Natural History Wanderings

The Solano Land Trust Flickr Discussion Group had a post with following reports

Rockville Trails: Many plants blooming with some later season flora starting to bud. Today’s rain, and what is to come over the next week, should stimulate some of the early season plants to bloom and may help add to the later seasonal plants that have yet to bloom. Hike on Saturday with the Napa Chapter of the CNPS (California Native Plant Society) observed goldfields, woodland stars, seep monkey flower, several species of Lomatium, Common phacelia, Nodding harmonia, Napa biscuit root, streamside daisy, milk maids, helianthella, Pedicularis densiflora, dwarf plantain, rusty popcorn flower, heart leaf milkweed, red maids. Also great views of the Sacramento Valley, Mt. Diablo and the Sacramento delta/marshlands.

Jepson Prairie: Jepson is still pretty sparse for bloom and waterfowl. The California golden violets are showing a signifcant bloom around Olcott playa. A few Prairie Bells fritillary are blooming, popcorn flowers, blennosperma and gold fields are also showing. There is a lot of plant growth along the edges of Olcott and in some of the freshwater vernal pools which portend additional bloom in the future.

Wilcox Ranch: An adjacent property in the vicinity of Jepson Prairie. An alkaline sink, it has some unique species not seen elsewhere. Genera that can be found include Atriplex (4 species), Isocoma arguta, Chloropyron mole sep hispidum, Sueda, Eryngium, to name a few. Right now blooming plants include two species of Lasthenia, Blue-eyed grass, Muilla maritima, popcorn flower, Spergularia, Astragalus tener var tener, Lomatium, Triphysaria eriantha

via Flickr: Discussing 2014 Hikes and activities in Solano Land Trust.