marabethg

May 252018
 


NEW
– Bird’s foot trefoil, native of Eurasia, blooms bright yellow in disturbed areas.
– California coffeeberry has small clusters of white flowers. This waxy leaved shrub is a common presence in the forests.
– California tea has purple-tipped flowers and is blooming beside the trail on the way up to 11.
– Creeping snowberry’s small pink bell flowers are blooming in the forests.
– Featherweed has a brown tufted center flower with silver furred leaves.
– Milkwort is blooming with purple flowers.
– Naked buckwheat has tight pink flower clusters and blooms in meadows.
– Narrow leaved clover, native of Eurasia, has a large clover flowers tipped in pink.
– Shamrock clover, native of Europe, has pretty yellow flowers.
– Wavyleaf soap plant blooms with long open white flowers at the end of a long stalk.
– Yellow coralroot is blooming at 15.
– Yerba buena, has small white flowers on this delicate creeping plant.

Forests
Starting
– Hedgenettle, a tower of purple flowers, is in the mint family. This grows all over in Homestead.
– Spotted coralroot with its red stalk and many orchid-shaped flowers is coming up in forests.
Peaking
– Alum root with its froth of dainty white bell flowers is blooming in forests.
– Andrew’s clinton is blooming in the Weedon Redwoods. See it on the bank above Laverne up from the waterfall in Stolte Grove.
– Forget-me-nots, native to Europe, is one of our most successful invaders. Easy to pull, easiest to identify when it’s flowering, so pull it then.
– Fairy bells cream flowers hang below the leaves of this woodland plant.
– False lily of the valley is coming up all over and brightening the forest floor with its white star flower.
– Manroot, a native vine with large maple-shaped leaves is blooming white as it climbs.
– Miner’s lettuce one of our most popular edibles, has a small white flower. Claytonia had a false start with the early season rains but is coming on well now that they are picking up.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming under the redwood trees in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Pacific sanicle with its showy bright foliage has mustard flower clusters.
– Redwood sorrel is blooming near the redwood in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Small flowered nemophilia is blooming with small white flowers in forests.
– Star flower has dainty pink flowers and blooms in forests among the carpets of False lily of the valley.
– Thimbleberry, a shrub with soft maple-shaped leaves blooms in forests with a flat white flower.
– White flowered onion*, edible and native to the Mediterranean, is blooming in wet spots with its white cone flowers. Pull it up by the roots if you can.
– White hawksweed with its white flowers is blooming in forests.
– Wood rose blooms bright on rangy rose bushes in the forests.
Fading
– California huckleberry with its small white lantern flowers is blooming in forests.
– Fringe cups has lovely lobed foliage with its fringed flowers on a tall stalk.
– Pacific pea with pink and white flowers is blooming in forests
– Wood sweet-cicely’s small white flowers fade to form long edible seed pods.

Forest edges
Starting
– Meadow rue has small pink fringe flowers and delicate foliage.
– Purple woodsorrel, native of South Africa, blooms with a magenta flowers.
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.
Peaking
– California blackberry is blooming with paper-white flowers, on a thinner, trailing vine than Himalayan blackberry.
– Figwort, a great plant for insects blooms with a small maroon flower.
– Purple sanicle and its magenta puff flowers blooms in forests along the Homestead Trail
Fading
– Crimson columbine is blooming at the edge of the forest below 11.
– Douglas iris with blooms from pale cream to rich purple is blooming in the forests
– 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.

Meadows
Starting
– American vetch is blooming purple in the meadow grasses up on the ridge.
– Buckeye trees with their long cluster flowers are blooming now. Upper Laverne is lined with them and will be a tunnel of flowers soon.
– California everlasting with its white paper-like flowers blooms in meadows.
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Callery pear, native to China, has beautiful white dogwood-like flowers. The fruit, however, is inedible making me wonder if the original farmer who planted it knew it was just for show.
– Checkerbloom’s bright pink is starting to bloom on the ridges of Homestead Hill.
– Common vetch, native to the Mediterranean, has bright purple flowers on a pea vine.
– Common yarrow with its white cluster is blooming up on the ridge.
– Cowbag clover is a tiny purple bloom in the meadow grasses.
– Filaree, native to the Mediterranean, has small purple flowers and blooms in disturbed areas like trails
– French broom, native to the Mediterranean, is one of our most aggressive invaders and also one of the easiest to pull.
– Ground iris is blooming purple in meadows.
– Herb robert, native of the United Kingdom, is blooming purple with a golden center is blooming along trails and in disturbed areas.
– Ithuriel’s spear with its rich blue bell flowers is blooming in meadows.
– Mule’s ears with its bright yellow blooms is starting to bloom in meadows.
– Ookow has large purple flower clusters and is blooming below Amaranth.
– Purple western morning glory is blooming in meadows.
– Red elderberry is blooming with cones of white blooms near the spring on the trail toward Amaranth from 4-Corners.
– 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.
– Short podded mustard, native to the Mediterranean, has small clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. In the mustard family, the flowers are delicious.
Peaking
– American wild carrot is blooming in the meadow near Amaranth.
– Blue eyed grass, in the iris family, blooms purple with a yellow center
– California buttercup is starting to bloom bright yellow in meadows.
– Cow parsnip with its large white umbel is blooming in meadows and oak woodlands.
– Field madder, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the very small flowers in the grass of meadows.
– Oakland star tulip one of our rare plants, has a small delicate cup flower well worth scrutinizing in meadows.
– Silver lupine is blooming purple in bushes up on the ridge.
– Sky lupine, bright blue with white accents, is blooming on the ridge.
– Suncups on the ground with yellow flowers is starting down near 13 but will be on the ridge and in meadows soon.
– Tomcat clover with purple flower circles is blooming on the Ridgewood Rock.
Fading
– California plantain almost too small to see but getting very close is rewarded with the many translucent disks of its flower
– Chickweed, native to Europe, medicinal and edible is blooming with its white star flower.
– Hawthorn, native to Europe, is blooming next to the creek on the Homestead Trail near 11.
– Owl clover is a purple tuft in meadows.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.
HVLT Trail Map 022315 v28w

