotoTitle">var.</span><i><span class="PhotoTitle"> maritima</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0zc4x6JyI/AAAAAAAAi0g/XBsJ02RMCR4/s1600/Cirsium+quercetorum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0zc4x6JyI/AAAAAAAAi0g/XBsJ02RMCR4/s320/Cirsium+quercetorum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cirsium quercetorum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0zVdxUleI/AAAAAAAAi0Q/47RSWU0wKW4/s1600/Chorizanthe+cuspidata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0zVdxUleI/AAAAAAAAi0Q/47RSWU0wKW4/s320/Chorizanthe+cuspidata.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chorizanthe cuspidata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD01kOt1s_I/AAAAAAAAi3M/BBeoJoYDhTo/s1600/Dudleya+farinosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD01kOt1s_I/AAAAAAAAi3M/BBeoJoYDhTo/s320/Dudleya+farinosa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dudleya farinosa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0x55megVI/AAAAAAAAixw/zcWb8pIm9NM/s1600/Camissonia+cheiranthifolia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0x55megVI/AAAAAAAAixw/zcWb8pIm9NM/s320/Camissonia+cheiranthifolia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camissonia cheiranthifolia</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0xlyOgpWI/AAAAAAAAiw8/iU95GrdGQHw/s1600/Anaphalis+margaritacea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD0xlyOgpWI/AAAAAAAAiw8/iU95GrdGQHw/s320/Anaphalis+margaritacea.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anaphalis margaritacea</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD06ic5mTqI/AAAAAAAAi_M/gaaO2dLKXgU/s1600/Symphyotrichum+chilense.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD06ic5mTqI/AAAAAAAAi_M/gaaO2dLKXgU/s320/Symphyotrichum+chilense.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Symphyotrichum chilense</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD05YJ8tXxI/AAAAAAAAi9g/pTBYwMLcYpU/s1600/Silene+scouleri+v.+scouleri+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD05YJ8tXxI/AAAAAAAAi9g/pTBYwMLcYpU/s320/Silene+scouleri+v.+scouleri+%282%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Silene scouleri </i>var.<i> scouleri</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD03sNBKyzI/AAAAAAAAi6w/Wu0_uh06YNA/s1600/Monardella+undulata+var.+undulata+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD03sNBKyzI/AAAAAAAAi6w/Wu0_uh06YNA/s320/Monardella+undulata+var.+undulata+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">Monardella undulata </span></i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">var.</span><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">
undulata</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dGnRC_BZI/AAAAAAAAGjg/DqThD9F_YcE/s1600/Cirsium+occidentale+v.+occidentale+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dGnRC_BZI/AAAAAAAAGjg/DqThD9F_YcE/s320/Cirsium+occidentale+v.+occidentale+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cirsium occidentale </i>var.<i> occidentale</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dKcqPC-mI/AAAAAAAAGpc/OWkfqSpjPkI/s1600/Gentiana+affinis+v.+ovata+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dKcqPC-mI/AAAAAAAAGpc/OWkfqSpjPkI/s320/Gentiana+affinis+v.+ovata+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gentiana affinis </i>var.<i> ovata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dDJWhcbVI/AAAAAAAAGdw/0CfQdQkdfDI/s1600/Abbott%27s+Lagoon+Dunes+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dDJWhcbVI/AAAAAAAAGdw/0CfQdQkdfDI/s320/Abbott%27s+Lagoon+Dunes+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Dunes, Abbott's Lagoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dPsDCf-dI/AAAAAAAAGy0/XABgZYvnx54/s1600/Plagiobothrys+reticulatus+var.+rossianorum+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_dPsDCf-dI/AAAAAAAAGy0/XABgZYvnx54/s320/Plagiobothrys+reticulatus+var.+rossianorum+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">Plagiobothrys reticulatus </span></i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">var.</span><i><span class="lhcl_search_results_query">
rossianorum</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-73745262090029823982010-07-13T22:41:00.000-07:002010-07-16T22:21:41.076-07:00Clarkia!Late spring and early summer in California means <i>Clarkia</i>. These bright and lively members of the Onagraceae are a welcome sight as the green of spring turns into the golden summer in California. Here are some of the species I've photographed in California.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_s4EqukIrI/AAAAAAAAJFc/nhTeKuT4zxA/s1600/Clarkia+rhomboidea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_s4EqukIrI/AAAAAAAAJFc/nhTeKuT4zxA/s320/Clarkia+rhomboidea.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia rhomboidea</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5mxWRq22I/AAAAAAAARWI/I12vUJ11R7Q/s1600/Clarkia+concinna+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5mxWRq22I/AAAAAAAARWI/I12vUJ11R7Q/s320/Clarkia+concinna+%281%29.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia concinna</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_jKTMzR6VI/AAAAAAAAHrQ/8lqpAAVeUu4/s1600/Clarkia+gracilis+var.+gracilis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_jKTMzR6VI/AAAAAAAAHrQ/8lqpAAVeUu4/s320/Clarkia+gracilis+var.+gracilis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia purpurea</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFiueczQI/AAAAAAAANFA/5D3nRK9AlsQ/s1600/Clarkia+modesta+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFiueczQI/AAAAAAAANFA/5D3nRK9AlsQ/s320/Clarkia+modesta+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia modesta</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAHwumRyJ_I/AAAAAAAAMj0/GsRlQODUMuM/s1600/Clarkia+rubicunda+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAHwumRyJ_I/AAAAAAAAMj0/GsRlQODUMuM/s320/Clarkia+rubicunda+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia rubicunda</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8X49JK9I/AAAAAAAAMyA/pMJ7pCBO81c/s1600/Clarkia+unguiculata+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8X49JK9I/AAAAAAAAMyA/pMJ7pCBO81c/s320/Clarkia+unguiculata+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="PhotoTitle">Clarkia unguiculata</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFk9uKmJI/AAAAAAAANFI/_ekQ5R-m1iE/s1600/Clarkia+purpurea+ssp.+quadrivulnera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFk9uKmJI/AAAAAAAANFI/_ekQ5R-m1iE/s320/Clarkia+purpurea+ssp.+quadrivulnera.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="PhotoTitle">Clarkia purpurea </span></i><span class="PhotoTitle">ssp.</span><i><span class="PhotoTitle"> quadrivulnera</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8CBUN54I/AAAAAAAAMxg/lCoKu8NQqik/s1600/Clarkia+breweri+%283%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH8CBUN54I/AAAAAAAAMxg/lCoKu8NQqik/s320/Clarkia+breweri+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="PhotoTitle">Clarkia breweri</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCBJRo23GbI/AAAAAAAAct8/QjsNLR-fwLI/s1600/Clarkia+gracilis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCBJRo23GbI/AAAAAAAAct8/QjsNLR-fwLI/s320/Clarkia+gracilis.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia gracilis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFT_TEdyI/AAAAAAAANEk/_NkB-i2J1RY/s1600/Clarkia+epilobioides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFT_TEdyI/AAAAAAAANEk/_NkB-i2J1RY/s320/Clarkia+epilobioides.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="PhotoTitle">Clarkia epilobioides</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD1KCviN-3I/AAAAAAAAjJI/l9jA4gA0OZw/s1600/Clarkia+franciscana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TD1KCviN-3I/AAAAAAAAjJI/l9jA4gA0OZw/s320/Clarkia+franciscana.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="PhotoTitle">Clarkia franciscana</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-61012607074748745422010-07-03T09:43:00.000-07:002010-07-03T10:11:49.319-07:00Mount Diablo State Park<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo12April2008#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TC1fNx3MNqI/AAAAAAAAhvs/lFsO1_3qwnY/s320/Dichelostemma+capitatum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dichelostemma capitatum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517">Mount Diablo</a> is my second-favorite open space featuring fabulous flowers in the immediate Bay Area. Located an hour's drive due east of San Francisco in Contra Costa County, the state park has about 20,000 acres that form the nucleus of an impressive collection of protected lands totaling over 90,000 acres.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
