Hillside walk, 03 November 2014
On Friday night we received 13 mm rain (a half inch). It has certainly damped down the hillsides, and even walking is easlier, less slippery. At this early stage (two days after the rain) there is virtually no resulting difference in the flowers. On the other hand, we have bright green liverworts once again in all the usual places. We also have coffee fern (Pellaea andromedifolia) and goldenback fern (Pentagramma triangularis). It looks as if the ferns are like the liverworts in that the leaves are just black, completely dessicated, after sitting so lond over the summer; and then they come back to a delightful green when rain arrives.
The california sagebrush (Artemisia californica) is probably the most prolific bloomer at this time. Over the past week the blooming range has expaned from just Canyon 5 to include the north hillside and even along Lida Street.
