Marin CNPS Photo Gallery
Marin State and Federally Listed Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Plants
Common Bay Area Spring Wildflowers
Common Bay Area Shrubs
Arctostaphylos species of Marin County
Orobanche species of Marin County
Some Native Orchids of Marin County
Delphinium bakeri pictures and article
Plant Communities of Marin County
Native Plant and Wildflower reports from Marin County
Report (email us) your
Marin native plant sightings and photographs
For more information and photographs of California native plants,
go to Calflora, CalPhotos.,
or USDA PLANTS
August 22, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
from Brad's field trip to the Jepson Loop, Tomales Bay State Park.
"It was a fine day with no fog and clear views! Lots of huckleberries
about to eat and other native fruits to see ripening on the bushes
including woodland rose, thimbleberry, coffeeberry, salal and the
spiny Menzies' gooseberries. The poison oak was providing lots of
red pre-fall color.
"Still in flower were yerba buena (Clinopodium douglasii), coast daisy
(Corethrogyne filaginifolia), pink honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula),
harebell (Campanula californica), morning-glory vine (Calystegia
purpurata), even one blueblossom bush (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) at
the upper picnic ground, overlooking Heart's Desire beach. We added
two orchid species to the plant list: Piperia elongata and a
Corallorhiza in fruit, so we're not sure which species it is."
August 16, 2010
Dave Strauss reports: "I saw this flower near Brown Bridge in Fairfax. I've never seen it before."
Doreen Smith contributes: "This patch of "common madia" (Madia elegans) has been flowering since spring,
a fine vigorous Ca. native Composite. More can be seen opposite the Big Rock on Lucas Valley Road,
it often occurs on serpentine.The flowerheads are open in the am, close up in the afternoon."
July 31, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"Dabney's field trip around Lake Lagunitas today was
well-attended. There were even some late blooming wildflowers as well
as various seeds and berries. We saw the delicate pink Clarkia rubicunda,
the Mt. Tamalpais forma with very little red in the center
of the petals, Campanula prenanthoides, Piperia transversa and
Perideridia gairdneri. We also saw a rare bird, a green heron."
July 30, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"Last week I went to Limantour to check out the effects of the
various re-construction works have had on the marshes and there were
lots of spp. blooming still. Among them the rare saltmarsh plants
Pt. Reyes birds-beak (Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris) and
variable owl's-clover (Castilleja ambigua ssp. ambigua). I also found
what is perhaps a new population of the enigmatic Marin knotweed
(Polygonum marinense).
"Other species in the area were 4 yellow Lotus spp.
(birds-foot trefoils) 3 native and 1 introduced, and the aromatic
tarplant (Deinandra corymbosa). I got reports of rein orchid (Piperia
elegans ssp. elegans) on the beginning of path along the sandspit.
"The coast tarplant (Hemizonia congesta) grows by the roadside on the
way to Limantour parking lot , it is lemon-yellow here rather than
the more inland golden-yellow version."
July 17, 2010
Dave Strauss reports:
"Today we saw spectacular collections of blooming Aquilegia eximia, Aquilegia formosa,
Lilium pardalinum, and Silene californica, all close together not
far from where where Big Carson creek crosses Pine Mountain fire road near Kent Lake.
"I've biked along this fire road in all seasons for at least 17 years and have never seen such an
abundant display before. It was amazing."
July 10, 2010
Alexandra Fraser reports:
"It is a fantastic time for late season wildflowers and I saw many species today on my hike through MMWD
lands. I wish I'd kept better notes but it was a social hike with non-botanists and a beagle in tow, so I was
not able to really hunt for wildflowers in the nooks and crannies. Botanical highlights included Piperia
transversa along the shores of Alpine Lake on the Helen Markt Trail, Lilium pardalinum
on the southern end of Cataract Trail, and Calachortus luteus in the grasslands especially
at Potrero Meadow."
June 27,2010
Rick Wachs reports:
"A few of my favorite recently sighted flowers:
Clarkia concinna - Big Carson Creek
Lilium pardalinum - Liberty Gulch Trail
Piperia transversa - Pine Mountain Fire Road
Antirrhinum vexillo-calyculatum - Bolinas Fairfax Road near Sky Oaks turn-off
Mimulus cardinalis - Creek along Pine Mountain Road
Silene californica - San Geronimo Ridge Road"
June 6, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"Because of wet and foggy weather I nearly didn't do my walk on Friday 4th June to
look for Gnome Plants (Hemitomes congestum). They usually grow under coast
redwoods near the lower part of the fire roads where the Gravity Car grade meets the Double
Bowknot .This loop -upon -loop of track was once was the railroad bed for the train that
carried tourists up Mt. Tamalpais from Mill Valley. Alice Eastwood used to take Botany
visitors to Cal. Academy of Sciences up the mountain by this route.
"Unfortunately we drew a blank on "Gnomes" but did find lots of the rare Santa Rosa Horkelia,
Horkelia tenuiloba. The plant was in full flower. It has a very prostrate mat-like
habit and grows on the margins of the trail. Also many are in the cleared flat protected by
the sit-upon pine log barrier.We counted them for a report to CNDDB -
doing the best we could for estimations of numbers of such a rhizomatous clone-making plant."
May 30, 2010
Peter Denisevich reports: "Just a couple of warm days and things at Carson Falls, MMWD are moving
rapidly toward summer: the Clematis lasiantha that was in bloom on 4/18
is even more striking "in seed". The azaleas (Rhododendron occidentale) and the
chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana) are starting to bloom and the dry,
rocky slopes are covered with sickle-leaf onion (Allium falcifolium) blooms. Still plenty of
clarkia, checkerblooms, and poppies in the grassy meadows."
May 25, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"...on some special flowers now in flower at
Lagunitas Meadows, Sky Oaks MMWD above Fairfax. I went there on
Monday with Celia Zavatsky of the East Bay CNPS Chapter.
"These seasonally-wet flatlands host several special plants.
Castilleja ambigua ssp. ambigua, Calochortus uniflorus, Trifolium
variegatum var. major, Sidalcea calycosa ssp. calycosa (near the dump
entrance) and Gratiola ebracteata. You can also see leaves of
Perideridia gairdneri and buds of Spiranthes porrifolia. The latter
are easily crushed and care must be taken if you visit to not to step
on them. They are on a deer-trail near the road near some Deschampsia
caespitosa clumps and are marked by pine twigs."
May 25, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"We were lucky to have a marvelously clear, bright sunny
day for the Mt. Burdell/ Hidden Lake hike last weekend. After taking
a indirect route uphill to see 3 species of orchids, two of which
were in flower, some blue Navarretia pubescens, pink Zeltnera davyi,
pink and red Clarkia gracilis ssp. sonomensis, and a few minute
yellow Leptosiphon acicularis we wound up at the Hidden Lake by
lunchtime.
"There were masses of the rare white Navarretia leucocephala ssp.
bakeri on the margins of the pool! Unfortunately the whole site is
being invaded by the European weed, Mentha pulegium. Several of us
pulled out some of those plants but it would require a lot more work
to make a dent in the population."
May 22, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"The hike to Alpine Dam 19th May was interesting for forest species.
Amongst other flowering plants like Vancouveria planipetala,
anomalous Leptosiphon sp.
and Clintonia andrewsiana we saw Amorpha californica, the rare shrub
that has only one petal on each flower."
May 8, 2010
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"Went up to Rush Creek in Novato to look for birds but also found a stunning display of Linanthus (/Leptosiphon) parviflorus, Collinsia heterophylla
(thousands), Scrophularia and Trifolium willdenovii. Also many bushes that at first I didn't recognize,
then thought I did and that they were Wood Roses, but back at home realized they had no thorns. Bright pink buds at the tips of the stems and
opposite, smooth leaves. The Linanthus and the Chinese Houses are worth a trip alone. Due to painful knees I only walked a
little ways down but sure there are more surprises if one continued on to the end.
...Just figured out my mystery shrub...Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). I knew the plant looked sooo familiar but guess I have only seen it with
and never seen the flowers. How cool."
May 1, 2010
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"Today a friend and I went to Lagunitas Lake to bird but found more flowers. The best were Cream Cups (which
I hadn't seen for so long I didn't recognize them), Delphinium patens, Woodland Stars, Viola ocellata
(first for moi) and the delightful (ahem) Suksdorf romanzoffia. We practiced saying that all the way back
to the car and I still forgot it. Lots of owl, balloon clovers and other, buttercups, lupines, poppies, Star flowers,
Fairy bells, one Castilleja (too far up to id.) etc. But the west-facing slope with the great water
weeping, sun-storing rocks was an enchanted garden. Lots of the Sr and where all the delphiniums, cream cups and
masses of what I think were Pacific Sedum...a glorious sight with their red stems, flat rosette leaves and
bright yellow flowers. Really not a bad way to spend a spring day."
April 26, 2010
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"Found one Striped Coral Root in the woods off the Escalon Fire Trail."
April 26, 2010
Michael Chassé reports:
"It has been a glorious April, with spectacular blooms throughout the Golden Gate National Parks.
Our April 15th trip to Nicasio Ridge was an especially satisfying treat, where we saw dozens of
native plants in bloom including the endangered Tiburon Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis ssp. neglecta).
May promises to be another fantastic month of rare plant treasure hunting."
April 25, 2010
Peter Denisevich reports:
"Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. secundus among the rocks (and
in the middle of the trail!) between Deer Park and Worn Spring Rd."
April 23, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"We were at Chimney Rock today in preparation for the "Birding
Festival" wildflower hikes and still managed to add a few spp. The
flowers were really good out on the extreme end of the point.
Triphysaria floribunda, San Francisco Owl'-clover has done
particularly well this year. Unfortunately on the educational poster
at the beginning of the trail it is mis-identified as Triphysaria
eriantha. updated Chimney Rock plant list
"Also we did a pre-trip to Abbotts Lagoon. Water levels were
unusually high in both lagoons. The flowers were good there too, the
rare Layia carnosa and Lupinus tidestromii both were flowering out in
the dunes area. Visitors are asked to be particularly careful where
they go on the beach now the snowy plovers are nesting."
April 18, 2010
Peter Denisevich reports:
"Clematis lasiantha climbing on the rocks at Little Carson
Falls, MMWD (See the frogs, too.) Also Calochortus umbellatus blooming
profusely on serpentinite between the Falls and Oat Hill Rd."
April 17, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"The various "larger flowered" (i.e. compared with T.
pusilla) Marin Triphysaria spp. have often been confused on Pt.
Reyes, these pix show the differences."
April 15, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"We (the Rare Plant Monitoring led by Michael Chassé) went up on the Nicasio Ridge (GGNRA) today to
monitor Castilleja afffinis ssp. neglecta and Fritillaria liliacea. I
have updated the plant list.
It was a mass of mainly goldfields and Blennosperma nanum
(yellow Compositae.) but many other spp. were flowering as as well. "
March 31, 2010
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"At very far end of Ring Mountain thousands of flowers are just starting to show.
There were poppies, lupines, Tidytips, Goldfields(gazillions), False Lupines, Oakland star tulips,
Douglas Iris, Grass Iris, Blue-eyed grass, Bush Monkey flower, Spring-gold, Snakeroot, Purple Sanicle.
Yarrow, California Phacelia, Shooting Stars, Bluedicks, and one lone flower that looked like a jewel
flower to me. Have to go back soon and take a photo. Also seeing hundreds of Slim and
Fat Soloman's Seals, Fairy Bells, Star Flowers, Red Bead Lily, Mission Bells and more that I can't recall.
Really beautiful spring that should keep on giving with all of this rain."
March 22, 2010
Jim Sprague reports:
"Saw a whole bunch of Mission Bells Fritillaria affinis blooming on the
Bootjack Trail out of Muir Woods in between the Bridge and the Meadow.
Also tons of Oakland star
tulip Calochortus umbellatus in the
grassy meadows on The Dip Sea Trail between Pan Toll
Ranger Station and Muir Woods."
March 21, 2010
Mark Phagan reports: "I was hiking up on Mount Tam today, along Old Mine Trail.
I saw a variety of flowers. Wildflowers sited were Fairy Slipper Orchids, Hounds Tongue, Miners'
lettuce, Popcorn flower and Shootingstars."
March 6, 2010
Brandon Andre reports:"There are a handfull of really nice specimens of
Fritillaria affinis var. tristulis peaking along the downhill side of the trail to the
elephant seal viewing area at the Chimney Rock TH. I did not see any out at Chimney Rock,
but they may very well be flowering out there....the ones I just mentioned were the first
I had ever seen and it was not until I finally spotted those that I realized how hard they
are to see!
"There are many beautiful Iris, Checkerbloom, Nemophila menziesii var. atomaria,
Erysimum menziesii var. concinnum flowering all over the Chimney Rock area. There were
also a few flowering Delphinium decorum ssp. decorum new the elephant seal
viewing area and all the way out at the end of the Chimney Rock Trail."
March 5, 2010
James Sprague reports:"Indian warriors are blooming on the Nora Trail
between West Point Inn and The Matt Davis Trail. Also tons of calypso orchids on the Steep
Ravine Trail near the Pan Toll Parking lot."
February 22, 2010
Jim Gratiot reports "Mimulus douglasii, purple mouse ears, are blooming on Mt Burdell."
February 22, 2010
Christopher Moore reports "Friends and I spotted one small, sodden (but fully bloomed)
Calypso bulbosa alongside the TCC trail, about half way between Van Wyck meadow and the the Dipsea junction,
on Sunday February 21, 2010. That seems early to me."
February 21, 2010
Sharon Salisbury reports "On the Warner Canyon Falls trail in Mill Valley there were hundreds of
Fetid Adder's Tongue, many still in bloom, Fairy Bells, Huckleberry, Hound's Tongue, Trillium ovatum and
some Mission Bells about to burst open. At the Blackstone Canyon Trail (made-up name as I don't know the real name) in
Novato, there were a gazillion Milk Maids, many Buttercups, and on one slope a purple haze of Shooting Stars.
..hundreds of them with a few Buttercups just for an accent.
There were also some lovely little white flowers, five petals with tiny red stripes on each petal."
February 21, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"A brief report from last Wednesday's Dirca occidentalis,
western leatherwood, monitoring effort at Samuel P. Taylor State
Park's cross-Marin trail.
Brad Kelley and Vernon Smith took the long trail from
Shafter Bridge to Platform Bridge and saw no Dirca at all, but one
patch of the rare bottle-brush grass, Elymus californicus.
The others, led by [me], took the path to Stairstep Falls from the
Devil's Gulch trailhead to be sure of actually seeing flowering Dirca
occidentalis. We also saw some fine Trillium ovatum, wakerobin, in
bloom and one Calypso orchid.
The pictures of the yellow violets and Dirca were taken by
Vernon. The large-fleshy-leaved one is streamside violet, V. glabella
(The Jepson Online Interchange has an inaccurate picture of another
sp. of violet, maybe V. purpurea, to illustrate this taxon!). The
evergreen one with smaller leaves is redwood violet, V. sempervirens."
February 20, 2010
Dave Strauss reports "I saw Zigadenus fremontii in large numbers -
just starting to bloom - above the fire house on Throckmorton Ridge, lots of Cynoglossum grande in bloom around
Sky Oaks, abundant Pedicularis densiflora along trails through the chapperal above Mt. Home Inn.
Castilleja foliolosa... photo taken along Gravity Car."
February 16, 2010
Michael Chassé reports:
"Last week's trip to Bolinas Ridge was a slightly foggy but spectacular hike
along the ridge trail, where we recorded multiple individuals of
Arctostaphylos virgata on the GGNRA side. We also got a good look at
Ceanothus masonii, Ceanothus gloriosus var. exaltatus, and plants that seem
intermediate between the two. Thanks to Doreen Smith, Neal Kramer, and Brad
Kelley for joining."
February 14, 2010
Doreen Smith reports:
"On our rare plant monitoring trip to Bolinas Ridge on Thursday last
the views were marvelous and the rare Marin manzanita, Arctostaphylos
virgata, was in peak bloom. [Here is a] picture Neal Kramer
took of the group with the finest specimen we found of the Marin
manzanita. This species can also be found in bloom on Pt. Reyes."
February 7, 2010
Eva Buxton reports: "On the CNPS hike to Cascade Falls today, we saw California
pipevine (Aristolochia californica), a widespread but uncommon plant in Marin. Brad Kelley
sent an article reminding me of its pollination by fungus gnats, which are attracted to the flower that
emits a foul odor. The gnats enter the "bowl" of the pipe and get trapped for a long enough time to
increase the chance of pollination. The flowers form tiny pipes less than a cm before the leaves appear
and then continue to grow to a size of 2 - 4 cm. "
February 7, 2010
Wendy Dreskin reports: "
Junior
Botanist Trevor found Indian Warriors at
Cascade Canyon on January 28. He also found Sanicula laciniata at Lake Lagunitas
on February 4."
February 3, 2010
Sharon Salisbury reports "Today at Homestead were Hound's Tongues,
Trillium ovatum, hundreds of Fetid-Adder's Tongues, Milkmaids (everywhere).
On the firetrail behind the golf course in MV there were Zigadene Liles just about to
burst last week...2 weeks ago in the Marin Headlands I saw Wall Flowers, Indian paintbrush,
Monkey flowers, California poppies and
Foot-steps-to-spring.
January 23, 2010
Bob Sills reports: "Today I saw a lone Trillium ovatum in bloom
(although the flower was folded up) in Muir Woods. I also saw a few milkmaids..."
January 18, 2010
Doreen Smith reports: "Vernon and I did some hiking on the weekend to see early flowers
before the forecast rainstorms.
Mt. Burdell lower slopes: the peppercress, little Blennospermas and
Star-lily Zigadenes are starting to bloom. There are a few goldfields
in the fenced-off area west of the San Carlos Dr. gate.
Pt. Reyes Lighthouse: some baby-blue-eyes, a few giant goldfields and
small goldfields, salal, milkmaids, and grindelia can be seen. A
red-flowering Aloe, left from a light-house-keepers garden, hangs on
to the cliffs."
January 16, 2010
Wendy Dreskin reports: "St. Rita
Junior
Botanists Sydney and Grace found and
identified the first buttercup on the hill behind their school on January 15.
Last year students didn't see the first one until February 1! "
January 14, 2010
Faith Brown reports: "Hundreds of Indian Warriors (Pedicularis densiflora) on the Wood Oaks Trail
off N. San Pedro Road. Some in full bloom, others not open or just popping up."
January 12, 2010
Wendy Dreskin reports: "Saw the first shooting star of the year on High Water Trail at
Cascade Canyon Open Space and two hound's tongues in bloom at the lower end of Repack.
(There's no trail sign saying Repack, turn left at the bridge.) Lots of Indian warrior in bloom as well!
January 9, 2010
Amelia Ryan reports: "More than a dozen Hound's tongue (Cynoglossum grande) in bloom
already at the Tiburon Uplands Preserve. I also saw a few Indian warriors (Pedicularis densiflora)
and a milkmaid (Cardamine californica) in bloom and a
death camas in bud. Sadly, I neglected to bring my camera."
January 3, 2010
Dean Kelch reports: "Garrya elliptica and
Arctostaphylos canescens in full flower on the trail between Mt Theater and West Point Inn on Mt
Tamalpais. A. nummularia was flowering along the Matt Davis Trail."
December 29, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Cardamine californica is blooming in "Marinwood" just
north of the Mt. Lassen Dr. parking spot for Old Lucas Valley Road."
December 21, 2009
George McRae & Heidi Rand report: " ...many Brownies (Scoliopus bigelovii) in bloom in
Muir Woods along the main trail just short of
Cathedral Grove on Friday December 18th. We took a trip to Cascade falls yesterday Dec 20, but saw none. "
December 19, 2009
Vernon Smith reports: "On David Herlocker's hike today, I saw
Common Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita) and
California Goldenrod (Solidago californica) in bloom on Big Rock Ridge.
Things seem to be somewhat early."
November 8, 2009
Dave Strauss reports: "It was surprising to see several plants in bloom in the Marin
Headlands today including: Eschscholzia californica, Mimulus aurantiacus, and Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana.
I also observed Arctostaphylos sp. in bloom high up along Gold Hill Grade in San Rafael yesterday."
August 16, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Several botanically-inclined people from several CNPS
chapters braved the mid-day heat and attended Saturday's hike around the N. edges of Alpine
Lake reservoir, MMWD. In addition to the expected (often tiny) wetland plants like Crassula
aquatica, Epilobium torreyi, Mollugo verticillata and Gratiola ebractata we found Isoetes
howellii, Asclepias fascicularis, Epilobium densiflorum and unexpectedly large numbers of
Cordylanthus pilosus at the foot of Azalea Hill, some were even at the reservoir high-water-line
mark. The Alpine Lake plant list was amended accordingly.
"Next month (Sept.) there will be a visit to the shores of Nicasio reservoir and the Stafford Lake reservoir E. of Novato
with David Herlocker's Marin Naturalist Program . Last year there were many different shore-line plants to see, some the
same but many different from those listed above.They included the native Petunia parviflora, new to Marin, and the non-
native arrowhead, Sagittaria brevirostra."
July 30, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "I pre-tripped the Alpine/Lake Lagunitas area Tuesday and the reservoir isn't down
as much as the photo from last year (see walks description) but it is surrounded by obscure items of Botanical interest:
Alisma triviale and Helenium puberulum are the prettiest, Marsilea vestita
(four-leaf-clover fern) the most peculiar."
July 22, 2009
Brad Kelley reports: "The gentians (Gentiana affinis var. ovata) are blooming on Carson Ridge near
the Repack junction. West of the junction a large patch of Green Rein Orchid (Piperia elongata) is blooming by
taking advantage of fog drip under Sargent Cypress (Cupressus sargentii) in a normally very dry area.