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

Share this:
Facebook
May 142018
 


NEW
– Buckeye trees are starting to open their long cluster flowers. Upper Laverne is lined with them and will be a tunnel of flowers soon.
– California everlasting with its white paper-like flowers blooms in meadows.
– Ithuriel’s spear with its rich blue bell flowers is blooming in meadows.
– Meadow rue has small pink fringe flowers and delicate foliage.
– Ookow has large purple flower clusters and is blooming below Amaranth.
– Purple woodsorrel, native of South Africa, blooms with a magenta flowers.

Forests
Starting
– Hedgenettle, a tower of purple flowers, is in the mint family. This grows all over in Homestead.
– Spotted coralroot with its red stalk and many orchid-shaped flowers is coming up in forests.
Peaking
– Alum root with its froth of dainty white bell flowers is blooming in forests.
– Andrew’s clinton is blooming in the Weedon Redwoods. See it on the bank above Laverne up from the waterfall in Stolte Grove.
– Forget-me-nots, native to Europe, is one of our most successful invaders. Easy to pull, easiest to identify when it’s flowering, so pull it then.
– Fairy bells cream flowers hang below the leaves of this woodland plant.
– False lily of the valley is coming up all over and brightening the forest floor with its white star flower.
– Feathery false lily of the valley has a long stalk with big puff flowers that smell sweet.
– 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.
– Miner’s lettuce one of our most popular edibles, has a small white flower. Claytonia had a false start with the early season rains but is coming on well now that they are picking up.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming under the redwood trees in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Pacific sanicle with its showy bright foliage has mustard flower clusters.
– Redwood sorrel is blooming near the redwood in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Small flowered nemophilia is blooming with small white flowers in forests.
– Star flower has dainty pink flowers and blooms in forests among the carpets of False lily of the valley.
– Thimbleberry, a shrub with soft maple-shaped leaves blooms in forests with a flat white flower.
– White flowered onion*, edible and native to the Mediterranean, is blooming in wet spots with its white cone flowers. Pull it up by the roots if you can.
– White hawksweed with its white flowers is blooming in forests.
– Wood rose blooms bright on rangy rose bushes in the forests.
Fading
– California huckleberry with its small white lantern flowers is blooming in forests.
– Fringe cups has lovely lobed foliage with its fringed flowers on a tall stalk.
– Pacific pea with pink and white flowers is blooming in forests
– Wood sweet-cicely’s small white flowers fade to form long edible seed pods.

Forest edges
Starting
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.
Peaking
– California blackberry is blooming with paper-white flowers, on a thinner, trailing vine than Himalayan blackberry.
– Figwort, a great plant for insects blooms with a small maroon flower.
– Purple sanicle and its magenta puff flowers blooms in forests along the Homestead Trail
Fading
– Crimson columbine is blooming at the edge of the forest below 11.
– Douglas iris with blooms from pale cream to rich purple is blooming in the forests
– 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.
– Sticky cinquefoil is a lovely addition to the many blooms next to the creek between 11 and 12.

