Richard Kuehn took a walk on the bluffs recently and photographed three wildflowers. The first photo shows Seaside Daisies.
And Footsteps-of Spring.
And a lovely Douglas Iris.
Wildflowers are blooming along shady forest paths too. Western Trilliums have begun their bloom.
Redwood Violets, Milk Maids, and the first Redwood Sorrel are also blooming.
The first three photos are by Rich and the last photo is from Jon Raymond. I thank them both for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
John Sperry has been enjoying the wildflower show in the Timber Cove area in Sonoma County. The first photo is of Seaside Daisies, Erigeron glaucus. They grow in sunny places right in the sand.
Paintbrush, Castilleja, is another striking wildflower blooming now. It is often called Indian Paintbrush. Indeed, native peoples used this plant for various uses.
Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Peter Baye found some lovely wildflowers in the Annapolis area. The first is Bristly Jewelflower, Streptanthus glandulosus. It's a member of the mustard family
Next is the lovely Bird's-Eye Gilia, Gilia tricolor.
Bird's-Eye Gilias are members of the Phlox family. Both of these flowers are California natives. They should never be picked - just enjoy their loveliness in the wild.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
John Sperry recently photographed a field of Zigadenes, Zigadenus fremontii.
Cece Case captured a Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa.
And on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands Rozann Grunig found this lovely wildflower with the unlovely name of Western Skunk Cabbage, Lysichiton americanus.
This plant loves water and is one of the few native species in the arum family. The plant is called skunk cabbage because of the distinctive "skunky" odor that it emits when it blooms. The odor of the blooms attracts its pollinators, scavenging flies and beetles.
Many more wildflowers will be blooming in the days to come as we have had the perfect equation for them to bloom.
Thanks to John, Cece and Rozann for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Carolyn André recently drove north and photographed the bluffs and wildflowers near Schooner Gulch Beach and Bowling Ball Beach, which are in Mendocino County.
Even though the lack of rain shortened the wildflower bloom, there still were a lot of spectacular wildflowers to be seen.
Thanks to Carolyn for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To learn more about these beaches, here is the link to state parks: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=446 These beaches are fantastic for beach combing at low tide.