The mountain is 3,864 feet high and stands alone, making it one of the most recognized and recognizable geographic features in the Bay Area and adjacent portions of the Central Valley. The views from the summit are spectacular in all directions. An elfin forest grows at the summit, with trees only a little taller than your average male hiker. <i>Ceanothus cuneatus</i> is a dominant species starting just above the middle of the moutain and reaching the summit. It grows thickly along the mountain's southern side and can produce a mass bloom in the spring that's breathtaking in appearance and almost overpowering in fragrance. A drive to the summit is heady and fragrant when the car windows are down. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo12April2008#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TC1moS78fnI/AAAAAAAAh6Y/LhU6tb5I0F0/s320/Pinus+sabiniana+4.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pinus sabiniana</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The interaction of the Pacific and North American plates along coastal California is responsible for Diablo, along with the rest of the Coast Ranges. The mountain continues to grow several millimeters per year. Tectonic forces are also responsible for a rich variety of seemingly incongruous rocks and minerals on the mountain.<br />
<br />
Diablo lies at range border for quite a few plants, producing an unusually high species richness. Prominent plant communities include mixed oak woodland, chaparral, and grassland. There is year-round water flowing from the mountain, particularly in Mitchell Canyon.<br />
<br />
I first encountered my absolute favorite pine tree species on Diablo, <i>Pinus sabiniana</i>. The glaucous blue needles are instantly recognizable. It doesn't grow in dense stands, but as scattered individuals in chaparral and oak woodlands. And the cones! They're huge! The pine nuts are edible and were a source of food for the local Native Americans.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo12April2008#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TC1bbb6QJ3I/AAAAAAAAhr8/33Plecitpok/s320/Ceanothus+cuneatus+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ceanothus cuneatus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I've hiked three trails so far on Diablo - the Globe Lily Trail in Mitchell Canyon along the northern flanks of the mountain, the North Peak Trail near the summit on the southern flank, and the short loop trail directly below the summit. Each trail was filled with rich and interesting plant communities. The road to the summit along the southern flank can produce stunning displays of <i>Eschscholzia californica</i> and <i>Ceanothus cuneatus</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_abX2vRw5I/AAAAAAAAFyA/C9BlB2AR818/s320/Calochortus+pulchellus+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus pulchellus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Diablo's signature flower is <i>Calochortus pulchellus</i>, a
species of globe lily found only on Mount Diablo, primarily along the
Globe Lily Trail in Mitchell Canyon. That trail also leads through a
wonderful chaparral community dominated by <i>Salvia mellifera</i> and
an almost pure white form of <i>Eriodictyon californicum</i>. <i>Ericameria
linearifolia</i> grows alongside the trails in Mitchell Canyon and I
wonder why that species isn't seen more in local gardens. I think it's
just as beautiful as the shrub daisy from South Africa everyone grows.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_aj4NTspSI/AAAAAAAAGCA/ozjzBuZUsTU/s320/Fritillaria+affinis+%282%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fritillaria affinis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I really enjoyed finding <i>Fritillaria affinis</i> and <i>Ribes menziesii</i> in a small
pocket of woodland along the North Peak Trail. Further along in a grassland area were several delicate patches of <i>Castilleja exserta</i>, a favorite in the genus for me. There were even <i>Cardamine californica</i> in bloom! This is one of our first spring flowers but it was still blooming at ~3500 feet! Near the start of the trail we found lots of <i>Arabis breweri</i> on any boulder you stopped to investigate. We even found one of the rarest flowers in the Bay Area, <i>Streptanthus hispidus</i>, growing in gravel next to the trail.<br />
<br />
I'll be back next year (if I'm still living here!) to see what more interesting things I can find!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are some additional photos from Mount Diablo:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_ao6ixaR-I/AAAAAAAAGJc/EnwscIuRA0Y/s320/Orobanche+fasciculata+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Orobanche fasciculata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_aaFrHTldI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/dLyghX5B9ks/s320/Allium+serra+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allium serra</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_apwU9bblI/AAAAAAAAGKk/WTvNky3V-JY/s320/Phacelia+breweri.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phacelia breweri</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_aqv842ksI/AAAAAAAAGMI/YUcg4BOBwj4/s320/Ribes+menziesii.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ribes menziesii</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0Mt Diablo, Alamo, CA 94507, USA37.8815912 -121.913847237.8646552 -121.94302970000001 37.898527200000004 -121.8846647tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-7387778460161623502010-06-29T20:14:00.000-07:002010-07-01T08:41:22.461-07:00Ring Mountain Open Space PreserveRing Mountain Open Space preserve is one of the best things about living in San Francisco if you're a plant nerd. A short 20-30 minute drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and into southern Marin County and you're standing on a small hill surrounded by stunningly beautiful native flowers while enjoying postcard perfect views of San Francisco and Mt. Tamalpais.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8wRjntv4I/AAAAAAAASK8/p0PIj6zb4Hc/s320/Tidytips+over+San+Francisco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Francisco as seen from Ring Mountain in April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once upon a time (ohh, say, the 1950s) the urban planners in the Bay Area were busily deciding how to manage the relentless growth the post-war economy brought to the region. One of those unrealized plans had a lovely 6 lane freeway perched along the ridgetop of the Tiburon Peninsula <a href="http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Freeways_trashed_by_89_quake">connecting to a new bridge to San Francisco</a> via Angel Island and Alcatraz Island. Ring Mountain, located at the start of the peninsula, was slated to be topped/leveled and a regional shopping mall placed there, with convenient access to San Francisco provided by this wonderful new bridge and freeway.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve13March2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8hdaBoZ6I/AAAAAAAAR-0/2EnX9EUEnpo/s320/Marin+County+%286%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Tamalpais as seen from Ring Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thankfully we had our <a href="http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=The_Freeway_Revolt">freeway revolt</a> and this plan never happened. Ring Mountain remained undeveloped and in the early 1970s a <a href="http://www.madrono.org/ringmountain.html">spectacular flower was discovered</a>, a species of <i>Calochortus</i>, that would finally seal the deal for Ring Mountain to forever remain open space.<br />
<br />