Meadows
Starting
– American vetch is blooming purple in the meadow grasses up on the ridge.
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Callery pear, native to China, has beautiful white dogwood-like flowers. The fruit, however, is inedible making me wonder if the original farmer who planted it knew it was just for show.
– Checkerbloom’s bright pink is starting to bloom on the ridges of Homestead Hill.
– Common vetch, native to the Mediterranean, has bright purple flowers on a pea vine.
– Common yarrow with its white cluster is blooming up on the ridge.
– Cowbag clover is a tiny purple bloom in the meadow grasses.
– Filaree, native to the Mediterranean, has small purple flowers and blooms in disturbed areas like trails
– French broom, native to the Mediterranean, is one of our most aggressive invaders and also one of the easiest to pull.
– Ground iris is blooming purple in meadows.
– Herb robert, native of the United Kingdom, is blooming purple with a golden center is blooming along trails and in disturbed areas.
– Hill lotus is blooming in the meadow beside the trail near the Black elderberry.
– Mule’s ears with its bright yellow blooms is starting to bloom in meadows.
– Purple western morning glory is blooming in meadows.
– Red elderberry is blooming with cones of white blooms near the spring on the trail toward Amaranth from 4-Corners.
– 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.
– Short podded mustard, native to the Mediterranean, has small clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. In the mustard family, the flowers are delicious.
Peaking
– American wild carrot is blooming in the meadow near Amaranth.
– Blue dicks is starting to bloom on Coyote Rock and along the Homestead Fire Road above the Waterview trailhead.
– Blue eyed grass, in the iris family, blooms purple with a yellow center
– California buttercup is starting to bloom bright yellow in meadows.
– California goldfields is just starting to bloom. When it’s peaking, carpets of bright yellow will cover the ground
– Cow parsnip with its large white umbel is blooming in meadows and oak woodlands.
– Field madder, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the very small flowers in the grass of meadows.
– Oakland star tulip one of our rare plants, has a small delicate cup flower well worth scrutinizing in meadows.
– Shortspur seablush is blooming with white puff flowers on the Ridgewood Rock.
– Silver lupine is blooming purple in bushes up on the ridge.
– Sky lupine, bright blue with white accents, is blooming on the ridge.
– Suncups on the ground with yellow flowers is starting down near 13 but will be on the ridge and in meadows soon.
– Tomcat clover with purple flower circles is blooming on the Ridgewood Rock.
Fading
– California plantain almost too small to see but getting very close is rewarded with the many translucent disks of its flower
– Chickweed, native to Europe, medicinal and edible is blooming with its white star flower.
– Hawthorn, native to Europe, is blooming next to the creek on the Homestead Trail near 11.
– Owl clover is a purple tuft in meadows.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.
HVLT Trail Map 022315 v28w

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

Share this:
Facebook
May 032018
 


NEW
– American wild carrot is blooming in the meadow near Amaranth.
– Andrew’s clinton is blooming in the Weedon Redwoods. See it on the bank above Laverne up from the waterfall in Stolte Grove.
– Mule’s ears with its bright yellow blooms is starting to bloom in meadows.
– White hawksweed with its white flowers is blooming in forests.

Forests
Starting
– Alum root with its froth of dainty white bell flowers is blooming in forests.
– Fringe cups has lovely lobed foliage with its fringed flowers on a tall stalk.
– Hedgenettle, a tower of purple flowers, is in the mint family. This grows all over in Homestead.
– Redwood sorrel is blooming near the redwood in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Spotted coralroot with its red stalk and many orchid-shaped flowers is coming up in forests.
– Striped coral root, an orchid, is larger than the more common Spotted coral root that is found throughout Homestead.
– Small flowered nemophilia is blooming with small white flowers in forests.
– Wood rose blooms bright on rangy rose bushes in the forests.
Peaking
– Forget-me-nots, native to Europe, is one of our most successful invaders. Easy to pull, easiest to identify when it’s flowering, so pull it then.
– Fairy bells cream flowers hang below the leaves of this woodland plant.
– False lily of the valley is coming up all over and brightening the forest floor with its white star flower.
– Feathery false lily of the valley has a long stalk with big puff flowers that smell sweet.
– 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.
– Miner’s lettuce one of our most popular edibles, has a small white flower. Claytonia had a false start with the early season rains but is coming on well now that they are picking up.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming under the redwood trees in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Pacific sanicle with its showy bright foliage has mustard flower clusters.
– Star flower has dainty pink flowers and blooms in forests among the carpets of False lily of the valley.
– Thimbleberry, a shrub with soft maple-shaped leaves blooms in forests with a flat white flower.
– White flowered onion*, edible and native to the Mediterranean, is blooming in wet spots with its white cone flowers. Pull it up by the roots if you can.
Fading
– California huckleberry with its small white lantern flowers is blooming in forests.
– Pacific pea with pink and white flowers is blooming in forests
– Wood sweet-cicely’s small white flowers fade to form long edible seed pods.

Forest edges
Starting
– Figwort, a great plant for insects blooms with a small maroon flower.
– Purple sanicle and its magenta puff flowers blooms in forests along the Homestead Trail
non-native spreading in wet locations where natives might otherwise grow.
– Sticky cinquefoil is a lovely addition to the many blooms next to the creek between 11 and 12.
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.
Peaking
– California blackberry is blooming with paper-white flowers, on a thinner, trailing vine than Himalayan blackberry.
– Crimson columbine is blooming at the edge of the forest below 11.
– Douglas iris with blooms from pale cream to rich purple is blooming in the forests
Fading
– Sourgrass, native to South Africa, is blooming up on the ridge. Although fun to chew on for kids, this plant is a very successful
– Spring gold is blooming yellow on the Ridgewood Rock and in ridge meadows.

