February 8, 2018

NEW
– Fremont’s deathcamas is blooming white below Amaranth.
– Ground iris is blooming white below Amaranth.
– Spring gold is blooming yellow on the Ridgewood Rock.

Forests
Starting
– Indian warrior is coming up all over in the area – 15 right along the Homestead Trail – that we finished clearing a few months ago. A few blooms are showing their crimson colors but the scope of the patch will only become clear later in the season when the hillside blooms.
– Manroot, a native vine with large maple-shaped leaves is blooming white as it climbs.
– Milkmaids, a pretty white flower with arugula-tasting leaves is blooming in forests.
– Oso berry, our native plum, is just starting to bloom on the Ridgewood Rock.
– Trilium are bright white in their bed of three green leaves on the forest floor.
Peaking
– Fetid adder’s tongue, one of our most exotic blooms is blooming in large patches.
– Green wattle acacia tree native to Australia is starting to bloom with its bright yellow puff flowers.
– Scotch broom, native to Western Europe, one of the most aggressive invaders of our meadows is blooming with its yellow pea flowers. Pull it before it goes to seed if you can.
– Tasmanian blue gum, is blooming white high in the huge eucalyptus trees.
– Coast live oak blooms with pink tassels.
– California bay laurel, our most common native tree’s blooms have a delicate vanilla scent.

Forest edges
Starting
– Greene’s saxifrage’s small white flowers are opening on a moss covered shelf of the Ridgewood Rock.
– Pacific hounds tongue with its forget-me-not-looking flowers and large leaves is blooming now in oak meadows. There are also tons of emerging leaves promising a big year for this wildflower.
– Sourgrass*, native to South Africa, is blooming up on the ridge. Although fun to chew on for kids, this plant is a very successful non-native spreading in wet locations where natives might otherwise grow.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

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