You may be noticing a theme in my blog posts. <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/communities/serpentines/geology.shtml">Serpentine</a>. Ring Mountain is full of it, and in fact, the rarity of many of the flowers found on the mountain is due to the serpentine outcrops found there. <i>Calochortus tiburonensis</i>, <i>Allium lacunosum </i>var.<i> lacunosum, </i> <i>Monardella purpurea, </i>and more are serpentine species. This lucky happenstance of plate tectonics gives Northern California its full and fascinating flower diversity. The mountain seems to have something interesting in flower from mid-March through June and into July. Let's check out some of the more interesting species and when they bloom:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve13March2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8fIiTcQVI/AAAAAAAAR68/2M-ol53okaA/s320/Calochortus+umbellatus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus umbellatus</i>, mid-March</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve13March2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8gDp8xHJI/AAAAAAAAR84/Djom8DJodbY/s320/Lasthenia+californica.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lasthenia californica</i>, mid-March</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve13March2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8flLNKCxI/AAAAAAAAR74/AtjeyDEVaqA/s320/Dodecatheon+hendersonii+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dodecatheon hendersonii</i>, mid-March</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve13March2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8fD1KtwVI/AAAAAAAAR6w/KSoey3MH-N4/s320/Lomatium+species.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tauschia kelloggii</i>, mid-march</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve13March2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8e1jvBvDI/AAAAAAAAR6U/V0CPYofhwyQ/s320/Toxicscordion+species.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Toxicscordion</i> species, mid-March</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8qAC4n-2I/AAAAAAAASEw/6H4jPrRhJmw/s320/Leptosiphon+androsaceus+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leptosiphon androsaceus</i>, mid-April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8qjc3k37I/AAAAAAAASGA/lTdutINkEt0/s320/Sidalcea+malviflora+var.+laciniata.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sidalcea malviflora </i>var<i>. laciniata</i>, mid-April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8pyDgU6vI/AAAAAAAASEM/uRdyMxF4WJc/s320/Layia+platyglossa+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Layia platyglossa</i>, mid-April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8on3vfuiI/AAAAAAAASBo/u6nfKXh9ezE/s320/Achillea+millefolium+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Achillea millefolium</i>, mid-April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8qRD_GsmI/AAAAAAAASFg/MYGRXr7Asrg/s320/Ranunculus+californicus+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ranunculus californicus</i>, mid-April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8vnMOXpiI/AAAAAAAASJ8/Ce7uywqZ3lY/s320/Sisyrinchium+bellum+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sisyrinchium bellum</i>, mid-April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8pNwQco2I/AAAAAAAASDA/D2XQvLKkj1I/s320/Calochortus+umbellatus+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus umbellatus</i>, mid-April<i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8vubfNTFI/AAAAAAAASKI/cpl9VeRyWoY/s320/Thermopsis+californica.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thermopsis californica</i>, mid-April</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwwCxhAfeI/AAAAAAAAYtU/5lEBuwpYwBc/s320/Calochortus+tiburonensis+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus tiburonensis</i>, late May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwu-2HCRXI/AAAAAAAAYpY/XRh8sE5gLvI/s320/Allium+lacunosum+var.+lacunosum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allium lacunosum </i>var.<i> lacunosum</i>, late May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBw3pXPxFVI/AAAAAAAAY1Q/o6rQUst1L70/s320/Eriophyllum+confertiflorum+var.+confertiflorum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eriophyllum confertiflorum var</i><i>. confertiflorum</i>, late May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBw38dby3ZI/AAAAAAAAY1w/1wqgl6j3YGM/s320/Hesperolinon+congestum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hesperolinon congestum</i>, late May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwwq-KpoKI/AAAAAAAAYuk/kR6wp8rbgoc/s320/Castilleja+rubicundula+ssp.+lithospermoides.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja rubicundula</i> ssp. <i>lithospermoides</i>, late May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwxEf-CVJI/AAAAAAAAYvQ/bMSjgqZuRPo/s320/Delphinium+hesperium+ssp.+hesperium.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Delphinium hesperium</i> ssp. <i>hesperium</i>, late May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBw4N1fyRqI/AAAAAAAAY2Y/Zc-_867Q2OY/s320/Silene+californica+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Silene californica</i>, late May</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBw5isbiFCI/AAAAAAAAY4U/9lvpfSTrUqo/s320/Triteleia+peduncularis.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Triteleia peduncularis</i>, late May</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve21Jun2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCqsN9fZv2I/AAAAAAAAhTU/yBDHqUt_Nm8/s320/Monardella+purpurea+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Monardella purpurea</i>, mid-June</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve21Jun2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKM7XNpGuI/AAAAAAAANQM/635VWwP65-c/s320/Clarkia+rubicunda+%285%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia rubicunda</i>, mid-June</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve21Jun2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKNuX5x91I/AAAAAAAANRs/LyxQUQNTcas/s320/Dudleya+cymosa+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dudleya cymosa</i>, mid-June</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve21Jun2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCqogvlobZI/AAAAAAAAhOk/SIQXlyKKEGk/s320/Eriogonum+nudum+var.+nudum+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eriogonum luteolum</i> var. <i>caninum</i>, mid-June</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve21Jun2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCqqSEkVTSI/AAAAAAAAhQs/DYwjA5PiDdI/s320/Hemizonia+congesta+ssp.+lutescens+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hemizonia congesta</i> ssp. <i>lutescens</i>, mid-June</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0Southeast Marin, CA, USA37.91278405007035 -122.4951553344726637.895855050070352 -122.52433783447266 37.929713050070347 -122.46597283447265tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-43565897445227386122010-06-24T21:28:00.000-07:002010-07-03T11:39:49.663-07:00Brassicaceae in CaliforniaNorthern California contains a bounty of species, both native and introduced, of plants in the mustard family, Brassicaceae.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Check out the wide variety of species I've photographed.<i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click each photo to learn more:</span></i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#5473741703039076146" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_ajE-nixzI/AAAAAAAAGBE/Ds4OWnhu-bQ/s320/Erysimum+capitatum+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Erysimum capitatum</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#5473752511045282562" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_as6FlBqwI/AAAAAAAAGQI/349VYXGt7yA/s320/Streptanthus+hispidus.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Streptanthus hispidus</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SanBrunoMountain7March2010#5478573051448201890" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAfNKd-ZEqI/AAAAAAAAN_4/BBt5aJ6kQwQ/s320/Arabis+blepharophylla+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arabis blepharophylla</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CentralSierrasMonoLake171819July2009#5484109595378743826" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBt4nvXcehI/AAAAAAAAXgo/Vnsn3GULi58/s320/Erysimum+species.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Erysimum</i> species</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtTamalpais4Apr2009#5480797335792779490" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA-0I23WAOI/AAAAAAAASYM/Kp3UcRk5od8/s320/Cardamine+californica+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cardamine californica</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OldStHilarySOpenSpacePreserve31May2010#5478787942992230626" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAiQmzW-uOI/AAAAAAAAPDA/oKreW2RNPic/s320/Streptanthus+niger+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Streptanthus niger</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#5480434943978990162" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5qi4KBalI/AAAAAAAARb8/v_ukbmeiNSU/s320/Erysimum+capitatum+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Erysimum capitatum</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#5473732838187110290" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_abA-eIj5I/AAAAAAAAFxM/sxz80CTdkHA/s320/Arabis+breweri+%286%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arabis breweri</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CentralSierrasMonoLake171819July2009#5486557520997175074" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCQq_w7IzyI/AAAAAAAAePM/6FeyNdbus4s/s320/Draba+lemmonii.