Visit 6: Ceanothus Obsession

4/10/2017
I arrived at Sugarloaf at 10 am on a cloudy day (temp in 60s) and decided to take the Lower Bald trail. The Ceanothus are in bloom! Several bushes of C. jepsonii (leaves opposite, 7-8 teeth, purple flowers) grow on serpentine soil, one near Pseudotsuga menziesii and Quercus agrifolia. Also found C. cuneatus or White Buckbrush (white flowers) as well as C. sonomensis. From what I have read, although C. sonomensis is rare in California overall, it is more common in Sonoma county. I identified it because of its 5-toothed leaves and small whitish-purple flowers. I will return, as there may be other species of Ceanothus that I missed.

I spotted Sanicula bipinnatifida (Purple Sanicle), Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-eyed Grass) and Calystegia (morning glory). Lupinus now covers the meadows, and Ranunculus appears in semi-shady places as well as sunny grasslands.

Posted on April 11, 2017 04:54 PM by laurablatt