California WildFlowers - Early Summer Edition
A big California hello to all readers! For this edition, I trekked to the Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve located about 40 miles from Oakland. It is part of the East Bay Regional Park system and has an extensive network of trails through what was once a cattle ranch. Dogs are allowed on leash and though the trail runs by a beautiful winding creek, it is not open to swimming. There is not a lot of tree coverage, so if you are looking to avoid the heat, I suggest getting there early in the morning when the park has just opened. A small fee for parking and pets may be needed on weekends. Be advised that a hat, sun glasses, and sunblock are highly recommended as well as water depending how long you are looking to walk. Some areas may be dry and grassy, so I recommend leggings or long garments that help in avoiding ticks. Be aware that cattle are allowed to graze in many parts of the park; if hiking with dogs, they should remain on leash at all times.
Early summer brings the first heat waves of the year to the Bay Area. However, among the drying grasses and bushes, some blooms still emerge.
Aesculus californicA
(California Buckeye)
Aesculus californica is a species of flowering tree, endemic to California. Commonly known as California Buckeye or California chesnut. It often lays dormant in the summer and winter when the leaves can suffer damage from extreme heat or cold frosts. However, in the late spring to early summer it flowers into a chandelier of long, white blooms. The california buckeye is increasingly becoming available for native landscaping, as it can be drought tolerant and easy to care for once established. It is also a butterfly favorite. By the fall, around October or September, the flowers will have turned into a chestnut. The chestnuts are edible once roasted in a fire or oven and make a great alternative to its European counterpart.
Clarkia unguiculata
(Elegant Clarkia)
Clarkia unguiculata is a wildflower endemic to the oak woodlands of California. It is commonly known as Elegant Clarkia or Mountain Garland. This plant is annual that blooms in summer - a time when most of the wildflowers are spent. The flowers grow in different shades of pink on drawn out stems. It can attract local bees and butterflies.
Calystegia purpurata
(California Morning glory)
Calystegia purpurata is a species of morning glory that is endemic to the coastal, mediterranean climates of California. It is a vining plant that can make a great statement on a trellis or wall. It grows in a variety of colors but in the Sunol wilderness, mostly a white with pink stripes variety is most common. In the right conditions, the plant may continue to bloom throughout Spring, Summer and Fall. Like its name suggests, the flower opens in the morning and closes when the sun sets.
Diplacus aurantiacus
(Bush Monkey Flower)
Diplacus aurantiacus is a beautiful flowering plant commonly known as Bush Monkey Flower or Sticky monkey plant. It is adorned with yellow to gold flowers that attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. It is becoming more commercially available as it is easy to care for and can adjust to the natural weather cycles of California landscapes but does better when regularly watered and cared for.
Calochortus venustus
(Butterfly Mariposa lily)
Calochortus venustus or Butterfly Mariposa, is a species of lily endemic to California. It blooms in a variety of elegant colors but the most common color in the Sunol wilderness is pictured here. Like many of the flowers in this blog, it grows among the hills of the park and it can be found poking out of open grassfields where it can get the sun it requires to bloom. Even though the plant blooms from Spring to early summer, as the Bay Area heads into mid-summer, the harsh temperatures will cause many of the flowers to die and turn dormant for the season to allow the bulbs to rest and await the winter rains.
As always when visiting natural preserves, be sure to follow all guidelines. Do not cut or disturb the plants. I always encourage pictures but please be sure to continue the preservation efforts of California native plants and flowers. If you are interested in learning more about California wildflowers and would like to keep up with the blog, I will try to post every two weeks on Wednesdays. You can also sign up for email updates. Thank you for reading!