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Draba lemmonii</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/McClureSBeachTomalesPoint31Jan2009#5486527642633700930" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCQP0nWLBkI/AAAAAAAAdxY/1VzJ3i4bmSE/s320/Brassicaceae.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Non-native Mustard fields at Pt. Reyes National Seashore</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/McClureSBeachTomalesPoint31Jan2009#5486528796660615650" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TCQQ3yboSeI/AAAAAAAAdyo/VcL_EhAsbfc/s320/Cakile+maritima+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cakile maritima, </i>non-native<i><br /></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#5473752571057423090" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_as9lJCQvI/AAAAAAAAGQU/BH-mS9BFXpU/s320/Streptanthus+hispidus+%281%29.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Streptanthus hispidus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-37162839282385570922010-06-24T20:45:00.000-07:002010-06-24T20:45:46.660-07:00Calochortus superbusThis is my first year seeing a large number of this species in bloom. I first encountered it up in Glenn County as a few individuals growing among a large patch of <i>C. luteus</i> and then more recently was told about a very large population growing in the exurbs near Placerville, California.<br />
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The species grows in clay soils and is tolerant of serpentine. The flowers are usually creamy with a noticeable blotch surrounded by yellow. The most easily seen diagnostic feature is the inverted-v shape of the gland. It has a <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=California&statefips=06&symbol=CASU3">very wide range</a>, from the North Coast Ranges to the Sierras and south to Mt. Palomar in southern California.<br />
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Today's photos are from the population in El Dorado County, near Placerville.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB14lELZd7I/AAAAAAAAZSo/LfH4OBkXKE0/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%289%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB14sdPqHAI/AAAAAAAAZS8/CKAc88sZa3U/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%2810%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB13-LYrLxI/AAAAAAAAZRY/mbcKLIPuAhg/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%284%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB15Gmi8VvI/AAAAAAAAZTs/vYhgWMm_9XE/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%2813%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB154TZIH9I/AAAAAAAAZVI/4T1A3aamBok/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%2819%29.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB16zWAYVWI/AAAAAAAAZWs/th_A82ePg80/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%2825%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB17gg17DdI/AAAAAAAAZYM/tk4jSEc97Y4/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%2830%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB17oghuwoI/AAAAAAAAZYc/VGDayFM4POY/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%2831%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CalochortusSuperbusNearPlacerville19June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TB16mFgCRZI/AAAAAAAAZWc/UjxKMzRVPiU/s320/Calochortus+superbus+%2824%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-81079196712845212792010-06-23T08:42:00.000-07:002010-06-23T12:29:31.342-07:00Lake Leatherwood<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAE9mqSqqPI/AAAAAAAAL0U/F5SP-zCP5SI/s320/Lake+Leatherwood+Dam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Leatherwood Dam, Eureka Springs</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.cityofeurekasprings.org/lake-leatherwood.html">Lake Leatherwood</a> is a spring fed montane lake in the Ozarks of northwestern Arkansas. It's right outside the 19th century 'healing waters' health resort of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Springs">Eureka Springs</a>. The entire area is still relatively wild, with several national forests and state parks within easy driving distance.<br />
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The lake and dam were part of the Works Progress Association stimulus efforts to get people working during and immediately after the Great Depression of the early 20th century. The lake is surrounded by a beautiful second growth forest with pockets of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_glade">cedar glades</a> and still retains a fairly diverse flora.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFDhJq6fFI/AAAAAAAAL9E/Y2WCnNXaHVo/s320/Mixed+Broadleaf+Forest.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed Broadleaf Forest</td></tr>
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This region of Arkansas is the western edge of the <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/seconiferous_broadleaf_forests.cfm">Southeastern coniferous and broadleaf forest</a> ecoregion, an ecoregion with almost 200 tree species, over 35 of which are endemic. This particular ecoregion has more than
3500 species of herbs and shrubs, the highest species count of any
bioregion in North America.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAE4kNrBXRI/AAAAAAAALt4/6WXAuk9u0-8/s320/Glandularia+canadensis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Glandularia canadensis</i></td></tr>
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Brian and I took a 3-4 hour walk around the perimeter trail surrounding
the lake. I was optimistic we would see some nice flowers and wasn't disappointed. We parked at an open clearing with picnic tables and a view of the lake water through some trees and then headed towards the start of the trail, which resembled what we call in California a fire road. We saw lots of <i>Glandularia canadensis</i>, a lovely spring flower in the Verbenaceae, growing in a large clump at the start of the trail. A good sign!<br />
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Once on the trail the dominant floral feature was incredible diversity of trees and shrubs. The trees had just finished leafing out and many were still a pale,
bright green, in contrast to the darker rich green they attain after
full leaf out. Looking up over our heads we found mid-sized shrubs and small trees glowing green in the dappled morning light, with species such as <i>Celtis laevigata, Quercus muehlenbergii, </i>and<i> Cornus florida</i> providing rich textures. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFAct1SylI/AAAAAAAAL4Y/UhTEFPDTnSI/s320/Lithospermum+canescens.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lithospermum canescens</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wandering up a short spur trail higher along the ridge we found our first cedar glades where ferns, <i>Lithospermum canescens</i> and <i>Hypoxis hirsuta</i> were abundant. The <i>Hypoxis</i> in particular seemed to be an indicator species for the presence of a glade. Additional flowering herbs along this side trail included <i>Enemion biternatum, Phlox divaricata, Oxalis violacea, </i>and<i> Cynoglossum virginianum</i>. Two of the more impressive flowering shrubs were <i>Viburnum rufidulum </i>and<i> Vaccinium stamineum</i>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_819iWJC-I/AAAAAAAALJQ/HCr5HGpJK4g/s320/Camassia+scilloides.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camassia scilloides</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I was excited to encounter my first geophyte, <i>Camassia scilloides</i>. This spring bulb has pale blue flowers with bright yellow stamens. As we continued walking we saw <i>Ranunculus recurvatus, Senecio aureus, Aesculus glabra</i>, and our second geophyte, <i>Trillium viridescens</i>.<br />