Meadows
Starting
– American vetch is blooming purple in the meadow grasses up on the ridge.
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Callery pear, native to China, has beautiful white dogwood-like flowers. The fruit, however, is inedible making me wonder if the original farmer who planted it knew it was just for show.
– Checkerbloom’s bright pink is starting to bloom on the ridges of Homestead Hill.
– Common vetch, native to the Mediterranean, has bright purple flowers on a pea vine.
– Common yarrow with its white cluster is blooming up on the ridge.
– Cowbag clover is a tiny purple bloom in the meadow grasses.
– Filaree*, native to the Mediterranean, has small purple flowers and blooms in disturbed areas like trails
– French broom, native to the Mediterranean, is one of our most aggressive invaders and also one of the easiest to pull.
– Ground iris is blooming purple in meadows.
– Hawthorn, native to Europe, is blooming next to the creek on the Homestead Trail near 11.
– Herb robert, native of the United Kingdom, is blooming purple with a golden center is blooming along trails and in disturbed areas.
– Hill lotus is blooming in the meadow beside the trail near the Black elderberry.
– Owl clover is a purple tuft in meadows.
– Purple western morning glory is blooming in meadows.
– Red elderberry is blooming with cones of white blooms near the spring on the trail toward Amaranth from 4-Corners.
– 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.
– Short podded mustard, native to the Mediterranean, has small clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. In the mustard family, the flowers are delicious.
Peaking
– Blue dicks is starting to bloom on Coyote Rock and along the Homestead Fire Road above the Waterview trailhead.
– Blue eyed grass, in the iris family, blooms purple with a yellow center
– California buttercup is starting to bloom bright yellow in meadows.
– California goldfields is just starting to bloom. When it’s peaking, carpets of bright yellow will cover the ground
– Cow parsnip with its large white umbel is blooming in meadows and oak woodlands.
– Field madder, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the very small flowers in the grass of meadows.
– Oakland star tulip one of our rare plants, has a small delicate cup flower well worth scrutinizing in meadows.
– Shepherd’s needle, native to Eurasia, is blooming white with parsley foliage in meadows.
– Shortspur seablush is blooming with white puff flowers on the Ridgewood Rock.
– Silver lupine is blooming purple in bushes up on the ridge.
– Sky lupine, bright blue with white accents, is blooming on the ridge.
– Suncups on the ground with yellow flowers is starting down near 13 but will be on the ridge and in meadows soon.
– Tomcat clover with purple flower circles is blooming on the Ridgewood Rock.
Fading
– California plantain almost too small to see but getting very close is rewarded with the many translucent disks of its flower
– Chickweed, native to Europe, medicinal and edible is blooming with its white star flower.
– Woolly lomatium’s cream colored discs are blooming above Homestead Fire Road near Panoramic.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.
HVLT Trail Map 022315 v28w

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

Share this:
Facebook
May 012018
 


NEW
– Alum root with its froth of dainty white bell flowers is blooming in forests.
– Hedgenettle, a tower of purple flowers, is in the mint family. This grows all over in Homestead.
– Sticky cinquefoil is a lovely addition to the many blooms next to the creek between 11 and 12.

Forests
Starting
– Fringe cups has lovely lobed foliage with its fringed flowers on a tall stalk.
– Redwood sorrel is blooming near the redwood in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Spotted coralroot with its red stalk and many orchid-shaped flowers is coming up in forests.
– Striped coral root, an orchid, is larger than the more common Spotted coral root that is found throughout Homestead.
– Small flowered nemophilia is blooming with small white flowers in forests.
– Wood rose blooms bright on rangy rose bushes in the forests.
Peaking
– Forget-me-nots, native to Europe, is one of our most successful invaders. Easy to pull, easiest to identify when it’s flowering, so pull it then.
– Fairy bells cream flowers hang below the leaves of this woodland plant.
– False lily of the valley is coming up all over and brightening the forest floor with its white star flower.
– Feathery false lily of the valley has a long stalk with big puff flowers that smell sweet.
– 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.
– Miner’s lettuce one of our most popular edibles, has a small white flower. Claytonia had a false start with the early season rains but is coming on well now that they are picking up.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming under the redwood trees in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Pacific sanicle with its showy bright foliage has mustard flower clusters.
– Star flower has dainty pink flowers and blooms in forests among the carpets of False lily of the valley.
– Thimbleberry, a shrub with soft maple-shaped leaves blooms in forests with a flat white flower.
– White flowered onion*, edible and native to the Mediterranean, is blooming in wet spots with its white cone flowers. Pull it up by the roots if you can.
Fading
– California huckleberry with its small white lantern flowers is blooming in forests.
– Pacific pea with pink and white flowers is blooming in forests
– Wood sweet-cicely’s small white flowers fade to form long edible seed pods.

