Hillside walk, 02 January 2017
The two specimens of chaparral currant (Ribes malvaceum) in Canyon 5 this week present their annual early welcome to the season, with some flowers out and many more about to open. As usual, this is before many leaves are present.
The past week has seen another half-inch of rain, spread over several days. This leaves the hillsides looking beautifully green and damp. The California liverwort (Asterella californica) in Canyon 6 is at its peak, with many already developing receptacles that will produce spores, — if the season remains damp long enough for these to develop.
The signs of various wildflower species are now in the form of green leaves. Noticeable today were four o'clock (Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia), California primrose (Eulobus californicus), California bluebells (Phacelia minor), wild cucumber (Marah camrocarpa), and even Danny's skullcap (Scutellaria tuberosa).