"This is a good year for Rein orchids. Piperia transversa
and Piperia elongata are blooming in shady areas on
the north side of Mount Tam, Lagunitas and Bon Tempe lakes and many areas of central Marin. Piperia elegans
ssp. elegans is blooming along the headlands, Kirby Cove, and Point Reyes; some were seen on Doreen's Abbott's
Lagoon hike. Over 100 flowering spikes of the rare Piperia michaelii were counted on East Marin Island and
seventeen were counted at the only other known Marin population at Point Reyes. A few spikes of the extremely rare
Piperia elegans ssp. decurtata are beginning to bloom at Point Reyes."
July 18, 2009
Jim Rolka reports: Gentiana affinis var. ovata, Silene scouleri ssp.
scouleri, Triteleia laxa (Ithuriel's spear), and Prunella vulgaris (Selfheal)
blooming on the bluff overlooking Abbott’s Lagoon. "I went there to see the Blue
Gentian and Red-Flowered Catchfly that were mentioned by numerous visitors.
(I was staffing a table at the trailhead to provide information on the Snowy Plovers.) "
July 12, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "There was a big turnout
for the Abbotts Lagoon hike and the gentians (Gentiana
affinis var. ovata) were found in fine condition at the top
of the bluff overlooking the bridge to the dunes. Pink-
flowered coastal catchfly, (Silene scouleri ssp. scouleri),
also excited the photographers."
July 3, 2009
Fred Cline reports: Lady tresses (Spiranthes porrifolia) blooming at Rock Spring on
Mt. Tam.
July 2, 2009
Mary Stevens and Norbert Jeske report: " Leopard lilies and Western Azaleas are blooming along
the road below the Bootjack parking lot and in Portrero Meadow."
July 1, 2009
Trevor Simon reports:"We just saw a nice patch of the stream orchid growing in Papermill
creek across the road from Devils gulch.
Really pretty."
June 29, 2009
Robert Hall reports:"I biked to the top of Tam starting at Phoenix Lake and noticed that there are
still some wildflowers. Of course, monkey flower is blooming everywhere but coyote mint is ubiquitous too.
I also saw pearly-everlasting, fading patches of Ithuriel's spear, western morning glory and one pitcher
sage in bloom."
June 23, 2009
Doreen Smith reports:"The Lilium maritimum should be
flowering for this Saturday's Bull Point trip."
She also sends a picture of Rosa spithamea taken by Roger D. Harris
on her Ring Mountain walk.
June 21, 2009
John Conley reports:
"The Blue Gentian
(Gentiana affinis var. ovata) is in full bloom along the bluffs
above Drake's Bay and Drake's Estero. There is still some Sidalcea in bloom there,
as well as some Ceanothus. Brodiaea terrestris is still in bloom, but is beginning to
fade. Lots of Paintbrush, Lotus, Blue-eyed Grass, Ithuriel's Spear, and
Gumweed continue to bloom, and our native Blackberries (Rubus ursinus) are
just ripening. The Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) is currently making a nice show on
the path from Drake's Estero to Horseshoe Lagoon."
June 20, 2009
Dave Strauss reports
Monardella villosa blooming along
the Fish Gulch trail above Phoenix Lake.
June 7th, 2009
Doreen Smith reports from the Marin CNPS/RockGarden Society hike to Ring Mountain.
"There's still time to
see the Calochortus tiburonensis before
it goes to seed, but for only about one more week!
This year was a good year to see plants with multiple blooms. Other notable flowering
spp. seen on this date were
yellow spring tarplant, Hemizonia
congesta lutescens; white tackstem, Calycadenia multiglandulosa;
creamsacs, Castilleja rubicundula lithospermoides; pale pink Marin
western flax Hesperolinon congestum;
purple coyote mint, Monardella
purpurea; rose-pink Tiburon buckwheat, Eriogonum luteolum caninum;
ruby chalice clarkia,
Clarkia rubicunda and the
red-flowered Silene
lacinata californica.
Two new species
were located to add to the
plant list:
bright pink
Sonoma rose, Rosa spithamea and a pale green
rein orchid,
Piperia transversa.
"The Carson Falls area is still worth visiting, the new trail
off from the main fire-road is much easier to negotiate than
the old one. The waterfalls continue to flow and the rare foothill
yellow-legged frogs (don't disturb them) sunbathe in
the shallows of
the pools. Rock-lettuce, Dudleya cymosa, flowers there on the rocks
(of course) attract hummingbirds."
June 6, 2009
Dave Strauss reports: "Today we saw a very nice collection of
Calochortus luteus
at Camp Tamarancho along the Serpentine trail
just below the junction with the fire road to Cascade Canyon.
I saw
Clarkia amoena at the junction of the White Hill fire road and B-17
extension at Camp Tamarancho."
June 4th, 2009
Doreen Smith reports:"We visited the Bull Point trail with David Herlocker's
Marin naturalist group. The rosy linanthus,
Leptosiphon rosaceus, made up for the small size of each plant by occuring in vast numbers
and mixed colors of
white, pink and rose. The stream orchids,
Epipactis gigantea, were flowering in great shape but were nearly
trampled to death by their admirers."
June 2, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Finally we found Marin's Fremontia!
The outing started favorably when we found several rare
plants blooming on the serpentine, Hesperolinon congestum, Eriogonum
luteolum var. caninum, Calamagrostis ophitidis, Calochortus
umbellatus, Streptanthus batrachopus and Navarretia rosulata. Other
herbaceous species not-so-rare were Clarkia gracilis, Hemizonia
congesta var. lutescens , Calystegia collina and Hesperolinon
micranthum. The pink honeysuckle vine Lonicera hispidula var.
vacillans attracted attention with it's masses of pink flowers and
the shrub Rhododendron occidentale was worth braving the surrounding
Toxicodendron diversilobum in order to sniff and sample its perfume.
"Finally we got to near the Cascade Canyon fire-road junction
with the Pine Mountain truck road and bush-whacked our way through
heavy, scratchy chaparral with poison oak and Sargent cypress to
reach the Fremontodendron californicum var. napense population. It
looks very different forom the usual horticulturally-selected shrubs.
The leaves are much smaller and less hairy and the flowers are
smaller too, still it was exciting to finally see our local variety."
Brad Kelley's photos
of the Marin Fremontodendron.
May 30, 2009
Dave Strauss reports: "Today I saw an very nice patch of
Silene laciniata ssp. californica (Indian Pink)
along the Oat Hill fire road. I did not have a decent camera with me, but I took this rather bad photo with
my phone. Earlier in the day I saw a fine pair of ospreys guarding their nest near the shore of Kent Lake,
along the section of Pine Mtn. Road that dips down to the lake."
May 25, 2009
David Herlocker reports: "Streptanthus niger
is absolutely exploding at the Vistazo West entrance to Old Saint Hilary's
Open Space Preserve, Tiburon."
May 18, 2009
John Conley reports: "Calochortus tiburonensis is currently
in bloom on Ring Mountain.
I saw several plants in bloom yesterday, and many more in bud. The next week or so
should see quite a few blooms of this rare plant in the serpentine areas on the North face of the mountain.
These photos were taken yesterday (May 17th),
during the course of a very warm hike."
May 7, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Today we "rare plant monitored" on Nicasio Ridge, part
of the GGNRA. The pink jewelflower there is very
abundant this year. It has been previously identified as Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. pulchellus
but differs somewhat in appearance from the Mt. Tamalpais plants. Also present in flower at the site were
Castilleja affinis ssp. neglecta, Hesperolinon congestum and Gilia capitata ssp. tomentosa.
"The second Strepanthus pictured here is from near the end of Fairway Drive in Ignacio.
This also has been listed as Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. pulchellus but is different again from
the classic
Mt. Tamalpais form, also pictured here for comparison.
"I checked out the Turtleback trail at China Camp and looked for anything resembling
"jewelweed" (see reoprt below) -what it is really is the non-native windmill pink, Silene gallica.
Also of note was white-flowered Spergularia villosa in large bunches on the lower-lying
parts of the S. side of the hill. The trail had a total of 3 species of weedy Spergularia,
the other two are S. salina and S. rubra. The new multi-use trail was being carefully
groomed yesterday, but there was much invasive French broom, flowering and fruiting, needing removal."
May 3, 2009
Sue "Mazer" Mace reports: "I just got back from a hike around Turtle Back Nature Trail -
China Camp State Historic Park and saw 2 wildflowers I had not seen in previous years. A whitish
Delphinium and a white jewelweed. Can you help me ID them and are either of them rare???
(Doreen Smith responds: "The white Delphinium at China Camp is D. variegatum,
it is uncommon for it to be in that color but that population has been known since the 1950's.
I have never seen a jewel flower about Turtleback, it is an anomalous site for it to be found .
On San Pedro Ridge some is at the top of the hill.")...
Ithuriels spear, cream cups, vetch and pea, goldfields and
brass buttons (non-native) are numerous on the
trail as well.
*Also* - The Loma Alta trail area across from from Big Rock just off of Lucas Valley Road is at
peak right now with goldfields, tidy tips, cream cups, balloon clover, tomcat clover, field owls
clover, purple sanicle, mule's-ear sunflowers, Leptosiphon androsaceus,
jewelflower, blue dicks, blue eyed grass, California poppy, just to name most of them."
May 2, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "The beginning of the Loma Alta trail that starts from
Big Rock off Lucas Valley Road is awash with color right now. There are the pinks and purples of
Leptosiphon androsaceus and yellows of Triphysaria versicolor ssp. faucibarbata
and Layia chrysanthemoides.
"Many other species are in just the first few 100 yards up the trail
on the serpentine, Trifolium albopurpureum, Lepidium latipes var.latipes,
Gilia capitata ssp.capitata, Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. secundus and
Hesperolinon congestum to name just a few of them."
April 29, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Today Vernon and I checked out Angel island for
"fire-following" species. The best places to see the recovering
landscape are on the upper SW of the island. There are the perennials
that have always been colorful at this time of year, Phacelia
californica, Castilleja affinis, Eriophyllum lanatum, and Lupinus
albifrons. Maybe the fire burned away competing annual exotics. The
most noticeable "new" weed was Trifolium tomentosum all over the
fire-road. On the unburned sections there was much weediness,
especially Myosotis (blue forget-me-not).
"There were some fire-following annuals
Uropappus lindleyi,
Microseris douglasii, Guillenia lasiophylla and Gilia achilleifolia,
mainly on serpentine . On sandstone were Eschscholzia californica,
much Chlorogalum pomeridianum in bud and some
Stachys rigida. There
had been Toxicoscordion (Zigadenus) fremontii, now in fruit. On the
whole - not much in the way of hoped-for special flowers.The native
perennial grasses such as Nassella and Melica were doing well.
There may be masses of later-blooming species - Chlorogalum,
Perideridia and Zauschneria."
April 20, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "It was a very hot day out at Glide Tule Ranch open
house yesterday, but the outing was well attended by
CNPs members from several local chapters. The dried vernal pools were
full of yellow goldfields, Lasthenia glabrata and white popcorn
flower, Plagiobothrys stipitatus, both var. micranthus and var.
stipitatus. We did see lots of "woolly starfish", Hesperevax
caulescens, and the rare Astragalus tener var. ferrisiae once thought
extinct. On the main area visited Downingia spp. were unfortunately
absent this year but on the exit route a fine patch of Downingia
pulchella was seen (and photographed ) flowering in abundance."
April 15, 2009
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Took my first 2009 walk on the Homestead Trail and amongst the many
Iris douglasiana, Slim Soloman's Seal, flax (non-native) and others, there were about 2 dozen Cahochortus
umbellatus... mainly along the sides of the left trail at the top of the hill. There were a few on the steep climb up,
but not nearly as many as in the past. Don't know why...too late, too early...but I did notice a lot more high grass that may be hiding a lot of them.
"
April 11, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "I decided not to do the Marin Open Space's arduous
climb up San Geronimo Ridge today, in spite of there being the
prospect of fine flowers there and went to the town of Tiburon Open
Space at the top of Gilmartin Drive. It was a marvelous expanse of goldfields, tidy tips,
cream-cups, owl's-clover and all those species Sharon Salisbury
mentioned in her piece below. In addition, near the Viola pedunculata patch which is on the
NW edge of the site, were many plants of the rare Tiburon paintbrush in full
bloom, with pale-yellow and pinkish flowers.
"Old St. Hilary's Preserve had
yellow spring tarplant (Hemizonia congesta ssp. lutescens) plus
all-yellow tidy-tips (Layia platyglossa) flowers mixed together to
make id difficult.The tidytips have a golden disc-flower center, the
tarplant has paler disc flowers with black anthers. Near the creek
that crosses the Vistazo fire road there is some leggy blue-flowered
Phacelia divaricata. This year the black jewel-flowers (Streptanthus
niger) will have some record large size individuals when they flower
next month."
April 11, 2009
Sue "Mazer" Mace reports: "The hillsides above Highway 101 and St. Vincents School for Boys is
in color right now. Annual lupine, geranium (non-native), buttercup and California poppies
en masse."
April 6, 2009
Robert Katz reports
Fritillaria affinis and Iris douglasiana in bloom "at Redwood and
Carson Rd in Woodacre along west
Bank of Woodacre Creek upland portion of riparian zone under the 1 mature doug fir near the road.
AKA Carson Country (lowlands) as mentioned in the Marin Flora."
April 3, 2009
Peter Denisevich reports: " I found couple of Corallorhiza striata blooming along the
Yolanda Trail north of Six Points, MMWD. This doesn't look like a good
year for them, though."
April 3, 2009
Bob Sills reports: "I took a walk on Mt. Tam today with the Solo Sierrans -- Rock Spring, Cataract Trail,
Simmons Trail, Laurel Dell Fire Road, Cataract Trail back to Rock Spring. The goal was to find calypso orchids,
and they were on all of the trails. In particular, the Laurel Dell Fire Road was lined with them (not densely lined, of course,
but with lots of them on both sides). We also saw them along the 75-yard spur to the High Marsh Trail, but that was
anticlimactic after all of the other ones we saw.
"Ceanothus jepsonii var. jepsonii is in bloom on serpentine areas of the Simmons
Trail between the high point and Barths Retreat. There were lots of other nice flowers too --
hounds tongue, baby blue-eye (near Laurel Dell), solomon seal
(just below Laurel Dell on Cataract Trail), Indian warrior, bigleaf maple (at Laurel Dell),
shooting star (on Cataract Trail,
probably near the end of their bloom), popcorn flower, milkmaid, one gooseberry (Cataract Trail, not sure of species), etc.
I'm a little surprised at how abundant milkmaids are still."
March 31, 2009
Sharon Salisbury reports: "
At Miraflores in Tiburon there are Lupines, Tidytips, Buttercups, Suncups, Viola pedunculata, False Lupine,
Blue-eyed Grass, Hog Fennel, Checkerbloom, Blue Dicks, California Phacelia, Yarrow, Shooting Stars, Redmaids and more.
The Violas have really expanded their patch from a just a few last year to about 100 plus.
"The Miwok Trail in Mill Valley is bursting with blooming Elderberry, Poppies, Hog Fennel, Yarrow, Goldfields, Oregon Grape
(a huge patch mixed with Goldfields is a stunning sight), thousands of Coast Rock Cress, Woodland Star, Morning Glory,
Baby Blue Eyes, Cinquefoil, Checkerbloom, Shooting Stars, Piggyback Plant, Beeplants, Blue-eyed Grass, Castilleja affinis,
and a first for me, Meadow Rue (Thalictrum polycarpum), and this was just in the first part of the trail.
"At the Laurel Canyon private road at Nicasio there are red Delphiniums in bloom."
March 30, 2009
Martin Snider contributes photos of Calypso bulbosa
takenon Mount Tamalpais on the Benstein trail between Potero Meadow and Rock Spring.
"The woods were full of these blooms."
March 30, 2009
Dave Strauss reports: "I saw Claytonia gypsophiloides in bloom on
Sunday in very rocky serpentine soil along the shore of Alpine Lake (Kent trail). It was abundant."
March 30, 2009
Niki Beecher and Carolyn McDade report: "We take our dogs walking up at the
Terra Linda-Sleepy Hollow Divide Open Space Preserve several times a week, and have been watching
the progression of wildflowers up there. We saw the single biggest Checkerbloom we've ever seen,
in a little group of them on the left of Ridgewood Fire Road at the Y where it meets up with Sun Valley Trail.
There are little "pockets" of Sky Lupine on the open hills of the path going to the Crestwood
Drive trailhead, and the hills themselves are still a lucious green...but not for long! The puddles the
dogs loved to play in are all dried up, and there's a hint of yellow in the grasses.
Our biggest surprise was a whole FIELD of Fiddlenecks off to the right at the trailhead at
Ridgewood Drive, right next to Memorial Trail down to Terra Linda; their bright, cheery little yellow-gold
heads bobbing in the sunshine among the green of the (now TALL) grasses is lovely to see. "
March 29, 2009
Dave Strauss reports Calypso bulbosa flowers on the Kent Trail near Alpine Lake.
March 27, 2009
Niki Beecher and Carolyn McDade report: "We just hiked up out of Deer Park, and the trail back down from Boy
Scout Junction to the fire road at Deer Park is ABLAZE with quite a variety of wildflowers. The hills are
still green and beautiful, and I, too, am seeing wildflowers late, and in a couple of cases, seeing late blooms
of Spring flowers right beside those of warmer weather, i.e., Shooting Stars and Hound's Tongue right
beside Paintbrush!
"We saw some Mission Bells on the wooded trail from Oak Tree Junction going up to Six Points. It's so
sunny and lovely up there, we ran across picnickers under a tree just enjoying the view. I don't blame them;
The Sky Lupin are ablaze on the trail above Hidden Meadow, to the point where they have given the hills
a blue-grey cast, something neither my husband nor I have ever seen there before.
"The trail down to Boy Scout Junction, (real steep), has Baby Blue Eyes blooming just at the
start of the trail in whole bunches. The first few Iris are further up that trail, some not even open,
some fading; more will come as the season progresses, seen tons of them up there.
"The little trail down from Boy Scout Junction back to the fire road out of Deer Park is just rampant with
wildflowers. Bees can be heard everywhere, doing their thing, and there's still a nice breeze this time of year
to keep hiking from getting too hot...we saw everything from Blue Dicks to Blue-Eyed Grass,
two different Paintbrushes, Buttercups and Tomcat Clover. It's a splendid example of a whole bunch of
species of our locals, and a treat for the eye! I highly recommend anyone to get up there before they're all gone.
"It's gorgeous out there, and it won't last long...the hills are already getting a slightly yellow tint; get out there
and enjoy it, our Spring is too short in Marin and if you don't get there, it'll be gone!"
March 22, 2009
Doreen Smith reports on Marin CNPS trip to Kirby
Cove: "we DID find Piperia sp. orchid leaves but someone will have to
go back to see if the plants flower in order to make a determination
of the actual species. It was a fine, clear day for the field trip
after the storm clouds blew away. We found some colorful flowers,
particularly goldfields (Lasthenia californica) early larkspur
(Delphinium patens) coast rock cress (Arabis blepharophylla) chia
(Salvia columbariae) small gilia (Gilia clivorum), lemon-scented
everlasting (Pseudognaphalium biolettii) and 3 species of Lupine. The
sky lupines (Lupinus nanus) made sheets of color on the slopes below
the fire-road near the west side of the Golden Gate Bridge overlook.
Also we added to and updated the plant check-list.
March 26, 2009
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Mt. Burdell was a glory yesterday.
The vast green bowls, spiked with old oaks, bays and buck-eyes just unfurling their
moist green leaves and thousands of wildflowers pooling and winding through the
emerald grass, bluebirds hovering over the grass looking for food made for a spectacular
afternoon. Thousands of Poppies, Popcorn flowers, Checker blooms, Blue Dicks,
Fiddlenecks, Suncups, Buttercups, Shooting Stars, Purple Sanicle, Lupines,
Small-headed Clover, Erodiums and Geraniums (sorry, didn't take my flower book) and
many more I couldn't ID. The vernal pool is the fullest I have seen... couldn't
even walk around it and the many streams were still running tunefully beside us
as we hiked. The Maple's tender green leaves unpleating from the pink wood were stunning.
On Old RR Grade in Mill Valley where the largest number of Mission Bells I have
ever seen are still blooming along with Trillium ovatum, Fairy Bells and
Slim Solomon's Seal."
March 23, 2009
John Conley reports: "was a spectacular day for hiking on
Mt. Tamalpais, with plenty of sun, a cool breeze, and verdant hills everywhere
one looked. Our wildflower bloom seems a bit late to me, compared to some past
years. Perhaps our dry January is responsible. In any case, I was surprised not
to see some of the blooms I had expected: Red Larkspur was only in bud at one
spot, and nowhere in bloom along the Matt Davis, Coast, and Cataract trails; just a
couple of Blue-Eyed Grass blossoms were seen; Coral Root Orchids
(striped or spotted) were scarce or non-existent in places that I am used to
enjoying them at this time of year; even Checkerbloom was just beginning to
flower. The Mission Bells also seem late; I found only a few in bloom,
with very small flowers. On the other hand, Blue Dicks are beginning to
bloom, and the Calypso Orchids are blooming under the Douglas Firs near
Pantoll and Rock Spring (although the flowers are small this year, and the early
blooms are not profuse). The Star Lilies ( formerly Zigadenus
--- now Toxicoscordion --- fremontii according to Doreen's earlier
note) are beginning to fade a bit. Baby Blue Eyes are blooming on the
Coast Trail, as is a bit of Popcorn Flower, a very few Amsinckia sp.,
some California Poppies, lots of Buttercups, and fading Milkmaids.
March 21, 2009
Lamorna Brown Swigart reports Fritillaria affinis
"is
blooming in Cascade Canyon open space, in at least two place along side the Carey
Camp loop trail."