Forest edges
Starting
– Figwort, a great plant for insects blooms with a small maroon flower.
– Purple sanicle and its magenta puff flowers blooms in forests along the Homestead Trail
non-native spreading in wet locations where natives might otherwise grow.
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.
Peaking
– California blackberry is blooming with paper-white flowers, on a thinner, trailing vine than Himalayan blackberry.
– Crimson columbine is blooming at the edge of the forest below 11.
– Douglas iris with blooms from pale cream to rich purple is blooming in the forests
Fading
– Sourgrass, native to South Africa, is blooming up on the ridge. Although fun to chew on for kids, this plant is a very successful
– Spring gold is blooming yellow on the Ridgewood Rock and in ridge meadows.

Meadows
Starting
– American vetch is blooming purple in the meadow grasses up on the ridge.
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Callery pear, native to China, has beautiful white dogwood-like flowers. The fruit, however, is inedible making me wonder if the original farmer who planted it knew it was just for show.
– Checkerbloom’s bright pink is starting to bloom on the ridges of Homestead Hill.
– Common vetch, native to the Mediterranean, has bright purple flowers on a pea vine.
– Common yarrow with its white cluster is blooming up on the ridge.
– Cowbag clover is a tiny purple bloom in the meadow grasses.
– Filaree*, native to the Mediterranean, has small purple flowers and blooms in disturbed areas like trails
– French broom, native to the Mediterranean, is one of our most aggressive invaders and also one of the easiest to pull.
– Ground iris is blooming purple in meadows.
– Hawthorn, native to Europe, is blooming next to the creek on the Homestead Trail near 11.
– Herb robert, native of the United Kingdom, is blooming purple with a golden center is blooming along trails and in disturbed areas.
– Hill lotus is blooming in the meadow beside the trail near the Black elderberry.
– Owl clover is a purple tuft in meadows.
– Purple western morning glory is blooming in meadows.
– Red elderberry is blooming with cones of white blooms near the spring on the trail toward Amaranth from 4-Corners.
– 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.
– Short podded mustard, native to the Mediterranean, has small clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. In the mustard family, the flowers are delicious.
Peaking
– Blue dicks is starting to bloom on Coyote Rock and along the Homestead Fire Road above the Waterview trailhead.
– Blue eyed grass, in the iris family, blooms purple with a yellow center
– California buttercup is starting to bloom bright yellow in meadows.
– California goldfields is just starting to bloom. When it’s peaking, carpets of bright yellow will cover the ground
– Cow parsnip with its large white umbel is blooming in meadows and oak woodlands.
– Field madder, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the very small flowers in the grass of meadows.
– Oakland star tulip one of our rare plants, has a small delicate cup flower well worth scrutinizing in meadows.
– Shepherd’s needle, native to Eurasia, is blooming white with parsley foliage in meadows.
– Shortspur seablush is blooming with white puff flowers on the Ridgewood Rock.
– Silver lupine is blooming purple in bushes up on the ridge.
– Sky lupine, bright blue with white accents, is blooming on the ridge.
– Suncups on the ground with yellow flowers is starting down near 13 but will be on the ridge and in meadows soon.
– Tomcat clover with purple flower circles is blooming on the Ridgewood Rock.
Fading
– California plantain almost too small to see but getting very close is rewarded with the many translucent disks of its flower
– Chickweed, native to Europe, medicinal and edible is blooming with its white star flower.
– Woolly lomatium’s cream colored discs are blooming above Homestead Fire Road near Panoramic.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.
HVLT Trail Map 022315 v28w

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

Share this:
Facebook
Apr 182018
 


NEW
– Common yarrow with its white cluster is blooming up on the ridge.
– Figwort, a great plant for insects blooms with a small maroon flower.
– Hawthorn, native to Europe, is blooming next to the creek on the Homestead Trail near 11.
– Purple western morning glory is blooming in meadows.
– Shortspur seablush is blooming with white puff flowers on the Ridgewood Rock.
– Small flowered nemophilia is blooming with small white flowers in forests.
– Tomcat clover with purple flower circles is blooming on the Ridgewood Rock.

Forests
Starting
– Fringe cups has lovely lobed foliage with its fringed flowers on a tall stalk.
– Redwood sorrel is blooming near the redwood in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Spotted coralroot with its red stalk and many orchid-shaped flowers is coming up in forests.
– Striped coral root, an orchid, is larger than the more common Spotted coral root that is found throughout Homestead.
– Wood rose blooms bright on rangy rose bushes in the forests.
Peaking
– California nutmeg’s male cones are blooming white.
– Forget-me-nots, native to Europe, is one of our most successful invaders. Easy to pull, easiest to identify when it’s flowering, so pull it then.
– Fairy bells cream flowers hang below the leaves of this woodland plant.
– False lily of the valley is coming up all over and brightening the forest floor with its white star flower.
– Feathery false lily of the valley has a long stalk with big puff flowers that smell sweet.
– Giant trillium with blooms in cream or pink is blooming in forests
– Indian warrior is a ruby carpet at 15 right along the Homestead Trail – that we finished clearing a few months ago.
– 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.
– Miner’s lettuce one of our most popular edibles, has a small white flower. Claytonia had a false start with the early season rains but is coming on well now that they are picking up.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming under the redwood trees in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Pacific pea with pink and white flowers is blooming in forests
– Pacific sanicle with its showy bright foliage has mustard flower clusters.
– Star flower has dainty pink flowers and blooms in forests among the carpets of False lily of the valley.
– Thimbleberry, a shrub with soft maple-shaped leaves blooms in forests with a flat white flower.
– White flowered onion*, edible and native to the Mediterranean, is blooming in wet spots with its white cone flowers. Pull it up by the roots if you can.
– Wood sweet-cicely’s small white flowers fade to form long edible seed pods.
Fading
– California huckleberry with its small white lantern flowers is blooming in forests.

