Natural History Wanderings

 updated 5/10/13

Plumas County Bloom Blog had the following new wildflower report

 Joe Willis submitted this report and beautiful photos. (We found a new favorite – check out the Woodland Star!)

I took a short drive yesterday from Quincy to the Greenville Y via Old Highway and found lots of wildflowers blooming. The recent combinations of rain and sun have really launched Bloom Blog season in a big way. This is the first of two reports on yesterday’s findings.

The Scarlet Fritillary were in the woods on the right hand side at the top of the hill just out of Quincy past the college. The hill might have a name, but I don’t know what it is. I’m sure the Fritillary are blooming in many other comparable places such as around Oakland Camp, out on La Porte Road, and towards Spring Garden.

Checker Bloom, Death Camus, Spotted Coralroot, Jepsen’s Pea, Sulfur Flowered Pea and Woodland Star were found along the sides of Old Highway from the turnoff 4 miles north of Quincy to the hairpin turn by the Keddie Cascades Trail turnoff. In most cases, while driving at a snail’s pace, I would spot only one colorful bloom then get out to photograph it. Only on foot would I discover the many others.

Also in bloom in the last 1/4 mile of Old Highway before the turnoff to Keddie Cascades Trail are False Solomon’s Seal, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Sierra Stonecrop, Wallflower, and Pacific Starflower.

See photos and older reports at Bloom Blog Wildflowers.