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We'd reached the approximately halfway point by this time. The trail so far was too far inland from the lake shore for us to really see the lake but now we had to cross the dam to reach the other side. Good things come to those who wait! We were literally speechless at the sight of the dam and then the lake itself as we crossed. The lake is surrounded on both sides by gentle rolling hills, carpeted in dozens of shades of green with a heavy popcorn cloud cover overhead. The area has had a wet winter and spring so the spillway to the dam was in full operation, adding another beautiful component to the walk.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAE-pY3JLcI/AAAAAAAAL18/dGs2S-NR98g/s320/Lake+Leatherwood+Dam+%286%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Leatherwood Dam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAE0l1dPTwI/AAAAAAAALq0/9Rojcdocf4A/s320/Delphinium+tricorne+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Delphinium tricorne</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once we reached the opposite shore we quickly found ourselves walking through an old limestone quarry. Our guide book told us this was the quarry where the WPA quarried the limestone facing blocks for the dam! The resulting return to nature more closely resembled a cedar glade than a forest. <i>Juniperus virginiana</i> were growing in stunted forms from the cracks in the granite and there were large patches of <i>Minuartia patula</i> here and there. But what we enjoyed most about the quarry were the thousands and thousands of tadpoles! I'd never seen so many tadpoles in one place. That really spoke to the high quality of the local ecosystem.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFMOG-ltvI/AAAAAAAAMIo/nyC7aQU3Zn8/s320/Tadpoles%21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tadpoles!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As we continued hiking we crossed several more tranquil cedar glades. We were also much closer to the shore and enjoyed the varying views as the lake came into view from time to time.<br />
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Towards the three quarters mark we hit Leatherwood Creek, which feeds into the lake, and the plant communities changed dramatically. We encountered large populations of <i>Podophyllum peltatum, Pedicularis canadensis, Polemonium reptans, Asarum canadense, Tradescantia </i>species<i>, Trillium viridescens</i>, and my favorite flower from the whole day, <i>Delphinium tricorne</i>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
More flowers and scenery from the hike:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_81aEDHJ7I/AAAAAAAALIc/HHOfMIxNBxo/s320/Brian+Hiking.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian walking in the forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFG2wF9pxI/AAAAAAAAMCU/g-MMlpN7AN4/s320/Podophyllum+peltatum+%285%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Podophyllum peltatum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAE97p0_O-I/AAAAAAAAL00/pg3dXVpLtRY/s320/Lake+Leatherwood+Dam+%282%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Leatherwood Dam spillway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAE6tMBiZLI/AAAAAAAALwQ/WhLONOhTyZ0/s320/Hypoxis+hirsuta+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hypoxis hirsuta</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAFKH1WprxI/AAAAAAAAMGc/yzElHVZ1lsw/s320/Sambucus+nigra+ssp.+canadensis+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Viburnum rufidulum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/OzarksOfNorthwestArkansasApril2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_80oT6n2ZI/AAAAAAAALHA/p-JebodT4Mg/s320/Asarum+canadense.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Asarum canadense</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0Lake Leatherwood, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, USA36.4418288 -93.754301236.4245668 -93.7834837 36.459090800000006 -93.7251187tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-35435405949564253052010-06-21T20:13:00.000-07:002010-06-21T20:37:43.673-07:00Pinnacles National Monument<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAfCwR73iHI/AAAAAAAAN24/hu5Od2uucD0/s320/Pinnacles+National+Monument+%282%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the best day trips so far this wildflower season has been to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnacles_National_Monument">Pinnacles National Monument</a>, about 2.5 hours south of San Francisco. Pinnacles is the highly eroded partial remains of a volcano that erupted directly on the San Andreas fault over 20 million years ago. In the intervening time, the volcano was split in two by the northerly motion of the Pacific Plate sliding past the North America plate and the two halves are now approx 120 miles apart!<br />
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Pinnacles is most famous for being a reintroduction site for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_condor">California Condor</a> and as a destination for rock climbing. Less known but just as important is the wide variety of plant species found in the Monument.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAfIFaoNYMI/AAAAAAAAN-4/83GUwGxKhtk/s320/Wyethia+helenioides+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wyethia helenioides</i></td></tr>
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Nhu and I entered from the less crowded West entrance, and before we even entered the monument we were stopping to photograph <i>Wyethia helenioides, Allium crispum, Viola pedunculata, Pholistoma auritum, </i>and<i> Collinsia heterophylla</i>.<br />
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Once we stopped and paid the day fee at the Ranger's Station we headed for the main loop trail. We encountered fading <i>Castilleja exserta </i>ssp<i>. exserta</i> at the start of the trail, still looking really attractive. There were brilliant white trumpets of <i>Calystegia subacaulis </i>ssp<i>. subacaulis</i> in spots along the start of the trail. Next we started seeing <i>Clarkia modesta</i> and various <i>Delphinium</i> species, including <i>Delphinium parryi </i>ssp<i>. parryi</i>. The most exciting find early in the trail for Nhu was a waning bloom of <i>Allium fimbriatum </i>var<i>. fimbriatum</i>. There were even more Clarkias, including <i>Clarkia epilobioides</i> and lots of intensely deep rich purple <i>Clarkia purpurea </i>ssp<i>. quadrivulnera</i>. Other species encountered included <i>Chorizanthe membranacea, Toxicoscordion fremontii, Leptosiphon parviflorus, Crassula connata, </i>and<i> Dudleya cymosa</i>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAJ87dYcPAI/AAAAAAAAM90/YqUF5TNcrXY/s320/Allium+crispum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allium crispum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The flat part of the trail ended and we entered the eroded portion of the volcano. We took a small detour around the first large building-sized boulder and encountered <i>Lewisia rediviva </i>var<i>.</i><i> rediviva</i> growing in cracks on the rock, a spectacular sight. Next was the sclerophyllus local cherry, <i>Prunus ilicifolia </i>subsp<i>. ilicifolia</i> growing side by side with <i>Rhamnus ilicifolia</i>, all with the local pipe stem <i>Clematis lasiantha</i> scrambling here and there. Looking down at our feet there were many lovely yellow <i>Triteleia lugens</i>, one of the more attractive California geophytes.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAe9cLloVZI/AAAAAAAANvw/CAXrfi8dElc/s320/Lewisia+rediviva+var.+rediviva+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lewisia rediviva </i>var<i>.</i><i> rediviva</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next we entered the main part of the loop trail. This took us up several hundred feet through a series of gentle switchbacks with spectacular and dramatic scenery at every turn. Here we got some amazing habitat shots of <i>Pinus sabiniana</i>. Drifts of <i>Clarkia unguiculata</i> covered the sides of the switchbacks and near the top we started seeing early blooming individuals of <i>Calochortus venustus</i>. A highlight for me in this section was the twining snapdragon, <i>Antirrhinum kelloggii</i>. Other beautiful species encountered were <i>Cirsium occidentale</i>, <i>Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. glandulosus, Emmenanthe penduliflora, Mimulus fremontii</i>, and an invasive but lovely grass, <i>Lamarckia aurea</i>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAfDgIScCOI/AAAAAAAAN34/ZEqsaIDELrs/s320/Pinus+sabiniana.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pinus sabiniana</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all the hike was easy, the scenery among the best I've ever seen, and the plants always interesting. I hope to make a return visit at a different time of the spring bloom in the future!<br />