Forest edges
Starting
– Crimson columbine is blooming at the edge of the forest below 11.
– Purple sanicle and its magenta puff flowers blooms in forests along the Homestead Trail
– 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.
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.
Peaking
– California blackberry is blooming with paper-white flowers, on a thinner, trailing vine than Himalayan blackberry.
– Douglas iris with blooms from pale cream to rich purple is blooming in the forests
Fading
– Barberry, hollylike leaves and clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers.
– Spring gold is blooming yellow on the Ridgewood Rock and in ridge meadows.

Meadows
Starting
– American vetch is blooming purple in the meadow grasses up on the ridge.
– Blue dicks is starting to bloom on Coyote Rock and along the Homestead Fire Road above the Waterview trailhead.
– Blue eyed grass, in the iris family, blooms purple with a yellow center
– California buttercup is starting to bloom bright yellow in meadows.
– California goldfields is just starting to bloom. When it’s peaking, carpets of bright yellow will cover the ground
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Callery pear, native to China, has beautiful white dogwood-like flowers. The fruit, however, is inedible making me wonder if the original farmer who planted it knew it was just for show.
– Checkerbloom’s bright pink is starting to bloom on the ridges of Homestead Hill.
– Chickweed, native to Europe, medicinal and edible is blooming with its white star flower.
– Common vetch, native to the Mediterranean, has bright purple flowers on a pea vine.
– Cow parsnip with its large white umbel is blooming in meadows and oak woodlands.
– Cowbag clover is a tiny purple bloom in the meadow grasses.
– Filaree*, native to the Mediterranean, has small purple flowers and blooms in disturbed areas like trails
– French broom, native to the Mediterranean, is one of our most aggressive invaders and also one of the easiest to pull.
– Ground iris is blooming purple in meadows.
– Herb robert, native of the United Kingdom, is blooming purple with a golden center is blooming along trails and in disturbed areas.
– Hill lotus is blooming in the meadow beside the trail near the Black elderberry.
– Owl clover is a purple tuft in meadows.
– Red elderberry is blooming with cones of white blooms near the spring on the trail toward Amaranth from 4-Corners.
– 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.
– Short podded mustard, native to the Mediterranean, has small clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. In the mustard family, the flowers are delicious.
– Silver lupine is blooming purple in bushes up on the ridge.
– Sky lupine, bright blue with white accents, is blooming on the ridge.
– Suncups on the ground with yellow flowers is starting down near 13 but will be on the ridge and in meadows soon.
Peaking
– Field madder, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the very small flowers in the grass of meadows.
– Oakland star tulip one of our rare plants, has a small delicate cup flower well worth scrutinizing in meadows.
– Shepherd’s needle, native to Eurasia, is blooming white with parsley foliage in meadows.
– Woodland star’s bright white stars are blooming in the seep on the edge of the Ridgewood Rock.
Fading
– California plantain almost too small to see but getting very close is rewarded with the many translucent disks of its flower
– Checker lily, brown lily-bell flower with leopard print cup. Look for it at the forest edge or sheltered in meadows.
– Woolly lomatium’s cream colored discs are blooming above Homestead Fire Road near Panoramic.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.
HVLT Trail Map 022315 v28w

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

Share this:
Facebook
Apr 132018
 


NEW
– Cow parsnip with its large white umbel is blooming in meadows and oak woodlands.
– Cowbag clover is a tiny purple bloom in the meadow grasses.
– Fringe cups has lovely lobed foliage with its fringed flowers on a tall stalk.
– Herb robert, native of the United Kingdom, is blooming purple with a golden center is blooming along trails and in disturbed areas.
– Owl clover is a purple tuft in meadows.
– Redwood sorrel is blooming near the redwood in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Striped coral root, an orchid, is larger than the more common Spotted coral root that is found throughout Homestead.
– Wood rose blooms bright on rangy rose bushes in the forests.

