Hillside walk, 24 January 2017

With yet more rain this week, one wonders why the hillsides aren't covered in wildflowers. The creek behind our house, which drains Canyons 5, 6, and 7, is flowing. However, I am reminded that it's still winter, with masses of green growth, but not many flowers as yet. Of the few flowers we have, many are damaged by raindrops. In Canyon 8, an oak tree in the very bottom of the watercourse has fallen over since last week's walk, no doubt a victim of soft, wet ground.

We do have one new seasonal flower this week, golden currant (Ribes aureum var. gracillimum), represented by a single open flower in lower Canyon 2. On the north hillside, the Mirabilis is in bud.

Wild cucumber

Fallen oak tree

Clouds over the mountains

California liverwort

Chaparral currant

Chaparral currant

Chaparral currant

Liichen on dead Calafornia sage branches

California liverwort

Lemonade berry

Lemonade berry

California sagebrush

California sagebrush

Unidentified fungus

Unidentified fungus

Golden currant

Mulefat

Unidentified fungus

   

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