Natural History Wanderings

Calphoto has a new report for Mitchell Canyon at Mt. Diablo today.  Here is a description of the wildflowers found:

Along the gentle grade of the lower canyon gravel road of two miles, we found most of the usual long list of species however numbers were more or less fewer as expected. Notably the beautiful yellow hued calochortus globe lilies had good numbers and chinese houses are making a reasonable showing. Generally the shady lower canyon appeared even drier than I had hoped. perennials were less affected than annuals with poppies, fiddleneck, goldfields, and annual lupine few. The hot east canyon walls were dense with the purple white hued flower stems of black sage. However where the road starts climbing towards Deer Flat within deep chaparral, we found surprising numbers of wildflowers along road cuts with silver bush lupine, clematis, Indian paintbrush, regal larkspur, scarlet larkspur, and narrow-leaf goldenbush adding considerable color.

See all reports at:  calphoto : Where to photograph in California.