Natural History Wanderings

Peak bloom has passed in the park, but wildflowers can still found particularly at higher altitudes and around water sources. One water-loving flower is Water Parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa). Growing directly out of standing water or slow-moving streams, this plant has relaxed stems, 12-24 in (30-60 cm) long, with compound, coarsely toothed leaflets. Its delicate cluster of white flowers helps mark it from the profusion of green plants that can crowd water sources, especially as the hot, dry summer continues.
Wildflower Reports

• Longmire: (7/23) yarrow, foamflower, wall lettuce, rattlesnake plantain, water parsley
• Paradise: (7/12) Past peak, but best wildflowers to be found on west side of Panorama Point, upper Golden Gate, and the upper east side of the Skyline Trail.
• • Lower Paradise trails: Late summer-like conditions prevail with few flowers: False Hellebore, Gray’s Mountain Lovage, American Bistort, and Subalpine Daisy.
  • Deadhorse Creek and West Side of Skyline Trail: Very few flowers. All lupine have gone to seed. Few Pasqueflower Seedheads, Bistort.
  • West side of Panorama Point: A few nice areas on the climb up to Pan Point of Lupine, Paintbrush, Bistort, Pink Mountain Heather, and Phlox still in bloom.
  • Upper Skyline Trail: Alpine environment, realm of cushion plants: Alpine Lupine, Saxifrage, Golden Fleabane.
  • Upper East Side of Skyline Trail: Bistort, Lupine, Paintbrush, Pasqueflower Seedheads, Pink and White Mountain Heather still hanging on. Lewis (pink) Monkeyflower in wet areas.
  • Creek Crossing above Sluiskin Falls on Skyline Trail: Large area of Lewis (pink) Monkeyflower.
  • East Skyline Trail from Paradise Glacier Trail down to Lakes Trail: Bistort, patches of Lupine, Pasqueflower Seedheads, Sitka Valerian, Bracted Lousewart, Cascade Aster, Arrowleaf Groundsel.
  • Lower East Skyline Trail down to Myrtle Falls: Cascade Aster, Fireweed, and Cliff Paintbrush.
• Sunrise: (7/12) peak: corn lily/false hellebore, rainiera, yarrow; past peak in general but better at higher elevations, like at Berkeley Park, Forest Lake, and Upper Palisades.