March 14, 2009
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Found a new wildflower area to me. We hiked up
the Blithedale Ridge where there were stunning far-away views of Mill Valley
and closer views of Star Lilies, Grass Iris,
Douglas Iris, Suncups, Buttercups, Wild cucumber, either Hog Fennel or
Spring Gold...moving fast, and poppies all poised in beautiful
settings on bright green grass under large budding oaks, and fallen logs and rocks.
So picturesque.The late afternoon light turns this into a fairyland. Then we heard about
the trilliums on the Maytag trail that connects the ridge with the
Warner Falls trails and saw thousands of trilliums, FAT (fetid adders-tongue)
leaves, Wild Cucumbers, Hounds Tongues, Slim Solomon's Seal, Indian Warriors,
Checker Lilies and the tiny, unpleating, soft green leaves of the Hazelnut. "
March 10, 2009
Ed Ricketts, Jr. reports: blooming on the Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands,
near intersection of Conzelman Rd and McCullough Rd.:
Aquilegia formosa (Red Columbine),
Arabis blepharophylla (Coast Rock-cress),
Cardamine californica (Woodland Milk-maids),
Marah fabaceus (Manroot), and
Vaccinium ovatum (Huckleberry).
March 9, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "This Sunday's outing was a co-field trip to Mt. Tamalpais'
Rock Spring and Bolinas Ridge with the Santa Clara Valley
Chapter.They turned out about 30 members strong with a smaller
addition of East Bay Chapter people.
"The pink fairy-slipper calypso orchids
are at the beginning of their
season, so anyone who wants to see them can find them this month
under Douglas'-fir in the forested areas near the Rock Spring parking
lot.
"Along the Bolinas Ridge fire-road north of the junction with the
(re-opened) Fairfax-Bolinas Road we found flowering Scoliopus
bigelovii, Trillium ovatum, Viola sempervirens, Arctostaphylos
nummularia ssp. sensitiva, Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. glandulosa,
Arctostaphylos virgata, and Ceanothus foliosus var. foliosus. The
rarer Ceanothus spp. - C. masonii and C. gloriosus var. exaltatus
were still in bud.
"The circum-East Peak summit of Mt. Tamalpais was great with the
abundantly-flowering white Arctostaphylos glandulosa and pink A.
canescens ssp. canescens. On a clear day the snow-capped peaks of the
Sierra Nevada are just visible."
March 7, 2009
Sarah Minnick reports: Beginning to bloom on either the Chimney Rock Trail or
near the Light House at Point Reyes National Seashore:
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.)
Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)
Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora)
Douglas' Iris (Iris douglasiana)
Coast Fiddleneck (Amsinckia spectabilis)
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus)
Footsteps of Spring (Sanicula arctopoides)
Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense)
Wallflower (Erysimum menziesii ssp. concinnum)
Wild Cucumber (Marah fabaceus)
Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)
Baby Blue-Eyes (Nemophila menziesii var. atomaria)
California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
Dog Violet (Viola adunca)
March 1, 2009
Robert Katz sends photo (taken last year) of
Fritillaria affinis
from " redwood and carson rd in woodacre along west side of woodacre creek
upland portion of riparian zone under the 1 mature doug fir near the road."
February 27, 2009
Peter Denisevich reports
"on the trails above Deer Park
in Fairfax a large Lupinus albifrons
has been blooming for a couple of weeks. Also canyon
larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule) is blooming brightly on the cliff below the
Yolanda Trail. Fritillaria affinis buds are just
about to open in many
spots around here."
February 26, 2009
Sharon Salisbury reports: "
Not seen many reports. Guess nobody gets out in this rain. I hiked up Old RR Grade in Mill Valley today and stopped
counting Mission Bells (Fritillaria affinis) when I reached 100. A few Trillium ovatum,
Star Lilies and hundreds of Milkmaids."
February 19, 2009
Doreen Smith reports the list of
what was up at Chimney Rock
February 10, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Today I went to see how the Fritillaria liliacea
is doing on
Mt. Burdell. The eastern population off Simmons Lane is doing fine
but the western one above San Mateo Ct. is sparse and many cows are
already on the site to eat and trample them.
"The uneaten poisonous
Zigadenes (now Toxicoscordion fremontii!) are making a fine display
on the south slopes of Mt Burdell at the N. end of Simmons Lane
and between the San Carlos and San Mateo gates to the open
space "preserve". Lemon-yellow sticky-seed, Blennosperma nanum,
thrives in the grazed area too, while some early goldfields,
Lasthenia californica, are flowering in the fenced-off portion."
February 9, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Along Shoreline Highway 1 N. of Stinson and S. of the
Bolinas junction
there were many patches of the bright orange marigold flower,
Calendula arvensis, bunches of the orange Chasmanthe sp., and yellow
Bermuda buttercup, Oxalis pes-caprae, they are all non-natives .
There were some early Ca. natives, however, Calystegia purpurata,
Lathyrus vestitus, Cardamine californica, Castilleja subinclusa ssp.
franciscana and a few Grindelia sp."
February 6, 2009
Sharon Salisbury reports: "On the Homestead Trail in Mill Valley, the
Fetid Adder's Tongues are back in their usual place with about 50+ plants. Also many
Hounds Tongues and a few Trillium ovatum, Milkmaids, a few Mission Bells and several
Indian Warriors. Loved the photos on the last post."
February 3, 2009
Wendy Dreskin reports: " I saw the first Spotted coralroots
I've seen this year on the Dipsea Trail above Muir Woods. Lots of star lilies and ground iris
as well. One Trillium ovatum in bloom on Ben Johnson Trail with more to come.
Some fetid adder's tongue
in full bloom, some already gone to seed. Shooting stars and CA
saxifrage are in bloom at
Indian Tree Open Space."
February 2, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "Yesterday the Marin CNPS hike to Cataract Gulch also
included a brief foray along the Alpine Dam to Kent Lake Pump fire
road because the Bolinas - Fairfax road is closed to all vehicles at
the Cataract Gulch trailhead. The waterfalls were disappointing so
far this season because of the record- low January rainfall. The
level of Alpine Lake reservoir is way-down.
"There were plenty ferns, vanilla grass and the small, brown-
striped lily, fetid adders-tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii). We found
several milkmaids flowering (Cardamine californica) one
hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum grande) one spring-gold (Lomatium
utriculatum) and buds of California saxifrage (Saxifraga
californica). The most unusual plant was (in up-to-date taxonomy)
Synthyris cordata (Plantaginaceae) here at it's southern limit. The
leaf rosettes had buds but as yet no open flowers."
January 31, 2009
John Conley reports: "There are a few more Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana) in
bloom along the shores of Drake's Bay
and the California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus) blooms are also just
beginning to multiply there. The Wild Cucumber (Marah fabaceus), aka "Manroot",
is blooming in abundance at several spots along Drake's Estero. This perennial is often
less noted than many showier, more colorful, Spring blooms in our area --- but it always
says "Spring" to me, and I love seeing it at this time of year."
January 30, 2009
Sharon Salisbury reports: "
Nothing new except venue...lots of Hound's Tongues and
Milk Maids on Escalon Fire Rd. in Mill Valley and hundreds of
Fetid Adder's Tongues in full
bloom at Cascade waterfall, many around the parking lot and more further up the trail. I am getting
worried as this seems early for Hound's Tongue and I just heard we are in for the worst drought
in the state's history. What next...locust?"
January 25, 2009
Mark from the Point Reyes Habitat Restoration Program reports: "One new and 10 returning volunteers went out to the Estero Hill site. After
sweeping the primary site, our group split into two teams - one of four hopping the fence to
continue up the ridge and the remaining seven moving across the drainage over to the next hillside.
All told, we covered slightly more than 8 acres, removing 1280 broom plants. Most of this area
seems now to be clear and can probably be maintained by annual small group sweeps.
"Early wildflowers were present throughout the site, with Douglas iris, California
buttercups, footsteps of spring, Indian paintbrush and violas all showing color. "
January 25, 2009
Amelia Ryan reports: "on Mt. Tam's East Peak
Arctostaphylos glandulosa is just starting to come into bloom. An
Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. montana in the parking lot is just coming
into bud, whereas a nearby A. canescens ssp. canescens was nearing the
end of its bloom. Several Castilleja foliolosa were also already
flowering as were a couple Ceanothus foliosus. "
January 25, 2009
Terry Sullivan reports: "...some native flowers we saw in the Marin
Headlands on our mushroom hike yesterday:
Buttercups, milkmaids, blue-eyed grass, footsteps-to-spring, Indian cucumber,
twinberry, strawberry, blue dicks."
January 25, 2009
John Conley reports: "I hiked the Steep
Ravine/Dipsea trail loop very early yesterday morning ---
with a little side trip along the Matt Davis trail west of Pantoll. It rained
from time to time, and that added to my pleasure. There are a few
California Buttercups in full bloom where the Steep Ravine trail meets
Highway 1, and there is quite a bit of Lomatium sp. (Hog Fennel)
in bloom on the hills just east of Highway 1 (above the Steep Ravine cabins).
"Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande) has begun to bloom at the
top of the Steep Ravine trail as well as along the Old Mine trail (currently
closed for the season, but one can see the flowers from the service road that
runs just above the trail). Milkmaids (Cardamine californica) are
in bloom on the lower elevations of the trail, and the
Scoliopus bigelovii
(Fetid Adder's Tongue) is blooming just a few
hundred feet above the ladder on Steep Ravine trail."
January 21, 2009
Doreen Smith reports: "The hike to Tomales Bay State Park last Sunday
to check out mushrooms
went off very well and the weather was glorious. Brad. Kelley
deputized admirably for Joe Kohn who is unwell. The pink flowering
currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum) was just starting to bloom
.The rare Marin manzanita (Arctostaphylos virgata) was in full bloom
but the blossoms were small and drying up."
January 19, 2009
Robert Hall reports: "while on a bike ride in China Camp SP,
I saw
Milk Maids sprinkled everywhere. A few sections of the park also had
Indian Warriors in bloom."
January 13, 2009
Wendy Dreskin reports: "Hound's tongue in bloom on the Yolanda
trail and Taylor Trail.
Indian warrior in bloom in Elliott Nature Preserve in Fairfax and on
Repack Fire Rd."
January 4, 2009
John Conley reports: "I hiked at Point Reyes yesterday and enjoyed seeing a
single Douglas Iris in full bloom, near the pond east of the parking
area at Drake's Beach. It was right in the middle of a cow path, yet
had somehow survived the trampling hooves and managed to beat its
relatives into bloom. The bloom was at ground level, with almost no
stalk; perhaps that's how it's survived (so far).
Buttercups are blooming on the Chimney Rock peninsula."
30, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "I got out for a little hike yesterday and found a few
milkmaids, Cardamine californica var. californica in the woods behind
our house. Alnus rhombifolia, white alder, is starting to produce
flowers (catkins) along
Lucas Valley Road. The male catkins are most obvious,
the female catkins are tiny and obscure at top of the flowering
twigs. Alnus rubra, red alder, usually flowers at least a month later and
the trees are mostly on the coast.
Arctostaphylos manzanita,
common manzanita, is starting to
flower at China Camp State Park.
California buttercups are in flower
along the Mt. Muir fire road."
December 27, 2008
Bob Sills reports:
"Scoliopus bigelovii (Fetid Adder's Tongue) are blooming in Muir Woods."
November 21, 2008
Joe Kohn reports:
"Lots of Ranunculus californicus (California buttercup) leaves
are starting to appear, and a single buttercup flower was spotted on 11/20 on the
Yolanda Trail, less than 100 feet from Phoenix Lake. Spring Wildflower season has started!"
October 26, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"We're just back from the Limantour beach area with
the David Herlocker group.
It was very foggy there but lots of shore birds were feeding as the tide went out.
Massive trail re-routing has occurred, you almost wouldn't recognize the place.
Next spring we probably will have a plant hike out there and co-incidentally
see the fait accompli when they have opened up the drainages to possible fish-movements. "
October 6, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"Vernon and I pre-tripped the shores of Alpine Lake
yesterday. The water level is down well
below normal for the date
this year but noteworthy plants are few.
Still I will do the hike
more or less as previously planned on the
12th Oct. but include L.
Lagunitas as well because that has more
water in it! The four-leaf
clover fern (Marsilea vestita) was visible but no pillwort-ferns (Pilularia americana)."
September 25, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"More news from our field trips! Yesterday we found a new native
plant species for Marin -
Calibrachoa parviflora (was Petunia parviflora)
on the drying shore of
Stafford Lake reservoir, Novato. It was one I couldn't initially
identify to the delight of those present, who in the past may have
suffered from my "know-them-all" deception."
September 20, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"We re-discovered Astragalus nuttallii
(last recorded 1947) on our last CNPS weekend hike to McClures beach,
Pt. Reyes. Brad Kelley took the picture. Perhaps we found it because
I didn't take along my camera... "
August 4, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "Yesterday's CNPS field trip to Tomales Bay State park was
well- attended. We got to see an early fall show of the poison-oak's
red leaves - even though it is technically still summer.
Ripe huckleberries were abundant for the tasting thereof, but to get
enough for a pie would take a long time.
A few plants were added to the trail species list but there were
quite a few differences from the old list compiled in the spring of
2000, perhaps due to vegetational succession. Muriel Jenny contributed these photographs from the walk.
The Beach-aster, Corethrogyne filaginifolia (was
Lessingia) is abundant right now on
some of the hills of Pt. Reyes."
July 24, 2008
Celia Zavatsky reports: "Here are 3 photos I took this May when
I was helping with seed collecting
at one of the quarries at Pt Reyes.
I had my eyes scanning the ground for the ripe seeds and when I looked up,
I saw this peculiar image on the horizon. As I headed up the hill,
I realized what it was and took the 2nd pic. Then I quietly sneaked up
to snap the final pic. Note Abbotts Lagoon in the background."
June 20, 2008
John Conley reports: "I hiked at Point Reyes early this morning.
The Blue Gentian (Gentiana affinis var. ovata) is now in full bloom on the bluffs above Drake's Bay.
I also enjoyed seeing the Leopard Lily (Lilium pardalinum) in bloom on the Panoramic HIghway
(just east of the Bootjack Trailhead and Parking area; no hiking is needed to view the flowers currently blooming there)
as I headed back home over the Mountain."
May 27, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "Our Marin CNPS hike on Carson Ridge
to look for the only Marin flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum)
population was unsuccessful. In spite of the maps Joe managed to
obtain from MCOSD we crashed about in heavy manzanita/poison
oak/Sargent cypress for half an hour without seeing any sign of the
yellow-flowering shrub. There were some flowers to be seen on the hike from the
Azalea Hill trailhead: Pickeringia californica, Navarretia rosulata,
Hesperolinon micranthum, Calystegia collina, Delphinium hesperium,
Hypericum concinnum, Cuscuta californica, a white Centaurium/
Zeltnera and a very few, very tiny Streptanthus batrachopus. The
Boschniakia strobilacea was in fruit in the usual site under a
roadside cypress S. of the Cascade Canyon/Repack fire road junction
and just downhill , i.e. SW from there, the Gentiana affinis was not
yet flowering."
May 25, 2008
John Conley reports: "I had a nice walk in the rain yesterday, along the beaches of
Drake's Bay and then up onto the bluffs around Drake's Estero. I was pleasantly surprised and
gratified to see so many plants still in bloom there, including some that have just begun to bloom
or have just recently reached their peak bloom. At "Horseshoe Lagoon", the dunes that separate
the lagoon from the Ba itself still have many sand verbenas (both the yellow,
Abronia latifolia,
and the rare (CNPS list 1B) pink, A. umbellata var. breviflora) in bloom,
as well as lots of
Beach Primrose (Camissonia cheiranthifolia). The Beach Morning Glory (Calystegia
soldanella) has just begun to bloom there. On the bluffs above Drake's Estero, Yerba Buena
(Satureja douglasii) is blooming among the Coyote Bush, and Self-heal
(Prunella vulgaris)
is abundant. Ithuriel's Spear (Triteleia laxa) is just beginning to bloom in this area.
There is still a lot of Paintbrush and Monkeyflower in bloom, as well as some late
Checkerbloom and
Douglas Iris. Yarrow and Coast Angelica are near peak. Several species of Lupine
are
flowering, and there is still some Ceanothus to be seen (and smelled).
The Sticky Cinquefoil
(Potentilla glandulosa) is in bloom, and there are still a few Dog Violets
(Viola adunca) to
enjoy.
The late-season rain was a delight for me, and cloudy skies made the colors of the wildflowers more vibrant than bright sunlight would have allowed."
May 25, 2008
Robert Hall reports: "The wildflowers are still showing on the Deerpark fire road trail in
Fairfax. Plentiful Monkeyflower, California Buckeye and Ithuriel's
Spear. Also present: Red Ribbon Clarkia, Everlasting, Hedgenettle,
Slender Tarplant and a lone Bush Poppy where Indian Fire Road meets
Eldridge Grade. Many yellow flowering plants growing between rocks
which I believe to be Stonecrop. A handful of Blue dicks left on the
road to the lakes up from Shaver. One Douglas Iris on Eldridge."
May 8, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"Joe's Marin Headlands field trip along the Coast Trail from the Golden Gate Bridge to the old Rifle Range
last Tuesday was very abundantly floral. Most colorful among the many species of flowers encountered on the
E. side of the ridge were red Franciscan paintbrush, Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana."
April 30, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"Today was David Herlocker's Soulejule expedition. I
participated for only a very short time as I had set myself the job
of monitoring rare plants in the area. A discovery there was a patch
of little mudwort, Limosella acaulis, in the drying seasonal wet
place NE of the dam.The rest of the group I left to hike round the
reservoir. They found Pogogyne serpylloides, a tiny mint with a
strong pleasant odor.
"The reduced population of
Delphinium bakeri on the
Marshall-Petaluma road is now flowering.
Along the cliffs S. of Tomales, Amsinckia lunaris and Clarkia
concinna ssp. raichei are flowering in much the same sites as Arabis
blepharophylla.
Near the junction of Chileno Valley Road and the
Tomales-Petaluma road, Iris longipetala are abundant on the W. of
the road and Hemizonia congesta ssp. congesta (with white
flowerheads) is in the grassy field to the E. of the road."
April 21, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"Marin CNPS had a good field trip yesterday to the Missimen wildflower area in Snell
Valley, Napa county, where we saw several unusual flowering spp. not found in Marin."
"Hesperolinon congestum, a State and Federally-listed endangered species,
is just starting to flower on Ring Mountain.
"
April 20, 2008
Sue "Mazer" Mace reports: "There are only a few calypso orchids left on Cataract trail"
April 11, 2008
Sharon Salisbury reports: "
On the two trails around Cascade Falls in Mill Valley there are more
Clintonia andrewsiana I have ever seen in one place, Adenocaulon bicolor, Oxalis oregana,
Smilacina stellata, Disporum hookeri, Trientalis latifolia. There are also >100 Trillium ovatum
(most gone to seed), >100 Fetid Adders Tongue (also gone to seed but many more than I saw in bloom),
Iris douglasiana and Marah fabaceus. On Lovell above the falls are Tree Poppies, Star lilies,
Sticky Monkey Flower and one of the largest Ceonothus I have ever seen."
April 1, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "On the (very windy) field trip to Tomales Point last Sunday we did
find the Meconella californica but not the Trillium albidum."
March 26, 2008
Sharon Salisbury reports: "The Columbine are blooming again on the Escalon Fire Trail...
must be about 10 of them. Also, on the Old RR grade in Mill Valley there are Hound's Tongues, Douglas Iris,
Star Lilies and other fleurs but this year there is the largest numbers of Fritillaria affinis I have
seen in one place. I have walked that trail for 30 years and never seen this many before. Also, hundreds of the
single leaves that will bring even more next year. We stopped counting at 100. There are also hundreds of gone to
seed Fetid Adder's Tongues...some with the largest leaves I have ever seen...12" long would be my guess.
Miraflores in Tiburon is beginning its show with thousands of Golden Fields, Buttercups, Hog Fennel,
Blue Dicks, Checker Blooms, Blue-eyed Grass, Owls Clover, Tidy Tips, Castilleja wightii and more."
March 23, 2008
John Conley reports: "I hiked around the Muddy Hollow and the Estero de
Limantour areas of Point Reyes yesterday. Due to significant trail re-routing, new trail
construction, and trail closures, getting around the area was more challenging than usual,
and involved quite a bit of off-trail hiking (which I happen to enjoy, but many would not).
Many of the standard loop hikes from the Muddy Hollow trailhead are not currently
available. Signs promise the possibility that the new trails will be opened sometime this
Summer. Iris douglasiana was blooming everywhere. There are whole hillsides of it
above Muddy Hollow itself, and along the Estero Trail between White Gate and Muddy Hollow.
Calochortus tolmiei, normally abundant at this time of
year on the shores of the Estero
de Limantour itself, was not seen there; happily, I stumbled across quite a few "Pussy
Ears" in full bloom on the hills just above Muddy Hollow. I enjoyed seeing a lot of
Ceanothus in bloom
yesterday, and the sweet scent of it was delightful. Camissonia
ovata (Suncups) were blooming in abundance, and Mimulus aurantiacus (Monkeyflower)
was just beginning to bloom. Castilleja spp., Sisyrinchium bellum, Dicentra formosa,
Ranunculus californicus, Vicia gigantea, Claytonia sibirica, and Heracleum lanutum
were also in bloom. Marah fabaceus is at its peak, and it's everywhere to be seen.
Rubus spectabilis is blooming, as is Rubus ursinus (as well as R. discolor)."
March 15, 2008
Robert Hall reports: "I took a bike ride in Fairfax starting on
the White's Hill trail and continuing onto the loop in Tamarancho.
Flowers seen include Common Star Lily, Miner's Lettuce, California
Buttercup, Douglas Iris, Lupine, Milkmaids, Vetch, Shooting Star,
Hound's tongue, Blue-eyed Grass, Blue Dicks, Paintbrush, Indian
Warrior, Stinkbells, one Fiddleneck, and something that resembled
Narrow leaf Flax."
