Hillside walk, 27 April 2015
Today's highlight is finding numerous blooms of sapphire woolly star (Eriastrum sapphirinum) in the two places where I've seen it in previous years. It's surprisingly early, being almost four weeks earlier than last year, and six weeks earlier than the year before.
The other big delight is golden stars (Bloomeria crocea) in substantial number — probably 50 or more plants — in the partially shaded area under an oak tree at the bottom of the north hillside.
Although two days ago we had 4 mm of rain, the spores lying on the ground under the spent liverwort receptacles (Asterella californica) in Canyon 8 are still visible as sprinkling of tiny yellow things.
The bush monkeyflower (Diplacus longiflorus), so beautifully prominent on the hillsides for the past several weeks, while still attractive, is now past its peak, as is the black sage (Salvia mellifera) and numerous other species.
