Natural History Wanderings

Homestead Valley has a new wildflower update. See photos and maps at May 15, 2020 NEW – American wild carrot is blooming in meadows. – California coffeeberry, one of the most common shrubs of the forest understory, is blooming with clusters of flowers. – California everlasting is blooming in the meadows of Homestead Hill. – Coyote mint is blooming purple in meadows. – Lance leaf self heal is blooming velvety purple in seeps on the Homestead Trail near 12. – Milkwort is blooming low and purple in the meadow near 14. – Naked buckwheat is blooming in meadows below Homestead Hill. – Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange in meadows. Forests – Andrew’s clinton, with its bright pink lily flowers, is growing in the Weedon redwoods and can be seen from Laverne. – Broadleaf hellebore*, native of Eurasia, is an orchid blooming pinkish green in forests. – California buckeye, a tree lining many of our local streets is starting to bloom. – California honeysuckle, a vine, blooms with pink blooms. – Fairy bells, low and branching with white bell flowers hanging under the leaves is blooming in forests. – False lily of the valley with its ladder of pointed leaves leading to white star flowers is blooming in forests. – Forget me nots*, this non-native invasive with pretty blue flowers is starting to bloom now in forests. – Indian warrior’s burgundy plumes are spreading down the hill below 15 on the Homestead Trail. – Meadow rue is blooming with white or pink fronds in the forest. – Pacific pea, a vine with pink or purple pea flowers is blooming in forests. – Pacific sanicle is blooming in forests with mustard colored flowers. – Pacific star flower’s bright pink star-shaped flowers are blooming in forests. – Purple cestrum*, native of Mexico, is blooming with red flowers next to the bridge at Stolte Grove. – Redwood sorrel is blooming pink under the redwoods near 435 Laverne. – Spotted coralroot, an orchid, is blooming on red stalks in forests. – Small flowered nemophila is blooming in forests. – Thimbleberry is blooming with white flowers in forests. – White hawkweed with its white flowers on tall stalks is blooming in forests. – Woodland madia is blooming bright yellow in forests. – Wood rose is blooming pale pink and white in forests. – Wood sweet cicely is blooming with tiny white flowers in forests. Forest edge – Alum root, with its small white bell flowers, is blooming at forest edge. – Canyon nemophila, dainty and white with leaves that remind me of a frog’s foot is blooming on creek banks. – Climbing bedstraw with tiny 4-petaled cream flowers is blooming as it climbs over other plants. – Creeping snowberry is blooming at forest edge with pink bell flowers. – Crimson columbine is blooming with red and yellow flowers at forest edge. – Figwort, one of our great plants for insects is blooming with its irregular flowers at the forest edge. – Fringe cups is blooming beside the creek by 435 Laverne. – Hedgenettle, in the mint family, is blooming with mauve flowers at forest edges. – Miner’s lettuce, a favorite edible, is blooming in wet places with a small white flower in the middle of a fleshy disk. – Pacific bleeding heart is blooming with heart-shaped pink flowers below the redwood tree visible from Laverne to the left of the creek at 435. – Poison oak is blooming in meadows and at the forest edge. – Sticky cinquefoil is blooming with pale yellow flowers at forest edge. – Striped coralroot, a beautiful orchid, is blooming with coral striped flowers and forest edge. – White flowered onion*, an invasive with white bell flowers is blooming in wet spots. – White ramping fumitory*, an invasive native of Europe, is blooming below Cowboy Rock. – Woodland strawberry, a common ground cover at forest edges is starting to bloom white. – Yerba buena, an aromatic creeping mint with white flowers, is blooming at forest edge. Meadows – Blue dicks is blooming purple in the meadows of Homestead Hill. – Blue-eyed grass, a member of the iris family, is blooming with a bright blue flower on Homestead Hill. – Buttercup’s bright yellow flowers are blooming in meadows. – California blackberry’s white flowers are blooming. – California plantain is blooming with its very small translucent flowers on the Homestead Fire Road. – California poppy’s bright orange flowers are blooming in meadows. – Checkerbloom’s pink is blooming in the meadows of Homestead Hill. – Common vetch’s*, native of the Mediterranean area, pretty pink flowers are blooming on Homestead Hill. – Common yarrow with white flower clusters and distinctive lacy foliage is blooming on Homestead Hill. – Cowbag clover is blooming small and magenta in the meadow below Homestead Hill. – Cow parsnip is blooming with large white umbels in the meadow below Amaranth. – Douglas iris is blooming cream in meadows on Homestead Hill. – English daisy*, native of Europe, is blooming in the meadow below Amaranth. – Field madder*, native of Europe, is blooming with very small 4-petaled pink flowers in meadows. – Flax*, native of the Mediterranean region, is blooming with pale blue flowers in meadows. – Hairy wood sorrel is blooming yellow along the Homestead Fire Road. – Ithuriel spear’s bright blue trumpet flowers are blooming in meadows. – Narrowleaf mule ears is blooming in meadows on the Homestead Hill. – Oakland star tulip, also a listed rare plant, is blooming in the meadow below 11. – Ookow’s clusters of purple flowers are blooming on tall stalks in the meadow below Amaranth. – Pigmy weed, small and red is blooming on rock outcrops. – Pineappleweed smells and is used like chamomile and is blooming in meadows on Homestead Hill. – Primrose jasmine*, native of China, is blooming below the bench on Kerouac Hill. – Purple sanicle is blooming in meadows with burgundy pom poms and lacy leaves. – Purple western morning glory is blooming with pink veined white trumpet flowers in meadows. – Ruby sandspury*, native of Europe and Asia, is blooming with small purple flowers on the Homestead Fire Road. – Scotch broom*, one of the most aggressive invasive shrubs in Homestead is starting to bloom with bright yellow pea flowers in meadows. – Shepherd’s needle*, native of Eurasia, is blooming in meadows with white flowers. – Shamrock clover*, native to Europe, is blooming yellow in meadows. – Silver lupine with its clusters of purple pea flowers is blooming on Homestead Hill. – Sky lupin is blooming in the meadow on Pixie Trail. – Common yarrow with white flower clusters and distinctive lacy foliage is blooming on Homestead Hill. – Wavyleaf soap plant is blooming with sprays of white flowers that bloom in late afternoon. *Non-native