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Click on any of the photos to be taken to a gallery containing all the photos I took on the hike.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
More photos from the day:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAe_kedzNjI/AAAAAAAANzE/4c5SnwI-mnA/s320/Oak+Woodland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drifts of <i>Clarkia unguiculata</i> painted the landscape in purple</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAJ90QQbnpI/AAAAAAAAM_k/IHKG987u5yc/s320/Calochortus+venustus+%282%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus venustus</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFND_o7kI/AAAAAAAANEU/XlRi94G70Ko/s320/Cirsium+occidentale+%282%29.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cirsium occidentale</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKFsyPj9lI/AAAAAAAANFg/JGD3YoSp29I/s320/Clarkia+purpurea+ssp.+quadrivulnera+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia purpurea </i>ssp<i>. quadrivulnera</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PinnaclesNationalMonument9May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAfHH1ZWlWI/AAAAAAAAN9Y/z3L4e8V1BLA/s320/Talus+Cave.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A talus cave</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-91084411386061972332010-06-20T07:31:00.000-07:002010-06-20T07:36:26.768-07:00Calochortus Parade, part 4The fourth and final installment of <b><i>Calochortus</i> Parade</b> features the Star Tulips. I've only encountered two species of Star Tulips in the wild - <i>C. umbellatus</i> at Ring Mountain and <i>C. minimus</i> from Yosemite National Park. Both species are incredibly enchanting.<br />
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<i>C. umbellatus</i> is a lovely pale/blush pink flower that blooms early - with the early spring annuals, starting in mid-March, staying in bloom for about 4 to 6 weeks at Ring Mountain. The flowers are small, about 2 inches across, nestled in the grass in many places, turning them into little hidden jewels.<br />
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<i>C. minimus</i> is an even smaller pure white flower, approximately one inch in diameter. It was easy to step on them before I realized what was underfoot! It blooms in the Yosemite 'spring' - a time that is always dependent upon the snowmelt. I saw it in early to mid-June but I imagine it could be found later or earlier depending upon how much snow has to melt from the higher meadows.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/Yosemite6Jun2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_s3JhwXO0I/AAAAAAAAJEI/mjH9caRs-qw/s320/Calochortus+minimus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve18April2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA8o7XX49zI/AAAAAAAASCg/VlUl5XWqgtM/s320/Calochortus+umbellatus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-63987981122520675042010-06-18T20:03:00.000-07:002010-06-18T23:04:32.502-07:00Calochortus Parade, part 3<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentinite">Serpentine</a> is the 'common name' for serpentinite, a shiny, smooth, mostly green metamorphic rock that is present in fairly large quantities throughout California. It is produced at the margins of the continental crust, particularly on ocean floors, through a complex process involving seawater reacting with mafic and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramafic">ultramafic</a> rocks to form serpentinite. It is the state rock of California.<br />
<br />
Soils derived from serpentine rock are high in several metals, particularly magnesium, and low in most plant nutrients. This prevents most plants from growing in serpentine soils, except those that have evolved a special ability to tolerate these unusual conditions. These plants are called serpentine endemics. There are also plants that are tolerant of serpentine but that can also grow in regular soils. <br />
<br />
<i>Calochortus</i> are one of the groups of plants with a high number of serpentine endemic and tolerant species. Perhaps the most famous is <i>Calochortus tiburonensis</i>, a species only discovered in the early 1970s growing in serpentine outcrops on <a href="http://www.co.marin.ca.us/pos/mcosd/os_park_24.asp">Ring Mountain</a>, in southern Marin county, at the base of the Tiburon peninsula.<br />
<br />
The third installment of the <b><i>Calochortus</i> Parade</b> will focus on the Cat's Ears floral style, of which <i>C. tiburonensis</i> is a member.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwwCxhAfeI/AAAAAAAAYtU/5lEBuwpYwBc/s1600/Calochortus+tiburonensis+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwwCxhAfeI/AAAAAAAAYtU/5lEBuwpYwBc/s320/Calochortus+tiburonensis+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/NhuSGarden26April2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwzKJwZgrI/AAAAAAAAYyk/5nF9nvzRN8M/s320/Calochortus+monophyllus.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/NhuSGarden26April2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwzPMGkduI/AAAAAAAAYy0/NN8WPexFpF0/s320/Calochortus+tolmiei.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountain31May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBwwSB1FjVI/AAAAAAAAYt0/IVXXVB3Qe0E/s320/Calochortus+tiburonensis+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SaltPointStatePark15May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_3jq-sohUI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/2Dp6w-Lrhl0/s320/Calochortus+tolmiei+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5jz81jfZI/AAAAAAAARQ8/L2LDTbtFX9g/s320/Calochortus+tolmiei+%283%29.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5k4YP1wXI/AAAAAAAARTA/ZwKGBl8D8i0/s320/Calochortus+tolmiei+%2811%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/RingMountainOpenSpacePreserve21Jun2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAKJajsgIBI/AAAAAAAANKU/5wYcyW6oGSw/s320/Calochortus+tiburonensis+%284%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Species, from top to bottom: <i>C. tiburonensis, C. monophyllus, C. tolmiei, C. tiburonensis, C. tolmiei, C. tiburonensis</i></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-26823123014018696072010-06-17T19:42:00.000-07:002010-06-18T23:04:00.648-07:00Calochortus Parade, part 2There are over 70 species of <i>Calochortus</i>, ranging from southern British Columbia and Alberta to extreme southern Mexico and adjacent Guatemala and east to the western Dakotas. Utah's state flower, the Sego Lily, is <i>Calochortus nuttallii</i>.<br />
<br />
There are four major floral forms in Calochortus: The Mariposa Lilies, The Cat's Ears, the Globe Lilies, and the Star Tulips.<br />
<br />
Today's <b><i>Calochortus</i> Parade</b> will be the Globe Lilies:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/LakeAndColusaCounties1May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAkNK2ElcXI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/jf011J0MHvI/s320/Castilleja+foliolosa+and+Calochortus+amabilis.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtDiablo17Apr2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_abX2vRw5I/AAAAAAAAFyA/C9BlB2AR818/s320/Calochortus+pulchellus+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SweeneyRidgeAndEdgewoodPark12June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBlHLHQKOBI/AAAAAAAAVbU/dgP0kVueFQA/s320/Calochortus+albus+%2816%29.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/TildenBotanic26Apr2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBrbZxrS5nI/AAAAAAAAWkE/wgLpJFF6hlI/s320/Calochortus+amoenus.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SweeneyRidgeAndEdgewoodPark12June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBlGeGlV0qI/AAAAAAAAVZw/wvzQe_vch4c/s320/Calochortus+albus+%2810%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5fndIwLQI/AAAAAAAARJ8/nnqfLSCabco/s320/Calochortus+amabilis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Species, from the top: <i>C. amabilis, C. pulchellus, C. albus, C. </i></span><span class="PhotoTitle"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>amoenus, C. albus, C. amabilis</i></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-55865385430675061652010-06-17T08:34:00.000-07:002010-06-21T14:05:40.883-07:00Calochortus Parade, part 1California's state flower is <span class="PhotoTitle"><i>Eschscholzia californica</i>, the </span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?q=poppy&uname=OrchidEricinSF&psc=S#5480800733358307826">California Poppy</a>. Some accounts indicate it won out over competitors <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/3845469411/"><i>Romneya coulteri</i></a> and flowers in the genus <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus"><i>Calochortus</i></a>, the Mariposa Lilies.<br />
