Natural History Wanderings

submitted by Charlie Russell of  Wildflower Hikes

With all of this rain, it should be no surprise that the vernal pools at Jepson Prairie Preserve are very full. The portion open to the public is still very wet, but the flowers are starting to pop up. In a recent visit I found a good selection of our early season flowers: Yellow Carpet (Blennosperma nanum), Prairie Pointers (Primula clevelandii ssp patulum), Butter ‘n Eggs (Triphysaria eriantha), Biscuitroot (Lomatium caruifolium), Water starwort (Callitriche marginata), Shining Peppergrass (Lepidium nitidum), California Golden Violet (Viola pedunculate), Semaphore grass (Pleuropogon californicus), the very start of Vernal Pool Goldfields (Lasthenia fremontii) and the rare/endangered Prairie Bells (Fritillaria liliacea).

Public tours will start on March 11, and will be held every Saturday and Sunday through May 14, starting at 10:00 am.