Natural History Wanderings

Wildflower Report submitted by Charlie Russell of
California Wildflower Hikes

At Tuolumne Meadows the pools have pretty much soaked in, and the flowers are doing well. Lots of Shooting Star, Penstemon, Little Elephant Head and many others. This should be good for quite awhile longer.

Parker Bench (Parker Lake) was a great hike all the way up to the lake with many different flowers. Unfortunately, lots of mosquitoes at the lake itself so we didn’t stay there. Sulfur Buckwheat predominated, but los of Calchortus, Scarlet Gilia and others. It was a great hike, although a bit strenuous at that altitude.

White Wolf is a short side trip off of the Tioga Road, and there is a meadow right next to the lodge. This was the most stupendous display of shooting stars and Western Bistort that I’ve ever seen. Drifts of shooting stars across the wide meadow. Those are just past their peak, but lots of other flowers are filling in. Violets, Little Elephant Head, monkeyflower, just an amazing site.