Hillside walk, 23 June 2014
While the overall number of flowering species continues to decline as the season advances, this week presented a surprise in the number of flowers. Last week the hillsides seemed so bare. This week the north hillside in particular had many more flowers. Even the ubiquitous filariee (Erodium sp.) was back again. It's unlikely that this was because this week's walk was in the morning, and last week's walk was in the afternoon. This week I was surprised to see a good number of four o'clock (Mirabilis laevis) and several plants each with many yellow flowers of California primrose (Eulobus californicus). Flowers of the latter species were completely absent last week. Also present in significant quantity was the cliff aster (Malacothrix saxatilis var. tenuifolia).
This week the sacapellote (Acourtia microcephala) is truly at its peak. And it's widespread, including in places where I've not been aware of seeing it previously, especially on the north hillside.
