Elegant Clarkia

Clarkia unguiculata, Chabot Resevoir, 7/9/11

Yellow Mariposa Lily

Calochortus luteus, China Camp, 6/26/11

Spotted Coral Root Orchid

Corallorhiza maculata, Sierra Foothills, 5/28/11

Bleeding Heart

Dicentra formosa, Sierra Foothills, 5/28/11

Purplelip Pansy Monkeyflower

Mimulus angustatus, Sierra Foothills, 5/28/11

Yellow Star Tulip

Calochortus monophyllus, Sierra Foothills, 5/28/11

Butterfly on a Thistle

Bald Mountain, 6/3/11

Chocolate Lily

Fritillaria affinis, Sierra Foothills, 5/28/11

Fritillaria affinis, Sierra Foothills, 5/28/11

Tolmie Star Tulip

Calochortus tolmiei, Bolinas, 5/15/11

Calochortus tolmiei, Bolinas, 5/15/11

Calochortus tolmiei, Bolinas, 5/15/11

Blue Eyed Mary

One of the Callinsia. I have never seen this in Tilden before, but there you go.

Collinsia, Tilden, 5/7/11

Oakland Mariposa Lily

This year is really good for Oakland Mariposa Lily. I usually only see a handful, but this year when you see one you see dozens at a time. You can find them on Ring Mountain in Marin, and in Redwood Park on the south ridge, and in Tilden in Berkeley. The whole Calochortus family has beautiful flowers.

Calochortus umbellatus, Redwood, 5/7/11

Crafty Spider

Another one of those crab spiders catching a meal without a web. This one is a big one, that furry fly it captured is as big as a small moth.

Longhorn Steer's Head

Dicentra uniflora, Pipi Valley, 5/4/11

Snow Plant

While looking for morels in the foothills, we found a 'snow plant,' a saprophytic plant like the sugar stick, but larger. Apparently when the snow plant is blooming, morels are around, so it is likely that we were a bit early for morels.

Sarcodes sanguinea, Pipi Valley, 5/4/11

More From Tilden

Sidalcea malviflora, Checker Bloom and Bee, Tilden 4/30/11

Nemophila menziesii, Baby Blue Eye, Tilden 4/30/11

We live in a beautiful place, especially in the spring. Tilden is super green right now, and the flowers are all gearing up for a great season.

Sidalcea malviflora, Checker Bloom, Tilden 4/26/11

Wyethia, Mule Ear, Tilden 4/26/11

Castilleja, Indian Paintbrush, Tilden 4/26/11

The simple California poppy

First April Flowers

Dove's foot geranium are out now, among others...

Geranium molle, Tilden 4/1/11

 Lots of Blue Eyed grass...

Sisyrinchium, Tilden 4/1/11

Check out this spider having a meal over a California poppy. I think I will do a post about this particular spider, which I usually see lurking under Blue-Dick flowers with no web, just waiting for an unsuspecting bug to come along.

Saxifrage

I found these in Tilden this morning. They weathered the storm well.

Saxifrage 3/27/11

Dodecatheon hendersonii

On President's day we hiked Mt Diablo from Regency Gate to the peak. Henderson's shooting star ( Dodecatheon hendersonii ) are starting to make an appearance. There are also plenty of butter cups and Indian warriors starting to pop.

Dodecatheon hendersonii, Mt Diablo, 2/21/11

There was still quite a bit of snow from the weekend above 2500 ft.

Mt Diablo, 2/21/11

Snow in the Berkeley Hills

Snow? In Berkeley? We went up to investigate the reported snow early this morning... it was still snowing a bit. I wonder if the recent rain and cold will stimulate another mushroom crop.

East side of Volmer Peak, 2/19/11

Wyethia, 2/19/11

And the first Mule's Ear of the year ( one of the Wyethia ), quite early it seems.

Cody

Cody was a good dog. Kathy was on a fire run early one morning, and coming back was stopped by a pedestrian offering up a bundle and saying: "Please sister, give this dog some love." He was only 2 weeks old. He had a good life as an ambassador to the east Oakland fire stations, and hanging out with the goats and horses in Brentwood. He survived a horse kick to the head ( sans one eye ) and run-ins with rattle snakes. Good dog, Cody. Say hi to Pequita, Booger, Sandy, Rosey, Mijo, and George.. oh and Three and Mr Kitty too.

Cody, 3/27/2010