Natural History Wanderings

Homestead Valley has a new wildflower update. See photos Homestead Valley April 23

NEW
– Alum root, with small bell flowers, blooms in cool seeps.
– Andrews clinton, a lily of the redwood understory blooms bright pink on long stalks out of waxy bright leaves. A roadside wildflower, see it on the bank of Laverne above Stolte Grove.
– Canyon nemophila blooms small and white in cool seeps.
– Common yarrow with its tight white umbel is blooming in full sun on the ridge.
– Cowbag clover with its purple blooms that look like balloons is blooming in a wildflower meadow off the Homestead Fire Road.
– Feathery false lily of the valley is blooming in the forest near the water tank at 6d with a long stalk with a bushy cream flower. Very fragrant.
– Figwort blooms with a distinctive shaped rust red flower on a nettles-looking plant. Another roadside wildflower, look for it along wooded road cuts down at the start of Reed and throughout the forests. An important plant for bees and butterflies.
– Narrow-leaf bird’s foot trefoil*, native of Europe, is blooming bright yellow on the ridge of Homestead Hill.
– Narrowleaf cottonrose*, a naturalized native of the Mediterranean region is blooming on the ridge of Homestead Hill.
– Ookow, taller with larger clusters than the more common, blue dicks, is blooming on the ridge of Homestead Hill.
– Pineapple weed grows on Homestead Fire Road, releasing its chamomile scent as you crush it underfoot.
– Purple western morning glory, a vine with pink to cream trumpet flowers is blooming on the ridge of Homestead Hill.
– Shamrock clover*, native of Europe is blooming with yellow dome flowers on the ridge of Homestead Hill.
– Sticky cinquefoil, a tall, creamy yellow looking strawberry is blooming with columbine at the bridge near 12.
– Subterranean clover*, native of Europe, is blooming along Homestead Fire Road on the ridge of Homestead Hill.

Read More…