March 13, 2008
Brandon Andre reports: "I observed many flowers blooming on a mountain bike
ride at beautiful Camp Tamarancho near Fairfax. Please note that Tamarancho is Boy Scout property.
All trail users need to exercise caution at Tamarancho - there is a 7.5 mile singletrack loop that
is heavily used by mountain bikers, as well as numerous fire roads and side trails that are restricted
from mountain bikers.
The list: Mission Bells (Fritillaria affinis),
Milkmaids (Cardamine californica),
Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora),
California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus),
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata),
Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande),
non-native Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis silvatica),
Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii),
Douglas’ Iris (Iris douglasiana),
Ground Iris (Iris macrosiphon),
Baby Blue-Eyes (Nemophila menziesii ssp. atomaria),
Bluedicks (Dichelostemma capitatum),
Coast Sun Cups (Camissonia ovata),
Fremont's Death Camas (Zigadenus fremontii),
Cream Cups (Platystemon californicus),
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica),
Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus),
Woolly Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa), and
California Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum).
"Many of these flowers were blooming in abundance! I’ve never seen so
many Mission Bells or Indian Warriors! There were a couple handfuls of
other flowers out there that I am currently unable to identify, such as
a miniature lupine (probably Lupinus bicolor) and a glossy, red,
three-leafed shrub that looked so beautiful I just had to rub it all
over my face, arms and legs. Just kidding. Happy Wildflowering!"
March 9, 2008
John Conley reports: "The Douglas Iris have exploded into bloom on the bluffs above
Drake's Bay, at Point Reyes. I saw hundreds of them this morning, and also enjoyed seeing many other native
Spring blooms on the hills just above the Drake Monument at Drake's Estero: Sidalcea malviflora
(Checkerbloom), Camissonia ovata (Sun Cup), Ceanothus sp. (Blue Blossom), Fritillaria affinis var.
tristulis (Point Reyes Checker Liliy), Ranunculus californicus (Buttercup), Cerastium arvense
(Chickweed), Viola adunca (Dog Violet), Castilleja sp. (Paintbrush), Wyethia angustifolia
(Narrow Mule Ears), Sanicula bipinnatifida (Purple Sanicle), Marah fabaceus (Wild Cucumber),
and a dwarf version (I think?) of Zigadenus fremontii. Spring has definitely sprung."
March 8, 2008
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Whilst on my Beach Survey at Kirby Cove yesterday(March 7), I saw
Mimulas guttatus, Mimulus auranticaus, Silene gallica, Dichelostemma capitatum and Gnaphalium
bicolor. If you take the steep, one-way road you don't even have to get out of your car to see the
show of Indian Paintbrush, Arabis blepharophylla, Shooting Stars and many more.
"Does it seem to anyone else that wildflowers are blooming earlier this year?"
March 5, 2008
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Went on a wildflower quest on the Homestead Trail in Mill Valley and
was delighted to see...Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), Butter Cup
(Ranunculus californicus), Sun Cups (Camissonia ovata), Hounds-tongue (Cynoglossum grande),
Slim Soloman's Seal (Smilacina stellata), Milk Maids (Cardamine californica), Shooting Stars
(Dodecatheon hendersonii), Iris (Iris douglasiana), Oakland Star Tulip (Calochortus umbellatus),
Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis), Trillium ovatum and the most gone-to-seed
Fetid Adders Tongues I have ever seen on one place...100 plus. The Hazelnuts are just pushing
out their tender, fuzzy new leaves, as are the Buckeyes and the Bay Trees were in full bloom with
vigorous Marah fabaceus clambering up and over them. The other day at Miraflores saw the
first of the Viola pedunculatas, Tidy Tips and Hog Fennel. Spring has sprung as my mother used to say."
March 1, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "Jepson Prairie, Dozier, S. of Dixon, Solano County. Just a beginning
of the wildflower season with Blennosperma nanum, Triphysaria
eriantha, Trifolium barbigerum var. ?, Plagiobothrys humistratus,
Plagiobothrys sp., and Lomatium caruifolium."
February 29, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "The Elephant Rocks, W. of Tomales are an interesting roadside area
to visit for early coastal species. Flowering there now are Minuartia
californica, Barbarea orthoceras, Lasthenia californica, Arabis
blepharophylla, Dodecatheon hendersonii, Erigeron glaucus and
Saxifraga integrifolia. Soon there will be large Fritillaria
affinis, Castilleja affinis, Hesperevax sparsiflora var brevifolia,
Triphysara eriantha var. rosea, and Microseris paludosa.The lichen
and moss population is also significant."
February 28, 2008
Joe Kohn reports "We parked right next to the Golden Gate Bridge, and went up the
east facing Coastal Trail. It was spectacular, and for the first time this year, there were hillsides
filled with wildflowers, red and pink and white and blue, with a lot of the CNPS List 4
Arabis blepharophylla (Coast Rock-cress), as well as many Nemophila menziesii var. atomaria (Baby-white-eyes).
After reaching the crest, the north facing slope of the Coastal Trail brought into view the first
Aquilegia formosa (Columbine) of the year, as well as Lonicera involucrata (Twinberry)."
February 26, 2008
Sharon Salisbury reports "On the Escalon fire trail in Mill Valley I saw a bank
covered with Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii) and Hound's Tongue
(Cynoglossum grande). I have only seen the Shooting Stars there for the first time
last year. At Cascade Falls and in the garden at Stolte Grove were hundreds of Trillium
ovatum, Milk Maids (Cardamine californica) and Buttercups
(Ranunculus californicus).
"Going to be a glorious spring. Thinking of heading back to the desert again this March,
as it should be another epic show."
February 26, 2008
Joe Kohn reports " In the past month,
we're seen close over 40 species
of native plant in flower, and the other day at Mt Burdell, we saw a sight
we hadn't seen since last year: a hillside in bloom, with flowers as far
as the eye could see (which, considering how hard it was raining, wasn't
all that far, but it sure was a nice sneak peak of what is in store for us
as Spring arrives)."
February 18, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "Vernon and I visited Mt. Burdell this afternoon to
scout for the forthcoming Marin CNPS field trip. Joe Kohn's forecast
of November last of "likely spp.in flower" has proved accurate, there
are many, many Zigadenus fremontii near the San Carlos Open Space
entrance, plus Blennosperma nanum and Lasthenia gracilis. We
also saw
Triphysaria versicolor, Dichelostemma capitatum, Ranunculus
californicus, Calandrinia cilata, Thysanocarpus curvipes, Cardamine
californica, Eschscholzia californica, Lomatium dasycarpum, Lomatium
utriculatum, Fritillaria liliacea and, finally, 5 Mimulus
douglasii.
We met someone who told us he'd seen Corallorhiza striata up near
the W. watertank access. All we need now is for it not to rain next
Sunday so we can find even more kinds of early wildflowers."
February 17, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "Steep Ravine trail to Pantoll, Mt.
Tamalpais, The weather was cool and foggy but the usual flowers in the woodland
at the W. end of Steep Ravine were in bloom - the wakerobin spp.
(Trillium chloropetalum and T. ovatum), white fairybells (Prosartes
smithii),
and of course milkmaids (Cardamine californica).
One calypso orchid
(Calypso bulbosa) was found up near Pantoll . Another Marin CNPS trip
is planned soon (Sunday March 2) to botanize the W. part of the Steep
Ravine trail down to the cabins then up to Rocky Point. We hope to
find the only Marin population of yellow Franciscan wallflower
(Erysimum franciscanum). Our other populations on the Marin Headlands
and at Pt. Reyes N.S. are white-flowered."
February 15, 2008
Doreen Smith reports: "Chimney Rock.
The weather was perfect, mild and sunny with no wind - much better
than it usually is in summer at Pt. Reyes.! The spring flowers were
just starting, we saw about 50 species, including weeds, in bloom.
Most notable Ca. natives were the osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis)
on the W. bank of the road to the Fish Dock, scarlet Indian
paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) and fragrant white wallflower (Erysimum
menziesii ssp. concinnum) growing right at the tip of the Chimney
Rock peninsula. We couldn't find more than a bud of the chocolate
lily (Fritillaria affinis var. tristulis)."
February 13, 2008
George Eade contributes 2 photos of
fetid adder's tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii)
found near Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
February 9, 2008
John Conley reports: "The Coast Wallflower (Erysimum
menziesii ssp. concinnum) was in bloom at Chimney Rock, at several spots
near the tip of the peninsula. So were Buttercups (Ranunculus californicus)
and Footsteps of Spring (Sanicula arctopoides), as well as
increasing numbers of blooming Seaside Daisies (Erigeron glaucas).
At Abbott's Lagoon, the Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) is
blooming profusely on the outer dunes just above the Pacific.
The Wild
Cucumber (Marah fabaceus) is also blooming there (and at Chimney Rock).
No Wallflowers in bloom were seen at Abbott's Lagoon, but their emerging
leaves were everywhere to be seen, so it is only a matter of time.
Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) were just beginning to bloom
at Abbott's Lagoon. "
February 9, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"At Rock Spring the Sanicula tuberosa and tiny rosettes of
Claytonia exigua are just starting to flower and milkmaids are
abundant. No Calypso orchids yet, but the leaves are showing."
February 7, 2008
Joe Kohn reports: "On the CNPS hike to King Mountain, we saw the first flowers of
the year on the following plants: Whipplea modesta (Modesty) and Zigadenus fremontii (Star Lily)."
February 3, 2008
Joe Kohn reports:
"On the CNPS hike to Cascade Canyon, we saw the first flowers of the year on the
following plants: Dodecatheon hendersonii (Shooting
Star) and Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior). "
January 29, 2008
John Harrigan reports:
"I spotted a lot of Fetid Adder's Tongues leading
up to Carson Falls along Serpentine outcrops. There was also a lot of other flowers just about to
bloom but was not sure what they were. It should be an interesting trail to hike in the next
couple of days. On top of that Carson falls is bursting with water. "
January 27, 2008
Joe Kohn reports:
"On the CNPS walk to Kirby Cove in the Marin Headlands,
the following flowers were spotted for the first time this year: Lupinus albifrons var. collinus
(the Prostrate Silverleaf Lupine that are the lifeblood of the Mission Blue Butterfly),
Dichelostemma capitatum
(Bluedicks) and Mimulus guttatus (Perennial Yellow Monkeyflower). "
January 27, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"I checked out Mt. Burdell on Wednesday and there were many Zigadenus fremontii but
just 1 Fritillaria liliacea, near the Partridge Knolls MCOSD entrance."
January 20, 2008
Joe Kohn reports:
"We took a CNPS walk on the Palomarin Trail to Alamere Falls,
and saw the following native plants in flower: Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum),
Footsteps of Spring (Sanicula arctopoides), Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus),
Lizard Tail (Eriophyllum staechadifolium), Milkmaids (Cardamine californica),
Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum), Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana),
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus),
California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica),
Manroot (Marah sp.), and both red and yellow Indian Paint Brush (Castelleja sp).
We also saw hundreds of mushrooms and a raging Alamere Falls! "
January 17, 2008
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"The Fetid Adder's Tongues are blooming again along the parking lot at
Cascade Falls (Mill Valley). At Miraflores (Tiburon) yesterday I was surprised to find some
Footsteps-to-Spring
in bloom along with a few tattered Tidy Tips. Isn't this very early for these to be
blooming? Been seeing Milk Maids and Miners Lettuce for a few weeks. "
January 16, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"today found flowering Cynoglossum grande and Claytonia perfoliata
near the Mt. Muir Ct. to Terra Linda MCOSD fire road. We also have
Ranunculus californicus,
Dodecatheon hendersonii and Cardamine californica flowering in this
valley but, as you know, they have already been reported by others earlier."
January 15, 2008
Joe Kohn reports:
"There were hundreds of fetid adder's tongue
(Scoliopus bigelovii) in flower along Redwood Creek in Muir Woods on January 13th.
It looked like they'd all just broken through the soil and the leaves weren't even fully extended.
January 14, 2008
Joe Kohn reports: "on the Jepson/Johnstone loop at Tomales Bay State Park, we spotted lots of
flowers, including CNPS 1B Listed Bolinas Manzanita (Arctostaphylos virgata), Salal
(Gaultheria shallon), and Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)."
January 14, 2008
Doreen Smith reports:
"Along Lucas Valley Road, under the redwood trees west of the Big
Rock, there is
fetid adder's tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii)
flowering
already."
January 13, 2008
John Conley reports:
"I hiked at Point Reyes early yesterday morning, and enjoyed
seeing a single buttercup (Ranunculus californicus)
and a single coastside daisy (Erigeron glaucus) in bloom at Chimney
Rock. Spring is on the way. Later
in the day, I traveled to Steep Ravine (Mt. Tamalpais) and hiked near Highway 1,
where I enjoyed
seeing the blooms of
Cardamine californica as well as the (non-native) blooms of
Chickweed (Stellaria media).
The Milkmaids (Cardamine californica) are just
beginning to bloom profusely."
January 8, 2008
Kirk Keeler reports:
"Yesterday I spotted 2 Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii) on a trail above
the Dominican College area
(west slopes adjacent China Camp; San Pedro Ridge East). I will return there when the weather is better to take pictures.
I personally have never seen shooting stars this early. Is this uncommon? I was both excited and a bit
uneasy about the sighting."
December 27, 2007
Joe Kohn reports:
"On Christmas Day, a group of us went up the Big Rock Ridge trail, and near the top were
stunned to see footsteps of spring (Sanicula
arctopoides) already in flower."
December 27, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"Yesterday we took a hike on Mt. Burdell where there were
already a few wildflowers in bloom. There were a few Blennosperma
nanum var. nanum, aka. "common stickyseed" some "goldfields",
Lasthenia californica or L. gracilis; "peppercress", Lepidium
nitidum; "buttercups", Ranunculus californicus; milkmaids, Cardamine
californica and even a few "Ca. poppies", Eschscholzia californica. "
December 3, 2007
Wendy Dreskin reports: "I saw a California Buttercup at Elliott Nature Preserve November 30!
Also cow parsnip on November 27 by the Clem Miller Center, and twinflower
near the youth hostel, and the first coast strawberry in a sandstorm on McClure's on December 3!"
December 2, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"I did a little reconnoitre about Back Ranch Meadows at
China Camp State Park and the common manzanitas (Arctostaphylos
manzanita) are in flower and teasing the hummingbirds. Most have
white flowers but there are a few with bells of palest pink like the
one in the photo."
Noxious Weed:
November 30, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"It looks pretty but is a real pest.
This is a South African native perennial vine called Delairea
odorata, Cape-ivy; once it was called Senecio mikanioides, German-ivy.
It is spreading about local creeks, climbing up high into the trees
and is very hard to get rid of though it rarely sets any seed. Any
little bit of stem seems to have the ability to sprout into a new
plant, if left unchecked the vine eventually smothers the vegetation
upon which it climbs."
November 29, 2007
Joe Kohn reports:
"The first native wildflower of the season was spotted
at Roy's Redwoods. Sitting alone and by itself,
A beautiful Ranunculus californicus (California Buttercup)
heralded the start of the yearly cycle of birth and renewal."
June 25, 2007
Doreen Smith reports from the field trip to
Chimney Rock, Point Reyes:
"Both Orobanche
californica and Gentiana affinis ovata were found,
the former in fine photo-ready condition.
The Orobanche
californica plants are parasitic on Grindelia and are growing at
the very tip
of the Chimney Rock peninsula on the center of the west-facing slope.
Some plant's flowers are reddish, others purple."
May 18, 2007
Peter Denisevich reports:
"Allium falcifolium are blooming brightly on Carson Ridge --
Oat Hill Road near Old Sled Trail. The rhododendrons are almost in
bloom on either side of the ridge in Liberty Gulch and toward Little
Carson Falls (Be careful of the frogs!)"
May 4, 2007
Sharon Salisbury reports: "I was at Kirby Cove at the Marin Headlands yesterday and saw several
Delphinium californicum ssp. californicum. There were several
rising above the surrounding vegetation on the bluff above the beach and
were in full bloom or bud. The walk down to Kirby Cove this time of year is
lovely with many different flowers in full bloom. The chert cliffs are a
stunning foil to the bright splashes of red Indian Paint Brush,
orange poppies, yellow Lizard Tails, Seep Monkey flower
and Mustard, pink Checkerbloom and Morning
Glory, orange Sticky Monkey Flower, blue Blue-eyed Grass and
much more."
April 30, 2007
Doreen Smith reports: "My last field trip Sunday 29th to Azalea Hill and Carson
Ridge produced a few new records to add to the plant list. At the
moment the area is well worth a visit if only roadside clumps of pale
Marin Douglas Iris on the drive up from the Meadow Club and for the
meadow of goldfields on the NE slope of Azalea Hill. The pink-purple
Allium falcifolium in the barrens between the rocks at the top of the
hill and the small, endemic Astragalus gambelianus var. elmeri will
be visible for only a little while longer."
April 22, 2007
Amelia Ryan reports: "Royal Larkspur (Delphinium variegatum) is blooming at
China Camp State Park, as are Indian Paintbrush
(Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis) and Common Owl's clover
(Castilleja densiflora var. densiflora).
Golden Pea (Thermopsis californica) is everywhere!
Also in bloom: Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum),
ground iris (Iris macrosiphon), and
Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora)."
April 5, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"I went on the MCOSD hike to Ring Mountain -
which event had a very large number of participants eager to
experience the wildflowers of this renowned site.
Though the flowers aren't yet at their peak, we saw many
Goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis); Woolly Hog-fennel (Lomatium
dasycarpum); Oakland star-tulips (Calochortus umbellatus); Tidytips
(Layia platyglossa); Morning-glory (Calystegia purpurata ssp.
purpurata); Western Cornsalad (Plectritis macrocera); native true
clovers (Trifolium spp.); common Owl's-clover (Castilleja densiflora)
and many others.
On the very top of the Hill 602 (Ring Mountain) was Marin's
only population of the white native forget-me-not, Plagiobothrys
stipitatus, growing in a shallow, dried, vernal depression."
March 30, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"Some flowers of the Coast Redwood forest understory seen at
Muir Woods N. M. on Tuesday 27th March:
Two spp. of Fairybells, Prosartes hookeri (green flowers) and
P.smithii (white flowers); Coltsfoot, Petasites frigidus; Wakerobin
spp., Trillium chloropetalum and T.ovatum; Redwood violet, Viola
sempervirens; Woodsorrel, Oxalis oregana; and Windflower, Anemone
oregana.
"Old St. Hilary's Open Space Preserve, most easily accessed
from the Vistazo West fire-road, is also a neat place to visit right
now with Shootingstars, Dodecatheon hendersonii; Goldfields,
Lasthenia californica,; Ca. poppies, Eschscholzia californica and
Tidytips, Layia platyglossa - most are all-yellow, only a few with
white tips to the ray florets. There is also its near look-alike
Spring Tarplant, Hemizonia congesta ssp. lutescens. The rare Black
Jewelflower, Streptanthus niger, is sprouting and almost in bud.
Near the chapel are blue Gilia clivorum in the long grass."
March 26, 2007
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"On the ridge past Ring-Mountain, the hills are alive with Sun Cups,
Buttercups, Checkerbloom, Ground Iris, Douglas Iris, Oakland Star Tulips, Zigadene lilies, California
Poppies, False Lupines, Blue-eyed Grass, Blue Dicks, Hog Fennel, Purple Sanicle, Footsteps of Spring,
Yarrow, Phacelia californica and more. With views of the bay from every side of the hill
and small rills running and pooling down the green-grassed hills, it makes for a breathtaking spring meander."
March 25, 2007
John Conley reports:
"Chimney Rock wildflowers have now burst into prolific bloom.
On Saturday, I enjoyed seeing Triphysaria eriantha var. rosea (Johnny Tuck) blooming near the parking
area. Calochortus tolmiei (Pussy Ears) is beginning to bloom on the headlands, and there were plenty of
Mule Ears (Wyethia angustifolia). San Francisco Owl's Clover (Triphysaria floribunda) is beginning
to bloom near the western tip of the peninsula. Cerastium arvense (Field Chickweed) is blooming in abundance,
as is the Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana). Sanicula arctopoides (Footsteps of Spring) is fading, while
Ranunculus californicus (California Buttercup) is blooming as profusely as I can recall, in this particular
location. Layia platyglossa (Tidy Tips) and Castilleja sp. (Indian Paintbrush) are blooming, as is
Amsinckia sp. (Crookneck, aka "Devil's Lettuce). Erigeron glaucas (Seaside Daisy) is fading, but
Goldfields (Lasthenia californica) are just beginning their bloom. Viola adunca (Dog Violet) was also
seen, along with Erysimum menziesii (Wallflower). At the Lighthouse, near the parking area, the Point Reyes
Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis var. tristulis) was blooming, along with the Coast Rock Cress (Arabis
blepharophylla), Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii), and many others. Too many to list. If anyone's been
waiting to visit Chimney Rock or the Point Reyes Headlands to see wildflowers this season as they reach their full
bloom, I'd say that time has now begun. How long it last will depend upon a host of factors, not the least of which
is rain. In any event, the next few weeks there should be pretty spectacular."
March 25, 2007
Paul Furman reports:
"I saw some nice orchids on the Matt Davis trail today including a couple of albino Calypso bulbosa,
and some Corallorhiza striata.
Also Pyrola picta in bud."
March 21, 2007
Brenda Lein reports:
"Here's a striped coral root (Corallorhiza striata) Peter and I spied on the Yolanda Trail, at
Deer Park, last week. We ran across another on the Shady Side Trail at
Bon Tempe just yesterday. We've been keeping our eyes peeled,
fruitlessly, for the spotted variety which we often see on the Shady
Side. No doubt when we see them, we'll send on a picture!"
