Mount Hamilton - 5/7/2021
Today I returned to Mount Hamilton, didn't go all the way around Livermore this time, but did go up 130 over and a bit down Del Puerto, then back the same way. It was beautiful, lots of flowers, and an interesting variety. Last time the lower elevations were colorful, with goldfields in the valleys, but today those were brown and the higher elevations are more colorful. Thankfully not many people on the road, I drove slowly, stopped frequently, backed up down the road several times and was generally in "I brake for wildflowers" mode. Missed at least one I'd have liked to stop and see (some sort of Orobanche?), since there were no turnouts at all nearby, dammit.
Highlights included several nice patches of Thermopsis, one very satisfying area of Fairy Fans (Clarkia breweri), Whispering bells (Emmenanthe penduliflora) with burnt chaparral, several flavors of sunflowers, and the Blazing stars are still going strong. As elsewhere, there were LOTS of Purple Chinese houses, often covering large areas under burnt oaks. This is their year.
More later, once I process photos...
Observations
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Narrowleaf Mule-Ears (Wyethia angustifolia)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
What a wonderful patch! Nice to see some native yellow, among the fields of Hawksbeard that are otherwise covering Grant right now.
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Zigzag Larkspur (Delphinium patens)Observer
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These looked odd, I'm not sure if they're a mutant of a common Delphinium or a different species.
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Santa Clara Thornmint (Acanthomintha lanceolata)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
No idea who this is. The leaves were scented. Just one or two on a fairly bare, rocky roadside.
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Purple Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Once again, there were zillions of these in areas that burned last year. It's their year!
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Most Beautiful Jewelflower (Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. glandulosus)Observer
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Venus Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. venustum)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
There were a few others further along in bloom elsewhere on the road, but they were always in a spot without a turnout anywhere nearby.
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California Chicory (Rafinesquia californica)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Along with quite a diversity of other flowers in a place that burned last year.
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Chia (Salvia columbariae)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Along with quite a diversity of other flowers in a place that burned last year.
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California Gilia (Gilia achilleifolia)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Along with quite a diversity of other flowers in a place that burned last year.
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Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
This burned hillside had a lot of Red Larkspurs (Delphinium nudicale), attended to by this hummingbird. Unfortunately I didn't get great photos. Likely an Anna's since they're common around here, but maybe not?
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Red Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Quite a few going up this hillside, in an area that burned last year. Complete with hummingbird attendant.
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Chick Lupine (Lupinus microcarpus)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Many patches of these along the road.
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Fairy Fans (Clarkia breweri)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
What a treat to see a scattering of these, in one spot.
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Whispering Bells (Emmenanthe penduliflora)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
In an area that looked like it burned pretty well last year, fairly scorched earth, with a few interesting plants coming up. Just a few Whispering Bells here and there. Interesting scent.
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Bunchleaf Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
In an area that burned last year, fairly scorched earth, with a few other interesting plants around.
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Yellow Mariposa Lily (Calochortus luteus)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
In an area that burned last year, fairly scorched earth, with a few other interesting plants around.
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Tufted Poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Small poppies, quite a few of them along this stretch of road.
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Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
On Yerba Santa
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Chick Lupine (Lupinus microcarpus)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Several nice patches of these along the road, especially in places that burned last year.
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Lindley's Blazingstar (Mentzelia lindleyi)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Still blooming strong!
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Whispering Bells (Emmenanthe penduliflora)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Lots of these thriving in chaparral that burned last year. Interesting scent.
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Hedgemustards (Genus Sisymbrium)Observer
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In an area that burned last year
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American Wild Carrot (Daucus pusillus)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
In an area that burned last year
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Brewer's Phacelia (Phacelia breweri)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
Very small and slender, hard to photograph in a useful way.
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Suncups (Genus Camissoniopsis)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
In an area that burned pretty well last year, rather scorched earth, with a few other interesting plants.
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Mock Parsley (Apiastrum angustifolium)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
In an area that burned pretty well last year, rather scorched earth, with a few other interesting plants.
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