<br />
People tend root for the underdog and as such I personally wish a species of <i>Calochortus</i>, or perhaps the entire genus, were the state flower. They come in a wide variety of shapes, forms, and colors, and have a long bloom period, starting in late March and in some places ending up in August!<br />
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So to honor my underdog, here is the first installament of the <b><i>Calochortus</i> Parade:</b> the Mariposa Lilies! </div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5jV94vy6I/AAAAAAAARP8/e4RvDDBEUUk/s320/Calochortus+superbus+x+luteus+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/CentralSierrasMonoLake171819July2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBrVs7hThTI/AAAAAAAAWcs/BGV9aTJ6JpE/s320/Calochortus+leichtlinii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/PanocheRoadSanBenitoCounty17May2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAH3gwI6VKI/AAAAAAAAMtU/UkLaj_rrLsQ/s320/Calochortus+venustus+%287%29.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/MtTamalpais4July2009#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TAvHHQ0fs0I/AAAAAAAAQ3E/CQmG0QpEVN8/s320/Calochortus+luteus+%286%29.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SkaggsSpringsRoad13June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBZMS7Yua-I/AAAAAAAAUno/eq_oBnLiKdw/s320/Calochortus+luteus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SweeneyRidgeAndEdgewoodPark12June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBlMt8ju3HI/AAAAAAAAVfA/GvGWZ5XQgK0/s320/Calochortus+argillosus+%2811%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5mFmrVKAI/AAAAAAAARUg/3sMAwirTAWE/s320/Calochortus+vestae.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Species, from top: <i>C. superbus, C. <span class="PhotoTitle">leichtlinii, C. </span><span class="PhotoTitle">venustus, C. luteus, C. </span><span class="PhotoTitle">argillosus, C. </span><span class="PhotoTitle">vestae</span></i></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-77505932585639215062010-06-16T15:30:00.000-07:002010-06-18T12:39:26.059-07:00Happy Nature Photography Day!The North American Nature Photography Association sponsors <a href="http://www.nanpa.org/nature_photography_day.php">Nature Photography Day</a> on June 15 every year.<br />
<br />
I actually didn't know about this until June 16, and as I was traveling to Portland, Oregon, on the 15th, I wasn't out in nature on <i><b>the</b></i> day, so I'll cheat a little and present a sampling of images I've taken in nature on the days leading up to Nature Photography Day!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SkaggsSpringsRoad13June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBZMS7Yua-I/AAAAAAAAUno/eq_oBnLiKdw/s320/Calochortus+luteus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calochortus luteus</i>, Yellow Mariposa Lily<br />
Skaggs Springs Road, near Healdsburg, <br />
Sonoma County, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SweeneyRidgeAndEdgewoodPark12June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBlRykQ2UVI/AAAAAAAAVk0/bBbjbZWEiEY/s320/Monardella+villosa+ssp.+franciscana.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Monardella villosa</i> ssp. <i>franciscana</i>, Coyote Mint<br />
Sneath Lane Trail, SFPUC Watershed, <br />
adjacent to Sweeney Ridge, <br />
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, <br />
San Mateo County, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SaltPointStatePark13June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBadn9badGI/AAAAAAAAU1U/TH9F3xGs_3I/s320/Postelsia+palmaeformis+%281%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Postelsia palmaeformis</i>, Sea Palm<br />
Salt Point State Park, Sonoma County, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5potMm_GI/AAAAAAAARao/z-LpxA0m8i4/s320/Dwarf+Oak+Woodland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak Woodland<br />
Forest Highway 7, Mendocino County, Mendocino National Forest, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5riKgHAgI/AAAAAAAARds/JIVx3wkjUOE/s320/Fritillaria+recurva+%281%29.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fritillaria recurva</i>, Scarlet Fritillary<br />
Forest Highway 7, Mendocino County, <br />
Mendocino National Forest, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/SweeneyRidgeAndEdgewoodPark12June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBlNpMq_-qI/AAAAAAAAVg4/YTFUyqIuYdQ/s320/Clarkia+rubicunda.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarkia rubicunda</i>, Farewell to Spring<br />
Edgewood County Park, San Mateo County, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-60976387388773009522010-06-15T08:25:00.000-07:002010-06-20T07:44:34.073-07:00Bibb County Glades - a botanical wonderlandThrough a Flickr contact in Minnesota, Dr. Brian O'Brien at Gustavus Adolphus College, outside of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, I learned of a very special botanical preserve in Alabama, the <span class="gphoto-photocaption-caption"><a href="http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/alabama/preserves/art902.html">Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glades Preserve</a>, located 90 minutes southwest of Birmingham. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/BibbGlades7May2009#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBBx51FOidI/AAAAAAAATLQ/l_zyArzJAL0/s320/Dolomite+Outcrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cedar Glade - notice the forest ends abruptly<br />
where the ultramafic soil begins?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This spectacular botanical wonderland was undiscovered until 1993, when a fish biologist and botanist went on a <a href="http://jimbotany.com/01a-Title-Abstract-Intro-PhysChar.htm">canoe trip to survey the Little Cahaba River</a>. What they found astounded them: 8 new species of plants and several others that had not been seen in decades, one of which was presumed extinct. Species of <i>Castilleja, Liatris, Onosmodium, Silphium</i> were all found to be new to science!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/BibbGlades7May2009#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBECg7dmxfI/AAAAAAAATig/80vg3knHe7o/s200/Solanum+pumilum.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solanum pumilum</i>, a new record for <br />
this species in Alabama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had to visit this place! I grew up in the suburbs of Birmingham and return infrequently to visit family. My last return home in May 2009 I made plans to visit the Bibb Glades. It rained 4 of the 7 days I was in Birmingham but I was determined to make it to the Glades, so I headed off one morning in a drizzle that thankfully was gone by the time I reached the glades. I'd forgotten about the humidity and mosquitos of Alabama, though, which made the visit that much more interesting.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/BibbGlades7May2009#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBBt7OpCKtI/AAAAAAAATIU/Eu--7dqifYI/s200/Castilleja+kraliana.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Castilleja kraliana</i>, new<br />
species to science</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Briefly, the glades are special because of their soil. A particularly pure form of limestone, Dolomite, is found at the surface of the earth here. This limestone weathers into a soil that is toxic to most but not all plants, known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramafic_rock">ultramafic</a>. The mixed broadleaf-pine forests that dominate most of Alabama cannot grow in this soil. This leaves a large opening in the forest canopy and a fascinating mix of ultramafic-tolerant plant species.