March 20, 2007
The
Calypso Orchids (Calypso bulbosa)
are blooming on Mt.Tam
March 19, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"I pre-tripped the March 24 Lake
Lagunitas hike today. Luckily there were some fine flowering trees,
shrubs and herbaceous spp. Also liverworts, mosses, club-mosses,
lichens and ferns. Also waterfowl (merganzers)
on the lake with Ospreys fishing in the lake.
Particularly good were Acer macrophyllum, Arbutus menziesii,
Ceanothus cuneatus, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, A. (hookeri) montana,
Iris macrosiphon, Iris douglasiana in pastel shades, Sanicula
laciniata, Cynoglossum grande, Pedicularis densiflora, Romanzoffia
californica and even Athysanus pusillus.
If there is any interest I'll go up on the Carson Ridge,
after the Lake circuit is over, to see serpentinite chaparral. There
are Ceanothus jepsonii, C. cuneatus and Arctostaphylos (hookeri)
montana in flower plus that large-flowered form of
Claytonia exigua. At the weekend (Friday) I scouted out the Pt. Reyes
headlands to see if the chocolate lilies
(Fritillaria affinis var.tristulis) were performing this
year. They were really spectacular on the bluff E. of the winding bit
of road between Band A ranches, by Sir Francis Drake Blvd. on the way
to the Lighthouse."
March 14, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"The south-facing slopes of Mt. Burdell are bursting into
flower. Particularly between San Carlos Dr. and San Mateo Dr. in the
fenced area protected from grazing cows. Other serpentinite soil
areas have lots of flowers but not in so concentrated a mass of
blooms. I didn't even visit the wooded areas or the upper slopes but
today I found Eschscholzia californica, Platystemon californicus,
Dichelostemma capitatum, D. congestum, Lasthenia gracilis, Layia
chrysanthemoides, Blennosperma nanum, the uncommon Camissonia
graciliflora, Monolopia major, Collinsia sparsiflora, Leptosiphon
androsaceus, Leptosiphon parviflorus, Castilleja densiflora,
Guillenia lasiophylla, Calandrinia ciliata, Thysanocarpus curvipes,
Githopsis specularioides, Lomatium dasycarpum and L. utriculatum."
March 12, 2007
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"At the Marin Headlands we saw many Indian Paintbrush
(Castilleja franciscana), Suncups (Camissonia ovata), Wall Flowers,
(Erysimum franciscanum), Slim Solomon's Seal, Zigadene Lily, Wild Cucumber,
Footsteps of Spring, Checkerbloom, Tree Poppy, Vetch and this was just on a short walk on the cliffs.
On March 11 on a new walk (for me) behind Indian Valley Campus in Novato I saw
Suncups, Blue Dicks, Trilliums (Trillium ovatum), Sticky
Monkey Flower, Slim Solomon's Seal, Zigadene Lilies, two kinds of Vetch
and thousands of Buttercups and Milkmaids the entire way and in one
place a veritable forest of Indian Warriors.
I saw one huge plant and stepped off the trail and was astonished to see at
least 1000 of them... literally covering the ground on all sides and then
spilling over a steep hill. Some were at least 2 feet high and thick.
Then the display just abruptly stopped. It reminded me of how a huge mycelium pushes
out thousands of mushrooms that erupt above ground. Is Pedicularis densiflora
partially parasitic, like some of the paint brushes and owls clovers?
I could think of no other explanation for this huge but discrete display. The
main trees were Madrone...is there some sort of relationship there?
Also on the sunnier side of the mountain hundreds of Sanicula
(I think crassicaulis). There were also thousands of Shooting Stars
the entire way and Madrone and different species of Manzanita were in
blooms of pink and white and the deciduous oaks and Buckeyes were unfurling their
new leaves as the Live Oaks pushed forth their red new growth. Also,
many lizards, birds and butterflies all around and all to the tune of creeks, waterfalls
and the smell of honey-scented air. A real zippidy-do-da day!"
March 10, 2007
John Conley reports:
"I hiked at Drake's Bay this morning. The Douglas Iris has burst into bloom
(on the hillsides above the beach) everywhere one looks, and the Coast Suncup
(Camissonia ovata) is abundant on the bluffs above Drake's Bay, as is the
Dog Violet (Viola adunca). Sidalcea malviflora, Ranunculus californicus,
and several species of Ceanothus are also in full bloom. Cerastium arvense
(Field Chickweed) is just beginning to bloom. Indian Paintbrush
(several species) is blooming. Spring is here."
March 2, 2007
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"On the old RR grade in Mill Valley the are hundreds of Mission Bells
either in bloom or putting out
their first huge leaf. I don't think I have ever seen so many in one place.
Also as many Fetid Adder's
Tongues, although most have gone to seed. Milkmaids and Zigadene lilies abound.
I love the un-pleating fuzzy green leaves of the Hazelnut and its catkins
that appear to hang in mid-air like something in a Harry Potter movie."
February 23, 2007
Amelia Byrd Ryan reports:
"Zigadenus fremontii is in full bloom on the Tiburon penninsula.
I found it in the Tiburon Uplands Preserve. It was blooming in other locals
along Paradise Drive, as well. Milkmaids(Cardamine californica) and
Hound's tongue (Cynoglossum grande) were also in bloom."
February 18, 2007
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"On a quick walk on Homestead Trail in Mill Valley I saw about 100
Fetid Adder's Tongues, many still in bloom, about 10 Hound's Tongue
in bloom and bud and about 50 Trillium ovatum in full bloom."
February 17, 2007
Arnold Knepfer reports:
"I took this picture this morning on the South Trail in Corte Madera.
It's apparently a Fetid Adder's Tongue
(Scoliopus bigelovii).
Good thing I didn't smell it (because I didn't know what it was
until I got home)."
February 17, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"The Mt. Tam. hike was about the least "floriferous" that I've ever led -
but the weather was clear and warm and the views tremendous.Total flowering spp.
on the Verna Dunshee trail were 4. We COULD see the
white snow-capped peaks of the Sierra on the eastern horizon as promised.
The "most beautiful manzanita"
(Arctostaphylos canescens) had unfortunately mostly finished
flowering, there were only a few rosy bells left on shrubs on the south side of the
west-facing slope of the parking area. There were plenty of
Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. glandulosa, which has white flowers, in various stages of bloom.
At Rock Spring we found one open Calypso orchid flower and two in bud.On the lower south-facing slopes of the Mt.
by the roadside there were a few Ceanothus cuneatus shrubs in full flower. In Marin most blossoms of
this species are
blue-purple."
February 17, 2007
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"Today, on a Mt. Tam walk with Doreen Smith, we saw a few buds and flowers of the
Calypso Orchid
(Calypso bulbosa) in the woods behind the picnic benches at Rock Springs.
There were also a few in bloom behind the bathrooms at Laurel Dell.
Along the bridge that crosses the creek at Laurel Dell there were many
Fetid Adder's Tongues
(Scoliopus bigelovii) still in bloom.
On the Verna Dunshee Trail
we saw the lovely Castilleja foliolosa
and everywhere the elegant urn-shaped flowers of manzanita and
madrone were drooping from branches. A beautiful day just to be out and about."
February 14, 2007
Don Sadowski reports:
"Today we saw purple Irises (Douglas) blooming at the top of the hill
before one drops down into Limator Beach and the parking area."
February 12, 2007
Doreen Smith reports:
"Yesterday on David Herlocker's hike we found 20
flowering plant spp. This did include non-natives, however, but there
were Blennosperma nanum var. robustum, Ranunculus californicus, Viola
adunca, Nemophila menziesii var. atomaria, Lomatium utriculatum and
Calandrinia ciliata too. Thursday is the annual MCOSD group's trip to Chimney
Rock so there may be more things in bloom than would have expected,
given the dry, cold winter weather of January. I'm hoping to see the
Fritillaria affinis var. tristulis."
February 3, 2007
John Conley reports:
"Chimney Rock wildflowers are just beginning to show themselves. Sanicula arctopoides
(Footsteps of Spring) is coming up, but is not yet in bloom. Sidalcea
malviflora
(Checkerbloom) is blooming near the tip of the peninsula, and there were quite a few
Seaside Daisies (Erigeron glaucus) in bloom on the western side of the peninsula
this morning. The early blooms of Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
were seen
on the bluffs near the Point Reyes lighthouse."
February 1, 2007
Don Sadowski reports: "The Zigadenus fremontii (star lillies)
are blooming now on Mt. Burdell and so are the Blennosperma."
January 29, 2007
Sharon Salisbury reports: "The Fetid Adder's Tongues
(Scoliopus bigelovii) are blooming at the parking lot at Cascade Falls and
a few plants along the upper trail are also in bloom. However, it appears many more are already going to
seed and I didn't see as many as in past years. At Rush Creek I saw hundreds of Milkmaids blooming last
week."
January 6, 2007
John Conley reports:
"I hiked at Point Reyes today, making a loop from the Muddy Hollow trailhead up to Inverness Ridge
and back, via the Drake's View, Inverness Ridge, and Bay View trails.
The Pink-flowering Currant
(Ribes sanguineum) is blooming in and around Muddy Hollow.
A few Milkmaids were blooming on the
Drake's View trail, where I also saw an amazing abundance and diversity of fungi. Mushrooms of
all shapes, sizes, and colors were everywhere to be seen, on the upper trail (as it passes
through the "new" Bishop Pine forest there). Two early Douglas Iris were blooming on the
lower
part of the trail, as were many wild strawberries. On the Bayview trail, there were a dozen or
more bright scarlet Indian Paintbrush blooms to be seen. On the lower part of the Bayview trail,
I briefly enjoyed the sweet scent of Ceanothus in bloom (somewhere close), but I could not locate
the blooms themselves, despite some searching. The Ceanothus that I saw there is still in bud,
but should be in full bloom within a week or two."
December 12, 2006
Doreen Smith reports:
"some milkmaids (Cardamine californica) flowering along Lucas Valley Road."
December 2, 2006
Bob Sills reports: "The fetid adderstongues
(Scoliopus bigelovii) are starting to bloom in Muir Woods."
November 14, 2006
Doreen Smith reports: "There are still a few Parnassia californica flowering at Old
St. Hilary's in the seeps below the church."
September 29, 2006
Doreen Smith reports: "The hike to Tomales Bay State Park went well,
the weather was perfect with a refreshing
autumnal chill in the air. The huckleberries were not abundant but
there were enough for
tasting. For remaining flowers there were harebells (not hareballs as the local paper mis-printed)
narrow-pod bird's foot trefoil and grass-leaved
goldenrod but the main sources of color were
the various berries-and the showy red poison-oak leaves."
September 5, 2006
Doreen Smith reports on the Saturday 2nd Sept. field trip to China Camp :
"Unfortunately there was some mix-up regarding the date of the scheduled field trip to
China Camp State Historic Park so Mike Vasey was not present on Saturday to be our leader.
The day was fine, sunny, not too hot and people from several CNPS Chapters attended.
Unusual plants found included Lessingia hololeuca and Cordylanthus pilosus.
Later some of us went to the Las Gallinas Valley wastewater ponds to see flowering the only
known Marin population of the native ice-plant, Sesuvium verrucosum."
August 22, 2006
Peter Denisevich reports:
"A few Mimulus cardinalis are blooming in Fairfax at Cascade Falls,
Cascade Canyon MCOSD, though the falls are down to a trickle.
How the tiny seeds survived being washed away I don't know since they're right in the middle
of the falls..."
July 31, 2006
Doreen Smith reports : "We had a good day for the "wetlands hike", even fine, clear, sunny
"Wilma weather" out on the Abbotts Lagoon trail. There were several
common coast rein orchids out there near the bridge to the dunes and
one Spiranthes romanzoffiana. Later we all went to look for the
Spiranthes population Brad Kelley told us about at "F" ranch, then
we went to see if we could discover the rare Pt. Reyes rein orchid
near the lighthouse parking lot .We did find a few of them."
July 29, 2006
Brad Kelley reports: "For those interested in Point Reyes orchids
there are many Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded Ladies Tresses)
blooming close to Sir
Francis Drake at F Ranch. There are a couple dozen close to the F Ranch gate and more
than a hundred in the field on the opposite side of the road.
"Sniff the air while you
are there and you will likely smell the honey scent of the Horkelia marinensis
(Point Reyes Horkelia)
listed as "fairly endangered" in California but common in that area.
You can even smell them as you drive by!"
July 24, 2006
Doreen Smith reports from the Tomales Dunes hike: "The Tanacetum camphoratum (in the back dunes of Lawsons
Landing) were at the peak of flowering. The rest of the dunes were like a desert with blue and green
water-filled playas, very scenic and not too hot there on the coast.
The purple-foliage Cordylanthus maritimus was in good shape in the
salt marsh. "
July 20, 2006
Don Sadowski reports: "Drake's Beach has a wonderful
display of blue gentians. They are located on the west overlook at
Drake's Beach, beyond the wooden fence, on the right of the trail,
about 30 yards beyond the overlook fence. The beach is also a nice
place to go to avoid the heat and enjoy the cool ocean breezes. Take
a pinic lunch and enjoy the day."
July 19, 2006
Doreen Smith reports: "If you drive
out to Drakes Beach a short walk uphill past some Pearly Everlasting
gives you great views and now Gentians...There are also a few short Spiranthes
romanzoffiana at the w. end
of the parking lot on a little island in the blacktop."
July 9, 2006
John Conley reported: "I enjoyed hiking at Point Reyes yesterday
morning --- first at Drake's Bay in the early morning hours, and then later
at F Ranch. At Drake's Bay, on the bluffs above Drake's Estero itself, the
Blue Gentian (Gentiana affinis) is currently in full bloom, and probably near
its peak this season. A host of other plants are still in bloom there: Coyote
Mint, Monkeyflower, Indian Paintbrush, Dog Violet, Coast Angelica,
Grindelia, Lotus, Yarrow, Blue-eyed Grass, Dudleya, Morning Glory,
Centaurium, Prunella, and many more. At F Ranch, Linanthus grandiflorus is now blooming profusely,
as is Clarkia davyi."
June 16, 2006
Brenda Lein reports: "There is a lesser known and trekked trail to a
second waterfall at Elliot Nature Preserve. Cross the top of the falls at the end
of the trail and follow your intuition. This trail is NOT for the faint hearted.
It's not maintained, some who've I've dragged with me insist it's really a deer trail
and this time of year the dwarf forest is so thick even I question whether or not
it's a trail. If you're brave and adventerous, you'll come upon another waterfall
with two fairly sizable pools that harbor newts in a valley that is alive with the
sound of frogs and crickets and abuzz with wildlife. That wild life includes these
near bursting wild tiger lilies!"
June 1, 2006
Brenda Lein reports: "This beautiful yellow Calochortus luteus is in
bloom and peppering the hillside, on the Shady Side Trail at Bon Tempe.
Haven't walked the Sunny Side Trail in a while, I imagine they're over there too!"
May 29, 2006
John Conley reports: "had a great morning walk on the Phyllis Ellman Trail
on Ring Mountain. While our recent early Summer heat and the abrupt cessation of rain has dried out the
area very quickly, there were still a host of wildflowers in bloom this
morning. Several flowering onions were seen, as well as a multitude of
"Ithuriel's Spear" (Triteleia laxa) in full bloom. "Tarweed" was also in full
bloom everywhere one looked, and Western Larkspur was still blooming, as was
"Tidy Tips". At the top of the mountain, Phacelia californica and Collinsia
heterophylla (Chinese Houses) bloomed near Turtle Rock, and Silene californica
(Indian Pink) was also in full bloom. The Serpentine Morning Glory was also
seen. Only a few specimens of Calochortus tiburonensis were seen, with only one
in full flower (and several others in bud). "
May 17, 2006
Doreen Smith reports "The walk yesterday to the Bull Point area was in foggy
weather which returned after all the sun that was out there the
previous weekend. We found wonderful multi-colored meadows of mixed
low-growing flowers at Abandoned "F" Ranch. This was on the flats
just NE of the grove of cypress trees."
May 9,2006
John Conley reports on the May 6th hike on Azalea Hill:
"It was a great excursion, and we saw lots and lots
of flowers in bloom.
Friends of the Corte Madera Creek Watershed had
planned the walk and arranged for Doreen Smith to lead it. With her
encyclopedic knowledge of Marin flora, we saw (and could identify)
much more than we otherwise would have been able to. We saw a
variety of Linanthus species in bloom, as well as several uncommon or
rare plants (including the Serpentine Morning-glory and Mt. Tamalpais
Manzanita). Of course, Goldfields, Buttercups, Checkerbloom, Blue
Dicks, Sun Cups, Cream Cups, Iris, several Sanicles, and many, many
others were also seen."
May 2, 2006
Mary Stevens reports: "We saw
Aristolochia californica (California Pipevine)
with blooms and fruit as well as Pipevine Swallowtail egg deposits at Cascade Canyon,
MCOSD on David Herlocker's walk."
Cascade Canyon plant list
May 2, 2006
Sharon Salisbury reports
"Keep going to Mirafloras every week and seeing more and more flowers.
Allium lacunosum, Cryptantha flaccida and Wyethia augustifolia
are just beginning to bloom along with many clovers and vetches plus all
the earlier wild flowers
are still going strong. With the
cessation of the rain and the arrival of our long, hot summer these beauties will soon be gone. "
April 25, 2006
Peter Denisevich reports: "Dozens of spotted coral root (Corallorhiza maculata),
many in full bloom with more to come, along SW shore of Bon Tempe Lake, about half way between the parking lot
and the dam."
April 26, 2006
Sharon Salisbury reports
"I was walking through the tiny but beautiful Blackstone Canyon about 2 days ago and there were thousands of
Buttercups and more Iris than I have ever seen in one place. Further up the trail just where the
trail starts to climb steeply beside the creek and waterfalls there is a hill resplendent with dozens of
Collinsia heterophylla, Dichelostemma capitatum and more iris in unimaginable shades of pink,
blue, yellow and purple. There was also a few Delphinium patens(pretty sure)
alongside the creek."
April 23, 2006
Brenda Lein reports "In a sea of blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) there was a lone
white dick...on the Buckeye trail at Deer Park last week. "
April 23, 2006
Bob Soost reports Roadside viewing: " Meadow Foam (Limnanthes douglasii) on the
west side of Pt. Reyes/ Petaluma Rd. at the intersection of Novato Blvd.; Buttercups
(Ranunculus californicus) on the east side of Chimney Rock Rd., Pt. Reyes
National Seashore, Goldfields (Lasthenia californica) on the south side
and Meadow Foam
(Limnanthes douglasii) on the north side. This patch of
var. douglasii is unusual for the Seashore. Most sites are var.
sulphurea. "
April 21, 2006
Brenda Lein reports "Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
are blooming At Elliot Nature Preserve."
April 10, 2006
Don Sadowski reports: "Anyone willing to slosh through the water and mud at
Rush Creek
will be rewarded by seeing several wildflowers in bloom and birds. Most notable flowers are a hillside full of
Coast/White Baby-blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) and many Woodland Stars
(Lithophragma affine). Also, saw not one but two eurasian widgeons
swimming side by side blending in with several American widgeons."
April 7, 2006
Don Sadowski reports from the Rock Spring hike on Mt Tam with
Doreen Smith and David Herlocker: "In the serpentine area,
we came across Paronychia franciscana and Phacelia divaricata
that Doreen identified
and may be of interest to all."
March 30, 2006
Peter Denisevich reports::
"Striped coral root (fewer than last year or maybe just harder to find in the gloom)
on Yolanda Trail between Fairfax and San Anselmo.
Wyethia glabra are blooming in spite of the endless rains. Cascade Canyon MCOSD, Fairfax."
March 29, 2006
Amelia Byrd Ryan reports: "
The Tomales Point Trail at Point Reyes was in full bloom on Sunday.
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and Douglas iris (Iris
douglasiana) were everywhere, with scattered patches of
Point Reyes blennosperma (Blennosperma nanum var. robustum), baby blue eyes
(Nemophila menziesii),
coast rock cress (Arabis blepharophylla), and lots of
wallflower (Erysimum menziesii ssp. concinnum) - lovely to look at and smell -
blooming near the very tip of the point. The elk were nice too."
March 26, 2006
Sharon Salisbury reports more species starting to bloom at Miraflores Open Space, Tiburon:
"...Blue-eyed Grass, Hog Fennel, and Checkerbloom. Also on the Old Railroad Grade there are Checker Lilies,
Tree Poppies, many Common Star lilies and Indian Warriors that are just starting to bloom.
I agree with Doreen that this cold wet weather seems to be keeping the flowers a
little tentative. Don't blame them."
March 26, 2006
Doreen Smith reports from Edna Hickok's MTIA hike at Pantoll and Rock Spring:
" The wet and cool weather has retarded the wildflower season
on Mt. Tamalpais. The only plants that are revelling in the
conditions on the Old Mine trail and Rock Spring area are,
Popcornflower, (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), Hound's tongue,
(Cynoglossum grande), Fairy slipper orchid, (Calypso bulbosa), and, on
the serpentine barrens:- the local form of Littlepod, (Athysanus
pusillus), Claytonia exigua "rosulata", Turkey-pea, (Sanicula tuberosa),
and slender chickweed, (Stellaria nitens). We hope that warmer weather
will prevail in the 3 weeks before the April 15th MTIA "wildflower
weekend" to develop plants now only vegetative.
On the way up to Bootjack Camp and Pan Toll, the roadside
tall silver-leaf blue lupines are the Mt. Tamalpais form of Lupinus
albifrons!"
March 21, 2006
Doreen Smith reports from
David Herlocker's Ring Mountain hike: " The total of flowering plant species seen was 50.
