western wildflowers

Purple Nightshade (Solanum xanti): A sprawling semi shrub that was about 2 feet tall. Native.

View from Old Ranch Road across the valley.

Zigzag Larkspur (Delphinium patens): A native which has 5 flowers in a zigzag formation on the stem.

These clover leaves (Trifolium sp.) made for a large scale lovely groundcover.

Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa): Organic gardeners may plant this non native as a companion plant for providing nitrogen.

Much of the grounds are covered in thick grasses at this time of year.

Valley Tassels (Castilleja attenuata): A native annual which is common but not conspicuous due to it’s size and color.

Miniature Lotus (Lotus micranthus): Native pea relative with flowers less than 1/8" across.

Windmill Pink (Silene gallica):Introduced from Europe. It is common on hillsides

Wild Carnation (Petrorhagia dubia): Originally from Southern Europe. The flower was about 1/3" across.

Upper Lake is almost at capacity.

There were masses of these native Sky Lupines (Lupinus nanus) covering the grassy fields.

Suncups (Camissonia ovata): A native that was numerous on the upper grasslands close to the lake areas.

Butter & Eggs (Triphysaria eriantha): This parasitic native extracts water & nutrients from roots on nearby plants.

This is a rest and nesting spot for many birds including this Cormorant.

Goldfields (Lasthenia californica): These natives tend to grow in yellow blanketed masses on the hillsides.