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/BibbGlades7May2009#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBB0gxoERNI/AAAAAAAATOs/W7EJR2NM5wk/s200/Leptopus+phyllanthoides.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leptopus phyllanthoides</i></td></tr>
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The place was simply amazing. So much of Alabama has been farmed, developed, planted, etc. that everything you see that's green and growing is disturbed by human touch. About the only native plants left are the trees. Walking through the Bibb Glades I felt like I was really back in a place and time very few people have experienced, particularly in such a developed area.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/BibbGlades7May2009#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TBB09QPa4qI/AAAAAAAATPg/jLKglrxvEAQ/s200/Marshallia+mohrii.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Marshallia mohrii</i>, a previously <br />
undiscovered population and the <br />
plant that alerted the botanist <br />
there was something special on <br />
the Little Cahaba River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The glades are now owned by the Nature Conservancy and are open to visitors during daylight hours. Click on any of the photos in this post to see the incredible diversity of plants I encountered and photographed at the Glades that day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0Piper-Coleanor, AL, USA33.05975207382415 -87.03703880310058633.023784573824152 -87.095403803100581 33.095719573824148 -86.978673803100591tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-71316462054922662442010-06-11T13:47:00.000-07:002010-06-11T15:02:56.384-07:00Vernal Pools<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_pools">Vernal Pools</a> are one of the more fascinating features of the California landscape. A vernal pool is a temporary body of water that is dry part of the year. In California they are formed during the winter rains and then go dry over the summer.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6e64NoLpG0mI17shuSyCJA?feat=directlink" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_k-gjOtrtI/AAAAAAAAHyo/cEZL_ibbcNg/s200/Navarretia+leucocephala+ssp.+bakeri.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Navarretia leucocephala</i><br />ssp. <i>bakeri</i></b></td></tr>
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These pools are home to very specialized plant and animal communities, uniquely adapted to the challenging and rapidly changing conditions of the pool. They are especially known for their rare and diverse populations of amphibians and aquatic invertebrates, made possible by the lack of fish. They also harbor really interesting annual flowering plants that put on an ever-changing show as the pool dries up every summer.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ykUJ7tvqMB360XJgf0dhVg?feat=directlink" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_k_LpREKEI/AAAAAAAAHzs/CEqNln7Sdmo/s200/Plagiobothrys+undulatus.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="PhotoTitle">Plagiobothrys bracteatus,</span></i><span class="PhotoTitle"> vernal <br />pool popcorn flower</span><i><span class="PhotoTitle"><br /></span></i></b></td></tr>
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The most famous vernal pools are found in California's Central Valley, where very few remain after over a century of development, but we have one relatively close to San Francisco, at <a href="http://mcgv.org/depts/pk/main/MCOSD/os_park_21.asp">Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve</a>, in Marin County: Hidden Lake.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1m28sVW4SzX_5e6MsD9NIA?feat=directlink" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/S_k996WTiII/AAAAAAAAHx8/48GrY9CwVRg/s200/Juncus+xiphioides+%281%29.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Navarretia leucocephala</i> <br />ssp. <i>bakeri </i>and<i> <br />Juncus xiphioides</i></b></td></tr>
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I visited Hidden Lake in late May just as the first ring of wildflowers was blooming along the eastern edge of the receding lake: <b><i>Navarretia leucocephala</i> ssp. <i>bakeri.</i></b> There were drifts of this tiny white flower starting to bloom, turning the edge of the lake white. Interspersed among the <i>Navarretia</i> was <b><i>Plagiobothrys bracteatus</i></b>, vernal pool popcorn flower, along with <i><b>Juncus xiphioides</b></i>, Iris-leaved Rush. Another amazing occurrence: tens of thousands of Pacific Tree Frogs swarming all around the edge of the lake - a fantastic sight. <br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0Mt Burdell Preserve, Novato, CA 94945, USA38.136041808792172 -122.5969505310058638.119164308792172 -122.62613303100586 38.152919308792171 -122.56776803100585tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5209063213685614718.post-9286707869689799082010-06-10T19:50:00.000-07:002010-06-21T20:19:28.427-07:00Welcome to PlantWorld! (Dichelostemma ida-maia)<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr align="right"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5nr29DPGI/AAAAAAAARXw/Ie3Kq56ZgmE/s200/Dichelostemma+ida-maia+%281%29.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dichelostemma ida-maia</i></td></tr>
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Welcome to PlantWorld! Join me as I travel around California, the United States, and the world learning about native plants (and sometimes
not so native) wherever I happen to be.<br />
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I try to get into the field every weekend during the flowering season, which in California extends from early March all the way to early September. I'll use this blog to talk about what I see and what I found interesting enough to share.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5nzD4FmnI/AAAAAAAARX8/w596hYg8FUo/s200/Dichelostemma+ida-maia+%282%29.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dichelostemma ida-maia</i> <br />
'exploding' in mid-air</td></tr>
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We'll start off with a really neat geophyte in the Themidaceae, <i>Dichelostemma ida-maia</i>, the firecracker flower of northern California and southern Oregon. I encountered this species along Covelo Road in southern Mendocino County, California. I'd seen the species before in cultivation but it's always exciting to see the plant growing in a natural setting, even if it is beside a busy road. Luckily the road had decent shoulders and traffic was light so we stopped.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OrchidEricinSF/GlennAndMendocinoCounties5June2010#" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dKkWbo-zExM/TA5f82WD5WI/AAAAAAAARKc/K5fjMntryyA/s200/Calochortus+amabilis+%282%29.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calcochortus amabilis</i></td></tr>
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Our initial reason for stopping was a pretty spectacular display of <i>Calochortus amabilis</i> and as we walked up that's when we noticed the <i>Dichelostemma ida-maia</i>. It really did look like fireworks setting off over the <i>Calochortus</i>.<br />
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This species is easy to grow in the garden and is available from specialty bulb nurseries. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629739481965559684noreply@blogger.com0Covelo Rd, CA, USA39.6787795 -123.349111839.5466625 -123.5825713 39.8108965 -123.11565230000001