The most notable being:- Thermopsis californica (golden
banner), Calochortus umbellatus (Oakland star
tulip), Calochortus uniflorus (Monterey star tulip), Achillea
millefolium (yarrow), Lasthenia gracilis (goldfields), Tauschia
kellogii (yellow parsley), Lomatium dasycarpum (biscuit-root),
Lomatium utriculatum (Spring gold), Sanicula tuberosa (turkey-pea),
Sanicula bipinnatifida (red-purple sanicle), Phacelia californica
(coast caterpillar-flower), Zigadenus fremontii and Plectritis
macrocera.
"If you want to be sure of finding and/or photographing
certain plants it is a good idea to join a field trip to have the
locations pointed-out! Most of Marin CNPS's information about various
plant species's localities has been the result of decades of searches
and observations by people participating in Wilma Follette's (and
others) walks."
March 20, 2006
Sharon Salisbury reports "The Miraflores Open Space is literally bursting with
Layia platyglossa,
and Lasthenia chrysotoma. Also present but in smaller numbers are Placelia californica, Achillea
millefolium, Dichelostemma pulchellum, Ranunculus californicus, Eschcholzia californica and more I am sure but
I was there as the sun was setting. It is a challenge to walk without stepping on a Tidy Tip or a Goldfield.
On one path there were small forests of Thermopsis californica and dainty Viola pedunculata"
March 15, 2006
Sharon Salisbury reports "On the Homestead Valley trail the
Calochortus umbellatus is just starting to bloom along with Hound's Tongue, Buttercups, Douglas Iris,
Slim Soloman's Seal and a few Checker Lilies."
March 14, 2006
Don Sadowski reports "Berberis pinnata (Coast Barberry) is in
bloom at Tennessee Valley, on the side of the main hiking trail leading out to the ocean."
February 28, 2006
Doreen Smith reports "We were lucky with the weather and
the flowers forlast Saturday's Mt. Burdell field trip. The little
mouse-ears (Mimulus douglasii) were found as well as the fragrant
fritillary (Fritillaria liliacea)."
February 23, 2006
Wendy Dreskin reports "Claytonia gypsophiloides
on Rocky Ridge above Lake Bon Tempe.
Dicentra formosa on Bear Valley Trail west of Divide Meadow, plus lots of
Sanicula arctopoides at Arch Rock overlook. "
February 22, 2006
Don Sadowski reports "Today was a wonderful day for hiking in
Chimney Rock, sunny, clear and the temperature was comfortable. In addition to those
flowers already stated by others in earlier writings, Matt Janin and I observed early
blossoms of Violets, yellow Indian Paint Brush, Wall Flowers, Checker Bloom
and Mule Ears."
February 22, 2006
Doreen Smith reports "Just back from a pre-trip survey for Saturday's CNPS event on the
S. slope of Mt. Burdell, starting at San Carlos Dr.
In no particular order, and by common name so as not to frighten-off
beginners: goldfields, suncups, little blennosperma, bluedicks,
biscuitroot, turkey- pea, Fremont's death camas, creamcups,
lily-fritillary,
miners lettuce, hounds-tongue, shooting stars, Ca. saxifrage,
buttercups, and one "blue-eyed Mary"
i.e. Collinsia sparsiflora."
February 15, 2006
Doreen Smith reports from the
Marin Naturalist hike at Chimney Rock:
"We were challenged
by a stiff cold wind but the sun was bright and the long-distance
views were sparkling. In all we found 39 different species of flowers
in bloom, 28 of which were natives. The only species in reasonable
abundance was Douglas' Iris. There were some flowers of the Pt. Reyes
Chocolate Lily - including one very vigorous specimen in the shelter
of pine trees in area just S. of the Coastguard/ Ranger white house.
February 12, 2006
Doreen Smith reports from
David Herlocker's Mt. Burdell hike:
"a fair number of flowers (and birds) were seen by all.
Flowers
included Dodecatheon hendersonii, Zigadenus fremontii, Blennosperma
nanum var. nanum, Ranunculus californicus, Sanicula laciniata,
Saxifraga californica, Lepidium nitidum, Cardamine californica,
Marah fabaceus, Dichelostemma pulchellum and even a few Ranunculus
lobbii in "Hidden Lake"."
February 11, 2006
John Conley reports
"I hiked on Mt. Tam this morning, heading
out from Pantoll on the Old Mine Trail, and then onto the Dipsea Trail into Steep
Ravine. The warm weather of the past week has brought an abundance of flowers
into bloom. There is a lot of Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande) blooming
near Pantoll, and many Star Lilies (Zigadenus fremontii) in full bloom along the
Dipsea Trail. Wild Cucumber (Marah fabaceus) is also in full bloom around
Pantoll and in Steep Ravine. Steep Ravine itself has lots of Trillium (T. ovatum)
in bloom, and quite a bit of Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) as well as a few
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) blooms. In Steep Ravine near Highway 1,
Trillium chloropetalum is still blooming but beginning to fade a bit. Also near
Highway 1, there is Smilacina racemosa (False Solomon's Seal) in bloom and
lots of Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata). Milkmaids (Cardamine
californica) are blooming just about everywhere, but beginning to fade. Fairy
Bells (Disporum smithii) seem to be at their peak, and there are quite a few of
them in Steep Ravine near Highway 1, and more a bit further up the Ravine near
the intersection with the Dipsea Trail. Just West of Highway 1, descending toward
the Steep Ravine campground, there is Coast Barberry (Berberis pinnata)
blooming, along with a handful of Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii)
on the hill above the road. More of the latter can be found blooming on the Matt
Davis Trail near (just West of) Pantoll. Fetid Adder's Tongue (Scoliopus
bigelovii) is abundant in Steep Ravine near Pantoll. Much to my surprise, I found
quite a bit of it still in full bloom. On the Matt Davis Trail, West of Pantoll, the
Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa) has just begun to bloom. I saw only two
plants in bloom this morning, but I'd guess that there will be many more within
the next week. Spring is definitely here."
February 1, 2006
Sharon Salisbury reports
"Tis that time of year again, and what a year it has been.
Saw my first Trillium ovatum at Cascade Falls today in Mill Valley.
As you walk toward the falls from the parking lot they are about 40 feet up the
trail across the creek. There was a small grove of about 7 nestled against a
moss-covered log.
Still some fetid adder's tongue
(Scoliopus bigelovii)
along the parking lot, some just coming into
bloom although most have gone to seed."
January 28, 2006
John Conley reports
Sanicula arctopoides in bloom
"on Chimney Rock (at the terminus of the peninsula). This common
(and often unnoticed) plant is one of my favorite harbingers of Spring
in Northern California. I only saw one plant in full bloom yesterday.
No other blooms (of any species) were seen at Chimney Rock, but the
"Footsteps of Spring" have now arrived there."
January 24, 2006
Doreen Smith reports " Ribes californicum and
Aristolochia
californica are starting to flower alongside the flat parts of
Lucas Valley Road (east of the Big Rock) i.e. in the Las Gallinas
Valley!!
"
January 20, 2006
Doreen Smith reports " More flowers are coming out!
Last weekend on Gini Havel's
mushroom hike we saw lots of pink
flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum) in flower
already, and Huckleberry (Vaccinium
ovatum) even."
The big Blennosperma (at Pierce Point Ranch parking area)
and little Blennosperma (at Mt. Burdell) are only just starting
but
on Mt. Burdell's south slope near the San Carlos Dr. entrance to the
open space the Zigadenus fremontii are already up.
"
This last weekend, on a hike from the Mountain Theatre to
West Point Inn, we saw the
Arctostaphylos canescens was in as good
flower as it will ever be this season. The flowers are paler than
usual, maybe "washed out" by all the rain. There was only very little
flowering A.glandulosa except for a nice one by the "no entry old
radar-site" pull-out at the "middle peak" of Mt. Tam. Also two
species of Garrya; G. fremontii and G. elliptica, can be seen in
catkin right by the road near that same spot."
January 7, 2006
Donald Henry reports fetid adder's tongue
(Scoliopus bigelovii)
" blossoming at the Cascade
Falls parking area"
January 6, 2006
Doreen Smith is "
pleased to report milkmaids (Cardamine californica)
and fetid adder's tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii) are
already flowering, as are the coast silktassel bushes (Garrya
elliptica), " along Lucas
valley Road.
January 1, 2006
Bob Sills reports " lots of fetid adder's tongue
(Scoliopus bigelovii)
in bloom at Muir Woods."
July 27, 2005
Doreen Smith reports:
"Here follows a list of "special" plants now flowering in the
Abbotts Lagoon area - both adjacent to and off the main trail. Many
would be difficult to find without guidance from someone who has spent
at lot of time searching out there. In all I found 115 flowering
species.
Cirsium andrewsii, Franciscan thistle
Campanula californica, marsh harebell
Stellaria littoralis, marsh stitchwort
Monardella undulata, dune coyote-mint
Alpecurus aequalis var. sonomensis, Sonoma short-awn foxtail
Chorizanthe spp., Spineflowers
Leptosiphon rosaceus, rosy linanthus.
July 4, 2005
John Conley reports
"Linanthus grandiflorus is currently blooming
profusely along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, near the "F Ranch",
on the Point Reyes Peninsula."
June 23, 2005
Doreen Smith reports:
"The roadside bank S. of the bridge where
highway 1 crosses Stemple Creek north of Tomales is one mass of
Clarkia amoena ssp.amoena "
June 21, 2005
Peter Denisevich reports:
"Antirrhinum vexillo-calyculatum (Snapdragon) in Cascade Canyon MCOSD, Fairfax,
near start of trail along north side of creek. Also at Phoenix Lake on road across dam.
...local fauna -- Battus philenor (Pipevine Swallowtail)
caterpillar on Aristolochia californica [and poison oak!],
also in Cascade Canyon."
June 13, 2005
Doreen Smith reports:
"Gentiana affinis var.
ovata in grassland and scrub on the bluffs above and to the west of
Drakes Beach, Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
Ted Kipping: reports "Silene californica (Indian Pink)
on embankment on road between Stinson Beach and Pan Toll Camp through Steep Ravine. The soil
is a serpentine marl. The grasses are mostly festuca
californica ---a lovely glade just above the road. Indian pink is
visible mid-June through August."
June 3, 2005
Joe Kohn reports:
Silene californica in bloom on the top of Ring Mountain in Tiburon.
May 24, 2005
Bob Soost reports: "There is an unusual display of Mule Ears, Wyethia angustifolia, in view
from Nicasio Valley Rd. on the W side of the road at the S end (nearest Nicasio) of Nicasio reservoir.
It is best seen from the wide, dirt turnoff (N of the row of trees that borders the road) on the W side of the road.
There are hundreds of plants in bloom on the grassy slope and drainage area. "
April 29, 2005
Sharon Salisbury reports: "The Mira Flores Open Space in Tiburon is bursting with flowers.
Both in numbers and variety, I have never seen this place so extravagemt.
You can't set your foot anywhere
without stepping on a flower, even in the middle of the trails.
To name a few...Triteleia laxa, Achillea millefolium,
Lasthenia californica, Layia platyglossa (yellow seas), Poppies,
Sisyrinchium californicum, Allium
lacunosum (white pools of them, especially off the Gilmartin exit as you
cut across to the cliffs) Cryptantha
flaccida, Wyethia angustifolia, Lupines, Dudleya farinosa,
Thermopsis californica, Trifolium fucatum, Climbing Morning Glory,
Platystemon californicus, Sidalcea malviflora, Viola pedunculata,
Castillega densiflora, Soap Plant, Ranunculus californicus,
Vicia americana, Trifolium bifidum
and these are just the ones I saw in 45 minutes. "
April 13, 2005
Calen Hall reports: "In the wet meadow on the road into the lake Lagunitas parking lot:
Calochortus uniflorus - many, many more than last year Lasthenia californica,
Lotus formosissimus, Iris macrosiphon - very fragrant, blue-eyed grass.
Also of note are the masses of Lupinus nanus blooming on the same road about
.25 mile back toward Bon Tempe lake. Mixed with poppies they remind me of
the bloom down south."
April 12, 2005
Peter Denisevich reports sighting of Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. secundus
(One-sided Jewelflower) in bloom. " In Fairfax, on the trail going east from Deer Park School, just below the
junction with Worn Spring Road. Also on the rock outcrops along the lower
part of the same trail."
April 5, 2005
Brenda Lein reports: Red Columbine (Aquilegia formosa) in bloom.
"This is the first I've seen this year. It's in Deer Park. It's on the right hand side
of the trail between Oak Junction and Six Points (taking a
left off the Fire Road to head up to Six Points from Deer Park.) There will be a few more along this trail as the days progress,
but I think never as many as what we'll see in Elliot Nature Preserve."
April 5, 2005
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Discovered a wonderful wildflower trail in Novato called Blackstone
Canyon. The path lead through a steep-sided verdant green valley and is followed the entire way by a tumbling,
tuneful creek with sounds of frogs in the quieter places. There is a Woodwardia fimbriata on the left just a
short way into the hike. It is at least 8'x8'. Never seen one so large. The first part of the trail is covered
with Blue Dicks, and the most buttercups I have ever seen in one place. There are also many iris, both dark blue,
pale mauve and hundreds of pale yellow ones, especially on the hills on the far side of the creek. Quite a few
Woodland Stars, Intermediate Fiddlenecks at least two varieties of Lupines and a few California poppies. One very
tiny species of lupine nestled in with Fewflower Clover...Also lots of Sweet Cicely and Snake Root.
If you continue up the
rather rough and step trail with the creek now on your left and cascading down in many small waterfalls, look to your
right and you will see a large field of Chinese Houses and Blue Dicks. Quite a sight. I have never seen so many
Chinese Houses in one place. The next lovely surprise was several scarlet Larkspur reaching out to touch me as
I passed by. Many birds and butterflies, especially Painted Ladies."
April 3, 2005
Brenda Lein reports: "Carson Falls are just surrounded by the Red Larkspur.
Even more spectacular then what we saw at Deer Park."
April 2, 2005
Brenda Lein reports: "Above Deer Park, in Fairfax, on the Yolanda trail between
Six Points and the fire road, on the ridge trail where it overlooks Deer Park field, Red Larkspur
were growing amidst moss covered rocks. Quite a spectacular display of them!"
March 20, 2005
Calen Hall reports: "Calochortus umbellatus is blooming on the summit
of Loma Alta above the
cattle-proof gate facing Lucas Valley. I was delighted to run into it.
Along the track to the summit from
the Sleepy Hollow-Terra Linda ridge there are diminutive
Collinsia and quite
a few of a Delphinium.
On the grassy hogbacks approaching White's Hill from the north Nemophila
menziesii, Platystemon californicus, Dichelostemma sp, Ranunculus
californicus, man root, and a few I don't know are abundant among the bunch
grasses. Not many on the south-facing aspects, though."
March 16, 2005
Peter Denisevich reports Calochortus umbellatus "in serpentinite
soil on Pam's Blue Ridge above Fairfax. I only
saw two in bloom and one was pretty tattered."
March 14, 2005
Sharon Salisbury reports: "The Calochortus umbellatus are blooming
again on the Homestead Valley trail.
I was up there yesterday and there must have been a hundred plus on the hill to
the right of the trail. I turned left at the top and there were many more on both
sides of the trail. Also Camissonia ovata, Smilacina stellata, Dichelostemma capitatum,
Marah fabaceus and Fragaria vesca."
March 8, 2005
Brenda Lein reports: Corallorhiza striata (Striped Coralroot) in
bloom at "Deer Park - on Yolanda trail, midpoint between Six Points and the fire road/Worn Spring Road."
February 27, 2005
Mary Stevens reports: "Fritillaria liliacea is blooming
by the side of Nicasio Valley Road,
south of the intersection with the Petaluma-Pt. Reyes Road.
February 26, 2005
Sharon Salisbury reports: "on the Escalon Fire Trail I saw at least
50 Dodecatheon hendersonii on the bank and
although not rare, I have been walking this trail for years and never seen them in this place nor so many. "
February 22, 2005
Don Henry reports: "There were today at least ten
or twelve Calypso orchids in blossom above the trail east of the Rock
Spring parking area; and ~80-90 Dodecatheon hendersonii along the nearby
Simmons Trail, just beyond the point where the Benstein Trail forks off
to the right."
February 16, 2005
John Conley reports:"Our early (and wet) Spring is continuing to produce wildflower
blooms in small but ever-increasing numbers, several weeks before one would normally
expect to see them in those numbers. On February 12th, numerous wildflowers were in
bloom at Chimney Rock and on the bluffs near the Point Reyes lighthouse.
Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) are currently abundant near the lighthouse
parking area. The Point Reyes Checker (or Chocolate) Lily (Fritillaria affinis var. tristulis)
is blooming nearby, as are the first flowers of the Coast Rock Cress
(Arabis blepharophylla). Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana) are beginning to bloom at
Chimney Rock, as are Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora), Coast Fiddleneck
(Amsinckia spectabilis), Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) and at least one
species
of Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.). Near the Chimney Rock parking area, Goldfields
(Lasthenia californica) and "Johnny-Tuck" (Triphysaria eriantha var. rosea) are just beginning to bloom."
February 12, 2005
Doreen Smith
reports:
"many plants of the little mouse-ears monkeyflower, Mimulus douglasii,"
on the s.slope of Mt.
Burdell. From San Carlos Drive hike west then north to
the watertank area of serpentine. The plants are
near the watertank, on the s. facing serpentine slope.
February 10, 2005
Sharon Salisbury reports: "last week I found some
Fetid Adder's Tongues
still blooming at Cascade Waterfall and yesterday on Homestead trail there were Milkmaids,
Indian Warriors (Pedicularis densiflora), Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande),
Fetid Adder's Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii), Trilliums (ovatum) and Mission Bells
(Fritillaria lanceolata)."
February 2, 2005
Doreen Smith reports:
"Ranunculus lobbii
are now flowering
(super-early) in a vernal pool near the Hicks Valley school.
It is a rare, small white-flowered buttercup that
grows in vernal pools that dry up completely by summer.
It is similar to a later-blooming species, Ranunculus aquatilis, but differs in petal
shape and floating-leaf shape.
January 15, 2005
John Conley reports:
"It seems that we are having an early Spring. Erigeron glaucus
(Seaside Daisy) has been in bloom at Chimney Rock since (before) Christmas, and
the blooms are now increasing by the day. Erysimum menziesii ("wallflower")
is also in bloom at Chimney Rock.
"Footsteps of Spring" (Sanicula arctopoides) is beginning to
bloom at Chimney Rock. "
January 12, 2005
Doreen Smith reports:
" More flowers are up! Particularly the little blennosperma
(Blennosperma nanum var, nanum) of Mt. Burdell's S. slopes-
west of
and near San Carlos Drive open space entrance."
January 6, 2005
Doreen Smith reports:
" The Dodecatheon hendersonii is in flower at the foot of Big Rock
Ridge-i.e. back of my house in the "Open Space."
It is very early for them to bloom."
January 1, 2005
John Conley reports:
"Trillium chloropetalum (aka Giant Wake Robin, Sessile Trillium,
Giant Trillium)
is in bloom at the lower end of the Steep Ravine Trail
(just a few feet from Highway 1)
today, January 1, 2005. These trilliums bloom early, in this particular
location, but this is the earliest that I've ever seen a bloom from them
(in some ten years or
so of observation). I suppose that our warmer-than-usual Winter
(so far) is the cause of these early blooms?
I also saw California Milkmaids (Cardamine californica) in bloom today ---
on the Dipsea Trail, just before it enters
Steep Ravine. They are ready to bloom elsewhere, particularly near the T. chloropetalum
blooming near the terminus of the Steep Ravine Trail. "
December 15, 2004
Doreen Smith reports:
"I drove through China Camp State Park yesterday and many shrubs
of the "common manzanita" Arctostaphylos manzanita are already in
full flower. This variety of the species has its southern limit in Marin.
The early rains must have had a good effect on the plants. There was
also the occasional milkmaids, Cardamine californica.
Of course one can always find at least 1 plant of California poppy any time of the
year - there is one with two open flowers at the east end of Lucas Valley road.
"I had it reported to me by Joe Kohn that near Abbotts Lagoon the Marin County Open
Space naturalist's group found Sisyrinchium bellum and Ranunculus
californicus in flower."
May 26, 2004
John Wall reports:
"The yellow pond-lilies Nuphar lutea spp. polysepalum
at Lily Pond near Alpine Lake are still blooming, but many
are going to seed and make interesting looking fruits. On the
north edge of the Lily Pond area at the base of the small talus
slope there are still some Red Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule)
in bloom, and the Red Ribbons (Clarkia concinna) seem to just
be getting started. "
May 5, 2004
Mary Stevens reports: " Pyrola picta f. aphylla is now in bloom along the upper side of the Matt Davis Trail, west of Pantoll.
April 19, 2004
Julieann Johnson and Mary Stevens report:
87 Clintonia andrewsiana budding on the Steep Ravine Trail,
mostly above the ladder. The lower half of the trail has many
Actaea rubra, Baneberry, in flower and berry.
On the Matt Davis trail west of Pantoll, there were still a few
Calypso bulbosa blooming. Many Pyrola picta var. aphylla,
Leafless Wintergreen, are budding, abundant Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata, Spotted
Coralroot, are blooming.
Also to be found along the upper part of the
Matt Davis trail
are Collinsia heterophylla, Chinese Houses,
Delphinium nudicaule, Red Larkspur,
Iris douglasiana, Douglas Iris,
Madia (Anisocarpus) madioides, Woodland Madia,
Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum, Woolly Sunflower,
and Trientalis latifolia, Star-flower. "
April 12, 2004
John Wall reports:
"The yellow pond-lilies Nuphar lutea spp. polysepalum at Lily Pond
near Alpine Lake are just opening up. Maybe by next week the blossoms
will be fully open, but it wouldn't surprise me if they still are not. They seem
to open very slowly! "
March 15, 2004
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"The Miraflores Open Space in Tiburon...
is definitely awakening. Lomatium dasycarpum, Phacelia californica,
Ranunculus californicus, Thermopsis californica, Dichelostemma capitatum,
Lasthenia californica and Achillea millefolium
were all in bloom and I didn't even make it to the cliffs."
