Sunday, June 20, 2010

San Pablo Reservoir

So about a week ago, I went on a short hike with a friend of mine near San Pablo Reservoir in the hills between Orinda and El Sobrante (East of Berkeley).  It was a nice sunny day and I was surprised by some of the plants I found, since I assumed it would be overrun by exotics.

Indian paintbrush.  Always one of my favorites.
Lots and lots of monkeyflower.  Such a beautiful flower, too bad it's not always a garden-worthy plant.
I think this is pearlyeverlasting, something I've never seen, but when I saw it I figured this must be it.  A very descriptive common name. [edit: Thanks to Katie at Nature ID, it looks like this is probably California cudweed - pseudognaphalium californicum.]
And I think at least some of this is purple needlegrass.
And anyone know what this beautiful little flower is?  [edit: A second thanks to Katie at Nature ID for this one, Platystemon californicum, or California cream cup. A lovely little flower.]
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7 comments:

  1. Katie (Nature ID)June 20, 2010 at 10:00 AM

    Thanks for the pearly everlasting ID! I've been stumped with some pics of mine. I think your last flower is cream cups (Platystemon californicus).

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  2. lostlandscape (James)June 20, 2010 at 10:52 AM

    Looks like a cool hike with lots to see. We have piles of scarlet monkeyflower on the slopes half a mile away but it hates life in my garden. You'd think the soil and growing conditions would be pretty similar but I guess that's not the case.

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  3. Town MouseJune 20, 2010 at 4:39 PM

    This has been a spectacular year for wildflowers, I'm so glad you got out. Rumour has it there's lots of soap plant at Almaden Quicksilver, a beautiful sight though probably just a tad too far for you.

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  4. Curbstone Valley FarmJune 21, 2010 at 2:05 PM

    We're up to our elbows in Monkeyflower and Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) at the moment. I love it! In the three years we've been here, I've never seen such a display. I agree, your mystery flower looks like Platystemon californicum. Nice find!

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  5. Katie (Nature ID)June 21, 2010 at 10:19 PM

    Brad, please see my new post:
    http://natureid.blogspot.com/2010/05/california-cudweed-pseudognaphalium.html

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  6. UnknownJune 23, 2010 at 6:42 PM

    I am glad that you got a nice hike in and a chance to see some great foliage. I know it has been a challenge not having your own garden.

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  7. graceonlineJune 27, 2010 at 8:56 AM

    Without a vehicle, I rarely make it to these nature preserves any longer, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me a taste of the seasons as you explore. Lovely images. That's the most beautiful image of pearly everlasting I've seen and makes me hope for a chance somehow to see it live soon.

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