Natural History Wanderings

The Regional Park Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley just updated its “Blooming Now” page. They report

• California fuchsia(Epilobium canum) and ashyleaf buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum) are the prolific bloomers during this time
• scene ofAmerican dogwood (Cornus sericea) set against ghostly white aspens (Populus tremuloides) in the Sierran section
• “second” blooms. Woolly bluecurls(Trichostema lanatum) flower merrily in the Southern California section
• Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) and currants(Ribes spp.) are blooming early and are surrounded by busy pollinators.
• Vine maples (Acer circinatum) that have shed their leaves are sporting new ones; luckily there are many specimens with their fiery-red leaves intact to be viewed

See full write-up at Friends of the Regional Park Botanic Garden, Tilden Park, Berkeley.