March 15, 2004
Joe Kohn reports:
"I spotted what must have been more than
100 Calypso Orchids,
which looked like they'd all just started to bloom.
It was all within a 5 minute walk of the Rock Springs Parking Lot at Mt Tam.
Directly behind
the parking lot, if you go towards the right towards the Mtn Theater,
there's a stand of Doug Fir, with the orchids underneath. Also, if you walk on
Cataract Trail towards Laurel Dell, within a few minutes you'll enter a
wooded area with Doug Fir, and if you look just right, you'll see 100
Calypso Orchids, or more."
March 15, 2004
Jim Gratiot reports: "Encourage people to join Wilma
on Mt. Burdell this Wednesday or to come themselves this weekend.
Everything is in bloom including some
Linanthus, Lupinus bicolor,
Platystemon, Triphysaria, Castilleja densiflora?, Layia
chrysanthemoides, and even some
Lewisia rediviva as well as many others.
March 5, 2004
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Nothing rare but just wanted to note that
I went back up the Homestead trail today and there are hundreds of FAT's that have bloomed out.
So the population is still there. I was too early and then too late.Today there were dozens of
Trillium ovatum,
Cynoglossum grande and Smilicina sessilifolia just coming into bloom.
Further up in the sun were Camissonia ovata and Pedicularis densiflora."
February 27, 2004
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Went to the Headlands
to watch the roiling ocean and monster waves and stopped to look at wildflowers in between squalls.
Blooming were: Cardamine californica Milk Maids
Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana Franciscan Paintbrush,
Gnaphalium californicum California Everlasting,
Heracleum lanatum Cow Parsnip,
Marah fabaceus Manroot,
Phacelia californica California Perennial Phacelia,
Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup, and
Sanicula arctopoides Footsteps-of-Spring,
February 7, 2004
John Conley reports
"Mahonia pinnata (California Mahonia aka California Barberry) is now in
bloom at Point Reyes, on the rocky outcroppings near the Lighthouse.
Erysimum menziesii (Point Reyes Wallflower) is now blooming at Chimney
Rock."
February 4, 2004
Mary Stevens reports:
"Hundreds of Scoliopus bigelovii (fetid adder's tongue)
are blooming along the lower end of
Cataract Trail as it passes by the banks of Alpine Lake. They should also be blooming on
Cataract Trail as it comes into the lower end of Laurell Dell as well as near the bridge
to the Fire Road which comes down from Ridgecrest Boulevard."
January 30, 2004
Jim Gratiot reports from Mt. Burdell:
"The Simmons Lane enclosure has a few blooming Fritillaria liliacea.
Burdell is also sporting fields of
Zigadenus fremontii, Blennosperma
nanum, and Ranunculus californicus.
Cynoglossum grande is just beginning on the western hillside above San
Andreas road. Fritillaria affinis is in bud but not blooming yet as is
Dodecatheon hendersonii."
January 13, 2004
Don Henry reports:
"Scoliopus bigelovii (fetid adder's tongue)
is just beginning to bloom at Cascade Falls in Mill Valley.
From downtown Mill Valley, take Throckmorton past the public library all the way to the end
where it intersects Cascade. Turn right onto Cascade and watch for a small parking lot on the
right with a wooden sign reading CASCADE FALLS."
January 12, 2004
Doreen Smith reports on
Arctostaphylos manzanita var. manzanita (common manzanita)
"This attractive shrub or small tree is fairly common about oak
woodlands in the north half of Marin County. In fact this is the
southern limit of this variety of the species. Usually the flowers
first appear in late December or early January. They are visited by
Anna's hummingbirds for the nectar at the base of the corolla.
Most
plants have pearly-white flowers but a few have rosy pink petals and
deep pink calyces.
A good example of the pink form can be seen on the road to Bahia,
east Novato, halfway down the hill with terraces cut for prospective
home sites.
"The small, yellow composite,Blennosperma nanum var. nanum, grows on serpentine sites in several
parts of the county, being replaced by the later-blooming
var. robustum on Pt. Reyes National Seashore. The plants pictured
here are from Mt. Burdell, Novato. Other populations are at the
crest of Lucas Valley Road opposite the Big Rock and for some
distance to the west, on the serpentine there. Also plants can be
found near Nicasio reservoir on the hills and flats. There are also
some in the Chileno Valley area; some at the roadside, others on the
hills in the area. In other counties the plant is characteristic of
seasonal wetlands and vernal pools, for example at the Jepson Prairie
Preserve in Solano county."
January 12, 2004
Mary Stevens reports:
Scoliopus bigelovii (fetid adder's tongue) is in
full bloom in Muir Woods. The largest cluster of about 50 blooms is by the right side of the main trail
between signpost 3 and bridge 3. Just to the right inside the entrance to
Muir Woods you can see both male catkins and the tiny red female flowers
(at the tips of the branches) of
Corylus cornuta var. californica (hazelnut).
January 10, 2004
John Conley reports:
"Cardamine californica (Milkmaids) is blooming
(in small numbers) at
the lower end of the Steep Ravine trail (near Hwy. 1) on Mount Tamalpais.
I also noticed that "sessile" trillium (Trilium chloropetalum) is
emerging from the ground, but is not yet in bloom at the same location."
September 10, 2003
John Wall reports:
Asclepias fascicularis, Narrow-leaved Milkweed, in still in bloom.
"Park at the big Mountain Theater dirt lot just up from Rock
Spring. Walk up the Rock Springs-Lagunitas fire road. Pass
the coulter pines and the shaded section until you reach the
large meadow on the east side
of the road. Head up that steep
section (still on the road) and keep your
eyes peeled down
the slope to the west (left)...It was in a small ravine behind
some young doug firs (before the top).
In this area you will also see blooming
Calycadenia multiglandulosa White Rosinweed
and Perideridia kelloggii Kellogg's Yampah."
August 17, 2003
Bob Sills and Norbert Jeske report:
Seven plants of Goodyera oblongifolia Rattlesnake Plantain
in bloom
as well as a number of plants of Clintonia andrewsiana
with cobalt blue berries can be found
at the intersection of Ridgecrest Blvd and the
Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
They also report:
Aquilegia eximia Serpentine Seep Columbine
is blooming by the side of the road at milepost 5.23
(between Azalea Hill and Alpine Dam) on the Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
August 15, 2003
Doreen Smith reports:
Here is the plant list of native Californians in flower at the Peter Behr overlook trail at Drakes Beach, Pt. Reyes.
Achillea millefolium yarrow
Anaphalis margaritacea pearly everlasting
Angelica hendersonii coastal angelica
Aster chilensis coastal aster
Baccharis pilularis coyote bush
Calamagrostis nutkaensis Nootka reedgrass
Calystegia purpurata morning-glory
Eriogonum latifolium coastal buckwheat
Gentiana affinis blue gentian
Grindelia stricta gumplant
Heracleum lanatum cow-parsnip
Horkelia californica Ca. horkelia
Perideridia kelloggii Kellogg's yampah
Prunella vulgaris selfheal
Solidago spathulata spoonleaf goldenrod
Spiranthes romanzoffiana hooded ladies tresses
Stachys ajugoides var. rigida hedgenettle
July 27, 2003
Brad Kelley further reports:
"If this year is anything like last, Piperia elegans should begin
blooming about now in Mill Valley, Goodyera oblongifolia should be
sending up spikes to bloom on Mt. Tam in late August. Another orchid native to Marin is the rare
Piperia elegans ssp. decurtata, Marin Coastal Rein Orchid,
which grows near the Pt. Reyes lighthouse.
July 25, 2003
Not seen in Marin for over 50 years, a small number of plants of
Piperia michaelii, Michael's Rein Orchid,
were found blooming
at Pt. Reyes by Doreen Smith and Bob Soost's rare plant
monitoring group.
July 17, 2003
Brad Kelley reports:
Platanthera leucostachys, Bog Rein-orchis, blooming at Bull Point, Pt. Reyes
Piperia transversa, Transverse-spur Rein Orchid, and
Piperia elongata, Long-spurred Rein Orchid,
blooming at Roy's Redwoods
July 4, 2003
Doreen Smith reports: "I thought you might like to know
what's flowering now on the Bull Point area, we went there Friday 4th
July. This might encourage people to support Bob's field trip on July
12th.
"The Linanthus grandiflorus is very abundant, there are huge
patches. Also the Linanthus parviflorus var. rosaceus. The Lilium
maritimum is just starting to flower. Other interesting spp. present
are Tofieldia occidentalis, Triteleia peduncularis, Prunella
vulgaris, Campanula californica, Sidalcea calycosa ssp. rhizomata,
Juncus phaeocephalus, Cordylanthus maritimus var. palustris,
Triglochin striata, Ledum glandulosum, Lupinus variicolor, Lupinus
arboreus (yellow) Castilleja ambigua, Monardella undulata,
Deschampsia caespitosa var. holciformis and Horkelia marinensis. Many
of these are Pt. Reyes rare plants.
"We also found on our Friday trip an unusually robust form of
Trifolium obtusiflorum, Polygonum marinense and Astragalus
pycnostachyus.var. pycnostachyus and of course Grindelia stricta of
the saltmarshes.. These were near the Drake's Estero bridge. Brad
Kelley got some excellent pix. of Chorizanthe valida from the Lunny
population."
June 23, 2003
Sharon Salisbury reports: "Still blooming at Miraflores Open Space in Tiburon are Dudleya farinosa
on the rocks on the cliff's edge, The Clarkia and Calochortus
are quite spectacular against the dried, tan grasses."
Also still blooing:
Calochortus luteus Yellow Mariposa
Castilleja rubicundula Creamsacs
Clarkia rubicunda Ruby Chalice Godetia
Eriogonum nudum Nude Buckwheat
Eriophyllum confertiflorum Golden Yarrow
Grindelia hirsutula Gumplant
Hemizonia congesta Tarplant
Layia platyglossa Tidytips
Lupinus microcarpus Secund Lupine
Monardella purpurea Serpentine Monardella
Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's Spear
Wyethia angustifolia Narrow-leaf Mule-ears
June 22, 2003
Doreen Smith reports:
"This last weekend I "did" Old St. Hilary's Open Space (Tiburon) where the
Helenium is blooming gold in the seeps below the church Also there,
in bloom, are Lilium pardalinum, Stachys pycnantha, Triteleia
peduncularis
and assorted Cyperaceae. On the access, via Vistazo West fire road,
are Streptanthus niger, Verbena lasiostachys, Eriogonum luteolum var.
caninum and Clarkia rubicunda.
"I also took in Lagunitas Meadows where there are many deep
blue Navarretia viscidula, some Brodiaea terrestris, Brodiaea elegans
and a few Castilleja ambigua, the only population I know of that
isn't on Pt. Reyes. If you know where to look there are Sidalcea
calycosa ssp. calycosa. The tall bunch grass is Deschampsia cespitosa."
June 18, 2003
Mary Stevens reports:
in flower now on the Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands
near intersection of Conzelman Rd and McCullough Rd.
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Allium dichlamydeum Coast Onion
Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting
Angelica hendersonii Coastal Angelica
Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana Franciscan Paintbrush
Dudleya farinosa Sea Lettuce
Eriogonum nudum var. nudum Nude Buckwheat
Eriophyllum staechadifolium Lizard-tail
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy
Heuchera micrantha Alum-root
Hieracium albiflorum White Hawkweed
Holodiscus discolor Ocean-spray
Mimulus aurantiacus Sticky Bush Monkeyflower
Scrophularia californica ssp. californica Bee-plant
Sedum spathulifolium Spoon-leavedStone-crop
Stachys ajugoides v. rigida Hedgenettle
Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's Spear
June 12, 2003
Mary Stevens reports:
in flower now on Ring Mountain, Tiburon
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Allium lacunosum Pitted Onion
Brodiaea elegans Harvest Brodiaea
Calochortus tiburonensis
Tiburon Mariposa Lily
Clarkia rubicunda Ruby Chalice Godetia
Delphinium hesperium Western Larkspur
Dudleya farinosa Sea Lettuce
Hemizonia congesta Tarplant
Hesperolinon congestum Marin Dwarf Flax
Lupinus microcarpus Secund Lupine
Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed Grass
Thermopsis macrophylla False Lupine, Golden Pea
Triteleia hyacinthina White Brodiaea
Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's Spear
June 11, 2003
Doreen Smith reports:
"On Mt. Burdell, lower slopes, there are still a lot of native bulbs
flowering-
Calochortus luteus, Triteleia laxa, Triteleia hyacinthina
and Brodiaea elegans.
In the marsh N. of San Andreas Drive are Triteleia
peduncularis and Stachys ajugioides ssp. ajugioides.
There is the native Centaurium muehlenbergii, pink with a
pronounced white center to the flower, along the trail from the
Wildlife Preserve to the flat area N. of San Andreas. Most of the
smaller-flowered Centaurium (very abundant and in many places) is
the introduced "weed" C. tenuifolium.
The serpentine west of San Carlos Open Space entrance has pink
masses of Eriogonum luteolum framing the serpentine balds to the S.
of the fire road. Hemizonia congesta is the yellow tarplant.
Clarkia concinna ssp.
concinna is still doing famously along Lucas Valley rd.
June 1, 2003
John Wall reports:
between Rock Spring and Rifle Camp
Allium unifolium Pink Onion
Calochortus luteus Yellow Mariposa
Calochortus umbellatus Oakland Star-tulip
Calochortus uniflorus Marsh Star-tulip
Castilleja densiflora Common Owl's Clover
Cirsium brevistylum Indian Thistle
Clarkia gracilis Serpentine Godetia
Corallorhiza maculata Spotted Coralroot
Eriodictyon californicum Yerba Santa
Lotus formosissimus Coast Lotus (Witches' Teeth)
Polygala californica Milkwort
Rhododendron occidentale Western Azalea
Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed Grass
Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. pulchellus Mt.Tamalpais Jewelflower
June 6, 2003
Mary Stevens reports:
in flower along the Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands near intersection of Conzelman Rd and McCullough Rd.
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Allium dichlamydeum Coast Onion
Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting
Angelica hendersonii Coastal Angelica
Aquilegia formosa Red Columbine
Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana Franciscan Paintbrush
Dudleya farinosa Sea Lettuce
Eriogonum nudum var. nudum Nude Buckwheat
Eriophyllum staechadifolium Lizard-tail
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy
Heuchera micrantha Alum-root
Hieracium albiflorum White Hawkweed
Holodiscus discolor Ocean-spray
Mimulus aurantiacus Sticky Bush Monkeyflower
Phacelia californica California Perennial Phacelia
Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa Sticky Cinquefoil
Scrophularia californica ssp. californica Bee-plant
Sedum spathulifolium Spoon-leavedStone-crop
Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed Grass
Stachys ajugoides v. rigida Hedgenettle
Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's Spear
May 7, 2003
Mary Stevens reports:
in flower along on the Steep Ravine Trail, Mount Tamalpais
Actaea rubra Baneberry
Aralia californica Elk Clover
Cardamine californica var. californica Woodland Milk-maids
Clintonia andrewsiana Clintonia
Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata Spotted Coralroot
Disporum hookeri Green Fairy Bells
Disporum smithii White Fairy Bells
Fritillaria affinis var. affinis Mission Bells
Iris douglasiana Douglas Iris
Osmorhiza chilensis Sweet Cicely
Smilacina racemosa Fat Solomon
Smilacina stellata Slim Solomon
Trientalis latifolia Star-flower
Whipplea modesta Modesty
May 5, 2003
Mary Stevens reports:
in flower now at Muir Woods National Monument
Aralia californica Elk Clover
Cardamine californica var. californica Woodland Milk-maids
Claytonia perfoliata Miners Lettuce
Clintonia andrewsiana Clintonia
Disporum smithii White Fairy Bells
Heracleum lanatum Cow Parsnip
Hierochloe occidentalis Vanilla Grass
Marah fabaceus Manroot
Marah oregonus Oregon manroot
Osmorhiza chilensis Sweet Cicely
Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel
Rubus parviflorus Thimbleberry
Tellima grandiflora Fringe-cups
Viola sempervirens Redwood Violet
Whipplea modesta Modesty
April 28, 2003
Mary Stevens reports:
Matt Davis Trail west from Pantoll
Calypso bulbosa Calypso Orchid
Clarkia gracilis ssp. gracilis Serpentine Godetia
Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata Spotted Coralroot
Corallorhiza striata Striped Coralroot
Delphinium nudicaule Red Larkspur
Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum Woolly Sunflower
Iris douglasiana Douglas Iris
Sanicula crassicaulis Pacific Sanicle
Sanicula laciniata Laceleaf Sanicle
April 20, 2003
Doreen Smith reports:
"The Rock Spring meadows are very colorful right now with
Lupinus bicolor Miniature Lupine
Lupinus nanus Sky Lupine
Trifolium spp. Clover
Phacelia divaricata Serpentine Annual Phacelia
Linanthus parviflorus Small-flowered Linanthus
Gilia clivorum Small-flowered Gilia
Collinsia sparsiflora var. collina Small-flowered Collinsia
and Astragalus breweri Brewer's Milk Vetch.
the Calypso's (Calypso bulbosa)
are still blooming
plus Corallorhiza maculata in the woods.
Then there are Nemophila menziesii in the E. meadow."
April 7, 2003
Mary Stevens reports:
Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands
near intersection of Conzelman Rd and McCullough Rd.
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia Fiddleneck
Aquilegia formosa Red Columbine
Arabis blepharophylla Coast Rock-cress
Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata Coastal Morning-glory
Cardamine californica Woodland Milk-maids
Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana Franciscan Paintbrush
Cerastium arvense Field Chickweed
Claytonia perfoliata Miners Lettuce
Dichelostemma capitatum Bluedicks
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy
Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry
Galium porrigens Climbing Bedstraw
Heracleum lanatum Cow Parsnip
Hieracium albiflorum White Hawkweed
Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus Hillside Pea
Ligusticum apiifolium Lovage
Marah fabaceus Manroot
Marah oregonus Oregon Manroot
Mimulus aurantiacus Sticky Bush Monkeyflower
Phacelia californica California Perennial Phacelia
Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup
Rubus ursinus California Blackberry
Sanicula crassicaulis Pacific Sanicle
Scrophularia californica ssp. californica Bee-plant
Sidalcea malviflora Checker-bloom
Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed Grass
Solanum sp. Nightshade
Stachys ajugoides v. rigida Hedgenettle
Toxicodendron diversilobum Poison Oak
Vaccinium ovatum Huckleberry
April 3, 2003
Bob Sills reports from
Muir Woods National Monument Main & Hillside Trails
Anemone oregana Windflower
Cardamine californica Woodland Milk-maids
Claytonia perfoliata Miners Lettuce
Disporum hookeri Green Fairy Bells
Disporum smithii White Fairy Bells
Iris douglasiana Douglas Iris
Marah fabaceus Manroot
Osmorhiza chilensis Sweet Cicely
Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel
Petasites frigidus var. palmatus Western Coltsfoot
Rubus parviflorus Thimbleberry
Smilacina stellata Slim Solomon
Tellima grandiflora Fringe-cups
Trillium chloropetalum Sessile-flowered Wakerobin
Trillium ovatum Pedunculate Wake-robin
Viola sempervirens Redwood Violet
Bob also reports "As I was noting the twelfth species,
I heard a woman in a nearby group say "No flowers."
Another woman in the group answered, "No wonder!
Look at how little sunlight gets through.""
April 2, 2003
Bob Soost reports:
"Major roadside displays of Ranunuclus californicus
along Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
in San Geronimo & along
Nicasio Valley Rd. between Lucas Valley Rd. & Point Reyes - Petaluma Rd.
Nemophila menziesii (Baby-blue-eyes)
is still blooming on the right side
of the Point Reyes National Seashore
Kehoe Beach trail at the far end just
before the trail descends to the beach."
March 31, 2003
Sharon Salisbury reports that the Homestead Valley Trail
"..is alive with flowers. On the way up and along both sides of the left trail are
literally hundreds of Calorchortus umbellatus,
Ranunculus californicus,Camissonia ovata,
some Eschscholzia californica, Sanicula bipinnatifida,
many Iris. I believe the pale yellow
ones in the woods are
Iris douglasiana, but there are some shorter, brilliant
purple
ones in the grass that I think are ground iris
(Iris macrosiphon).
In the woods hundreds
of Smilacina stellata
...a beautiful sight...a carpet of these with yellow
Douglas iris coming up amongst them...and Disporum hookeri.
Further along the trail there are still
some
Pedicularis densiflora.
Also Sisyrinchium bellum,
Dichelostemma capitatum,
Montia perfoliata,
Marah fabaceus and
probably more as I have yet to make it to the end of the trail.
It is worth
a trip just for the Iris (there are hundreds of the Douglas iris
in the first hundred yards, Oakland Star Tulips
and Slim Solomon's Seal."
March 28, 2003
Doreen Smith reports that the "Mt. Burdell lower slopes
above San Marin Drive, especially the serpentinite exposures, including the knoll
just NE of the end of Simmons Lane open-space entrance, are absolutely wonderful
this year. There are many, many plants of several different annual and perennial
species. The Simmons Lane population of white Linanthus androsaceus is more
numerous than I've ever seen it, also there is a lot of "mauve" Collinsia sparsiflora
on the shady side of the knoll-top. Definitely worth a mini-field trip. The San Carlos
Drive open-space entrance and to the west along the fire road is good for
Linanthus parviflorus (white-flowered)
(Triphysaria versicolor faucibarbata),
white balloon clover (Trifolium depauperatum),
pink owl's-clover (Castilleja densiflora),
and blue-purple larkspur (Delphinium hesperium).
The bitter-root flowers are open in the afternoon,
particularly down the hill,approximately on the
barren near the path from the San Mateo Drive
open-space entrance. This grassland bloom is a
must-see for anyone with the time to spare."