Forests
Starting
– California nutmeg’s male cones are blooming white.
– Spotted coralroot with its red stalk and many orchid-shaped flowers is coming up in forests.
Peaking
– Forget-me-nots, native to Europe, is one of our most successful invaders. Easy to pull, easiest to identify when it’s flowering, so pull it then.
– Fairy bells cream flowers hang below the leaves of this woodland plant.
– False lily of the valley is coming up all over and brightening the forest floor with its white star flower.
– Feathery false lily of the valley has a long stalk with big puff flowers that smell sweet.
– Giant trillium with blooms in cream or pink is blooming in forests
– Indian warrior is a ruby carpet at 15 right along the Homestead Trail – that we finished clearing a few months ago.
– 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.
– Miner’s lettuce one of our most popular edibles, has a small white flower. Claytonia had a false start with the early season rains but is coming on well now that they are picking up.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming under the redwood trees in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Pacific pea with pink and white flowers is blooming in forests
– Pacific sanicle with its showy bright foliage has mustard flower clusters.
– Star flower has dainty pink flowers and blooms in forests among the carpets of False lily of the valley.
– Thimbleberry, a shrub with soft maple-shaped leaves blooms in forests with a flat white flower.
– White flowered onion*, edible and native to the Mediterranean, is blooming in wet spots with its white cone flowers. Pull it up by the roots if you can.
– Wood sweet-cicely’s small white flowers fade to form long edible seed pods.
Fading
– California huckleberry with its small white lantern flowers is blooming in forests.

Forest edges
Starting
– Crimson columbine is blooming at the edge of the forest below 11.
– Purple sanicle and its magenta puff flowers blooms in forests along the Homestead Trail
– 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.
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.
Peaking
– California blackberry is blooming with paper-white flowers, on a thinner, trailing vine than Himalayan blackberry.
– Douglas iris with blooms from pale cream to rich purple is blooming in the forests
Fading
– Barberry, hollylike leaves and clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers.
– Spring gold is blooming yellow on the Ridgewood Rock and in ridge meadows.

Meadows
Starting
– American vetch is blooming purple in the meadow grasses up on the ridge.
– Blue dicks is starting to bloom on Coyote Rock and along the Homestead Fire Road above the Waterview trailhead.
– Blue eyed grass, in the iris family, blooms purple with a yellow center
– California buttercup is starting to bloom bright yellow in meadows.
– California goldfields is just starting to bloom. When it’s peaking, carpets of bright yellow will cover the ground
– California plantain almost too small to see but getting very close is rewarded with the many translucent disks of its flower
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Callery pear, native to China, has beautiful white dogwood-like flowers. The fruit, however, is inedible making me wonder if the original farmer who planted it knew it was just for show.
– Checkerbloom’s bright pink is starting to bloom on the ridges of Homestead Hill.
– Chickweed, native to Europe, medicinal and edible is blooming with its white star flower.
– Common vetch, native to the Mediterranean, has bright purple flowers on a pea vine.
– Filaree*, native to the Mediterranean, has small purple flowers and blooms in disturbed areas like trails
– French broom, native to the Mediterranean, is one of our most aggressive invaders and also one of the easiest to pull.
– Ground iris is blooming purple in meadows.
– Hill lotus is blooming in the meadow beside the trail near the Black elderberry.
– Oakland star tulip one of our rare plants, has a small delicate cup flower well worth scrutinizing in meadows.
– Red elderberry is blooming with cones of white blooms near the spring on the trail toward Amaranth from 4-Corners.
– 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.
– Short podded mustard, native to the Mediterranean, has small clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. In the mustard family, the flowers are delicious.
– Silver lupine is blooming purple in bushes up on the ridge.
– Sky lupine, bright blue with white accents, is blooming on the ridge.
– Suncups on the ground with yellow flowers is starting down near 13 but will be on the ridge and in meadows soon.
– Winter cress with bright yellow flowers and waxy leaves is blooming up on the ridge
– Woolly lomatium’s cream colored discs are blooming above Homestead Fire Road near Panoramic.
Peaking
– Field madder, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the very small flowers in the grass of meadows.
– Shepherd’s needle, native to Eurasia, is blooming white with parsley foliage in meadows.
– Woodland star’s bright white stars are blooming in the seep on the edge of the Ridgewood Rock.
Fading
– Checker lily, brown lily-bell flower with leopard print cup. Look for it at the forest edge or sheltered in meadows.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.
HVLT Trail Map 022315 v28w

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

Share this:
Facebook
Apr 032018
 


NEW
– American vetch is blooming purple in the meadow grasses up on the ridge.
– California nutmeg’s male cones are blooming white.
– Callery pear, native to China, has beautiful white dogwood-like flowers. The fruit, however, is inedible making me wonder if the original farmer who planted it knew it was just for show.
– Black elderberry is blooming with cones of white blooms near the spring on the trail toward Amaranth from 4-Corners.
– Common vetch, native to the Mediterranean, has bright purple flowers on a pea vine.
– Crimson columbine is blooming at the edge of the forest below 11.
– Feathery false lily of the valley has a long stalk with big puff flowers that smell sweet.
– Hill lotus is blooming in the meadow beside the trail near the Black elderberry.
– Pacific sanicle with its showy bright foliage has mustard flower clusters.
– Star flower has dainty pink flowers and blooms in forests among the carpets of False lily of the valley.
– Thimbleberry, a shrub with soft maple-shaped leaves blooms in forests with a flat white flower.
– Wood sweet-cicely’s small white flowers fade to form long edible seed pods.

