Natural History Wanderings

Mines Road outside of Livermore, CA is in prime wildflower form.   It was a very good day for flower lovers and photographers alike.  The only plant we hoped to see that wasn’t out yet or at least not found was Fairy Fans Clarkia brewer. There are many species in bloom and fields with large displays.  To see the best displays and the Blazing Stars continue south past the junction with Del Puerto Canyon for about seven miles and half miles. Although the road area is public, the land behind the fences is private.  Please respect all fence lines and private property postings along the road.

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Here is my plant list for May 1, 2010 (all corrections are welcome):   Yarrow Achillea millefolium, Cobweb Thistle Cirsium occidentale, Bush Sunflower Ericameria linearfolia, Goldfields Lasthenia sp., Hairy Mule Ears Wyethia heleniodes,Fiddleneck Amsinckia sp.,Popcorn Plagiobothrys sp.,Wall Flower Erysimum capitatum,Blue Elderberry Sambucus mexicana,Yellow Lotus Lotus sp., 3 to 5 species of Lupine Lupinus sp.,Yerba Santa Eriodictyon californicum,Heliotrope Phacelia Phacelia distans,Chia Salvia columbariae,Lindley’s Blazing Star Mentzelia lindleyi,Blue Dicks Dichelostemma capitatum,California Poppy (Orange and Yellow versions) Eschscholzia californica,Tufted Poppy Eschscholzia caespitosa,Linanthus sp.,Bird’s Eye Gilia Gilia tricolor,California Gilia Gilia achilleifolia,Shooting Stars Dodecatheon clevelandii (one ragged looking specimen, others in fruit),Royal Larkspur Delphinium variegatum,White Thorn Ceanothus Ceanothus leucodermis,Woodland Star Lithophragma affine,Paintbrush Castelleja affinis,Purple Owl’s Clover Castelleja exerta,Atttenuated Owl’s Clover Castelleja attenuata,Sticky Monkey Flower Mimulus aurantiacus,Yellow Monkey Flower Mimulus guttatus,Johnny Jump-up Triphysaria erianthus,Blue Witch Solanum Umbelliferum,Pectritis sp.,Douglas’s Violet Viola douglasii,California Buttercup Ranunculus californicus,Tomcat Clover Trifolium willdenovii,Tidy Tips Layia platyglossa,Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla,2 species of lomatium.

The Mines Road area is included in the Flora of Mount Hamilton Range of California by Helen K. Sharsmith

There were also many birders out today as well.  However, as my eyes were mainly on the ground looking at flowers, all I identified were California Quail crossing the road,  a noisy Red-wing Blackbird, a Stellar Jay on the fence, Turkey Vultures circling above, and Mallard in creeks.  The S.F. Chronicle published an article on driving Mines Road on February 15, 2009 by Tom Stienstra: http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-02-15/sports/17187695_1_bay-area-roads-east-bay-continue

Related articles

• Mines Road Wildflowers 4/30/11 (naturalhistorywanderings.com)