March 27, 2003
Jim Gratiot
adds to his list of native wildflowers in bloom on Mt. Burdell:
Cicendia quadrangularis, Tiny Yellow Gentian
Crassula connata, Sand Pigmy-weed
Delphinium patens, Woodland Larkspur
Lathyrus vestitus, Hillside Pea
Lewisia rediviva, Bitter Root
Linanthus parviflorus, Small-flowered Linanthus
Lithophragma affine, Woodland Star
Lupinus bicolor, Miniature Lupine
Nemophila heterophylla, Small-flowered Nemophila
Phacelia distans, Fern Leaved Phacelia
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus, Popcorn Flower
Sidalcea malviflora, Checker-bloom
Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue-eyed Grass
March 25, 2003
Sharon Salisbury reports sightings on the Matt Davis extension trail from Pan Toll:
"Calypso orchids on both sides of the trail. A rough
estimate would be 100+ of them in full bloom.
There were also hundreds of Hounds Tongues, more
than I have ever seen anywhere, including this trail,
in my life. There were also a few Delphinium nudicaule,
Blue-eyed Grass and a clump of what I believe to be
either Coast Iris or Ground Iris. I walk that trail
every year about this time and I don't ever recall seeing
so many orchids and Hounds Tongues. Quite a display."
March 22, 2003
Sharon Salisbury reports: wildflowers in bloom on the Miwok Trail:
Arabis blepharophylla, Coast Rock-cress
Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy
Cardamine californica, Milk-maids
Platystemon californicus, Cream-cup
Camissonia ovata, Sun-cups
Sanicula bipinnatifida, Red-Purple Sanicle
Marah fabaceus, Manroot
Dodecatheon hendersonii, Shooting Star
March 20, 2003
Doreen Smith reports:
"Monolopia major
...is about at its peak and a short hike along
the fire road between San Carlos and San Mateo entrances to
Mt.Burdell Open Space is the most "floral" it's going to be all year."
(Doreen Smith recently discovered this population of
Monolopia major
on Mt. Burdell. Monolopia major was found once before in Marin,
not at Mt. Burdell, but near San Rafael, according to the pressed
specimen in
California Academy of Sciences.)
Doreen further reports:
"Additional plants flowering are Linanthus androsaceus
-an all white population with purple throats, with the Monolopia,
near the E. end of the Burdell open space- above the Wood Oaks
subdivision, off Fieldstone.
The blue Delphinium variegatum is in bloom in the area
between San Carlos and San Mateo Cts on the serpentine along with the first
Lewisia rediviva.
The Goldfields there is now Lasthenia
gracilis according to the latest taxonomy."
March 18, 2003
Jim Gratiot reports: "I was jogging on Burdell today and can't believe the
array of flowers:"
Johnny Tuck (Triphysaria versicolor ssp. faucibarbata)
Common Owl's Clover (Castilleja densiflora)
Bluedicks (Dichelostemma capitatum)
Tidytips (Layia chrysanthemoides)
Dwarf Plantain (Plantago erecta)
Cream-cup (Platystemon californicus)
Turkey Pea (Sanicula tuberosa)
Red-Purple Sanicle (Sanicula bipinnatifida)
Pacific Sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis)
Long-leaflet Balloon Clover (Trifolium depauperatum)
Sun-cups(Camissonia ovata)
California Buttercup(Ranunculus californicus)
March 12, 2003
Mary Stevens reports the following in bloom on the Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands
near intersection of Conzelman Rd and McCullough Rd.
Aquilegia formosa Red Columbine
Arabis blepharophylla Coast Rock-cress
Cardamine californica Woodland Milk-maids
Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana Franciscan Paintbrush
Corylus cornuta var. californica Hazelnut
Cynoglossum grande Hound's Tongue
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy
Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry
Fritillaria affinis Mission Bells
Galium porrigens Climbing Bedstraw
Ligusticum apiifolium Lovage
Marah fabaceus Manroot
Mimulus aurantiacus Sticky Bush Monkeyflower
Sambucus racemosa Red-berried Elder
Sidalcea malviflora Checker-bloom
Toxicodendron diversilobum Poison Oak
Vaccinium ovatum Huckleberry
March 10, 2003
Sharon Salisbury reports from Homestead Valley Trail, Mill Valley:
Calochortus umbellatus Oakland Star-tulip
Camissonia ovata Sun-cups
Iris douglasiana Douglas Iris
(white in the woods and dark purple in the sun)
Cynoglossum grande Hound's Tongue
Pedicularis densiflora Indian Warrior
Marah fabaceus Manroot
Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup
Fritillaria affinis var. affinis Mission Bells
Trillium ovatum ssp. ovatum Pedunculate Wake-robin
Cardamine californica var. californica Woodland Milk-maids
Sanicula bipinnatifida Red-Purple Sanicle
Rubus ursinus California Blackberry
Smilacina stellata Slim Solomon
March 10, 2003
Bob Sills reports:
Newly blooming at Muir Woods National Monument
Petasites frigidus var. palmatus Western Coltsfoot
New blooms at the bottom of the Steep Ravine Trail:
Acer macrophyllum Big-leaf Maple
Osmorhiza chilensis Sweet Cicely
Physocarpus capitatus Ninebark
Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry
March 6, 2003
Bob Sills reports: "The following were also blooming at the bottom of the Steep Ravine Trail:
Claytonia perfoliata Miner's Lettuce
Smilacina stellata Slim Solomon's Seal
Sanicula crassicaulis Gambel Weed or Pacific Sanicle
Fritillaria affinis Mission Bell
Rubus parviflorus Thimbleberry
March 2, 2003
Bob Sills reports in bloom at Muir Woods National Monument:
Trillium ovatum Pedunculate Wake-robin
Oxalis oregana Redwood Sorrel
Anemone oregana Windflower
Disporum smithii White Fairy Bells
Cardamine californica Woodland Milk-maids
Viola sempervirens Redwood Violet
Scoliopus bigelovii
Fetid Adder's Tongue (one still blooming)
March 2, 2003
Mary Stevens reports the following in bloom on Steep Ravine Trail, Mt. Tamalpais
(bottom end of trail, across Rt.1 from
Steep Ravine Environmental Campground)
Trillium chloropetalum
Sessile-flowered Wakerobin
Smilacina racemosa
Fat Solomon
Sambucus racemosa
Red-berried Elder
Cardamine californica
Woodland Milk-maids
Disporum smithii
White Fairy Bells
Marah fabaceus
Manroot
Oemleria cerasiformis
Oso Berry, Indian Plum
Heracleum lanatum
Cow Parsnip
March 1, 2003
Jim Gratiot reports the following wildflowers in bloom on
Rush Creek trail,
along the first 1/2 mile (flat, easy walk; take road to
Gnoss Field just off Atherton exit, Novato)
Cardamine californica var. californica Woodland Milk-maids
Claytonia perfoliata Miners Lettuce
Dodecatheon hendersonii Shooting Star
Galium californicum ssp.californicum Hairy Bedstraw
Nemophila heterophylla Small-flowered Nemophila
Ranunculus californicus California Buttercup
Sanicula crassicaulis Pacific Sanicle, Snakeroot
Saxifraga californica Saxifrage
February 27, 2003
Bob Sills reports from Sky Oaks:
"Quite a few California saxifrage in bloom
on the Concrete Pipe Fire Road west of Five
Corners (along with abundant milkmaids &
hounds tongues)."
February 24, 2003
Brad Kelley reports:
"Saxifraga californica; California Saxifrage
is blooming in the French Ranch,
Roy's Redwoods, and Loma Alta
Open Spaces. A hand lens reveals the beauty
of these tiny flowers."
February 23, 2003
Mary Stevens reports: "Calypso bulbosa
is blooming
at Laurel Dell, Rock Spring, and along the
Matt Davis Trail west of Pantoll. Another
place to look for it is on Steep Ravine trail
just below Pan Toll."
February 18, 2003
Bob Sills reports:
"blooming today on Matt Davis Trail
between Bootjack & Nora Trails:
Fritillaria affinis mission bell,
Dendromecon rigida tree poppy,
Pedicularis densiflora Indian warrior,
Castilleja sp. paintbrush,
and assorted manzanita & ceanothus."
February 11, 2003
Sharon Salisbury reports:
"I was at the little-known Eli Jaquette Open Space in Marinwood
and found lots of Dichelostemma capitatum, Lomatium dasycarpum,
Sanicula crassicaulis, Ranunculus californicus and
Dodecatheon hendersonii."
February 10, 2003
Doreen Smith reports: "Little Blennosperma Blennosperma nanum
in bloom on south-facing slopes of Mt. Burdell
and on Wilson Hill near Chileno Valley;
a green form of California Pipe-vine
Aristolochia californica
blooming on Lucas Valley Road
across from Lucas Valley Estates;
Ribes californicum (California Gooseberry)
and Ribes menziesii (Canyon Gooseberry)
blooming under the redwoods by the side of
Lucas Valley Road west of Big Rock;
Arctostaphylos canescens
(Hoary Manzanita) and
Arctostaphylos glandulosa
(Eastwood Manzanita)
blooming in the chaparral on Mt. Tamalpais.
February 9, 2003
Bob Soost reports: "Patches of Blennosperma nanum var. robustum
are now visible from the parking lot at the Bull Point
Trailhead on Sir Francis Drake Highway in Point Reyes
National Seashore. There are three smaller patches to
the SW (Right) & a very large patch to the NE (Left).
Other places to look for Blennosperma nanum var. robustum are
near the end of Pierce Point Road & on the ocean side of Sir Francis
Drake Highway near the parking lot for the Point Reyes Light House."
February 4, 2003
Bob Soost reports: "Nemophila menziesii (Baby-blue-eyes)
is beginning to bloom on the right side
of the Point Reyes National Seashore
Kehoe Beach trail at the far end just
before the trail descends to the beach."
August 27, 2002
Brad Kelly reports:
"The California Fuschia (Epilobium canum)
are putting on a
good display now. There is a nice bright
patch in a dangerous location as you
drive over White Hill on Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
It is on the left just
before the top of the hill (going west). A less dangerous
location is on the
Oak Manor Fire Road in the Loma Alta Open Space."
Editor's note: It can also be seen blooming about
.3 to .5 mile above Pantoll at eye level along the road to Rock Spring.
Lists of plants in bloom from Wilma Follette's Wednesday Wildflower Walks, 2000-2004
May 30, 2000
Mary Stevens reports:"Tiburon Mariposa Lily
(Calochortus tiburonensis)
is in bloom on Ring Mountain.
Yellow Mariposa Lily (Calochortus luteus)
is blooming in open meadows on Mt. Tamalpais.
Oakland Star-tulip (Calochortus umbellatus)
is also in bloom on Mt. Tamalpais. It can be found
along the Rock Spring Trail near Mountain Theater.
Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepalum),
the only waterlily native to California, is blooming
on Lily Lake between Azalea Hill and Alpine Dam
at milepost 6.09 on the Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) with its
"most delicious fragrance." is now blooming on Mt. Tamalpais."
May 19, 2000
Mary Stevens reports:"Clintonia andrewsiana is blooming now on Mt. Tam.
There are 11 plants in bloom at the intersection of
West Ridgecrest Blvd. and the Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
They are just to the right inside the gate at the start
of the Bolinas Ridge Fire Road. Here you can also see
Pacific Starflower (Trientalis latifolia) in bloom.
The small rosettes of dark green leaves marbled with
white lines in this same area belong to the
Rattlesnake Orchid (Goodyera oblongifolia),
which will bloom in late summer. Another great place
to see Clintonia andrewsiana is along the Steep
Ravine Trail down from Pantoll. In a good year, you
can count over 100 plants in bloom."
May 7, 2000
Mary Stevens reports: "
Blue Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus)
is in full bloom along the trail behind
the dunes at Limantour Beach.
At Abbotts Lagoon the
Giant Bog Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus)
is in full bloom.
Look for it just beyond
the first bridge, in a
low swale across the
trail from the small pond.
Yellow Bush Lupine,
the more common form of the
fragrant Lupinus arboreus,
is just beginning to bloom here. Just beyond the Giant Bog Lupine, the Salmon-berry
(Rubus spectabilis) by the side of the trail has both
blossoms and berries."
May 7, 2000
Sharon Salisbury reports:"
On the Cross Marin trail in Samuel P Taylor State Park
I saw many Solomon's Seal, Crimson Columbine, Giant trillium,
Bleeding Hearts, Thimble Berry, Bee Plant, Hedge Nettle,
Douglas iris and Pacific Starflower. We started at the West
end of the trail, by the bridge. All the flowers were in the
first mile or so, most of them on the creek side of the path."
April 14, 2000
Sharon Salisbury reports finding
one remaining Calypso bulbosa on the Matt Davis Trail
west of Pantoll. She confirms the presence of
two other native orchids in bloom there:
Spotted Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata)
and Striped Coralroot (Corallorhiza striata).
April 3, 2000
Mary Stevens reports: "Calypso bulbosa
can still be seen in bloom on Mt. Tam.
On the Matt Davis Trail from Pantoll heading in the
direction of Stinson Beach, start looking for them on both
sides of the trail not too long after entering the woods.
Once you reach them, also watch the upper side of the trail
for two other native orchids just beginning to bloom:
Spotted Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata)
and Stripped Coralroot (Corallorhiza striata).
In between the coralroots you can also find budding
Pyrola picta, a saprophytic member of the Heath family.
Several years ago a plant with green leaves was growing
in this location, but it is a rare sighting on Mt. Tam.
The Calypso orchids continue on both sides of the trail.
Farther on are Red Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule)
and cream-colored Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana).
On your left just before the trail clambers up over some rocks,
in a patch of blooming Slim Solomon (Smilacina stellata),
there are Mission Bells (Fritillaria affinis) starting to bloom."
March 27, 2000
Don Henry and Ed Ricketts Jr. report
noticing "five or more Calypsos along the Simmons Trail,
just beyond where the Benstein branches off and
just short of where Simmons meets Ziesche Creek."
March 25, 2000
Bernie Beck reports "a fine display of calypso orchids
near the Rock Springs parking area on Mount Tam.
Head north from the parking area toward the Cataract
and Benstein trails, take the first unsigned trail you
come to along the right side of the meadow and head in
the direction of the Mountain Theater. Before you reach
East Ridgecrest Blvd., you will see numerous calypso
orchids on the south side of the trail under the Douglas firs.
There are also many milk maids and shooting stars."
March 15, 2000
On Wilma Follette's Wednesday Wildflower Walk,
along the Matt Davis Trail from Mountain
Home to Bootjack, returning on the Troop 80 Trail,
we saw 29 different species in bloom including 3 species
each of Ceanothus (foliosus, cuneatus, and jepsonii)
and Arctostaphylos (nummularia, glandulosa, and
hookeri ssp. montana). The most numerous of the
bloomers was Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora).
The Mission Bells (Fritillaria affinis) are just beginning
to bloom along the Matt Davis Trail, about 200 paces northeast of Bootjack.
March 12, 2000
Bob Sills reports
Calypso bulbosa blooming along both sides of
the Matt Davis Extension Trail (west from Pantoll)
on Mount Tamalpais.
February 26, 2000
Spring wildflowers are blooming on schedule.
Our walk on Mt. Burdell with
Doreen Smith was a success with all of
the promised species in bloom except for
Arctostaphylos manzanita, which has
finished blooming and is already producing
its "little apples".
At the peak of bloom were:
Fragrant Fritillary (Fritillaria liliacea)
Star Lily (Zigadenus fremontii)
Milk Maids (Cardamine californica)
California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus)
Also blooming (partial list) were:
Hounds Tongue (Cynoglossum grande)
Bluedicks (Dichelostemma capitatum)
Sun-cups (Camissonia ovata)
Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii)
Cream-cup (Platystemon californicus)
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Checker-bloom (Sidalcea malviflora)
Snakeroot Sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis)
Hairypetal Hog Fennel (Lomatium dasycarpum)
And with one plant blooming each:
Mission bells (Fritillaria affinis var. affinis)
Striped Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza striata)
California Saxifrage (Saxifraga californica)
Tidytips (Lasthenia chrysanthemoides)
February 10, 2000
Sharon Salisbury reports
seeing at least 100 Star Lilies (Zigadenus fremontii)
along the Warner Canyon Firetrail, as well as
Indian Warriors (Pedicularis densiflora),
bunches of Trilliums (Trillium ovatum),
and Fetid Adders Tongues
(Scoliopus bigelovii),
farther along the trail, near and in the Redwood Grove.
She also reports Hounds Tongues (Cynoglossum grande)
blooming on the firetrail behind the Mill Valley golf course.
February 3, 2000
Don Henry reports "80 plants
of Scoliopus bigelovii (20 in bloom) on Throckmorton in Mill Valley
at the small parking lot below Cascade Falls,
and 280 plants (1/3 in bloom)
by Alpine Lake along Cataract Trail below the steps
to the waterfall. Look for them also in Muir Woods
by the trailside beyond the second bridge.
Trillium ovatum, White Trillium, Redwood Sorrel,
and Oxalis oregana,
are just beginning to bloom in Muir Woods.
January 16, 2000 Bob Sills reports Scoliopus bigelovii blooming in Muir Woods
September 15, 1999
Mary Stevens reports: "Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
is sporting both blossoms and berries
under the Bishop Pines (Pinus muricata)
along the road up Mount Vision at Pt. Reyes
National Seashore.
California Fuchsia or Zauschneria
(Epilobium canum)
can be seen (by the quick eye) sporting
its red tubular flowers on the steep rocky
roadcut about .4 mile above Pantoll
on the road to Rock Spring.
Elk Clover (Aralia californica)
is blooming and forming berries in the moist
shady draws at an elevation of approximately
1,000 ft on both sides of the ridge along the
Bolinas-Fairfax Road between Alpine Dam and Bolinas.
Look for it near mileposts 8.95 to 9.47 and 12.2 to 12.72.
Rattlesnake Plantain
(Goodyera oblongifolia),
is still blooming.
You can see it under the Douglas Fir canopy
along Cataract Trail beyond the bridge that crosses
Cataract Creek about .4 mile from Rock Spring.
Another easily accessible location is at the juction
of West Ridgecrest Boulevard and the Bolinas-Fairfax
Road. There are many plants here, just to your right inside
the gate at the start of the Bolinas Ridge Fire Road.
Also on display in this location is
Bead Lily (Clintonia andrewsiana)
with its beautiful cobalt blue berries.
August 8, 1999
Mary Stevens reports: "Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia),
a native orchid, is sending up its flower spikes.
You can see it under the Douglas Fir canopy along
the Cataract Trail after crossing the second bridge
from Rock Spring. Another easily accessible location
is at the juction of Ridgecrest and Bolinas-Fairfax Road,
to the right just beyond the Bolinas Fire Road gate.California Fuchsia or Zauschneria (Epilobium canum)
can be seen (by the quick eye) blooming on the steep
rocky roadcut about .4 mile above Pantoll on the road
up to Rock Spring.
July 26, 1999
Don Henry reports from Mount Tam and the Bolinas-Fairfax Road:
"California Tiger Lily (Lilium pardalinum)
is still blooming along Cataract Trail about 1 mile
from Rock Spring on Mount Tamalpais.
Elk Clover (Aralia californica)
is blooming along the moist shady banks of
the Bolinas-Fairfax Road between Bolinas Ridge
and Alpine Dam.
Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepalum),
is still showing
at least one bloom among its large leaves on Lily Lake
between Azalea Hill and Alpine Dam, across from
milepost 6.09 on the Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
Serpentine Seep Columbine (Aquilegia eximia)
is still in bloom at the serpentine spring between
Azalea Hill and Alpine Dam at milepost 5.23 on
the Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
July 16, 1999
Bob Soost reports from Point Reyes National Seashore:
Bush Monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus)
is creating great diplays along Limantour Road.
June 29, 1999
Mary Stevens reports: " Leopard Lily (Lilium pardalinum)
is just coming into bloom
along Cataract Trail about 1 mile
from Rock Spring on Mt. Tamalpais.
Yellow Mariposa Lily, (Calochortus luteus),
can be seen on the open grassy
summer-dried hills of Mt. Tamalpais.
A few blooms of Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepalum),
the only waterlily native to California, can be seen among the large leaves on Lily Lake
between Azalea Hill and Alpine Dam
at milepost 6.09 on the Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
Serpentine Seep Columbine (Aquilegia eximia),
a rare summer-blooming member of the buttercup family,
is blooming at the serpentine spring
between Azalea Hill and Alpine Dam
at milepost 5.23 on the Bolinas-Fairfax Road. On both sides of the road here you can also find
Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) blooming with its "most delicious fragrance."
"
June 23, 1999
Mary Stevens reports: " Calochortus tiburonensis (Tiburon Mariposa Lily),
is still in bloom on Ring Mountain.
California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) and
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), both of which are
native Marin County trees, are now in bloom around the county.
Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), a native tree which prefers
a moist habitat, has already produced its clusters of bright red berries.
California Pipevine (Aristolochia californica), has attracted the
Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly which lays its eggs on the plant.
Look for the orange-spined black caterpillars munching on the leaves."
June 16, 1999
Mary Stevens reports: " Calochortus tiburonensis (Tiburon Mariposa Lily),
is now in bloom on Ring Mountain.
May 20, 1999
Mary Stevens reports the following in flower:
Abbott's Lagoon, Pt.Reyes:
Lupinus arboreus (Yellow Bush Lupine)
Lupinus polyphyllus (Bog Lupine)
Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)
Rubus spectabilis (Salmon-berry)
Castilleja exserta ssp. latifolia (Purple Owl's-clover)
Ranunculus orthorhyncus (Straightbeak Buttercup)
Double Bowknot, Mt. Tamalpais:
Xerophyllum tenax (Bear Grass), it is very unusual to see this member
of the lily family blooming in Marin County
Horkelia tenuiloba (Thin-lobed Horkelia)