Forests
Starting
– Forget-me-nots, native to Europe, is one of our most successful invaders. Easy to pull, easiest to identify when it’s flowering, so pull it then.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming under the redwood trees in the sliver of Land Trust between 435 and 441 Laverne.
– Spotted coralroot with its red stalk and many orchid-shaped flowers is coming up in forests.
Peaking
– Fairy bells cream flowers hang below the leaves of this woodland plant.
– False lily of the valley is coming up all over and brightening the forest floor with its white star flower.
– Giant trillium with blooms in cream or pink is blooming in forests
– Indian warrior is a ruby carpet at 15 right along the Homestead Trail – that we finished clearing a few months ago.
– 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.
– Miner’s lettuce one of our most popular edibles, has a small white flower. Claytonia had a false start with the early season rains but is coming on well now that they are picking up.
– Pacific pea with pink and white flowers is blooming in forests
– White flowered onion*, edible and native to the Mediterranean, is blooming in wet spots with its white cone flowers. Pull it up by the roots if you can.
– 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.
Fading
– California huckleberry with its small white lantern flowers is blooming in forests.
– Canyon gooseberry is blooming at the Ridgewood u-bend, trailhead to 13 and in the forests where huckleberry grows. The flowers are very small, blooming on almost bare branches as they emerge with the leaves.
– Oso berry, our native plum, is just starting to bloom on the Ridgewood Rock.
– Tasmanian blue gum, is blooming white high in the huge eucalyptus trees.
– Trillium are bright white or pale pink in their bed of three green leaves on the forest floor.

Forest edges
Starting
– Purple sanicle and its magenta puff flowers blooms in forests along the Homestead Trail
– 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.
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.
– Woodland strawberry blooms are starting now where there is sun, will persist for months in different habitats as they warm.
Peaking
– California blackberry is blooming with paper-white flowers, on a thinner, trailing vine than Himalayan blackberry.
– Douglas iris with blooms from pale cream to rich purple is blooming in the forests
Fading
– Barberry, hollylike leaves and clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers.
– 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.
– Spring gold is blooming yellow on the Ridgewood Rock and in ridge meadows.

Meadows
Starting
– Blue dicks is starting to bloom on Coyote Rock and along the Homestead Fire Road above the Waterview trailhead.
– Blue eyed grass, in the iris family, blooms purple with a yellow center
– California buttercup is starting to bloom bright yellow in meadows.
– California goldfields is just starting to bloom. When it’s peaking, carpets of bright yellow will cover the ground
– California plantain almost too small to see but getting very close is rewarded with the many translucent disks of its flower
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Checkerbloom’s bright pink is starting to bloom on the ridges of Homestead Hill.
– Chickweed, native to Europe, medicinal and edible is blooming with its white star flower.
– Filaree*, native to the Mediterranean, has small purple flowers and blooms in disturbed areas like trails
– French broom, native to the Mediterranean, is one of our most aggressive invaders and also one of the easiest to pull.
– Ground iris is blooming purple in meadows.
– Oakland star tulip one of our rare plants, has a small delicate cup flower well worth scrutinizing in meadows.
– Short podded mustard, native to the Mediterranean, has small clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. In the mustard family, the flowers are delicious.
– Silver lupine is blooming purple in bushes up on the ridge.
– Sky lupine, bright blue with white accents, is blooming on the ridge.
– Suncups on the ground with yellow flowers is starting down near 13 but will be on the ridge and in meadows soon.
– Winter cress with bright yellow flowers and waxy leaves is blooming up on the ridge
– Woolly lomatium’s cream colored discs are blooming above Homestead Fire Road near Panoramic.
Peaking
– Field madder, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the very small flowers in the grass of meadows.
– Shepherd’s needle, native to Eurasia, is blooming white with parsley foliage in meadows.
– Woodland star’s bright white stars are blooming in the seep on the edge of the Ridgewood Rock.
Fading
– Checker lily, brown lily-bell flower with leopard print cup. Look for it at the forest edge or sheltered in meadows.
– Footsteps of spring are bright yellow, hugging the ground up on the ridge.
– Fremont’s deathcamas is blooming white wherever a bit of meadow peaks out from the shrubs.
– Marin checker lily with its chocolate bell flowers is blooming in the meadow below Amaranth.
– Shooting star with its bright pink flowers is blooming at trail junction 9, on the Ridgewood Rock and below Amaranth.

Key to map:
I haven’t located plants on on the map if they are very prolific. Find them by their habitat.
HVLT Trail Map 022315 v28w

Gallery of wildflowers and plants found in Homestead.

*Non-native

Share this:
Facebook