Natural History Wanderings

Updated 6/2/11

submitted by Rick Botto
Sierra Wildflowers 

South Yuba River State Park: Buttermilk Bend Trail

We walked the Buttermilk Bend Trail of South Yuba River State Park.  Although they warned us that the spring flower bloom was past it’s peak, we found the walk very satisfying.  Still blooming, we found about 50% of the flowers featured in their helpful $5.00 brochure.  Our favorites were the Elegant Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata) which lived up to it’s elegant name, Canyon Dudleya (Dudleya cymosa) which seemed to be on fire. the Elegant Brodiaea (Brodiaea elegans) which seemed to be at their prime, and the Monkey Flower Bush (Mimulus aurantiacus) which were full of blooms.  We found about 30 species in all from the ubiquitous Winter Vetch to a few hiding Chinese Houses, from the tiny Canyon Nemophilia to the huge Buckeye.

Malakoff Diggins State Park

The next day we visited Malakoff Diggins State Park just outside of Nevada City.  Following the beautiful Humbug Trail we found a few stars still blooming. The most abundant was the Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra formosa), Indian Pink (Silene californica), Alumroot (Heuchera rubescens), and Stonecrop (Sedum obtusatum).

Here is the link to the pictures:
http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k152/rbotto/Yuba%20River/

Unfortunately, we received the bad news that both of these parks are scheduled to be closed due to lack of funding.  Glad we were able to visit while they are open.