Hillside walk, 06 April 2015
This week sees a couple of species blooming for this first time this season, these being white sage (Salvia apiana) and California everlasting (Pseudognaphalium californicum). On the other hand, several species have this week completed their flowering, such as the mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia), resulting in an overall drop in the number of flowering species.
the liverworts (Asterella californica) in Canyons 3B and 5 continue to disperse spores from fully developed receptacles. These receptacles appear to have died, being no longer green but brown.
Overall the hillsides this week give the appearance that the great winter grass crop, which was last week full of seed, has this week begun to die. Perhaps there will be a reprieve, — rain is forecast for Tuesday this week, 0.25 to 0.5 inch.
